What's Going On (song)

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(Redirected from
What's Going On (remix album)
)
For other songs, see What's Going On.
"What's Going On"
Hitsville USA Studio A (main tracks), Studio B (supporting tracks), Motown Center (mixdown)[3]
Genre
Length3:53
3:40 (7-inch version)
LabelTamla (T 54201)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"The End of Our Road"
(1970) 		"What's Going On"
(1971) 		"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"
(1971)

"What's Going On" is a song by American singer-songwriter

crossing over to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, it would sell over two million copies, becoming Gaye's second-most successful Motown song to date.[4] It was ranked at number 4 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of all Time in 2004 and 2010.[5][6]

Inspiration and writing

The song's inspiration came from

anti-war activists in what was hailed later as "Bloody Thursday".[8] Upset by the situation, Benson said to author Ben Edmonds that as he saw this, he asked, "'What is happening here?' One question led to another. Why are they sending kids so far away from their families overseas? Why are they attacking their own children in the streets?"[8][9]

Upset, he discussed what he witnessed with friend and songwriter

The Originals
, Benson convinced Gaye to record it as his own song.

Gaye, himself, had been inspired by social ills committed in the United States, citing the

Bahamas at the time, Gaye had told Gordy that he wanted to record a protest record, to which Gordy said in response, "Marvin, don't be ridiculous. That's taking things too far."[10]

Recording

"What's Going On"
Sample of the opening 30 seconds of "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Gaye entered the recording studio,

marijuana by Gaye and other musicians.[10]

Jamerson was pulled into the session after Gaye located him playing with a band at a local bar. Respected Motown

box drum to help accentuate Chet Forest's drumming.[3]

To add more to the song's laid-back approach, Gaye invited the

background vocal track.[14] The rhythm tracks and the song's overdubs were done at Hitsville, while strings, horns, lead and background vocals were recorded at Studio B. The song was mixed in stereo at Motown Center studio on Woodward Avenue.[3]

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

God Is Love
", on the same day.

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,

What's Going On album itself.[10]

Critical reception and legacy

The song was reviewed by

Cash Box said "Marvin Gaye shows a new sound off in this fine release. Incorporating elements of jazz vocal and his old-fashioned smooth style, the artist is reborn."[21] Billboard said that "this easy beat rocker has it to put [Gaye] right up the Hot 100 and Soul charts."[22]

"What's Going On" was nominated for two

Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
, but failed to win in any of the categories.

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

New Musical Express named it the number 33 Greatest 1970s song on their list.[26]

The song topped

VH-1's 100 Greatest Rock Songs.[29]

Personnel

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

Certifications

Certifications for "What's Going On"
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

Accolades for "What's Going On"
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"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album True Colors
B-side"One Track Mind"
ReleasedMarch 1987
Recorded1986
GenreSynth-pop[41]
Length4:41
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Change of Heart"
(1986) 		"What's Going On"
(1987) 		"Boy Blue"
(1987)

dance chart. However, the song failed to reach the US top ten unlike Lauper's previous two singles from her True Colors album, the title track and "Change of Heart", reaching number 12. The video for the song, directed by Andy Morahan,[42] was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award
.

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"
  1. "What's Going On" (Single Version) - 3:51
  2. "One Track Mind" - 3:39
12"
  1. "What's Going On" (club version) – 6:20 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
  2. "What's Going On" (long version) – 6:22 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
  3. "What's Going On" (instrumental) – 6:25 (Marvin Gaye; Al Cleveland; Renaldo Benson)
  4. "One Track Mind" – 3:39 (Cyndi Lauper; Jeff Bova; Jimmy Bralower; Lennie Petze)

Official versions

  1. Album version – 4:39
  2. Club version – 6:30
  3. Instrumental – 6:25
  4. Long version – 6:22
  5. 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"
Released1989
Recorded1989
GenrePop
Length8:48
LabelEpic
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

Aswad, Errol Brown, Richard Darbyshire, Gail Ann Dorsey, Boy George, David Gilmour, Nick Heyward, Mykaell S. Riley, Labi Siffre, Helen Terry, Ruby Turner, Elizabeth Westwood and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. The B-side was "A Cool Wind Is Blowing", Armenian duduk music played by Djivan Gasparyan. The record was produced by Steve Levine and the executive producers were Fraser Kennedy and Jon Dee. This was released as a single on Island Records
.

