Marvin Gaye, “Wholy Holy” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 89^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Wholy Holy” by soul icon, Marvin Gaye.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 89^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Wholy Holy”, performed by soul icon, 🎙 Marvin Gaye. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“We should believe in one another (Believe in Jesus).” Those are the prudent words of 🎙 Marvin Gaye in his gospel-soul classic, 🎵 “Wholy Holy”. “Wholy Holy” appears on arguably Gaye’s best album, 💿 What’s Going On, released in 1971.  Notably, What’s Going On has more prominent songs, namely the title track, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”, and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”.  Even so, “Wholy Holy” is a gorgeous record with the awesome message of togetherness and of course, the power of faith and living like Jesus.  Gaye penned it alongside 🎼 ✍ Al Cleveland and 🎼 ✍ Renaldo Benson.

Essentially, in this slow but moving ballad, Gaye preaches about unity and conquering the obstacles getting in the way.   “Jesus left a long time ago, said he would return,” he sings, adding, “He left us a book to believe in / In it we’ve got a lot to learn / Oh yeah.”  Continuing to promote the power of togetherness, if we are indeed “Wholy holy,” he believes “We can rock the world’s foundation (Yes we can).” One of the most moving moments occurs when Gaye asserts, “We proclaim love, our salvation.”  More than five decades after its release, those words still ring incredibly true.

Final Thoughts 💭

To reiterate, there are many more popular Marvin Gaye hits than 🎵 “Wholy Holy”.  Even so, this is one of those album tracks that’s rock solid and chocked full of meaning and transcendence.  It doesn’t require chart success to validate it as one his greatest hits – it’s stands tall all on its own.  Unsurprisingly, it’s been covered by the likes of 🎙 Aretha Franklin and 🎙 John Legend (alongside 🎙 The Roots).

🎙 Marvin Gaye • 💿 What’s Going On • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1971

Marvin Gaye, “Wholy Holy”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 89 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash, Motown, The Musical Hype]