They say laughter and math are pretty universal across borders, but what about music? A catchy beat can get feet tapping all over the world. Just the right sounds can get everyone’s blood pumping with all of life’s heartbreaking, wonderful possibilities. If we were to get everyone to sit down and watch just one live performance, it would have to be Marvin Gaye singing “What’s Going On” in 1972.
For listening on-demand, “What’s Going On” came out just the year before on the studio album of the same name, which itself is a treasure trove of solid tracks. It helps that it’s a concept album, basically meaning all the songs work together to tell a bigger whole story. That’s great, but to watch Gaye sing it live, viewers get one of those rare chances to say that elusive phrase, “Live sounds better than in the studio!” while getting a performance that could get everyone believing in a brighter future.
Marvin Gaye touched on timeless topics with “What’s Going On.”
Looking at the original song and the album whose name it inspired, “What’s Going On” was steeped in history. The album tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran who, after all those horrors overseas, comes home to conflict, fear, and hardship right in his own home country.
“What’s Going On” is a bit more specific than that, inspired by Mowtown vocalist Renaldo “Obie” Benson witnessing police brutality at an anti-war protest in People’s Park; the event would later become known as Bloody Thursday. Trying to understand the disproportionate violence, Benson asked, “What is happening here?” His questions continued, and so did the inspiration.
He worked with Benson after his usual group turned down the tune and called it a “protest song.” To this, Bensonc said, “No, man, it’s a love song.” If that doesn’t sum it up beautifully, nothing does—just the love song performed live by Gaye, which we all need to pause, listen to, and soak in. On top of that, Benson put his own unmistakable flair on “What’s Going On,” which turned it from a pure song into what Benson called a “story.” But still, he sings it live at his best.
Gaye does something special with his live performance
Videos of Gaye singing “What’s Going On” have millions upon millions of views, and his live 1972 performance is no exception. But there, we get to finally say an artist sounds just as good live as he does recorded. In fact, some listeners avidly believe “the live is better than the recording,” noting that the “vocals & instruments are crisp, & the way he sung it was astounding.”
Yet another lauded this particular rendition as the “very best version of the song.”
Others, thanks to Gaye’s vocals, felt the meaning behind his desire to spread positivity. “This is the answer,” one listener said. “Don’t listen to the media. Just have a good heart and love each other. That’s how we solve all these problems. All the rest is just noise. Be color blind and love each other. Period.” Similarly, one viewer suggested, “Make the world stop and listen to this song. Show it on a screen with subtitles in every language.”
If nothing else, his soothing voice and that heavenly bass performance by musician James Jamerson do belong on a global stage, celebrated as the international treasure that they are.
