When George Michael spoke about the records that influenced him most, he didn’t stick only to pop or the music he was directly associated with. Among his deepest artistic loves was a soul album he once described as one of the best ever — not just in soul, but in all of recorded music.
That album was “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, released in 1971. What started as a collection of songs quickly became one of the most influential records in popular music history — a masterwork of emotional empathy and political consciousness.
“What’s Going On” captured the turbulence of its era — from war and social unrest to questions about the environment and personal grief — and transformed those themes into deeply expressive music. Gaye’s voice was both intimate and expansive. He wasn’t just singing songs; he was speaking directly to listeners’ hearts.
Tracks like “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” combined rich orchestral arrangements with lyrical urgency. And of course, the title track — “What’s Going On” — remains one of the most poignant, enduring songs ever written about compassion, confusion and the search for understanding in a fractured world.
George Michael wasn’t shy about his admiration for the album. In interviews over the years, he pointed to What’s Going On as a milestone in emotional honesty and artistic risk in popular music.
“There’s a humanity in that record that I’ve never heard anywhere else. Marvin wasn’t just singing — he was revealing a soul that needed to be heard.”
This level of praise is significant coming from an artist whose own career was marked by emotional directness and musical sophistication. George Michael’s own work with Wham! and as a solo artist navigated pop, soul and introspective balladry — much of which bears the imprint of the emotional depth he admired in Gaye.
Over fifty years since its release, What’s Going On continues to rank among the greatest albums of all time. Critics, artists and fans alike point to its seamless blend of social commentary, lush arrangements and heartfelt performance. It’s an album that didn’t just reflect its moment — it helped redefine what soul music could be.
For George Michael, the album wasn’t just great because of its craftsmanship. He saw in it something more — an unguarded honesty, a willingness to grapple with life’s hardest questions through melody and voice.
And in that respect, What’s Going On remains as powerful today as it was half a century ago — a timeless reminder that great art doesn’t just entertain, it speaks to the human condition.
