GAYE Old Motown May (Marvin Gaye) Top Ten: Whats Going On (#8)

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More joy from Motown during the month of May, coming now from the silky smooth voice of the late, great Marvin Gaye. Today’s song is probably the best-known tune on this list, and indicative of just WHY Marvin was so great. Here’s today’s song. #8: What’s Going On My late lamented comedian friend Tim Wilson used to say that Marvin Gaye was the greatest singer ever. Reason being, he “could sing a song about fish with mercury in their stomachs [“Mercy Mercy Me {the Ecology}”] and women were taking their clothes off to the song as fast as they could get them off!” Point taken. If you weren’t alive in the late 60s, listen to this song. It’s about as perfect a recap and description of the times as you’ll see or hear. From the anti-war protests that frequently turned violent (see: Kent State) to the assassinations to the radicals bombing places to the backlash against “long-haired freaky people” (to steal a line from “Signs” by the Five Man Electrical Band), it was NOT a pleasant time. So here’s Marvin, singing a silky smooth soul song that makes you wanna “get it on” (in the words of another one of his songs that sadly didn’t make the list) while the lyrics are preaching a gentle protest (“only love can conquer hate”) against the turmoil. What a marvelous, timeless (and timely) tune. What’s Going On Written by Marvin Gaye, Al Cleveland, and renaldo “Obie” Benson From What’s Going On, 1971 Don’t punish me with brutality: