Recently I had to explain who Marvin Gaye was.
To someone my own age.
In their defense, this person was raised in a very... sheltered environment of a religious kind.
So understandable, but it still about killed me.
I just could not believe it. Someone their age has to have heard a Marvin Gaye song at some point. I figured they just may not recognize the name.
But they were adamant. Nope, never heard of him. No idea what I was talking about.
I explained how Gaye was a soul singer from the 60s and 70s.
They told me the only soul song they were familiar with was “Heard It Through the Grapevine”.
“Funny thing about that,” I said.
What can I say? The man truly was iconic. I know, I know everything these days is either iconic, ironic, or both, but when someone shapes an entire genre of music while bringing attention to important political and social issues at the same time I think he’s entitled to the label.
Anyway, I decided some musical education was in order.
We started with the big hits and I was once again struck by just how relevant Gaye’s music still is. You could set the chorus of “What’s Goin On” to footage from Seattle or Minneapolis or Delaney Hall and the timing would be perfect, both musically and historically.
And it’s not just Gaye. So much of the old music is either still relevant or becoming relevant again.
Not that new music isn’t also making an impact. Mon Rovia and Bryan Andrews for the win, y’all. (if you don’t know who they are, go find out. You’re welcome.)
But there’s something about those voices coming decades across time that makes you go still as chills run over you.
There’s a sorrow as you wonder how we are still here, or back here again as the case may be, fighting the same fights our parents and grandparents fought.
But there’s also hope as you realize we aren’t alone. These evils have been faced before, and if we beat them back once we can and will do so again. And we aren’t in this by ourselves. Those who came before left us a roadmap and a how to manual. We know what worked, what didn’t, and what we can do better.
It’s still gonna be a long, hard fight and it’s gonna suck every inch of the way, but we can find that resilience and push through to better days.
So please be patient with us old folks as we turn once again to the music of our youths. We’re just communing with our ancestors in our own way so that we can gather the strength to carry on.
We’re still right behind you. Just slow down a little, my rheumatism’s acting up again.
Image Credit: Publicity photo of Marvin Gaye taken in 1973 courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Public Domain