Dug’s Songbook — ‘What’s Goin On’ by Marvin Gaye

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(Dug Begley, former Fayetteville reporter for The Morning News, provides this week’s Songbook on protest songs. When he is not writing about raising a ruckus, he lives a quiet life in California.)

Probably the prettiest song about bad stuff ever written. Leave it to Marvin Gaye to make suffering sound so, so sweet.

This anthem to the turmoil on the streets and the frustration felt by so many is slyly a critique on those who sit idly by. Since there have been downtrodden people, there have been witnesses to the madness who did nothing. Marvin made those people pay attention.

A long line of singers have played Pied Piper to the masses, but none moreso than Marvin. His ability to tap into emotions, and get people in the mood for dancing or just plain in the mood makes him the all-time champ. His voice, his body, his dancing, they all came together as the total package.

This song, maybe not his best vocally, is certainly his best for tapping into not only the mood of the crowd, but also its mind. People could sway to this while taking hold of a song of home, and plea for peace.

Did it right the wrongs? A little bit, perhaps. But that’s not the measure of the message in all cases. If nothing else, it taught people who maybe didn’t think they were learning a powerful slogan.

Apathy is the worst form of violence.

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