What's Going On? Art - Any Medium September Challenge

This is the September writing challenge for Art - Any Medium the deadline is midnight 30 September 2008. I feel this song is as timely today as it was when it first came out. No we don't have Vietnam anymore, but we do have Iran. Maybe picket lines and picket signs are not in a news as much, but we do have economic problems including the winnowing out of the middle class. If you read any of the political articles on Gather this election year you might agree with me that there is more "talking at" than "talking to". So take this and reinterpret it. Take the words and meaning and make them your own. Then give us your interpretation, your take. It does not have to mirror Gaye's song. Tell us what it says to you, what emotions are invoked. You can use any medium you wish to.

Please indicate in the title (if it is an article) or in the description (if it is an image) that it is part of the challenge by using the word's What's Going On? 9/2008 I hope more people decide to participate this month. I have to admit I was very disappointed and am trying to figure out why it did not go over well at all last month. Was it the song I Am A Rock, or something else? Comment on that if you wish because that will help me. I will put links to the song for you to listen to at the bottom of this article. Please bear in mind my connection speed does not allow me to actually listen to these, so please let me know if the version is not a good one and I will try to find another. I look forward to your responses on this, especially considering this is an election year. With all of the imaginative people on Gather I am hoping to get alot of them.

What's Going On
Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
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
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

Listen to What's Going On

What's Going On (Youtube)

I did watch part of this youtube version (word, word, word, buffer, word, word, word, buffer) which I found powerful and very moving. It has very contemporary images. But, some images are not for the faint of heart. So here is an alternate. Youtube has several video's of this song.

What's Going On (Youtube) 

A little historical background I came across - "In 1969 or 1970, I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say," Gaye once said about the creation of What's Going On. "I was very much affected by letters my brother was sending me from Vietnam, as well as the social situation here at home. I realized that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world." The last thing Motown wanted its fans to think about, however, was "what was happening in the world." So with Gaye determined to shatter the label's hugely successful pop formula and address issues such as the Vietnam War, civil rights and the environment, Motown founder Berry Gordy was not pleased, to say the least. He claimed that "What's Going On" was the worst song he had ever heard.

If I submit to your group and it is not the content you wish for it please just delete or deny this article. BTW, I accept challenge notices from other art based groups to Art- Any Medium if you wish to submit them.