What’s Going On

Smooth grooves over hard lyrics. Musically outstanding, both the writing and the playing, and I love how most of the tracks flow into each other. Plus, Marvin Gaye may have had the smoothest voice in history. If you didn't pay attention to the lyrics, you'd think it was just some smooth let's get it on type music. But then the lyrics create such a jarring contrast. Protests, war, drugs, pollution, poverty. Yet there are also moments of hope on the album. There are a lot of albums on the 1001 that make me question their inclusion. There's no doubt that this is an essential album and demands a close listen. Outstanding - and sad that a lot of it is still relevant. Favorite tracks: What's Going On (I liked a comment on Genius - notice that it's not a question. He's not asking, he's telling us what's going on), Mercy Mercy Me (so smooth while talking about the destruction of the environment - but, hey, that sax solo is awesome!), then the entire second side - Right On, Wholy Holy (love how this track is almost like a relaxing breath after the tension of Right On), and Inner City Blues.

The title track of this album is my favorite Marvin Gaye song, but the album overall is still smooth and gentle enough that I can't stay focused on it. I assume it's fantastic if you don't have ADHD getting in between the rest of your own brain and the music?

A very smooth, pleasant album

What I didn't like was some songs just ended abruptly? Almost as if songs were jumping tracks

Overall enjoyable, I really like his voice

4 ⭐️

Pretty amazing album. Love how it is so melodic and lush and at the same time tries to be a little politically confrontational. A true classic. 4.5/5

Amazing album- maybe should go into the category of what is old is new again 5/5 #musicsky #albumsky day 16

Timeless, lush record. Every track is a winner on this one. Only track that I'm not super hot on is Save the Children. A little too on the nose for me, but still good music wise.

Don't got a ton to say about it, other than I appreciate that this album has two inductees on the "Marvin Gaye's Clueless Ass" playlist with What's Going On and What's Happening Brother.

Well, I guess it’s time for me to admit I don’t really like this album very much. It’s overproduced, overorchestrated, and most of the songs kind of float around and don’t go anywhere. The sociopolitical messaging is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

It was fine. It sounded like Marvin Gaye. Other than that I don't really remember much about it. I didn't even realize when the album looped because it all just blended together.

This is such beautiful music and messaging. I have been emotionally overcome multiple times while listening to this.

And GODFUCKINGDAMNIT we're almost 55 years after this album's release and we STILL can't be nice to each other and respect our planet.

4.5

What's Going on and Mercy Mercy Me are two of my all time favorites. The middle of this album (friendly skies, children, god is love) drags a bit though. Still overall a great one.

Wow!

One of the most acclaimed albums of all time, but I don't really get the appeal. What's Going On is a pretty nice tune but the rest is kind of forgettable to me. It's all pretty sweet and politically charged but boring to listen to imo. I just don't get the appeal for this one.

Pretty good, not really exemplary.

This album is not overrated. It really might be one of the best albums ever made. A political statement that feels as relevant today as it was back then. The transitions between songs especially the one between God Is Love and Mercy Mercy Me are great.

„Mercy Mercy Me“ ist wohl bekannt aber mir gefällt es trotzdem nicht. Der Rest hört sich genauso an ist nur noch schlechter. Blues, Soul und Kopfstimme ist nix für mich. Also macht mal Euer Ding ohne mich. Wenn das das beste Pop-Album aller Zeiten sein soll, dann ist Guildo Horn der best Opernkomponist aller Zeit en.

Ja ganz okay, nicht so verführerisch wie dad andere Gaye Album.
Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: keine

I like hating on the so called "best albums of all time" and I started this like that. the first 30 seconds hit me like oh this is insane. I looove it. But then later I realized that this is just not exactly for me. It is a very specific mood and the listen was absolutely a fun time. Not fillers on this one and in its genre and time this is of course one of THE best ones. I would for sure put it at 5 if it resonated with me more. I need to listen to this in like 10 years again. A very strong 5 for me

Flawless

I remember first listening to What's Going On three years ago for the album's 40th anniversary. I can tell you from my experience then and now is that this album, even if it came from a time long before I was born, still resonates.

There were protest songs here and there before Marvin Gaye and the Funk Brothers wrote and recorded in 1971 - you had the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son", Buffalo Springfield "For What It's Worth", and the various acts of the Woodstock festival that protested the Vietnam war. What's Going On was also written as music in protest of that war, with the narrator as a veteran coming home to find is country in turmoil. But much like those great protest songs that have long endured, the language that Marvin and his songwriter collaborators conveyed are more universal and can be applied far beyond their time. Whether it is the pause and reflection of their surroundings on the title track, the despair at the destruction of the environment on "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", or the plead for compassion during hard times on "Right On", the narrator encourages people to be aware of the issues that are impacting the world they live in.

Helping the message get across is Marvin's smooth vocal delivery that gets the word out in a manner that never felt overbearing. Pairing him with the Motown soul instrumentation that has aged like a fine wine resulted in an experience that feels timeless yet poignant.

All this to say What's Going On deserves its place on this list, and I for one am glad to have revisited it. This album can be comforting during trying times, and I hope people continue to learn and spark conversation to better themselves and the people around them as music like this can inspire to.

I like this album, although I don't think I'd really make a point to listen to it much. A good album to throw on in the background for a chill cocktail party. I feel like this album might be a bit overrated, it's not spectacular but it's certainly enjoyable. I don't really find myself focusing on it much though, just sort of letting it pass in the background. Inner City Blues is probably my favorite from this record, I've always really loved that song (that bass!). All in all a solid album but maybe not one I like as much as everyone says I should. 3/5