Sean Walsh
Explorations in Music What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye
Introduction
This essay will analyse the piece What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye, based on it’s melodic, harmonic and rhythmic content. It will also consider the form, structure, instrumentation and use of dynamics in the piece, while providing a contextualisation of the piece to convey where it sits in a broader context, historically, socially and politically. In addition, how it relates to its genre, what influenced the piece and what has the piece influenced will be explored. The creative processes involved in the recording and production of the piece will also be examined.
“What’s Going On” is a song by American recording artist Marvin Gaye. The piece is ranked at #4 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time list (Carter, 2011). It could be said that this piece of music is one of the most important politically charged songs of modern day music. The song has been hailed by critics and music listeners alike. Bush (no date) describes What's Going On as not only a Marvin Gaye masterpiece, it's the most important and
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The CEO of Motown, Berry Gordy, had said to Gaye that “What’s Going On” was the worst record he’d ever heard and completely refused to release the piece. Dyson (2005) states that Gordy was irritated with the song's musical tributes to jazz and nervous about making something political. Furthermore, Gaye was seen as a Motown hitmaker which could be argued that making a politically charged record would be detrimental to his career. However, Gaye believed that “What’s Going On” was an important record that needed to be heard by the masses and refused to record any new material until “What’s Going On” was released. Eventually, with the help of lower executives at Motown and while Gordy was on holidays, the song was released and from that day some would say it changed the legacy of Marvin Gaye
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“What’s Going On” is a song by American recording artist Marvin Gaye. The piece is ranked at #4 on Rolling
In 1971, Marvin Gaye, a renowned Motown artist, published a concept album that would become a huge hit for both critics and casual listeners throughout the US. Written towards the end of the Vietnam War, What’s Going On would touch on subjects including war protests, unification of the American people, and the poor treatment of veterans. Gaye’s brother served in Vietnam, and much of this album shows the brother’s thoughts and feelings when he returns. Throughout his album, Marvin Gaye uses his own experiences to give us a look at why he and many others had a dissatisfaction with society and the government during the Vietnam War era in the United States.