8th Blog Post

What's Going On (Marvin Gaye album) - Wikipedia

8th Blog Post

Song chosen: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

This song feels really genuine to me. The sounds of conversation and laughing in the background feels really raw. Reminds me of songs I've heard with various other sounds of life in the background, like police sirens or voices on a phone call. I love the feeling it gives a song. 

Upon a lyrical analysis of this song, it seems to be an anthem about the "hippie movement" of the 1960s. This song was recorded in 1971, while the Vietnam War was still going on. He sings about mothers crying about losing sons, brothers dying. He urges his father (and referring to other men as well) to calm down and not escalate the war. He pushes for love over war and saying others shouldn't judge those of them who have long hair (aka hippies). This song would have been controversial at the time, which makes Gaye pretty brave in my opinion. 

The instruments in the background are very mild and calm. A light rhythm in the background, a really quiet set of drums. I believe I hear some trumpet. So instrumentally, it is very complex, I would think it's just toned down to give more emphasis on the lyrics, they were very relevant at the time and I think Gaye would want them heard. This song is so excellent and complex but so calm and relaxing at the same time. 

Overall a great composition from this time. I think it is so cool that we can look back on history and how people felt through music, even though it may not longer be relevant. 


Comments

  1. KeltonNovember 3, 2021 at 8:58 PM

    I agree this song would have been very controversial when it was written. The Vietnam war itself was controversial let alone singing songs about it. The instrumentation is very complex but everything just seems to flow together really well throughout the song, they also like you said are more mild and calm. Great Post.

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