In an era where social media feeds overflow with questions about current events, where news cycles move at breakneck speed, and where society grapples with complex issues ranging from environmental concerns to social justice, one song continues to resonate with profound relevance. Marvin Gaye’s protest anthem ‘What’s Going On’ was a powerful and groundbreaking song at the time of its release in 1971, but fast forward 50 years later and it is sadly still just as relevant for the world in 2021.

The simple yet profound question posed by Marvin Gaye more than five decades ago – « What’s going on? » – remains as urgent today as it was during the tumultuous early 1970s. This isn’t merely a song; it’s a cultural touchstone that has shaped how we understand protest music, social commentary, and the power of artistic expression to spark meaningful dialogue about society’s most pressing issues.

The Genesis of a Masterpiece: From Witnessing Injustice to Creating Art

The Spark That Ignited a Movement

The story behind « What’s Going On » begins not with Marvin Gaye himself, but with Obie Benson of the Four Tops. Upset, he discussed what he witnessed with friend and songwriter Al Cleveland, who in turn wrote and composed a song to reflect Benson’s concerns. Benson wanted to give the song to his group but the other Four Tops turned down the request. This rejection would prove to be a pivotal moment in music history.

What Benson witnessed that troubled him so deeply was the increasing social unrest and violence that characterized the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Vietnam War was raging, civil rights demonstrations were met with brutal police responses, and American society seemed to be fracturing along racial, generational, and ideological lines. The song was born from a genuine place of confusion and concern about the state of the world.

From Rejection to Revolution

When the Four Tops rejected the song, « My partners told me it was a protest song », Benson said later, « I said ‘no man, it’s a love song, about love and understanding. I’m not protesting, I want to know what’s going on.’ » This distinction between protest and inquiry would become central to the song’s enduring appeal. Rather than simply condemning or demanding change, the song asks questions, seeks understanding, and approaches complex social issues with empathy and curiosity.

In 1970, Benson presented the untitled song to Marvin Gaye, who added a new melody and revised the song to his liking, adding in his own lyrics. This collaboration between Benson, Cleveland, and Gaye created something far greater than the sum of its parts. Gaye’s contribution wasn’t just musical; it was philosophical, emotional, and deeply personal.

The Personal Connection

Gaye worked hard to become a talented football player, and while he never played in the NFL, he was good friends with Detroit Lions Mel Farr and Lem Barney. « What’s Going On » was an expression they used to greet each other, and Gaye used it as the title. Farr and Barney sang backup on the track. This personal connection to the phrase gave the song an authenticity that resonated with listeners who recognized the casual, everyday nature of the question.

The Cultural Context: America in Crisis

The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath

The song « What’s going on » by Marvin Gaye was released on May 21, 1971, towards the end of the Vietnam War and during the civil rights movement. The timing was crucial. America was deeply divided over the war, with thousands of young men returning home traumatized, while others never returned at all. The narrative established by the songs is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning to his home country to witness hatred, suffering, and injustice.

The war had created a generation gap that seemed unbridgeable. Young people questioned authority, traditional values, and the very foundations of American society. Parents struggled to understand their children’s perspectives, while young adults felt alienated from a system that seemed to prioritize war over peace, conformity over individuality.

The Civil Rights Movement and Social Upheaval

The late 1960s and early 1970s were marked by significant civil rights activism, but also by violent confrontations between protesters and police. Marvin Gaye’s « What’s Going On » is one of the greatest songs ever written. It was inspired by police brutality, violence, war and other social ills. The song emerged during a period when peaceful protest often met with violent responses, creating a climate of fear and mistrust.

The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 had left the civil rights movement without its most prominent leader, and many African Americans felt increasingly frustrated with the pace of progress. The song captured this sense of disillusionment while maintaining hope for understanding and change.

Economic and Social Challenges

The next song follows one of those young men home to a nation grappling with an unemployment rate of 6%. « Can’t find no work, can’t find no job, my friend, » Gaye laments on « What’s Happening Brother. » The economic challenges of the early 1970s compounded social tensions, creating a perfect storm of discontent that Gaye captured in his music.

Musical Innovation and Artistic Brilliance

Breaking Motown’s Formula

When Marvin Gaye presented « What’s Going On » to Motown executives, they were initially hesitant. The label had built its reputation on catchy, commercially viable songs that avoided controversial topics. Gaye’s new direction represented a significant departure from the « Motown Sound » that had made the label famous.

This song begins with the sounds of people greeting each other in the slang of that time. There were greetings like « Hey what’s happening! » « Brotha, what’s up? » This innovative opening immediately established the song’s conversational, intimate tone while situating it firmly within African American cultural context.

