Marvin gaye covering whats going on song
How Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ Changed the Sound of R&B Forever
At the beginning of the 1970s, mainstream Black music was a massive singles scene. A handful of Motown acts, including the Supremes and the Temptations, had managed to score Top 10 albums during the ‘60s, but with the exception of Aretha Franklin’s Atlantic Records releases post-“Respect” and Ray Charles’ run of preceding ‘60s hits on ABC, Black artists weren’t typically creating classic album-length esthetic statements on par with The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde.”
Then along came Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” a 1971 game-changer that turns 50 on May 21. It would become the first Top 10 LP for Gaye, a major recording musician who’d had many hit singles but hadn’t reached higher than number 33 on the Superior 200 album chart. In one fell swoop, it completed his transition from Motown heartthrob to the poet of soul music while helping to modify the entire genre. The album was unlike anything previously released by a Black superstar
Marvin Gaye’s powerful rallying cry ‘What’s Going On’ continues to resonate nearly 50 years later, as Motown Records releases a new music video for the timeless anthem, directed by Savanah Leaf.
As part of Motown’s ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations, the video made its premiere today at the 2019 Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC) following the panel discussion ‘What’s Going On’ to ‘Let’s Get Going’: Building a Social Movement through the Arts in Washington, DC.
Leaf pairs Gaye’s timely protest anthem with the societal issues of today, addressing everything from Flint’s water crisis, school shootings, universal healthcare and police brutality.
“Who really cares, to save a world in despair?” Gaye asks in the archival footage that begins the visual.
Shot over the course of four days in Detroit and Flint, Michigan, Leaf stressed the importance of the video connecting with the birthplace of Motown while remaining true to the unique message of the song.
“We wanted a place that resonates with the song and the history of Motown, while also remaining relevant to the socio-political issues in the music video,” Leaf said.
“It was very importan
Cover Culture : Large Youth / Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG
Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The authentic pop and essence tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.
For instance, American designer Bill Withers recorded the Grammy-winning tune Ain’t No Sunshine, which Horace Andy later adapted, while Dennis Brown’s rendition of Black Magic Woman originally came from Fleetwood Mac. These two examples represent just a small fraction of the many covers that have emerged over the past sixty-five years.
Since the advent of these adaptations, both Jamaican and international reggae musicians have persistently reimagined pop and soul hits, continuing this tradition into the present. You’re welcome to give ear to both the original and the cover versions to determine which one resonates with you the most.
It has officially been 50 years since the free of Marvin Gaye's iconic "What's Going On" album.
The legendary singer-songwriter was born in 1939, in Washington, D.C. He started out singing in church and later became a member of popular doo-wop collective The Moonglows.
After the genre began fizzling out in the 50s, the group's founding member Harvey Fuqua took then 20-year-old Gaye to Detroit where he met Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of Motown records. At the label, he earned the title of Prince of Motown for his soulful sound and duetted with the likes of Diana Ross.
Gaye was shot dead in 1984, the day before his 45th birthday, by his father Marvin Gaye Sr. after an altercation.
It was Gaye's eleventh studio album, "What's Going On", that went on to define him for decades after his death.
The album was released on May 21 1971, exactly 50 years ago today. It is still deemed as relevant as ever by many because of its strong social conscience. The record focused heavily on themes including racism, drug abuse, poverty and police brutality. It also showcased the perspective of a veteran returning to the U.S after the Vietnam war.
The record marked a departure for the Prince of M