What’s Going On
Prior to the recording of “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye’s music was that of a typical Motown artist. While his talent was always above average, the subject matter was in the same vein of love and relationships that was typical of the Motown brand.
During the 1960’s and 70’s many of the United States issues that had been bubbling beneath the surface were beginning to boil over into the general population. Issues of racism, politics and the strain of war on the U.S. citizens created a tumultuous social atmosphere, and Marvin Gaye was right in the middle of it.1 As a resident of Detroit, Marvin Gaye lived a stone’s throw away from the headlines he watched unfold on his television screen. This was not the only factor that contributed to the revolutionary new direction of this pioneering artist. When his younger brother returned from fighting the Vietnam War with his first hand accounts of the horrors witnessed, this combined with the recent loss of Gaye’s long time collaborator Tammi Terrel was the creative spark that he needed to realize that he could through his music affect hearts and minds across society.
When Marvin Gaye decided to take a more controversial and outspoken stance on the issues taking place in the world through his music, his label head, Berry Gordy, was understandably troubled and unreceptive of the idea. Gordy had achieved success by following a pattern of making music about popular and un-offensive subject matter. In Gordy’s mind, this departure from the tried and true methodology was a recipe for disaster and could be the end of Marvin Gaye’s career and his quality control department agreed. To this end, Berry Gordy did everything in his power to prevent the release of Gaye’s single “What’s Going On.” In the end, Marvin Gaye’s stubbornness, the quality of the work on the single and the confidence in the song of those around him, led the single being released anyway, against Gourdy’s will.1
“What’s Going On,” was set apart from other soul recordings not only by it’s more controversial subject matter, but also by it’s revolutionary vocal and musical arrangement. The funk brothers, Motown’s resident studio musicians, lent a unique sound to virtually every recording they were a part of but the way that this recording seemed to seamlessly balance heavy subject matter with a light almost danceable tune made the recording both vastly different from other soul recordings of the time and an instant classic to almost every ear that was privy to it. In addition to that, Marvin Gaye’s layered vocal arrangement was arguably one of happiest and most duplicated accidents in musical history.1
As an industry professional, I am always intrigued by the use of pioneering composition, arrangement and recording techniques. In addition, I admire the courage of any industry professional willing to take a risk in the pursuit of creativity. As a listener, I not only have nostalgia and emotional ties to this recording, but I find it’s consistent relevance throughout the time period since it’s inception and universal appeal to be symbolic of the artist who performed it.
1What's Going On by Ben Edmonds | Books | guardian.co.uk . (2001, December 8). Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk . Retrieved September 10, 2011, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/dec/08/extract
I like how you were able to write a very in-depth yet precise blog about the album. You talk about the issues he was going through that inspired the album. Your blog is very similar to mine. You were able to give specific reasons why the album stood apart from other soul recordings at the time. You were able to give your industry professional stand point with the knowledge of arrangement and recording techniques. Great Blog about the album. Congratulations.
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