"What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

by **HMKGrey** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:36 am

just thought I'd post quickly on this. Today, I was in the garden watching the kids run around with super soakers while the dog tried to join in without getting wet. I had my iPod on random albums when Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" came on. Maybe I just needed it, maybe it was something in my brain... but I spent the next 35 minutes experiencing raw bliss. "What's Going On" was made in 1971 and largely inspired by the return of Gaye's brother from Vietnam. It's basically one long suite of gorgeous, summery songs with immensely hopeful but somehow not twee or naive lyrics about the state of the world. War, ecology, interpersonal relationships, the need to take true responsibility for our children... it's all there and yet the vibe never changes from one of upbeat hopefulness and simple honesty. I don't think there's a better album for our minds right now. Anyway, back to my garden: The sun, the trees and flowers, the blue sky... my kids squealing and laughing... and at the same time this beautiful music and lyrics about hope and love and the oneness that I know to be true. Made me remember by blessings and remember too that they can go fuck themselves because they will never have or know what I have and what I know. And at the end of the day, what I have is worth fighting and dying for and what they have and want is only worth lying and scheming for to them... and it will never change. We will win. Edited by: <A HREF=http://p216.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=hmkgrey>HMKGrey</A> at: 6/12/06 11:15 am

by **Hugh Manatee Wins** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:47 am

Thanks for sharing that. I agree. We already are too-far evolved as compassionate social animals to be pushed back or held in place for long. Mass consciousness for peace will catch up and surpass the rule-by-tension schemes of the last 100 years. And that's something The Man doesn't understand because it is where we live, not 'him.'

by **Joe Hillshoist** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:50 pm

Hmk good one, You also have what is worth living for. Here's to you and yours.

by jc » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:33 am

Marvin Gaye live performance from the long out-of-circulation 1973 film, "Save The Children" with James Jamerson on bass. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s&search=marvin%20gaye">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y...0gaye</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s&search=marvin%20gaye">www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s&search=marvin%20gaye</a>

by **HMKGrey** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:37 pm

Thanks jc, that's great. Really appreciated. I was listening to 'What's Going On' again this morning in the car on my way to work. How many protest records are there that are actually a protest and a celebration of all that is good in us as human beings? Not many that I know. There's also somthing very prophetic about some of the lyrics... Mercy, Mercy Me Ah, mercy, mercy me, Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no. Where did all the blue skies go? Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south andeast. Mercy, mercy me, Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no. Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas fish full of mercury, Oh, mercy, mercy me. Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no, no. Radiation underground and in the sky; animals and birds who live near by are dying. Oh, mercy, mercy me. Ah, things ain't what they used to be. What about this over crowded land? How much more abuse from man can she stand?  Extraordinary.

by jc » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:27 am

HMK, yw. One thing I find really amazing re Marvin is how he manages to SING those lyrics so beautifully without distorting word or meaning. That, to me, is more than mere art, it's mastery. Also, if you listen closely to his phrasing: pure bebop trumpet. Him and Miles. Yum. Anyway, here's a more recent song I love and which I place in the same category. Funnily enough it kind of relates to this thread by PPan: <a href="http://p216.ezboard.com/frigorousintuitionfrm10.showMessage?topicID=4734.topic">p216.ezboard.com/frigorou...4734.topic</a> STAR by Primal Scream Are you solid Are you solid as a rock Have you a strong foundation Or can your soul be bought It aint true that Everybodys got a price I sing this song for everyone Who stands up for their rights Every brother is a star Every sister is a star Every brother is a star Every sister is a star Sister Rosa, Malcolm X & Dr. King Showed us we got power Showed what changes we could bring To change society You have gotta change the law Their bodies may be gone But their spirits still live on Repeat chorus Rebel souls For the dreamers, rebel souls & future days Be brave & strong Keep keepin on Be conscious in the chaos The queen of england Theres no greater anarchist One man's freedom fighter Is anothers terrorist  Repeat chorus (2x) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kehraOa6f8c&search=primal%20scream%20star">www.youtube.com/watch?v=k...0star</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kehraOa6f8c&search=primal%20scream%20star">Star Video</a>peace out

