Larger Questions

Gaye’s album was a mirrored reflection of the world. His songs full of the strife of inner city life, war protest, and unemployment were an honest commentary of the America that people were dealing with. Gaye’s sincerity and his relief to finally flex and record songs that pertained to what people were seeing on their television screens and hearing over the radio really shines through the album. For this coming-out album, Gaye’s range of vocals on the jazzy tracks really brings the songs together. What is praiseworthy about Gaye is that it was his first self-produced album and that with the help of some creative, brilliant musicians and writers he was able to compile the words and tunes to something people could really relate to. The enormous success of “What’s Going On”, the single, showed for itself. By the end of the year, it had sold 2 million copies. It was obvious that it was something the public, the black public in particular, were thirsty for. To have one of their R&B icons talk about the issues that mattered to them was moving and inspiring for a lot of people. Though Gaye was already established, his legitimacy as an artist, producer, and writer was not, and What’s Going On solidified Gaye as an effective social and political commentator. Throughout the album the undertones of love, understanding, and spirituality are fluent. What Gaye and his production team tried to get across was that these were the answers that plagued American culture. The change that Gaye stresses in “Save the Children” was maybe not going to come immediately, but people definitely listened. Gaye’s groundbreaking album paved the way for Motown artists like Stevie Wonder to take on more serious songs, without such stern backlash from Berry Gordy. Also, it defined the start of R&B soul, and created a template for later soul artists to follow. Gaye’s album should definitely be studied anywhere where reflection is advocated and social issues of a decade are studied.