What’s Going On

FANTASTIC! One of the few albums on this list that you really should listen to before you die.

Deserves all its accolades. Gaye's voice is beautiful, lush arrangements and social conscience. Mercy Mercy Me is my favorite track.

YES.

Cool, earnest, and relevant still today. I could have done without the religious content, but it was delivered in such a genuine and smooth way it didn't bother me in the end.

Phenomenally good!

A bonafide classic stuffed with classic songs, how this isn't in the top 20 is a mystery to me, almost makes me wanna holler... OK, maybe a little too religious, but it is what it is.

The songs are just so perfectly crafted. The production on this and obviously Marvin’s vocals are just on point.

Album openers dont get much better than ‘What’s going on’.

As someone who quite often finds soul music a bit blah, i cannot speak highly enough about this album.

The album generator has taught me to approach an album where the most famous song is the first track with an element of caution. But this time I needn't have worried because this is a fantastic album.

Yes, Gaye has a gorgeous voice, but also the lyrics are amazing, the music is beautiful. Just a great, great record.

5/5

This is such a touchstone - I know in my own reviews here, I've already used a variation on "this was supposed to be [artist]’s What's Going On." As well as proving that I'm not that original, I think the fact that you can use this album as shorthand for a socially conscious masterpiece says it all.

Konačno da me nešto natjera da odslušam ovaj album. Definitivno nisam očekivala ovakvu apokaliptičnu atmosferu, ni da je u pitanju koncept album. Nešto mi fali. Nemam pojma zbog čega, ali nisam oduševljena. Ovo ću morati opet odslušati da odlučim zvaničnu ocjenu. Kao da se sve previše pomiješali zajedno pa nema efekta.

Nice album with a message that resounds today. Percussion on his works is always a centerpiece which I enjoy.

Really great sounding album. Meaningful and important lyrics.

Hm, this gets a lot of praise but maybe this album just didn't click with me. Good musicality, Gaye is an icon, but the album was ok for me, 3*

"Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" will be the last song I ever listen to via this project. What a triumphant way to end it.

Good, languid tones, but it starts getting real preachy fast. I do feel like Gaye was trying to address the ills of the world in his own way, but perhaps looking back on it in 2025, it comes across as a bit sanctimonious.

Impeccable. Important. Too much religion for me and “Save the Children “ is a bit much for the modern ear. But still , a masterpiece nonetheless.

Man, that A-side is utterly fantastic, showing exactly why albums are so important, and can often triumph over a song-by-song listening experience. So much to say in one medley, and it all is not only peaceful and catchy, but thought-provoking and even devastating in modern contexts. However, the B-side is extremely ho-hum to me, to a pretty bad extent. You have two tracks too long and aimless for their own good, and a bible thumping cheese-fest sandwiched between to only lead to a lacking finale. I can see why one would like the final track, but after that glorious string of songs on the A-side, and even other Marvin Gaye tracks off other albums, I know better exists, and it deters me from it a little bit. A good album, certainly, but the best of all time just feels like a stretch.

I quite liked this - it might be something I come back to and get obsessed with. Listening 50 odd years on, I feel that the music holds up, and some songs had a lot to say. :)

What’s Going On is a phenomenal album—one I’ve returned to time and again. It’s more than just music; it’s an emotional and social statement that still resonates today.

The title track What’s Going On and Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) are absolutely stunning—both musically and lyrically. They’re timeless pieces that blend soul, jazz, and heartfelt commentary on the state of the world.

There are moments of profound pain throughout the album, powerfully conveyed through the lyrics of songs like Save the Children and God Is Love. Gaye’s voice is filled with both sorrow and hope, giving these tracks a deeply human quality.

Favourite tracks: What’s Going On, Mercy Mercy Me
Least favourite: — (Honestly, it’s hard to pick one)
Album artwork: Iconic. When you think of Marvin Gaye, this cover—his solemn, thoughtful gaze in the rain—instantly comes to mind. It’s as legendary as the music itself.

Cinquante-quatre ans après sa sortie en mai 1971, "What's Going On" de Marvin Gaye demeure une oeuvre d'une pertinence saisissante, un chef-d'oeuvre qui a non seulement redéfini la musique soul, mais a également offert une chronique sociale et politique d'une Amérique en pleine mutation. Cet album concept, porté par la voix suave et poignante de Gaye, reste une écoute essentielle, un voyage musical et émotionnel qui transcende les générations.

Dès les premières notes de la chanson-titre, "What's Going On", on est enveloppé par une atmosphère à la fois douce et mélancolique. Les arrangements orchestraux luxuriants, mêlant cordes, cuivres discrets et percussions subtiles, créent un écrin sonore d'une richesse inouïe. La production, assurée par Marvin Gaye lui-même, est d'une finesse remarquable, chaque instrument trouvant sa place avec une clarté et une chaleur qui servent magnifiquement le propos. C'est une rupture stylistique audacieuse avec le son Motown plus calibré pour les hits radio auquel le public était habitué de la part de l'artiste.

L'album se déroule comme une suite de réflexions, une conversation intime et universelle. Marvin Gaye, inspiré notamment par le retour de son frère Frankie du Vietnam et par les troubles sociaux qui secouaient les États-Unis, abandonne les thèmes romantiques habituels pour aborder des sujets graves et urgents. La guerre du Vietnam, la pauvreté, les inégalités raciales, la brutalité policière, la toxicomanie et, de manière pionnière, l'écologie, sont au cœur de ses préoccupations.

Ce qui frappe à l'écoute de "What's Going On", c'est la manière dont les chansons s'enchaînent de manière fluide, créant une narration continue. Les transitions sont soignées, les motifs musicaux se répondent, renforçant l'impression d'une oeuvre unifiée, d'une véritable symphonie soul. La voix de Marvin Gaye, multiple, capable de passer d'un falsetto éthéré à des intonations plus graves et directes, est l'instrument principal de cette narration. Il ne chante pas seulement, il témoigne, il interroge, il supplie.

En conclusion, "What's Going On" n'est pas seulement le meilleur album de Marvin Gaye ; c'est l'un des albums les plus importants et les plus touchants du XXe siècle. C'est un appel à la compassion, à la réflexion et à l'action, porté par une musique d'une beauté transcendante.

Un 3 sur 5 pour un album majeur.