The Sound of Authenticity

The production of « What’s Going On » was revolutionary for its time. Rather than the polished, studio-perfect sound that characterized most popular music, Gaye opted for a more organic, live feel. The background chatter, the jazz-influenced arrangements, and the layered vocals created a sense of authenticity that made listeners feel like they were part of a conversation rather than passive consumers of entertainment.

The song’s musical arrangement reflected its thematic content. Where other protest songs might use harsh, aggressive sounds to convey anger, « What’s Going On » employed smooth, soulful melodies that invited listeners in rather than pushing them away. This approach made the song’s message more accessible to a broader audience while maintaining its emotional impact.

The Lyrical Genius: Questions That Demand Answers

The Power of Inquiry

What makes « What’s Going On » so enduringly powerful is its approach to social commentary. Rather than making declarative statements or issuing demands, the song asks questions. This technique engages listeners as active participants in the conversation rather than passive recipients of a message.

The song’s central question – « What’s going on? » – is deceptively simple. It’s the kind of question we might ask a friend or family member, but when applied to society as a whole, it becomes profound. The question suggests that things are not as they should be, that there’s confusion and concern, but it doesn’t presuppose specific answers or solutions.

Universal Themes, Specific Concerns

While the song was clearly inspired by specific events and issues of its time, its lyrics address universal human concerns: the search for understanding, the desire for peace, the frustration with injustice, and the hope for a better future. This universality is what has allowed the song to remain relevant across different eras and contexts.

The song touches on themes of:

• War and its consequences
• Social injustice and inequality
• Environmental concerns
• The breakdown of communication between generations
• The search for spiritual meaning in troubled times

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Changing the Music Industry

His song helped change the national conversation. And his success forced Motown to give others, notably Stevie Wonder, artistic freedom. The commercial and critical success of « What’s Going On » proved that audiences were hungry for music that addressed serious social issues. This opened the door for other artists to explore more complex and controversial themes in their work.

The song’s success also demonstrated that African American artists could be successful while maintaining their cultural identity and addressing issues specific to their communities. This was particularly significant in an era when many Black artists felt pressure to « cross over » by adopting styles and themes that would appeal to white audiences.

Influence on Protest Music

Gaye’s work often laid emphasis on the power of love and nonviolent social change. Though Gaye was not entirely known for social activism, this track and the album What’s Going On are an explosion of redefining music with political themes worthy of igniting social change. The song established a new template for protest music that emphasized empathy, understanding, and healing rather than anger and confrontation.

This approach influenced countless artists who followed, from Stevie Wonder to contemporary performers who continue to use music as a vehicle for social commentary. The song showed that protest music could be both commercially successful and artistically sophisticated.

Academic and Critical Recognition

In 2025, the publication ranked the song at number 15 on its list of « The 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time. » This recent recognition demonstrates the song’s enduring relevance and impact. Critical acclaim has only grown over the decades, with many considering it one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

The song’s place in academic discourse has also expanded, with scholars examining its role in the civil rights movement, its influence on popular music, and its significance as a cultural artifact of the early 1970s.

Contemporary Relevance: Why « What’s Going On » Still Matters

Ongoing Social Issues

More than fifty years after its release, « What’s Going On » continues to resonate because many of the issues it addresses remain unresolved. Police brutality, racial inequality, economic disparity, and environmental degradation are still pressing concerns in 2025. The song’s questions feel as urgent today as they did in 1971.

Recent social movements have often invoked the song’s themes and spirit. During protests for racial justice, climate action, and social equality, « What’s Going On » has been both literally and figuratively present, serving as a soundtrack for contemporary activism.

The Digital Age and Social Media

In our current era of information overload and social media echo chambers, the song’s call for genuine dialogue and understanding has taken on new significance. The question « What’s going on? » has become even more complex in a world where different groups often have completely different understandings of current events.

The song’s emphasis on empathy and conversation offers a model for how we might engage with complex social issues in a more constructive way. Rather than immediately taking sides or making judgments, the song suggests that we should first seek to understand.

Environmental Consciousness

While environmental concerns were not as prominent in 1971 as they are today, the song’s broader themes of responsibility and stewardship have made it relevant to contemporary environmental movements. The question « What’s going on? » takes on new urgency when applied to climate change, pollution, and ecological destruction.

The Album Context: A Complete Artistic Statement

Narrative Structure

Gaye’s introspective lyrics explore themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War. The song « What’s Going On » served as the opening track of an album that told a complete story, following a narrative arc that moved from confusion and concern to hope and resolution.

The album as a whole represented a new approach to popular music, treating the long-playing record as a canvas for artistic expression rather than simply a collection of individual songs. This concept album approach would influence countless artists and help establish the LP as a serious artistic medium.

