Cheryl Craigie's "What's Going On" Review

Suddenly everyone is silent and someone says the thing everyone didn't want to say. That feeling is at the heart of Cheryl Craigie’s version of "What's Going On," the song Marvin Gaye first shared with the world in the seventies. It begins with a question that is still familiar today.

Her voice is not loud or overpowering the song or trying to make a statement. It seems natural and relaxed, as if she's talking to someone and not performing for them. That honesty is what makes you click in before you really absorb the meaning of the words.

It's the fact that she creates it all on her own. The sound of her voice and the music around her are all from one person. That makes the song feel more intimate, like someone's softly exploring their thoughts rather than being carefully built in a studio.

It's a hard decision to make to record a song as popular as this one. Marvin Gaye's original has a lot of meaning for many already, and many people know what it's saying without listening to it. Cheryl does not try to emulate or contradict that version. She just adds her voice and feeling to it.

There's always been a question in the song, and when I heard Cheryl's version I thought to myself, how many of these things still take place today? It's something that evolves with time. The thought is not easy, but it seems like it's true and worth considering.

The music remains easy and concise. The rhythm is consistent, and there are a few strings that are repeated, as well as layers of her own voice in some places. No filler, no distractions, the message is right for a song that's focused on asking an important question.

The track is slightly larger as it goes along. The strings are fuller, the vocals get louder, and the overall sound becomes stronger, but not overpowering. It's a little thing, but it really makes a difference.

As I thought about the people that initially had a need for this song, I realized that the group is still large today. How a song from decades past can still resonate with the modern day is fascinating. I don't believe this cover is intended to replace the Marvin Gaye original. Instead, it shows that the song's central question remains unanswered. Perhaps that's why people keep coming back and asking it again.