There couldn’t be a song that’s a better fit for today’s state of the world than Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”, but the track is 45 years old this year.
I was originally introduced to the song via Cyndi Lauper’s version, which she recorded for the “True Colours” album. It didn’t take long to run into the original version, released on Motown, on vinyl (of course) in 1971.
Marvin Gaye’s legacy has always been well preserved. His reputation has made sure that many musicians still talk about him and make sure his music survives generation on generation. In particular, the song “Sexual Healing” survives the test of time, but unfortunately, also the message behind his classic “What’s Going On?”
“What’s Going On” was originally part of an album of the same name, which was the album that put Marvin Gaye on the map. The tracks on the album were all connected, both in theme and in music. It didn’t have any pauses in between songs, and dealt with many of the world’s social topics of the 70s. Marvin was seen as a visionary, a story teller and got critical acclaim.
The song tells the story of war, prejudice and judgment.
For the anniversary of this song, the single has been rereleased, on vinyl, as a special edition EP. It’s released under the name 'What’s Going On '10” and features special mixes and a brand new version of the song featuring BJ the Chicago Kid, which has also been released to streaming services.
The additional vocals of BJ are blended in naturally in the track. For BJ, it’s one of the many Marvin Gaye tributes he’s been part of. He’s released his own song “Turning It Up” as his very own Marvin tribute a few months ago. Just last week, he performed various Marvin Gaye songs during a tribute show to the legendary musician.
Earlier this month, a theatre production telling the life of Marvin Gaye premiered. Marvin’s life was full of turmoil as he became addicted to drugs. In combination with fame, it led him to paranoia. His dad put an end to his life by killing him in 1984, but his music keeps inspiring and his family keeps his memory alive.