by **HMKGrey** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:00 pm

jc: That's exactly right with Marvin and with that album in particular. EVERYTHING about it is timeless and perfect, right down to the dignity of the cover. You're not wrong about Primal Scream either. Very different to Marvin but still managing to mix a positive vibe with huge amounts of righteous indignation posited as simple, almost slogan like lyrics. I'm sure you're familiar with 'Come Together': This is a beautiful day It is a new day We are together, we are unified And all for the cause Because together we got power Apart we got power Today on this program you will hear gospel, And rhythm and blues, and jazz All those are just labels We know that music is music Today on this program you will hear gospel, And rhythm and blues, and jazz All those are just labels We know that music is music Come together as one (x5) (Gospel) This a beautiful day It's a new day (Repeat) We are together We are together We are together, we are unified We are together We are unified, because together we got power Apart we got power, we are together Today on this program you will hear gospel, And rhythm and blues, and jazz All those are just labels We know that music is music Come together as one (x5) [Gospel] Rock the boat (Get off the boat) (x3) We are together, we are unified Come together as one [Gospel] This a beautiful day It's a new day (Repeat) The name of the game is power And if you ain't playing power, You're in the wrong place (Repeat) Brothers and sisters, the name of the game is power If you ain't playing power, You're in the wrong place (Repeat) Rock the boat (Get off the boat) (x3) We are together, we are unified I recall being at some very, very large parties back in England in the early 90's and this song created almost tangible waves of euphoria and togetherness amongst thousands of people who were already pretty euphoric and together to begin with. It even used to be played at the odd soccer game...

by **Wolfmoon Lady** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:12 pm

ARTIST: The Commodores TITLE: Nightshift Marvin, he was a friend of mine And he could sing a song His heart in every line Marvin sang of the joy and pain He opened up our minds And I still can hear him say Aw, talk to me so you can see What's going on Say you will sing your songs Forevermore, evermore {Refrain} Gonna be some sweet sounds coming down On the nightshift I bet you're singing proud Oh, I bet you'll pull a crowd Gonna be a long night, it's gonna be all right On the nightshift Oh you found another home, I know you're not alone On the nightshift <hr /> Thank you, HMK, for posting this 'ode' to Marvin. It's wonderful to know that people are still listening to Marvin, and loving him. I adore his music. The Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell duets of the 60s are BURNED in my romantic memory. Songs like Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Your Precious Love still hold the power to conjure the images and sensations of teenage romance (sounds really corny, but I'm a sentimental wolf). Also, I was unaware (until recently) that Marvin's father was a Pentacostal preacher. FWIW, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye" target="top">Wikipedia</a>: <blockquote>Quote:<hr> Gaye's refound fame pushed him even deeper into drug addiction and paranoia as he had had a premonition that someone was going to kill him. Throughout his tour, he had a bevy of bodyguards surrounding him to keep him safe and often wore a bullet-proof vest. By the time the tour ended, he attempted to isolate himself by moving into his parents' house. He threatened to commit suicide several times after numerous bitter arguments with his father, Marvin, Sr. On April 1, 1984, one day before his forty-fifth birthday, Gaye's father shot and killed him after an argument. Some of Gaye's relatives claimed that he had purposely pushed his father to the edge so that he could have Marvin, Sr., kill him instead of having to commit suicide. Gaye left behind three children - son Marvin Pentz Gaye III (b. 1965), daughter Nona Marvisa (b. 1974), and son Frankie Christian (b. 1975). After some posthumous releases cemented his memory in the popular consciousness, Gaye was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Marvin Gaye, Sr., died of pneumonia in 1998. <hr></blockquote>

by **friend catcher** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:38 pm

He went to ground in Oostende(Belgium) for a couple of years in the early 80's and lived a very different life. Hard to understand the attraction of a small sea port in northern Europe unless you've been there but Marvin could scent the ghosts of Jaques Brel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brel">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brel</a> and James Ensor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ensor">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ensor</a> Lived anonymously and attempted to clean up but then the family called and........

