Marvin Gaye s What s Going On was released on 21 May 1971.
The album soon became Motown s best-selling album.
Five decades later the album s exploration remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
Motown wasn’t really known for its politically conscious music. Then came “What’s Going On.”
Released on May 21, 1971, at the height of the Vietnam War, Marvin Gaye’s album became a monster, spawning three hit singles on its way to becoming Motown’s best-selling album to date. The album also marked a turning point for Motown and for Marvin Gaye as an artist.
As a scholar of race and culture in the U.S. and the host of the weekly radio show “Soul Stories,” I am struck by how many of the themes Gaye explores remain as relevant today as they were when he first wrote about them 50 years ago.
Posted5/25/2021 6:00 AM
Here s a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of what s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
Movies
• No 101 Dalmatians love is necessary to enjoy Cruella, available to rent on Disney+ starting Friday. This live-action movie starring Emma Stone and directed by Craig Gillespie ( I, Tonya ) is, at best, very loosely related to the 1961 animated film (or the 1996 live action pic with Glenn Close for that matter). Instead this is a part punk, part camp origin story set in 1970s London about a girl who has dreams of designing high fashion and gets a shot from Emma Thompson s slightly sadistic Baroness.
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How does a city confront a violent past? Tulsa, Oklahoma, is wrestling with the question as it prepares for the centennial of the brutal race massacre that took place there on May 31 and June 1, 1921.Â
For Tulsa native Jerica Wortham, one answer is through art â especially art that lets Tulsaâs Black community members process their painful history, own the stories for themselves, and find a path toward healing. As program director for The Greenwood Art Project, Ms. Wortham is hoping the project will facilitate space for that to happen.Â
In the final episode of âTulsa Rising,â Ms. Wortham gives our reporters the latest on the projectâs status and her reflections on the transformative power of music, poetry, and creativity.
‘Fire In Little Africa Album Commemorates Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial
The album’s mission is to recondition the minds of listeners while serving as an auditory viewpoint of Black America today.
Last year, more than 50 Oklahoma-based artists set out to record
Fire in Little Africa, an album that commemorates the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Rappers, singers, and producers spent several days working tirelessly from their respective locations, aiming for musical excellence. While the recording process was unconventional due to the emergence of the pandemic, the collaboration ultimately produced a one-of-a kind project. After recording around 150 songs and finalizing production through video chat,
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES No “101 Dalmatians” love is necessary to enjoy “Cruella,” available to rent on Disney+ starting Friday. This live-action movie starring Emma Stone and directed by Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”) is, at…