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What's Going On (song)

From Alfawiki
Tamla Records
Company typeRecord label
IndustryMusic
Founded1959 in Detroit, Michigan, United States
FounderBerry Gordy
Headquarters
Detroit
,
United States
ParentMotown

What's Going On is a track by American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye, issued on January 21, 1971, through Motown's Tamla label. It serves as the opening piece of Gaye's album sharing the same title. The song was inspired by an incident of police violence witnessed by Renaldo "Obie" Benson and was co-written by Benson, Al Cleveland, and Gaye, who also took on production duties. This release marked a departure for Gaye from the classic Motown Sound toward more introspective and socially conscious themes. The single dominated the Hot Soul Singles chart for five consecutive weeks and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. With sales exceeding two million copies, it became Gaye's second highest-selling Motown single. Its enduring influence is reflected in its prominent placement on Rolling Stone magazine’s lists of greatest songs and protest anthems, underscoring its significance in both musical and social contexts.

Inspiration and writing

The genesis of the song traces back to Renaldo "Obie" Benson, a member of Motown’s vocal group the Four Tops, who witnessed police aggression and unrest during a visit to Berkeley on May 15, 1969. This event occurred amidst protests at Berkeley’s People's Park, known as "Bloody Thursday". Disturbed by the scene, Benson questioned why young Americans were being sent abroad to fight wars while facing violence at home.

Benson relayed his experience to songwriter Al Cleveland, who crafted a song embodying these concerns. Initially, Benson intended the piece for the Four Tops; however, they declined it due to its protest-oriented message. Benson maintained that the song was about love and empathy rather than protest. In 1970, he introduced the untitled composition to Marvin Gaye, who reworked it with new melodies and lyrics, transforming it into a powerful story. Gaye named it "What's Going On" and persuaded Benson to allow him to record it instead of The Originals.

Gaye’s personal outlook shifted due to social turmoil in America, particularly influenced by events like the 1965 Watts Riot. This change led him away from conventional love songs toward addressing societal issues. Conversations with his brother Frankie, a Vietnam War veteran, along with the death of his cousin in military service, further fueled his motivation. Despite initial opposition from Motown founder Berry Gordy, who warned against releasing a protest record, Gaye remained committed to bringing the project to fruition.

Recording

On June 1, 1970, Gaye entered the Hitsville USA studio to lay down "What's Going On." Opting to produce the track himself rather than relying on external producers, he combined talents from Motown’s in-house musicians such as James Jamerson and Eddie Brown with newly recruited players. The opening soprano saxophone line performed by Eli Fontaine was improvised; upon hearing it, Gaye encouraged Fontaine to leave while complimenting his "exquisite goofing off." The recording environment was informal and relaxed, aided by frequent marijuana use among Gaye and the session musicians.

Jamerson was brought in after Gaye discovered him performing locally. According to Motown arranger David Van De Pitte, Jamerson had an exceptional ability to perform despite high alcohol consumption. During the recording session, Jamerson lay on the floor while playing bass lines he deeply admired, describing the track as a "masterpiece." In addition to vocals, Gaye contributed piano, keyboards, and box drum parts alongside Chet Forest’s drumming.

To capture a casual atmosphere for the song’s vibe, Gaye invited Detroit Lions players Mel Farr and Lem Barney to join him and the Funk Brothers at Motown Studio B for informal vocal exchanges and simulated conversation. Songwriter and staff member Elgie Stover initiated the track with phrases such as "hey, man, what's happening?" Subsequently, Barney, Farr, and Bobby Rogers of the Miracles provided background vocals. Rhythm sections and overdubs were recorded at Hitsville while strings, horns, and additional vocals were tracked at Studio B. The stereo mixing took place at Motown Center located on Woodward Avenue.

After listening to playback, Gaye requested engineer Kenneth Sands provide two lead vocal takes for comparison; Sands accidentally blended both leads into one mix. Favoring this combined vocal effect, Gaye retained it—paving the way for his signature layered vocal technique. He also incorporated a false fade near the conclusion before presenting the final cut to Gordy. The composition included unusual major seventh and minor seventh chord progressions. On the same day, Gaye recorded the B-side track "God Is Love."

When Gordy heard the recording in California, he initially dismissed it as "the worst thing I ever heard," criticizing its scat singing style as outdated. Although Harry Balk advocated for its release, Gordy remained skeptical. In response, Gaye staged a strike—refusing further studio work until Gordy consented to issue the single.