Track listings

7" Single

  1. What's Going On - 8:48

12" Single

  1. What's Going On - 8:48

Music Relief '94

"What's Going On"
Single by Music Relief '94
ReleasedOctober 24, 1994 (1994-10-24)[51]
GenreSoul
Length3:52
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Nigel Rush
  • Colin Fairley
  • Tony Swain
  • Tim Laws

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
UK Singles (OCC)[54]
 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.

Aaron Lewis of Staind, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Wyclef Jean and Gaye's own daughter Nona
, 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

Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts. A music video was directed by Jake Scott
.

Track listings

US maxi-CD single[56]

  1. "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix)
  2. "What's Going On" (The London version)
  3. "What's Going On" (Moby's version)
  4. "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix)
  5. "What's Going On" (Mangini/Pop Rox Mix)
  6. "What's Going On" (Mick Guzauski's Pop Mix)
  7. "What's Going On" (Dupri R&B Mix)
  8. "What's Going On" (The Neptunes This One's for You Mix)
  9. "What's Going On" (Junior Vasquez's Club Mix)

UK CD single[57]

  1. "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix) – 4:19
  2. "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix) – 5:14
  3. "What's Going On" (The London version) – 3:55

UK cassette single[58]

  1. "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix) – 4:19
  2. "What's Going On" (Moby's version) – 4:36

European CD single[59]

  1. "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix)
  2. "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check Mix)

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "What's Going On"
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 (2001-10-30) CD
[55]
United Kingdom November 5, 2001 (2001-11-05)
  • CD
  • cassette
 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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Classic Tracks Back To Back Singles. Thunder Bay Press. 2008. p. 125.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On?'". July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.
  5. ^ a b "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2003-12-11. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  6. ^ a b c "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Marvin Gaye, 'What's Going On'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  7. ISBN 978-0-06-167015-2
    .
  8. ^ a b c d Lynskey 2011, p. 155.
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84195-314-4
    .
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Lynskey 2011, p. 157.
  11. ^ a b Lynskey 2011, p. 156.
  12. ISBN 978-0-88188-882-9
    .
  13. ^ "Barbecue Grill Showman Never Skipped Beat". Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  14. ^ What's Going On album liner note credits
  15. ^ Bowman, Rob (April 2006). Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing (Media notes). p. 15.
  16. ^ a b Bowman 2006, p. 16.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  18. ^ "Marvin Gaye: What's Going On". Slant Magazine. 10 November 2003. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  19. ^ "What's Going On Album Review". Rolling Stone. May 5, 1971. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  20. ^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 6, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  21. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 13, 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  22. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. February 6, 1971. p. 74. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  23. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  24. ^ a b "Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs". Detroit Free Press. 2016-07-17. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  25. ^ "BBC RADIO 2 - SONGS OF THE CENTURY". Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  26. ^ "Rocklist.net....60 Years Of The NME". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  27. ^ "The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs Ever!". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Rock Songs 1-50". Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  30. ISBN 0-646-11917-6
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  32. ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  33. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 226.
  34. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 4/10/71". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
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  40. ^ "British single certifications – Marvin Gaye – What's Going On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  41. ^ 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.
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  85. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Allstars – What's Goin On". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
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  87. ^ "45th Annual Grammy Awards Winners". grammy.com. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  88. ^ "U2songs | U2 - "Spotify Singles" Streaming Digital Release |". Retrieved August 23, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=What%27s_Going_On_(song)&oldid=1214532475#Artists_Against_AIDS_Worldwide_cover"