Musical Cohesion

The album’s musical consistency, with its jazz-influenced arrangements and sophisticated production, created a unified listening experience that supported the thematic coherence of the songs. Each track flowed naturally into the next, creating a meditation on the state of American society in the early 1970s.

Analysis of Musical Elements

Harmonic Sophistication

The song’s harmonic structure was more complex than typical popular music of its time, incorporating jazz chords and progressions that gave it a sophisticated, adult quality. This musical maturity matched the seriousness of its lyrical content and helped establish it as more than just a pop song.

Rhythmic Innovation

The song’s rhythm section, with its laid-back groove and subtle complexity, created a sense of urgency without resorting to aggressive or harsh sounds. This approach made the song’s message more accessible while maintaining its emotional impact.

Vocal Techniques

Gaye’s vocal performance was central to the song’s success. His use of multiple vocal tracks, conversational delivery, and emotional range created an intimate connection with listeners that made them feel like participants in the conversation rather than passive observers.

Practical Lessons for Modern Artists and Activists

The Power of Questions

Contemporary artists and activists can learn from « What’s Going On » the power of asking questions rather than simply making statements. Questions engage audiences, invite dialogue, and acknowledge the complexity of social issues in ways that declarative statements cannot.

Balancing Art and Message

The song demonstrates how artistic excellence and social commentary can enhance rather than compete with each other. Rather than sacrificing musical quality for message, or vice versa, « What’s Going On » shows how both can be achieved simultaneously.

Building Bridges

The song’s emphasis on understanding and empathy offers a model for how to address divisive social issues in ways that bring people together rather than driving them apart. This approach is particularly relevant in our current polarized political climate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Was « What’s Going On » immediately successful when it was released? A: While the song became a major hit, Motown executives were initially reluctant to release it because it departed from their usual formula. Its success helped change the label’s approach to more serious subject matter.

Q: How did the song influence other Motown artists? A: The success of « What’s Going On » gave other Motown artists, particularly Stevie Wonder, the creative freedom to explore more complex themes and artistic approaches in their music.

Q: Why is the song still relevant today? A: The song addresses universal themes of social justice, empathy, and the search for understanding that remain relevant across different eras and contexts.

Q: What makes this song different from other protest songs? A: Unlike many protest songs that focus on anger or demands for change, « What’s Going On » emphasizes questions, empathy, and the desire for understanding and dialogue.

Conclusion: The Eternal Question

As we navigate the complexities of 2025, with its new challenges and persistent old problems, Marvin Gaye’s fundamental question remains as relevant as ever. « What’s going on? » isn’t just a song title; it’s a call to awareness, empathy, and engagement with the world around us.

Few albums in history have had the cultural impact as Marvin Gaye’s « What’s Going On ». Universally loved by music fans around the world, it’s an album like none before it. Few records have captured the zeitgeist and remained as relevant as this album — Marvin’s crowning achievement.

The song’s enduring power lies not in its ability to provide easy answers, but in its insistence that we continue asking difficult questions. In a world that often seems divided by insurmountable differences, « What’s Going On » reminds us that understanding begins with curiosity, that change begins with empathy, and that progress begins with honest dialogue.

Whether we’re dealing with climate change, social inequality, political polarization, or any of the other challenges that define our time, the approach modeled by « What’s Going On » offers a path forward. Rather than immediately choosing sides or making judgments, we might first ask: « What’s going on? » And in that question, we might find the beginning of understanding, the seeds of empathy, and the foundation for meaningful change.

The song’s legacy extends far beyond its commercial success or critical acclaim. It represents a way of engaging with the world that prioritizes curiosity over certainty, empathy over anger, and dialogue over division. In our current moment, when these qualities seem more necessary than ever, « What’s Going On » stands as both a reminder of how far we’ve come and a challenge to continue the work of understanding and healing.

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Additional Resources

Books:

• « What’s Going On?: Marvin Gaye and the Last Days of the Motown Sound » by Ben Edmonds
• « Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye » by Michael Eric Dyson

Documentaries:

• « Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On » (2006)
• « The Motown Story » series

Online Resources:

• Motown Museum official website
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame archives
• Library of Congress National Recording Registry

Discussion Questions for Further Reflection:

1. How do the themes of « What’s Going On » apply to current social issues?
2. What role should artists play in addressing social problems?
3. How has the meaning of protest music evolved since 1971?
4. What can we learn from the song’s approach to difficult conversations?

Take a moment to listen to « What’s Going On » again with fresh ears. What questions does it raise for you about our current moment? How might we apply its lessons to the challenges we face today?