What's Going On - Marvyn Gaye's State of the World Address

1/18/11 – What’s Going On (Marvyn Gaye)

Music can change the world

because it can change people.
- Bono, U2

            What’s Going On is one of those seminal works I had often heard referenced, but never had actually heard, much like the Bach B-minor Mass discussed a week or so ago.  I knew of Marvyn Gaye as one of the premiere crooners of old Motown soul, but only knew a few of his songs.  Motown has had a huge influence on the shape of music since, but this album had a tremendous influence on Motown.  After listening to this album, I realized how powerful a force music can be in the world.  And very little of it is due to its musical merits, which stand alone on their own rights.

            What’s Going On is a concept album that acts like a classical oratorio.  It goes beyond a collection of songs and melodies tied together by lyrical themes and musical motifs.  The tracks of this album play seamlessly into one another, more like musical numbers in an opera or sung-thru musical theatre piece.  The words speak a call to action, be it in social justice (as in “Save the Children,”) embracing religious values (“Wholly Holy” and “God is Love,”) seeking an end to drug addiction (“Flying High (In the Friendly Skies,”) or turning against a culture of war and violence (“What’s Happening Brother” and the title track.)  Gaye’s oeuvre is a sort of “State of the World Address” from the perspective of a soldier returning from Vietnam in 1971.

            While there have been many politically charged and socially minded albums, songs and artists, this one stands out both historically and in it’s approach.  First off, as I stated above, this album changed the face of Motown, and almost was kept from production entirely.  On the heels of a number of other politically bent tunes, Berry Gordon of Motown Records fought Gaye’s material tooth and nail, but was forced to eventually cave, as opposed to losing one of the label’s greatest hit makers.  The huge success of the album paved the way for other politically charged projects, ranging from Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” railing against the Nixon administrations stance (or lack thereof) on the civil right’s movement to the massive “We Are the World,” and farther than Motown to reach toward groups like the Dixie Chicks and their protesting of the Bush war policies.

            What I find particularly of note with What’s Going On, however, is how different it is from these other politically and socially motivated artists.  While many of Stevie Wonder’s works embody the voice of an angry young black man, and the Dixie Chicks take a very belligerent, in-your-face attitude, Marvyn Gaye speaks as a voice not of condemnation and anger, but of genuine love an concern for a country and culture slipping away from the greatness of its roots and potential.  His words cry out not only with nostalgia when he sings “Mercy, mercy me, things ain’t what they used to be,” but also of redemption, forgiveness; “God is my friend.  He made this world for us to live in and gave us everything.  And all he asks of us is that we give each other love… He loves us whether or not we know it, and he’ll forgive all our sins.”  This isn’t the voice of an angry young man, it’s the voice of a loving parent, afraid for his children because of what they have done, but all the while filled with love and compassion.  There needs to be more music like this in the world.

Tomorrow – Corigliano: Violin Sonata

Next week – Sellling England By the Pound (Genesis)