What's Going On (song)
"What's Going On" | ||||
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 3:40 (7-inch version) | |||
Label | Tamla (T 54201) | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Marvin Gaye | |||
Marvin Gaye singles chronology | ||||
|
"What's Going On" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Inspiration and writing
The song's inspiration came from
Upset, he discussed what he witnessed with friend and songwriter
Gaye, himself, had been inspired by social ills committed in the United States, citing the
Recording
Gaye entered the recording studio,
Jamerson was pulled into the session after Gaye located him playing with a band at a local bar. Respected Motown
To add more to the song's laid-back approach, Gaye invited the
On hearing a playback of the song, Gaye asked his engineer Kenneth Sands to give him his two vocal leads to compare what he wanted to use for the song's release. Sands ended up mixing the leads together, by accident. However, when he heard it, Gaye was so impressed with the double-lead feel that he kept it, influencing his later recordings in which he mastered vocal multi-layering adding in three different vocal parts. Before presenting the song to Gordy, he produced a
After Gordy heard the song when Gaye presented it to him in California, he turned down Gaye's request to release it, telling Gaye that he felt it was "the worst thing I ever heard in my life."[10] When Harry Balk requested the song be released, Gordy told him the song featured "that Dizzy Gillespie stuff in the middle, that scatting, it's old."[15] Gaye responded to this rejection by refusing to record further unless the song was released, going on strike until, he felt, Gordy saw sense in releasing it.[10]
Commercial performance
Anxious for Marvin Gaye product, Balk got Motown's sales vice president Barney Ales to release the song on January 17,
Critical reception and legacy
The song was reviewed by
"What's Going On" was nominated for two
Although "What's Going On" does not appear in the 1983 film The Big Chill it is included on both the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and More Songs from the Big Chill.
In 2004 and 2010, "What's Going On" was ranked number 4 on the Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", making it the highest Marvin Gaye song on the list.[5][6] It was ranked number 6 in Rolling Stone's 2021 edition of the list.[23] In 2016, it was voted number 2 in "Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs",[24] a project based on voting by music experts and the public, conducted by the Detroit Free Press.
In 1999, music writers
The song topped
Personnel
- Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals, piano and box drum
- Backing vocals by Marvin Gaye, Mel Farr, Lem Barney, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover, Bobby Rogers, and the Funk Brothers
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra including:[3]
- Eli Fountain – soprano saxophone
- Robert White – acoustic guitar
- Joe Messina – electric guitar
- James Jamerson – bass
- Chet Forest – drums
- Jack Ashford – tambourine, percussion
Production
- Marvin Gaye – producer, composer
- Renaldo "Obie" Benson– composer
- Al Cleveland – composer
- David Van De Pitte – arranger
- Steve Smith – recording engineer
- Mike McLean – recording engineer
- Ken Sands – recording and mix engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Sales since November 18, 2004 |
Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades
List | Publisher | Rank | Year of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
500 Greatest Songs of All Time | Rolling Stone | 4 | 2010 |
Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs[24] | Detroit Free Press | 2 | 2016 |
100 Greatest Rock Songs | VH1 | 14 | 2000 |
100 Songs That Changed the World | Q | 39 | 2003 |
1001 Best Songs Ever | Q | 64 | 2003 |
500 Songs That Shaped Rock | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | N/A | 1995 |
365 Songs of the Century | RIAA | 65 | 2001 |
Cyndi Lauper version
"What's Going On" | ||||
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Single by Cyndi Lauper | ||||
from the album True Colors | ||||
B-side | "One Track Mind" | |||
Released | March 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1986 | |||
Genre | Synth-pop[41] | |||
Length | 4:41 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology | ||||
|
Charts
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[43] | 52 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] | 27 |
Canadian Singles Chart (RPM) | 30 |
Chilean Singles Chart[45] | 19 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[46] | 39 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] | 30 |
RIANZ Singles Chart[48]
|
30 |
UK Singles ( OCC )
|
57 |
US (Billboard Hot 100) | 12 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[49] | 29 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Music Maxi Single Sales[50] | 7 |
US Billboard (Dance Club Songs) | 17 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles
|
15 |
Track listing
- 7"
- "What's Going On" (Single Version) - 3:51
- "One Track Mind" - 3:39
- 12"
- "What's Going On" (club version) – 6:20 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
- "What's Going On" (long version) – 6:22 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
- "What's Going On" (instrumental) – 6:25 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
- "One Track Mind" – 3:39 (Cyndi Lauper; Jeff Bova; Jimmy Bralower; Lennie Petze)
Official versions
- Album version – 4:39
- Club version – 6:30
- Instrumental – 6:25
- Long version – 6:22
- Special version – 3:51
Charity versions
Live Aid Armenia cover
"What's Going On" | |
---|---|
Single by Live Aid Armenia | |
A-side | "What's Going On" |
B-side | "A Cool Wind Is Blowing" |
Released | 1989 |
Recorded | 1989 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 8:48 |
Label | Epic |
Songwriter(s) | Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson, Marvin Gaye |
Producer(s) | Steve Levine (producer) Fraser Kennedy and Jon Dee (executive producers) |
The remake of "What's Going On" was the first of the
Track listings
7" Single
- What's Going On - 8:48
12" Single
- What's Going On - 8:48
Music Relief '94
"What's Going On" | |
---|---|
Single by Music Relief '94 | |
Released | October 24, 1994[51] |
Genre | Soul |
Length | 3:52 |
Label | Jive |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
In 1994, the song was covered in the Music Relief '94. This cover was released as a benefit single released in memory of the Rwandan genocide. The singers who participated in the project were C. J. Lewis, Roachford, Yazz, Aswad, Edwin Starr, Peter Cunnah of D Ream, Kim Appleby, Mick Jones of BAD, Rozalla, Tony Di Bart, Paul Young, Paul Carrack, Angie Brown of Ramona 55, Jimmy Ruffin, Omar, Apache Indian, Worlds Apart, Kaos, the Pasadenas, Gus Isidore, Jools Holland, Mark King of Level 42, Nik Kershaw, Larry Adler, and Dannii Minogue.[52]
Charts
Chart (1994–1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Germany (Official German Charts)[53] | 72 |
70 |
Artists Against AIDS Worldwide cover
"What's Going On" | |
---|---|
YouTube |
On October 30, 2001, a group of popular recording artists under the name "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide" released a single containing multiple versions of "What's Going On" to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and other impoverished regions.[55] The single contains "What's Going On" along with eight additional remixes. The song was recorded shortly before the September 11, 2001 attacks, and it was decided afterwards that a portion of the song's proceeds would benefit the American Red Cross' September 11 fund as well.
