Marvin Gaye: What's Going On

1. Previous years before What's going On, Gaye felt increasingly frustrated by the lack of freedom as a artists given to him from pop-oriented Motown hit machine and it's all powerful founder Berry Gordy ( who was his brother-in-law).

2. Gaye related to the war, property and drugs because that was his reality especially the war because his younger brother Frankie was deployed over seas in the war. And when he came home and according to his brother actually seen the change and the affect it had on him he really wanted to write the song but at the same time didn't want to be negative because of the way he was brought up. Crazy how he wrote the song about those things and it has come full circle because those are the same issues of today.

3. He had obstacles from the producers to his own brother-in-law who all thought the song wasn't good enough to release. And because Gaye was tired of not being respected as an artist on top of being stubborn he told them that he wouldn't record anything until they released What's Going On. Furthermore while he waited it out he became broke and was losing everything around him including his marriage. But he stuck to his ground and in his down time went out for the Detroit Lions until they released his song.

4. Marvin Gaye did the complete opposite of what Motown normally put out. He in my opinion woke & took the music industry to an other level. They where use to the dance and love theme type of songs and Gaye came with this mellow, laid back informative music which actually had meaning in his words to go with his great music. That related to what everyone was seeing but was to afraid to speak upon.

5. I have nothing but respect for Marvin Gaye as an artist and a man because he not only stood up for his artist freedom but he also didn't seem to be affected by the money. He did it for the love of the craft and also changed the industry with his strong lyrics but at the same time mellow music in the background. Pure genius in my eyes. As a listener this is still one of my favorites and something that I grow up on and can relate to. Not only can I enjoy the music instrumentally by itself but can related to the words and can understand the world he painted with his words in the song.