♪ what's going on yeah, what's going on ♪ ♪ tell me what's going on ♪ ♪ ooh ♪ >> marvin gaye was affected by the vietnam war. his brother was in vietnam. so he's hearing all these stories about what is going on over there. he's seeing the protests here and it's changing him. >> he holds up a mirror to america, look at yourself, america. >> he is talking about the war, he's talking about poverty. changing as an artist in a way that berry gordy is not super happy about. ♪ mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong, they do ♪ >> initially berry gordy did not not want marvin to do "what's going on." >> motown was supposed to be nonthreatening and you have marvin gaye making a protest record about the war. that could potentially ruin good money. you don't lightly talk about the government.