Commercial performance

Motown's sales executive Barney Ales, eager to capitalize on Marvin Gaye's new release, launched the single on January 17, 1971, initially pressing 100,000 copies and promoting it across the country. The strong demand led to an additional pressing of 100,000 units, with over 200,000 copies sold within just one week. Although Berry Gordy was initially unaware of the release, he endorsed it after witnessing its impressive sales figures. The track dominated the Billboard R&B chart for five consecutive weeks and claimed the top spot on the Cashbox pop chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number two, held back only by hits from the Temptations and Three Dog Night. By year's end, it was ranked number 21 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 for 1971 and surpassed two million in sales, marking it as Motown's fastest-selling single at that time. Its commercial triumph convinced Gordy to permit Gaye to produce an entire album, which culminated in What's Going On following a deadline set for completion by March.

Critical reception and legacy

Slant Magazine highlighted the song’s somber mood juxtaposed with lively vocal interplay. Rolling Stone commended it for establishing the tone of the album despite lyrics that were described as "not particularly brilliant." Record World referred to it as "a tasteful message song" featuring "exceptional production," while Cash Box emphasized Gaye’s fusion of jazz-inspired vocals with a smooth delivery as a form of artistic renewal. Billboard anticipated strong chart success for the single.

At the 1972 Grammy Awards, "What's Going On" earned nominations for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), although it did not secure a win.

The track is included on both soundtrack albums associated with the film The Big Chill, even though it does not appear within the movie itself.

On Rolling Stone’s original (2004) and 2010 lists of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time," it was ranked fourth, making it Marvin Gaye’s highest-charting entry. In their 2021 and 2024 editions, it placed sixth and was listed fifteenth in their 2025 compilation of "The 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time." In 2016, music critics and public voters selected it as number two among "Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs," as reported by the Detroit Free Press.

Additional honors include ranking seventy-fourth on BBC Radio 2’s Songs of the Century (1999), sixty-fourth on Q magazine’s Best Songs Ever (2003), and fourteenth on VH1’s 100 Greatest Rock Songs. It topped Detroit’s Metro Times list of Greatest Detroit Songs and is featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s collection of "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll," alongside two other tracks by Marvin Gaye.

Personnel

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, box drum
  • Backing vocals by Marvin Gaye, Mel Farr, Lem Barney, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover, Bobby Rogers, and the Funk Brothers
  • Instrumentation performed by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra including:
    • Eli Fountain – alto saxophone
    • Robert White – acoustic guitar
    • Joe Messina – electric guitar
    • James Jamerson – bass guitar
    • Chet Forest – drums
    • Eddie "Bongo" Brown – bongos and congas
    • Jack Ashford – tambourine and percussion

Production

  • Marvin Gaye – producer and 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 mixing engineer

Weekly charts

Weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (1971) Highest
position
Australia KMR 69
Canada RPM Top Singles 76
US Billboard Hot 100 2
US Billboard R&B/Soul Singles 1
US Cash Box Top 100 1
Template:Single chart
1983 weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (1983) Highest
position
2011 weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (2011) Highest
position
South Korea International (Circle) 78
2022 weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (2022) Highest
position
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard) 20
2025 weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (2025) Highest
position
Israel International Airplay (Media Forest) 19

Year-end charts

Year-end rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (1971) Position
US Billboard Hot 100 21
US Cash Box Top 100 22
US R&B/Soul (Billboard) 2

Accolades

Honors received by "What's Going On"
Award List Issuer Placement Year
500 Greatest Songs of All Time Rolling Stone 4 2010
Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs 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

American artist and songwriter Cyndi Lauper recorded a cover of "What's Going On" for her sophomore album, True Colors (1986). Released as the third single from the album on March 2, 1987, her synth-driven pop interpretation includes gunshot sound effects in the album cut to allude to the Vietnam War, while the single version is a remix featuring a different vocal introduction.

Critical reception

The pan-European publication Music & Media selected Cyndi Lauper's rendition of "What's Going On" as one of its "records of the week" on March 14, 1987, highlighting that her vocal performance surpassed that of her prior single "Change of Heart".

