What’s Gog On at 50: Marv Gaye’s masterpiece is still so te to life | Marv Gaye | The Guardian

Contents:

• WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERMARV GAYETRACK 2 ON WHAT’S GOG ON PRODUCED BYMARV GAYETHE SEND SONG ON MARV GAYE’S WHAT’S GOG ON TELLS A STORY OF A SOLDIER G BACK TO THE UNED STAT AFTER FIGHTG VIETNAM, AND THE ADJTMENTS TO CULTURE THAT… READ MORE MAY. 21, 19711 VIEWER43.9K VIEWS23 CONTRIBUTORSWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER LYRICS[VERSE 1]HEY BABY, WHAT YOU KNOW GOOD?I'M JT GETTG BACK, BUT YOU KNEW I WOULDWAR IS HELL, WHEN WILL END?WHEN WILL PEOPLE START GETTG TOGETHER AGA?ARE THGS REALLY GETTG BETTER, LIKE THE NEWSPAPER SAID?WHAT ELSE IS NEW MY IEND, BIS WHAT I READ?[VERSE 2]CAN'T FD NO WORK, N'T FD NO JOB, MY IENDMONEY IS TIGHTER THAN 'S EVER BEENSAY MAN, I JT DON'T UNRSTAND WHAT'S GOG ON ACROSS THIS LAND?AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?YEAH, WHAT'S HAPPENG? WHAT'S HAPPENG MY MAN?[VERSE 3]ARE THEY STILL GETTG DOWN WHERE WE ED TO GO AND DANCE?WILL OUR BALL CLUB W THE PENNANT, DO YOU THK THEY HAVE A CHANCE?AND TELL ME IEND, HOW THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN?TELL ME WHAT'S OUT AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S [VERSE 4]WHAT'S THE AL MANWHAT'S HAPPENG? WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?WHAT'S HAPPENG MY MAN?WHOO, AH, AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?SAY MAN, WHOO, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE[OUTRO]WHAT'S BEEN SHAKG UP AND DOWN THE LE?I WANT TO KNOW, BEE I'M SLIGHTLY BEHD THE TIM5EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUTGENI ANNOTATN2 NTRIBUTORSTHE SEND SONG ON MARV GAYE’S WHAT’S GOG ON TELLS A STORY OF A SOLDIER G BACK TO THE UNED STAT AFTER FIGHTG VIETNAM, AND THE ADJTMENTS TO CULTURE THAT HE HAS TO MAKE. THIS TRACK WAS SPIRED BY GAYE’S BROTHER FRANKIE, WHO SPENT THREE YEARS SERVG VIETNAM.EXPAND +45SHAREASK A QUTN ABOUT THIS SONGASK A QUTN *‌WHO PRODUCED “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER” BY MARV GAYE?WHEN DID MARV GAYE RELEASE “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER”?WHO WROTE “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER” BY MARV GAYE?WHAT’S GOG ON (1971)MARV GAYE1. WHAT’S GOG ON2. WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER3. FLY’ HIGH (IN THE FRIENDLY SKY)4. SAVE THE CHILDREN5. GOD IS LOVE6. MERCY MERCY ME (THE ELOGY)7. RIGHT ON8. WHOLY HOLY9. INNER CY BLU (MAKE ME WANNA HOLLER)EXPAND CREDSPRODUCED BYMARV GAYEWRTEN BYMARV GAYE & JAM NYXARRANGED BYDAVID VAN PTEBASS GUARJAM JAMERSONVOLSMARV GAYERELEASE DATEMAY 21, 1971SONGS THAT SAMPLE WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERGHETTO ROCK BY AMERIGO GAZAWAY, THE PANTI BY AMERIGO GAZAWAY & BETIFUL PEOPLE BY A$AP FERG (FT. CHUCK D & MAMA FERG)SONGS THAT INTERPOLATE WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER BY THE VERNON SPRGWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER COVERSWHAT'S GOG ON BY JEFF BECK & JOHNNY DEPP & WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER BY KEB' MO' (FT. BETTYE LAVETTE)WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER REMIXWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER (DETRO MIX) BY MARV GAYEWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER LIVE PERFORMANCWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER (LIVE 1972) BY MARV GAYEVIEW WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER SAMPLTAGSR&BSEVENTIMOTOWNSOULEXPAND COMMENTSADD A MENTSIGN UP AND DROP KNOWLEDGE ?GENI IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF MIC KNOWLEDGE, CREATED BY SCHOLARS LIKE YOU WHO SHARE FACTS AND SIGHT ABOUT THE SONGS AND ARTISTS THEY LOVE.SIGN UPGENI IS THE WORLD’S BIGGT LLECTN OF SONG LYRICS AND MIL KNOWLEDGE
• 50 YEARS AFTER MARV GAYE ASKED, ‘WHAT’S GOG ON?’ AMERI STILL SEARCHG FOR AN ANSWER
• WHAT’S GOG ONMARV GAYETRACK 1 ON WHAT’S GOG ON PRODUCED BYMARV GAYEWHAT’S GOG ON IS AN EXQUISE PLEA FOR PEACE ON EARTH, SUNG BY A MAN AT THE HEIGHT OF CRISIS. IN 1970, MARV GAYE WAS MOTOWN’S TOP MALE VOL STAR, YET HE WAS TRATED… READ MORE JAN. 17, 19711 VIEWER587.9K VIEWS85 CONTRIBUTORSWHAT’S GOG ON LYRICS[INTRO]HEY, HEY-HEYHEY, WHAT'S HAPPEN'?HEY, BROTHER, WHAT'S HAPPEN'?BOY, THIS IS A GROOVY PARTY (HEY, HOW YOU DO'?)MAN, I N DIG YEAH, BROTHER, SOLID, RIGHT ONWHAT'S HAPPEN'?HEY, MAN, WHAT'S HAPPENG?WOOEVERYTHG IS EVERYTHGWE'RE GONNA DO A GET DOWN TODAY, BOY, I'LL TELL YA[VERSE 1]MOTHER, MOTHERTHERE'S TOO MANY OF YOU CRYGBROTHER, BROTHER, BROTHERTHERE'S FAR TOO MANY OF YOU DYGYOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME LOVG HERE TODAY, YEAH[VERSE 2]FATHER, FATHERWE DON'T NEED TO LATEYOU SEE, WAR IS NOT THE ANSWERFOR ONLY LOVE N NQUER HATEYOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME LOVG HERE TODAY, OH (OH)YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE[CHOS]PICKET L (SISTER) AND PICKET SIGNS (SISTER)DON'T PUNISH ME (SISTER) WH BTALY (SISTER)TALK TO ME (SISTER), SO YOU N SEE (SISTER)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)YEAH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON[POST-CHOS]AH-AH-AH-AH (IN THE MEANTIME, RIGHT ON, BABY)WOO (RIGHT ON, BABY), WOOAH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA, YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO (RIGHT ON, BABY, RIGHT ON), WOOAH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YABA-DA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOOBA-DA-BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-BA-BA-DO[VERSE 3]MOTHER, MOTHEREVERYBODY THKS WE'RE WRONGOH, BUT WHO ARE THEY TO JUDGE SIMPLY 'E OUR HAIR IS LONG?OH, YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME UNRSTANDG HERE TODAY, OH-OH[CHOS]PICKET L (BROTHER) AND PICKET SIGNS (BROTHER)DON'T PUNISH ME (BROTHER) WH BTALY (BROTHER)COME ON, TALK TO ME (BROTHER), SO YOU N SEE (BROTHER)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)YEAH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)TELL ME WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)[POST-CHOS]WOO-OOH-OOH-OOH (RIGHT ON, BABY, RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA, YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO, WOO (RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YABA-DA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOOBA-DA-BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA[OUTRO]WOO (RIGHT ON, BABY, E ON, RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO (RIGHT ON)LISTEN, AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YADA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOODA-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO49EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUT
• THE STORY OF MARV GAYE'S 'WHAT'S GOG ON'
• WHAT’S GOG ON AT 50: MARV GAYE’S MASTERPIECE IS STILL SO TE TO LIFE
• 50 YEARS LATER, WHY MARV GAYE'S SEMAL ALBUM 'WHAT'S GOG ON' ENDUR
• REMEMBERG MARV GAYE'S INIC 'WHAT'S GOG ON'
• THE REAL MEANG BEHD MARV GAYE'S 'WHAT'S GOG ON'
• ‘WHAT’S GOG ON’: WHEN MARV GAYE UNVEILED A MASTERPIECE

WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERMARV GAYETRACK 2 ON WHAT’S GOG ON PRODUCED BYMARV GAYETHE SEND SONG ON MARV GAYE’S WHAT’S GOG ON TELLS A STORY OF A SOLDIER G BACK TO THE UNED STAT AFTER FIGHTG VIETNAM, AND THE ADJTMENTS TO CULTURE THAT… READ MORE MAY. 21, 19711 VIEWER43.9K VIEWS23 CONTRIBUTORSWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER LYRICS[VERSE 1]HEY BABY, WHAT YOU KNOW GOOD?I'M JT GETTG BACK, BUT YOU KNEW I WOULDWAR IS HELL, WHEN WILL END?WHEN WILL PEOPLE START GETTG TOGETHER AGA?ARE THGS REALLY GETTG BETTER, LIKE THE NEWSPAPER SAID?WHAT ELSE IS NEW MY IEND, BIS WHAT I READ?[VERSE 2]CAN'T FD NO WORK, N'T FD NO JOB, MY IENDMONEY IS TIGHTER THAN 'S EVER BEENSAY MAN, I JT DON'T UNRSTAND WHAT'S GOG ON ACROSS THIS LAND?AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?YEAH, WHAT'S HAPPENG? WHAT'S HAPPENG MY MAN?[VERSE 3]ARE THEY STILL GETTG DOWN WHERE WE ED TO GO AND DANCE?WILL OUR BALL CLUB W THE PENNANT, DO YOU THK THEY HAVE A CHANCE?AND TELL ME IEND, HOW THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN?TELL ME WHAT'S OUT AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S [VERSE 4]WHAT'S THE AL MANWHAT'S HAPPENG? WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?WHAT'S HAPPENG MY MAN?WHOO, AH, AH, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?SAY MAN, WHOO, WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER?YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE[OUTRO]WHAT'S BEEN SHAKG UP AND DOWN THE LE?I WANT TO KNOW, BEE I'M SLIGHTLY BEHD THE TIM5EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUTGENI ANNOTATN2 NTRIBUTORSTHE SEND SONG ON MARV GAYE’S WHAT’S GOG ON TELLS A STORY OF A SOLDIER G BACK TO THE UNED STAT AFTER FIGHTG VIETNAM, AND THE ADJTMENTS TO CULTURE THAT HE HAS TO MAKE. THIS TRACK WAS SPIRED BY GAYE’S BROTHER FRANKIE, WHO SPENT THREE YEARS SERVG VIETNAM.EXPAND +45SHAREASK A QUTN ABOUT THIS SONGASK A QUTN *‌WHO PRODUCED “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER” BY MARV GAYE?WHEN DID MARV GAYE RELEASE “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER”?WHO WROTE “WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER” BY MARV GAYE?WHAT’S GOG ON (1971)MARV GAYE1. WHAT’S GOG ON2. WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER3. FLY’ HIGH (IN THE FRIENDLY SKY)4. SAVE THE CHILDREN5. GOD IS LOVE6. MERCY MERCY ME (THE ELOGY)7. RIGHT ON8. WHOLY HOLY9. INNER CY BLU (MAKE ME WANNA HOLLER)EXPAND CREDSPRODUCED BYMARV GAYEWRTEN BYMARV GAYE & JAM NYXARRANGED BYDAVID VAN PTEBASS GUARJAM JAMERSONVOLSMARV GAYERELEASE DATEMAY 21, 1971SONGS THAT SAMPLE WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERGHETTO ROCK BY AMERIGO GAZAWAY, THE PANTI BY AMERIGO GAZAWAY & BETIFUL PEOPLE BY A$AP FERG (FT. CHUCK D & MAMA FERG)SONGS THAT INTERPOLATE WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHERWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER BY THE VERNON SPRGWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER COVERSWHAT'S GOG ON BY JEFF BECK & JOHNNY DEPP & WHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER BY KEB' MO' (FT. BETTYE LAVETTE)WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER REMIXWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER (DETRO MIX) BY MARV GAYEWHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER LIVE PERFORMANCWHAT'S HAPPENG BROTHER (LIVE 1972) BY MARV GAYEVIEW WHAT’S HAPPENG BROTHER SAMPLTAGSR&BSEVENTIMOTOWNSOULEXPAND COMMENTSADD A MENTSIGN UP AND DROP KNOWLEDGE ?GENI IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF MIC KNOWLEDGE, CREATED BY SCHOLARS LIKE YOU WHO SHARE FACTS AND SIGHT ABOUT THE SONGS AND ARTISTS THEY LOVE.SIGN UPGENI IS THE WORLD’S BIGGT LLECTN OF SONG LYRICS AND MIL KNOWLEDGE

