Marvin Gaye Song Analysis

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“What’s Going On?” “What’s going on” was a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. “What’s going on” was designed with a somber jazz-inspired tone. It addressed the political and social troubles of the world and black-on-black crime in a soulful, introspective way, contrasting to the more dramatic socially conscious records made by Sly & the Family Stone and The Temptations over the previous years. The song originated from an idea by Four Tops member Renaldo "Obie" Benson, who, witnessing stressful conditions while on tour in Europe, began writing a song to express his feelings. Once back in the United States, Benson and Motown songwriter Al Cleveland prepared an initial rough version of the song, and invited Marvin Gaye as a third collaborator on the song. Marvin Gaye depressed from the death of singing partner Tammi Terrell and strongly considering a retirement from performing, planned to produce "What's Going On" as a single for The Originals, but Benson and Cleveland convinced Gaye to record it himself. On the finished track, Gaye musically ponders on the state of the world and the Vietnam War. The song is notable for its heavy use of major seventh and minor seventh chords, a fairly uncommon occurrence in popular music of that era. Also, notably for this record, Marvin Gaye sings both lead and background vocals himself. The song was completed in 1970. The lyrics of the song were straight to the point so people will understand and feel what he is trying to say. Like for instance, “Mother, mother, There's too many of you crying, Brother, brother, brother, There’s far too many of you dying, You know we've got to find a way, To bring some loving here today.” That verse of the song tells the people that the mothers are tired of seeing their children die because of black-on-black crimes and in the Vietnam War. And it also saying that

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