What's Going On

Marvin Gaye started out as just another Motown artist – not standing out or unique in any way, just going with the flow of that genre at the time. He knew he wanted something more than just plain old Motown, but instead a refreshed, newer version of it.  What’s Going On would be just that, but definitely after many obstacles.

With racially rooted riots, protests, and sheer violence in the United States, and the Vietnam War also taking place, America needed a powerful uniting anthem. Not only did the actual song “What’s Going On” become one but so did the same-titled album contains many more songs that tell the story of “a black soldier returning home from a white’s man war,” says Charlie Moss in his article. It was the first song to really say, in modern terms, “come on everyone, why can’t we just get along?”

After recorded in 1970, Marvin had trouble getting What’s Going On off the ground. Berry Gordy thought it was too much for the public – especially put into a Motown single. In response, Marvin refused to continue recording with Motown until the song would be released. According to Charlie Moss, Gordy gave in and released the song in 1971.

This album is set apart but from other soul recordings of its time in several ways. To go without mention, the lyrics were almost him preaching about the problems of the world and how we should all work together, rather than singing about love and marriage. The other characteristics that made it unique were that it wasn’t solid studio perfection. The song’s introduction (the alto-sax warm up) was a complete accident. He also accidentally doubled his vocals – which even though it was an accident, he continued to use it to brand himself in that type of music. He also decided not to use the typical Motown back up singers, and a choir instead.

As a listener, I think he is extremely talented and I love his production and music. However, his lyrics don’t raise the feelings in me that they probably should. I blame that due to our world becoming quite worse. As a producer I love it because I like when music is made without every single flaw being fixed. Art is supposed to be messy and unconfined. I absolutely adore that he kept the sax warm up in as well as his accidental vocal double. The cracks in the ceiling are what end up making the ceiling beautiful and special.