By: Lauren Webber

Discontinuing antibiotics as soon as the symptoms fade does not imply the infection has been resolved. Often, it will resurface even more aggressively as a result of inconclusive initial care. As the climate of this year continues to heat up, both literally and politically, issues of old appear to have resurrected from similar activism that took place in the sixties and early seventies. Music has the ability to capture a specific time, moment, feeling or event and cement it into history. It serves as a subjective yet beautiful time capsule that, when paired well with proper media coverage, may account as a valid source of reference.

War and wonder tattooed the sixties and seventies in America with an era of strides towards social justice. The Civil Rights, Women’s, and Anti-War Movements famously embalmed that time as a period of reformation, revolution and cultural reset. The counterculture movement developed notable efforts, many of which were successful, towards societal change. That time was married with spiraling musical evolution. Remarkably, the British Invasion also supplied a plethora of new bands and styles. The music industry exploded with inspiration, and the societal unrest served as a catalyst for the creation of some of the most timeless compositions.

“There’s far too many of you dying… You know we’ve got to find a way / To bring some lovin’ here today / Picket lines and picket signs / Don’t punish me with brutality.”

Though Marvin Gaye recorded these lines in 1971, they could have been recorded this year without any question. In America today, marches and movements have formed resulting from a holistic societal concern regarding police brutality. Foreign and internal affairs have conjured protests, of both support and distaste. Gaye released those lyrics during a pivotal period of the same cultural discontent and activism America faces today. His song, “What’s Going On,” depicts the afflictions many faced at the time – lives being lost at home and overseas, misunderstandings and inability to reach the heart of one another. The language, style and message capture the essence of its time while remaining relevant to the culture of today:

“What about this overcrowded land / How much more abuse from man can she stand?”

The counterculture era also focused attention on environmental issues that remain prevalent. Gaye’s song “Mercy Mercy Me” gives listeners a glimpse into the specific and general concerns of the time. The song was released on the same album as the previous track in 1971. The concept of environmental decay has translated as a prominent concern for several decades.

Next year will mark fifty years since the release of Gaye’s album, "What’s Going On," including these tracks and many others that pay tribute to the time while transcending the era even five decades later. Gaye once sang:

“Oh things ain’t what they used to be.”

Quite on the contrary. Today, as America is faced with similar tribulations as the sixties and seventies and as generations preceding that, it may be time to ask what really is going on.

What's Going On?