Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

The First-Ever Music Video for Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is Poignant and Politically-Charged
The First-Ever Music Video for Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is Poignant and Politically-Charged
Source: Motown/Youtube

The First-Ever Music Video for Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is Poignant and Politically-Charged

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Motown/Youtube

Nearing 50 years since its initial release, the symphonic soul classic gets a hard-hitting 2019 visualizer.

As it readies a standalone release of Marvin Gaye's only cover-to-cover live performance of What's Going On, the late singer's estate has released the first-ever music video for the album's revered title track.

READ: Marvin Gaye's Only Full Live Performance of What's Going On Set for First-Ever Vinyl Release

Released Friday as the first installment of Universal Music Group's "Never Made" project -- providing visuals for classic cuts that were never fitted with one upon initial release -- the Savannah Leaf-directed video allows the poignant and politically-charged sentiments of Gaye's classic to resonate in 2019 as a call-to-action. The clip plays a performance of the track over vignettes that tackle Flint's ongoing water crisis, underscore racial tensions, police brutality, soaring healthcare costs, and the traumatic effect of mass shootings in our schools.

PLAYLIST: The Round-Up: Best Songs of The Week - ft. Ghostface Killah, JPEGMAFIA, Sampa The Great and More

Watch the first-ever music video for Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" below. The vinyl release of Gaye's 1972 Kennedy Center performance is slated for October 18th. You can pre-order your copy via Sound of Vinyl today.