, among other artists.The collaboration was a success worldwide, peaking within the top 10 on the charts of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom and the top 20 on the charts of
Track listings
US maxi-CD single[56]
- "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix)
- "What's Going On" (The London version)
- "What's Going On" (Moby's version)
- "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix)
- "What's Going On" (Mangini/Pop Rox Mix)
- "What's Going On" (Mick Guzauski's Pop Mix)
- "What's Going On" (Dupri R&B Mix)
- "What's Going On" (The Neptunes This One's for You Mix)
- "What's Going On" (Junior Vasquez's Club Mix)
UK CD single[57]
- "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix) – 4:19
- "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix) – 5:14
- "What's Going On" (The London version) – 3:55
UK cassette single[58]
- "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix) – 4:19
- "What's Going On" (Moby's version) – 4:36
European CD single[59]
- "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix)
- "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix)
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (RMNZ)[85] | Gold | 5,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | October 30, 2001 | CD |
|
[55] |
United Kingdom | November 5, 2001 |
|
Columbia | [86] |
Other notable cover versions
- Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.[87]
- U2 performed a version of the song on their release Spotify Singles, in 2017, as a promotion for their just released album, Songs of Experience. [88]
See also
References
- ^ "Marvin Gaye - 45 years ago! Marvin Gaye's "What's Going..." Facebook. 2016-01-20. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
- ^ Classic Tracks Back To Back Singles. Thunder Bay Press. 2008. p. 125.
- ^ a b c d e f "Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On?'". July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.
- ^ a b "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2003-12-11. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
- ^ a b c "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Marvin Gaye, 'What's Going On'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-06-167015-2.
- ^ a b c d Lynskey 2011, p. 155.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84195-314-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lynskey 2011, p. 157.
- ^ a b Lynskey 2011, p. 156.
- ISBN 978-0-88188-882-9.
- ^ "Barbecue Grill Showman Never Skipped Beat". Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- ^ What's Going On album liner note credits
- ^ Bowman, Rob (April 2006). Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing (Media notes). p. 15.
- ^ a b Bowman 2006, p. 16.
- ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
- ^ "Marvin Gaye: What's Going On". Slant Magazine. 10 November 2003. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "What's Going On Album Review". Rolling Stone. May 5, 1971. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 6, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 13, 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. February 6, 1971. p. 74. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
- ^ a b "Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs". Detroit Free Press. 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
- ^ "BBC RADIO 2 - SONGS OF THE CENTURY". Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Rocklist.net....60 Years Of The NME". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever!". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Experience the Music: One-Hit Wonders and the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Rock Songs 1-50". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-04-17. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 226.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 4/10/71". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
- ^ "Marvin Gaye: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas [ 2022/03/09 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
- ^ Billboard. 1971-12-25. p. 15. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
- ^ "British single certifications – Marvin Gaye – What's Going On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (November 20, 2021). "Be the One to Walk in the Sun Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Cyndi Lauper - "What's going on?"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIAbetween 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper - What's Going On". Ultratop. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper - What's Going On". 2003-11-28. Archived from the original on 2003-11-28. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper – What's Going On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper - What's Going On". Charts.nz. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper Adult Contemporary Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ^ "Cyndi Lauper Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
- ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 22, 1994. p. 27.
- ^ What's Going On (UK CD single liner notes). Music Relief '94. Jive Records. 1994. RWANDA CD 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Music Relief '94 – What's Going On" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Visty, Beverly (October 30, 2001). "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide's New Superstar Version of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' in Stores Tuesday, October 30" (Press release). Los Angeles: Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Archived from the original on August 25, 2003. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ What's Going On (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Play-Tone, Columbia Records. 2001. CK 86199.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ What's Going On (UK CD single liner notes). Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Columbia Records. 2001. 672117 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ What's Going On (UK cassette single sleeve). Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Columbia Records. 2001. 672117 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ What's Going On (European CD single liner notes). Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 672036 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- Ultratip. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Artists Against AIDS – What's Going On". Tracklisten. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 48. November 24, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- Les classement single. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What's Going On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "History" (in Italian). FIMI. Retrieved June 23, 2022. Set "Ricerca per" on "Titolo", then search "What's Going On" and click "Classifiche".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute – What's Going On". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ "All Star Tribute Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "All Star Tribute Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts.org. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Top 200 Singles of 2001" (PDF). UkChartsPlus. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Allstars – What's Goin On". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting November 5, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 3, 2001. p. 29. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "45th Annual Grammy Awards Winners". grammy.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
- ^ "U2songs | U2 - "Spotify Singles" Streaming Digital Release |". Retrieved August 23, 2022.
External links
- Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On": Songs We Love at NPR
- List of cover versions of "What's Going On" at SecondHandSongs.com