The recent Trayvon Martin incident has shed light on so many other injustices, which have led many to ask, "What's Goin' On?" Though the song was originally written by Marvin Gaye (in collaboration with others) in response to the Vietnam War, it can be applied to so many other instances. The lyrics call out, "Brother, brother, brother/There's far too many of you dying … Don't punish me with brutality."
With hits like "You Are Everything," "You're All I Need To Get By" and "Let's Get It On," however, Gaye's music was focused more on love than politics. A talented lyricist and musician, he had a three-octave vocal range, played multiple instruments (starting out on the drums) and was one of the earliest examples of a musician who recorded multiple vocal parts, background and lead, for his records. Alongside Tammi Terrell, he practically
Likewise, from the vulnerability of songs like "I Want You" to the political observations of "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," Gaye was never afraid to step out of boundaries set by others, always exploring new arenas and musical vistas. That bravery brought him the status of an icon and an American musical institution who had his hands in literally dozens of hit records, for himself and other artists.
Today, Komplicated remembers Marvin Gaye. He would have been 73 years old had he not died tragically at the hands of his father. Happy birthday, Marvin!
[Source: Flickr, Wikipedia, Last.fm]