“What’s Gog On: Marv Gaye’s Anthem for the Ag, ” hosted by Don Lemon, buts Sunday at 8 p.

50 YEARS AFTER MARV GAYE ASKED, ‘WHAT’S GOG ON?’ AMERI STILL SEARCHG FOR AN ANSWER

As a child, mician Devon Gilfillian remembers his father, a profsnal weddg sger, harmonizg wh Marv Gaye’s inic “What’s Gog On” album their livg room. In a recent terview for a new CNN documentary about Gaye’s work, tled “What’s Gog On: Marv Gaye’s Anthem for the Ag, ” the Grammy-nomated artist and activist relled redisverg the album jt before headg to a prott Nashville last summer. ” Marv Gaye bgrapher, David Rz, told CNN for the same project.

” Sheila E., who toured wh Marv Gaye 1982-83, says the film.

Gilfillian scrib Gaye’s mic as a subtle sctn.

WHAT’S GOG ONMARV GAYETRACK 1 ON WHAT’S GOG ON PRODUCED BYMARV GAYEWHAT’S GOG ON IS AN EXQUISE PLEA FOR PEACE ON EARTH, SUNG BY A MAN AT THE HEIGHT OF CRISIS. IN 1970, MARV GAYE WAS MOTOWN’S TOP MALE VOL STAR, YET HE WAS TRATED… READ MORE JAN. 17, 19711 VIEWER587.9K VIEWS85 CONTRIBUTORSWHAT’S GOG ON LYRICS[INTRO]HEY, HEY-HEYHEY, WHAT'S HAPPEN'?HEY, BROTHER, WHAT'S HAPPEN'?BOY, THIS IS A GROOVY PARTY (HEY, HOW YOU DO'?)MAN, I N DIG YEAH, BROTHER, SOLID, RIGHT ONWHAT'S HAPPEN'?HEY, MAN, WHAT'S HAPPENG?WOOEVERYTHG IS EVERYTHGWE'RE GONNA DO A GET DOWN TODAY, BOY, I'LL TELL YA[VERSE 1]MOTHER, MOTHERTHERE'S TOO MANY OF YOU CRYGBROTHER, BROTHER, BROTHERTHERE'S FAR TOO MANY OF YOU DYGYOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME LOVG HERE TODAY, YEAH[VERSE 2]FATHER, FATHERWE DON'T NEED TO LATEYOU SEE, WAR IS NOT THE ANSWERFOR ONLY LOVE N NQUER HATEYOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME LOVG HERE TODAY, OH (OH)YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE[CHOS]PICKET L (SISTER) AND PICKET SIGNS (SISTER)DON'T PUNISH ME (SISTER) WH BTALY (SISTER)TALK TO ME (SISTER), SO YOU N SEE (SISTER)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)YEAH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON[POST-CHOS]AH-AH-AH-AH (IN THE MEANTIME, RIGHT ON, BABY)WOO (RIGHT ON, BABY), WOOAH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA, YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO (RIGHT ON, BABY, RIGHT ON), WOOAH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YABA-DA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOOBA-DA-BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-BA-BA-DO[VERSE 3]MOTHER, MOTHEREVERYBODY THKS WE'RE WRONGOH, BUT WHO ARE THEY TO JUDGE SIMPLY 'E OUR HAIR IS LONG?OH, YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FD A WAYTO BRG SOME UNRSTANDG HERE TODAY, OH-OH[CHOS]PICKET L (BROTHER) AND PICKET SIGNS (BROTHER)DON'T PUNISH ME (BROTHER) WH BTALY (BROTHER)COME ON, TALK TO ME (BROTHER), SO YOU N SEE (BROTHER)OH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)YEAH, WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)TELL ME WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOG ON (WHAT'S GOG ON)[POST-CHOS]WOO-OOH-OOH-OOH (RIGHT ON, BABY, RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA, YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO, WOO (RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YABA-DA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOOBA-DA-BOO-BOO-BOO-DOO, BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA[OUTRO]WOO (RIGHT ON, BABY, E ON, RIGHT ON)AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YAWOO (RIGHT ON)LISTEN, AH-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YA-YADA-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO-DOODA-BOO-BOO-DOO, BOO-BOO-BOO49EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUT

And he’s grateful to Gaye for potg the way.

Marv Gaye’s very pellg reason for wantg to rerd the song –. I knew I’d have to fd peace my was gog on durg his time that ma Gaye want to fight for peace?

