Michael McDonald’s Unexpectedly Timely Remake of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’

Certain songs are timeless in unexpected ways, which is surely the case with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

Recorded 50 years ago this June, the song — written by Gaye, Al Cleveland and Renaldo Benson — touched obliquely on the Vietnam War, civil rights, anti-war protests and those who “judge us simply because our hair is long.” It seems very much of its time — and yet, as Michael McDonald demonstrates on a new single, it’s never been more relevant.

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great

edafan

2020

For me, some of worlds greatest songs should be left alone. This version does nothing for me at all.

If anything, Motown should rerelease Marvin’s original, using the album mix, and donate the proceeds made in each country it sells within to the incumbent health/care providers.

Every cover I heard, besides from Donny Hathaway and even his version is paler too compared to Marvin, no version has managed to top it. Arguably the greatest song of the civil rights movement [[I know other songs like People Get Ready and A Change Is Gonna Come will argue against this) and no one has topped it. It's a hard and complex song to top. Marvin really showed them lol

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Originally Posted by rovereab

For me, some of worlds greatest songs should be left alone. This version does nothing for me at all.

If anything, Motown should rerelease Marvin’s original, using the album mix, and donate the proceeds made in each country it sells within to the incumbent health/care providers.

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Agree about using the album mix. :)

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Originally Posted by Sotosound

Agree about using the album mix. :)

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Never been keen on any of his Motown covers

There is no need to ever re-record this song. It will only fall short of the iconic original.

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Originally Posted by marv2

There is no need to ever re-record this song. It will only fall short of the iconic original.

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Marv, you & rovereab said it best!!