Chart performance

"What's Going On" made its debut on the UK Singles Chart during the week of March 14, 1987, entering at position 88 and eventually reaching a peak of number 57—surpassing the peak of her previous single, "Change of Heart", by ten spots. In the United States, the track appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 starting at number 63 and climbed to its highest ranking of number 12 on May 9, 1987, in its ninth week on the chart. The single remained on the chart for a total of 13 weeks and marked Lauper's second release to not break into the US top ten, following "Money Changes Everything". Notably, it experienced the biggest single-week fall on the American Top 40, dropping from number 16 down to 38. Despite this, remixed versions by Shep Pettibone contributed to its ascent into the top twenty on the Dance Club Songs chart. Lauper later conveyed her dissatisfaction with how the single performed commercially.

Music video

The music video for "What's Going On," directed by Andy Morahan, was filmed in New York City and debuted on MTV on February 25, 1987. It received a nomination for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, though it ultimately lost to Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

Charts

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Weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On (Cyndi Lauper version)"
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 52
Chile (Chilean Singles Chart) 19
Mexico (AMPROFON) 5
US Hot Crossover 30 (Billboard) 12
US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles 15
US Top 12" Dance Singles (Cash Box) 15
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report) 14
US Top 40 (Gavin Report) 13
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records) 24
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records) 11

Live Aid Armenia cover

The 1989 rendition of "What's Going On" served as the inaugural release from Rock Aid Armenia, created to aid those affected by the 1988 Armenian earthquake. Released under the name Live Aid Armenia, it featured contributions from artists such as 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 flip side included traditional Armenian duduk music performed by Djivan Gasparyan. Production was handled by Steve Levine, with Fraser Kennedy and Jon Dee serving as executive producers. The single was distributed through Island Records.

Music Relief '94

In 1994, the song "What's Going On" was reinterpreted as a charity single by Music Relief '94 to honor the victims of the Rwandan genocide. This initiative brought together an eclectic lineup of musicians such as C. J. Lewis, Roachford, Yazz, Aswad, Edwin Starr, Peter Cunnah from D Ream, Kim Appleby, Mick Jones of BAD, Rozalla, Tony Di Bart, Paul Young, Paul Carrack, Angie Brown representing 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. The production team included Nigel Rush, Colin Fairley, Tony Swain, and Tim Laws, with the release handled by Jive Records.

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Chart (1994–1995) Highest
ranking
UK Airplay (Music Week) 29

Artists Against AIDS Worldwide cover

On October 30, 2001, "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide" unveiled a multi-version rendition of "What's Going On" aimed at raising funds for AIDS initiatives in Africa and other disadvantaged areas. Recorded just prior to the events of September 11, a portion of its earnings was also directed to the American Red Cross' relief fund for the September 11 attacks.

The single was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bono and showcased an array of leading performers including Destiny's Child, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, Jennifer Lopez, Ja Rule, Nas, Lil' Kim, Sean Combs, Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Nelly Furtado, and Gaye's daughter, Nona Gaye.

This collaborative effort enjoyed commercial acclaim, reaching the top ten in Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, while securing positions within the top twenty in Flanders, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland. It achieved Gold status in New Zealand by selling over 5,000 copies. In the United States, it climbed to number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 24 on both the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts. The accompanying music video was directed by Jake Scott.

Track listings

US maxi-CD single

  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

  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

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

European CD single

  1. "What's Going On" (Dupri original mix)
  2. "What's Going On" (Fred Durst's Reality Check mix)
  3. "What's Going On" (The London version) – 3:55
  4. "What's Going On" (Moby's version) – 4:36

Weekly charts

Weekly chart rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (2001–2002) Highest
position
Australia 38
Austria 51
Flanders 18
Wallonia Tip 5
Denmark 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 13
France 55
Germany 35
Ireland 8
Italy (FIMI) 5
Netherlands Top 40 24
Netherlands Top 100 26
New Zealand 18
Scotland 7
Sweden 19
Switzerland 16
UK Singles Chart 6
UK R&B Chart 4
US Billboard Hot 100 27
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 76
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 24
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) 11
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 24

Year-end charts

Year-end rankings for "What's Going On"
Chart (2001) Rank
Ireland (IRMA) 96
UK Singles (OCC) 161

Release history

Release dates and formats for "What's Going On"
Region Release date Format(s) Label(s)
United States October 30, 2001 CD single Play-Tone, Columbia Records
United Kingdom November 5, 2001 CD, cassette single Columbia Records
Australia November 26, 2001 CD single Play-Tone, Columbia Records

Other notable cover versions

See also

External links

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