THE STORY OF MARV GAYE'S 'WHAT'S GOG ON'

Gaye’s trospective lyrics discs them of dg abe, poverty, and the Vietnam there an official vio for "What's Gog On"?

Who produced “What's Gog On” by Marv Gaye? When did Marv Gaye release “What's Gog On”?

WHAT’S GOG ON AT 50: MARV GAYE’S MASTERPIECE IS STILL SO TE TO LIFE

Who wrote “What's Gog On” by Marv Gaye? The Story Of Marv Gaye's 'What's Gog On'.

Marv Gaye ncert at the Royal Albert Hall. The central theme of "What's Gog On" and the album of the same name me om Marv Gaye's own life.

50 YEARS LATER, WHY MARV GAYE'S SEMAL ALBUM 'WHAT'S GOG ON' ENDUR

When his brother Frankie returned om Vietnam, Gaye noticed that his outlook had changed.

Gaye didn't shout, didn't mand anythg. In 1970, Gaye found himself at several crossroads. His album beme an ternnected sue, a gallery of songs reflectg the state of the unn as Gaye saw , om neglected ghettos to the thrivg muny church, to the abed environment.

REMEMBERG MARV GAYE'S INIC 'WHAT'S GOG ON'

" The label sat on for months, until Gaye threatened he'd never rerd there aga.

Gaye relished the visibily, but hr knew that the real triumph was the way he transformed vexg social problems to an implorg emotnal appeal. Marv Gaye’s classic 1971 rerd What’s Gog On turns 50 this month, which means more people than ever will have ocsn to note how timely is.

THE REAL MEANG BEHD MARV GAYE'S 'WHAT'S GOG ON'

“He uld have wrten What’s Gog On yterday, ” poet Nikki Gvanni noted an terview last tumn, explag that the ver portra of her 2020 llectn, Make Me Ra, pays homage to Gaye’s album ver, picturg Gvanni a raat, her llar upturned. The rerd’s endurance – most movgly displayed by Nelson Manla, who, shortly after his release om prison 1990, reced l om the album at Tiger Stadium Detro – has practilly bee a one is wrong, of urse, to say that Gaye’s album cuts as eply today as did 1971.

A dively spired work driven by social rage – one that braid doo-wop harmoni, jazz and the hymns Gaye had loved as a child – What’s Gog On was also Gaye’s claratn of creative pennce om Berry Gordy’s Motown mache. After a of polished pop hs, Gaye, now his early 30s, revealed there was a lot on his md: the outrage of the war Vietnam (What’s Happeng Brother?

The surgent subject matter was acpanied by a change Gaye’s personal style: he stopped wearg ti and grew a beard. ”What’s Gog On remas val, above all, for how turns away om that “Ameri” and stead addrs the tle qutn to a closer-kn group – those people gathered at the hoe party Gaye stag the album’s openg moments; the “mother, mother” and “father father” he lls out to (and that the party settg might emboln him to ndidly addrs). ” the speaker asks What’s Happeng Brother?, checkg the claims of those power agast the thory of everyday Black is one thg to celebrate Gaye’s endurg and prcient mo of creatn; another to appld the ntued ronance of his album’s ncerns.

‘WHAT’S GOG ON’: WHEN MARV GAYE UNVEILED A MASTERPIECE

We should not be sangue, for stance, that Gaye’s unrstated blu crique of “trigger-happy policg” has stayed so relevant; or that anti-Black vlence has so persisted over the last 50 years that remas necsary for Black artists and everyday people to approach the task of survivg and thrivg Ameri wh the energy, elegance and grace that Gaye molled this landmark work. This, any se, is the imprsn I get when watchg Gaye troduce the tle track at the Montrx jazz ftival the summer of 1980.

Maybe he was tired – was the last song of a long set – but the 40-year-old Gaye, his illed whe shirt and sequned red su jacket, appears to not jt work the crowd but panr to wh some ntempt: “This was our very first No 1 rerd ever the world, ladi and gentlemen.

Photograph: US Army/Getty ImagThis is precisely the kd of galvanisg work that Gaye was dog wh What’s Gog On, for his own people his own time – a historil pot that is often obscured when we fixate on the rerd’s timelsns. Gaye’s crique of the Vietnam war, for example, which was rmed by his brother Frankie’s experienc of the nflict, was disarmgly distctive. So, too, was Gaye’s growg matury, which Black fans heard both his mment to Black life and their own potential.