by **Joe Hillshoist** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:44 pm

Wolfmoon Lady thank you for putting up that commodore's song. I haven't heard that for sooo long. But Primal scream are awesome. HMK did you ever come across Spiral Tribe? Back in the day. Prinal Scream have a new song out, Country Girl. I heard it, but missed the artist, then found out it was primal Scream. Its pretty good. Doesn't move me like this tho I was blind, now I can see You made a believer out of me I was blind, now I can see You made a believer out of me I'm movin' on up now Gettin' out of the darkness My light shines on My light shines on My light shines on I was lost, now I'm found I believe in you, I've got no bounds I was lost, now I'm found I believe in you, I got no bounds I'm getting outta darkness My light shines on I'm getting outta darkness My light shines on

by **Joe Hillshoist** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:07 pm

Then, if its all too much and I feel like I need to tasp into the well spring, I take up St Tom's invitation: Well the moon is broken And the sky is cracked Come on up to the house The only things that you can see Is all that you lack Come on up to the house All your cryin don't do no good Come on up to the house Come down off the cross We can use the wood Come on up to the house Come on up to the house Come on up to the house The world is not my home I'm just a passin thru Come on up to the house There's no light in the tunnel No irons in the fire Come on up to the house And your singin lead soprano In a junkman's choir You gotta come on up to the house Does life seem nasty, brutish and short Come on up to the house The seas are stormy And you can't find no port Come on up to the house There's nothin in the world (Chorus) there's nothin in the world that you can do you gotta come on up to the house and you been whipped by the forces that are inside you come on up to the house well you're high on top of your mountain of woe come on up to the house well you know you should surrender but you can't let go you gotta come on up to the house (Chorus)

by **HMKGrey** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:52 pm

Joe H: Yes, I did come across Spiral Tribe - tho they were in the more traveller oriented end of things and I wasn't a part of that. My part in the rave wars was as a bit player in the Tonka Sound System family. Harvey, Rev, Choci, MarkieMark, the Zap Club, Solaris, countless fields and a few stately-ish homes and barns... weekends in Amsterdam... glorious times. The great thing back then was that almost anything could be dropped in to a DJ set and sound fantastic at the right moment. I remember going nuts to all kinds of mad stuff from the Waterboys to Nirvana to ABC, all played alongside thumping house or acid that had us sweating like loons. Music has often been related to magical moments in my life: Years after Tonka I would find myself on Miami Beach at a Winter Music Conference at midnight beneath a cloudless, starry sky when someone played Marvin's "What's Going On" and all these small dolphins appeared in the surf as though summoned by the music and the vibe. And then there was the time we busted in to Stonehenge and a meteor shower exploded overhead causing one of the arresting cops to ask: "Who the fuck are you guys?" On now: African Head Charge - My Life in a Hole in the Ground

by **Joe Hillshoist** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:21 am

>>I remember going nuts to all kinds of mad stuff from the Waterboys to Nirvana to ABC, all played alongside thumping house or acid that had us sweating like loons.<< I am grinning now. I used to go to so many parties back then, not full on into the scene, have never been into any one scene, but they used to have some awesome parties on the docks in melbourne, 15 years ago, more, nearly 20. That was weird. The first big doof I ever went to was magical beyond belief. That beat felt felt like the heartbeat of humanity, thumping through all time and space, sometimes it felt like we were outside time, and every tribal dance with percussion anywhere ever was happening there as well. It really did seem like the world could change in the blink of an eye. You have me remembering the optimism of those days now. You are right. We will win.

"What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

"What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

Re: "What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

Re: "What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

Re: "What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

Re: "What's Going On" - The Definition of Hope

Re: "Star" - The Definition of Spirit?

Re: "Star" - The Definition of Spirit?

Re: Marvin, he was a friend of mine

Marvin in Belguim

Re: Marvin in Belguim

Re: Marvin in Belguim

Re: Marvin in Belguim

Re: Marvin in Belguim

Who is online