Attention Marvin Gaye fans! Tonight at 10pm PBS is airing a documentary entitled, “Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On,” as part of their American Masters series.
Narrated by Jesse Martin, star of the upcoming Gaye biopic, “Sexual Healing,” the hour-long show details Gaye’s life and the influence of his music until his untimely death the day before his birthday. Also features rare interviews with Gaye and those that worked with him, as well as some concert footage (which you know I’m especially excited about!)
Ya’ll already know how I feel about Marvin so I will definitely be tuned in. Hope you will be as well. Come back and leave a comment tomorrow if you check it out.
Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today
(second post for today; OSF is below)
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now about the verdict in the Sean Bell case. None of the three officers fill face any prison time for firing fifty rounds,killing murdering Bell just hours before his wedding.
I am beyond disgusted. I’m numb. It’s hard to hold on and believe that a black man will actually be President when we have this kind of shit still happening. Wesley Snipes is going to jail for three years and these mofos get nada.
I know I was pretty harsh in my criticism of Michael Vick and I stand by it. Michael Vick put himself in that situation and all Sean Bell and Amadou Diallo were doing was being black men in America. However, how in the hell can he get a year for fighting animals and these pigs get nothing? Because the value of a black human life means less than an animal. Just because Obama is within a stone’s throw of the nod, don’t get it twisted!
What the hell is going on?
Please send one up for Nicole Bell and her family, especially her babies. The fight is not over.
There’s not much more I can really say about this so I’ll let Marvin do it for me.
Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler…the way they do my life)
Mercy Mercy Me
What’s Going On (INDEED)
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I don’t make mention of very many artists’ birthdays here. However, Marvin Gaye’s music is one of the biggest foundations upon which I’m building this blog. I have used “Inner City Blues/Makes Me Wanna Holler” and “What’s Going On” to write some of my most poignant, important posts.
Not to mention, there are currently six of his songs on my Favorite Songs of All Time list, with more to be added. Very few artists will have that many songs on the list when it’s all said and done…if it is ever done.
Distant Lover
Sexual Healing
If I Should Die Tonight (sigh)
Til Tomorrow
Just To Keep You Satisfied
You Sure Love to Ball
We miss you, Marvin.
Happy 69th Birthday.
“Got To Give It Up”
“What’s Going On/ What’s Happening Brother” (definitely worth watching. LISTEN.) An excerpt from a DVD of some of Marvin’s greatest live performances on TV and film, “Real Thing: In Performance 1964-1981,” This live performance comes from the long out-of-circulation 1973 film, “Save The Children” with James Jamerson on bass.
Please join one of my favorite soul sites, Soul Commune over the next couple of days as they pay tribute to Marvin, the man and the music. While you’re there, join the community!
If you’re a Marvin fan, post some of your favorites in the comments. If I was up to it, I would have stopped by the bar/restaurant named for him that opened up here in DC late last year. Should be rockin in there tonight.
** Had to come back and mention one of my favorite tribute albums, Marvin is 60. I’m not a fan of many tribute albums. Some of them are a DISASTER, no matter how many heavy-hitters you pull in. However, “60” was actually very well done. Stand-outs for me include:
the collabo between Erykah Badu and D’Angelo on”Your Precious Love”
Brian McKnight did a great job on my favorite, “Distant Lover”
Will Downing crooned out a great rendition of “You Sure Love to Ball”
Montell Jordan, “I Want You”
Who didn’t want to “…Get It On” with Gerald Levert
Chico Debarge made you want to stay “Til Tomorrow”
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 