WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2 features songs by Aretha Franklin, Bobby Caldwell, Haddaway, Nick Rich, William DeVaughn, and Ylvis.Â
Folks, guess WHAT? WHAT it all comes down to is the word⊠WHAT! WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2 is comprised of songs that feature the word WHAT in the title. WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2 is a sequel to WHAT is up with These 15 Songs? (2025), which followed two previous what-centric lists: 13 Totally Ear Catching WHAT Songs (2022) and A Playlist Comprised of 13 âWhatâ Songs (2020).
WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2 features songs by Aretha Franklin, Bobby Caldwell, Haddaway, Nick Rich, William DeVaughn, and Ylvis.  The list encompasses older and newer songs, as well as various genres of music. So, without further ado, letâs dive into âwhat isâ WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2!
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1. Nick Rich, âI Know You Are (But What Am I)â
âI Know You Are (But What Am I)â // Big Red // 2023Â
Who is Nick Rich â that is the question! The answer is that he is an American artist who patterns himself after British soul musicians. And let me tell you, folks, he patterns himself after them like a boss! âI Know You Are (But What Am I)â marked his first single of 2024. The guitar is the first sound heard in the intro, establishing a minor key (D minor to be precise). Rich offers up playful vocals during the intro, which draws the listener in and prefaces impending excellence. Soon enough, âI Know You Areâ adds keys, and a light, soulful groove in the British soul/ pop-soul style. Beyond his fabulous vocals during the intro, Rich gives us gorgeous and refined vocals. He never over sings yet is potent with his emotional delivery. He has tuneful melodies to work with, particularly the chorus. I love how background vocals are used throughout, upping the ante, notably during that epic chorus. The bridge also deserves a shoutout, providing terrific contrast to the verses/chorus. Post-bridge, the instrumentation gets a slight tweak â subtle, mind you â bridging the retro-sound and the present. The talented Nick Rich nails it on âI Know You Are (But What Am I)â. Bravo â bravissimo!
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Appears in đ»:
- Bops That Pop: January 2024
- 13 Marvelous Songs in the KNOW (2024)
- 11 Thrilling ARE Songs, Part 1 (2024)
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2. Aretha Franklin, âUntil You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)â
Let Me In Your Life // Atlantic // 1974Â
âThough you donât call anymore / I sit and wait in vain,â Aretha Franklin sings in the first verse of her soul classic, âUntil You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)â. She continues, persistently, âI guess Iâll rap on your door (Your door) / Tap on your window pane (Tap on your window pane).â In other words, man, sheâs going to make you come back to her, PERIOD! This love song is the fifth track on her 1974 LP, Let Me In Your Life. The songwriting is sublime, thanks to the pen of Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax, and â wait for it â the one-and-only Stevie Wonder! âUntil You Come Back to Meâ IS a Stevie Wonder cover. It reached no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 after debuting on the charts in 1973. Franklin, Arif Mardin, and Jerry Wexler produced this 1970s pop-soul gem.
All aspects of âUntil You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)â make it a showstopper. The relatable songwriting goes a long way. The relationship has expired, yet, the love hasnât â at least from one personâs perspective. âIâm going to swallow my pride (My pride) / Iâm going to beg you to please, baby please see me (Baby won’t you see me?)â Franklin and her awesome background vocalists proclaim in the second verse. Her dynamic lead vocals are the biggest draw of âUntil You Come Back to Meâ â no surprise. Sheâs commanding, expressive, nuanced, and playful with her vocal performance. Call it what it is, a masterclass. But, also, the instrumental â the musical accompaniment â is the catâs meow too! The palette is smooth and soulful, idiomatic of the 70s. The bass line is robust and the groove cooks. One of the finest features is the flute soloing by Joe Farrell. All told, âUntil You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)â is EVERYTHING. This is one of the best songs in the Aretha Franklin catalog.
Appears in đ»:
- Until: 5ive Songs No. 53 (2021)
- Aretha Franklin, Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do): Throwback Vibez đ¶ïžđ¶ 75 (2024)
- 13 Fantastic UNTIL Songs (2024)Â
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3. The Kid LAROI, âWhat Just Happenedâ
THE FIRST TIME // Columbia // 2023
âWhat Just Happenedâ prefaced THE FIRST TIME, the debut album by Grammy-nominated Australian rapper/singer, The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard). Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, and Shellback produced the single that begins with Howard singing abruptly, accompanied by rhythmic electric guitar. He sings the chorus, setting the tone of the record. âWhat Just Happenedâ features its fair share of fine, melodic moments. After initially being accompanied by guitar, the addition of drums and bass ups the ante. Also, upping the ante is the attitude and swagger of The Kid, who drops a couple of f-bombs (âYeah, we both know you donât give a fuck / Friends with my girl, but you wanna fuckâ). Howardâs second verse is even more rhythmic than the first. The contrast keeps the song engaging. The pre-chorus marks another tuneful moment (âStop it, but you wonât, wonât wonât / Love it, âcause youâre co-coldâŠâ), while the chorus marks one of the best moments of the song:
âI donât know if we just crossed the line
âCause I donât even know what just happened
Everything I said last night was lies
âCause I donât even know what just happened.â
The Kid LAROI doesnât reinvent the wheel or pop with âWhat Just Happenedâ, but this is an enjoyable, memorable, and well-rounded song.
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4. Ylvis, âWhat Does the Fox Say?â
âThe Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)â // Urheim / 45th & 3rd Music LLC / Warner Music Norway AS// 2013Â
Five words: What does the fox say? Oh, snap! In 2013, Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis (brothers BĂ„rd YlvisĂ„ker and Vegard YlvisĂ„ker) unveiled a viral song for the ages with âThe Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)â. Comedic, funny, and irreverent, âWhat Does the Fox Say?â gained steam because it is infectious to the nth degree. Corny? Yes. Catchy? Yes. Irresistible? 100% yes! Ylvis composed this novel, wacky dance-pop cut with producers M4sonic and Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen). The single, which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, was certified gold by the RIAA.
So, what makes âThe Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)â so special? The musical backdrop is sweet, helping to fuel Ylvisâ fire. The sound is characteristic of dance-pop and electro-pop with its keys, synths, and programming. As, if not more intriguing, are the lyrics, sung by both BĂ„rd and Vegard. In the first verse and pre-chorus, BĂ„rd teaches us about the sounds that various animals make. âDog goes âwoofâ, cat goes âmeow,ââ he sings, adding, âDucks say âquackâ and fish go âblubâ / And the seal goes âow ow ow.ââ Word. But, this song is about only one animal, in all of its glory â the fox! In both choruses, the fox makes some unusual sounds:
âRing-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
⊠Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
âŠJacha-chacha-chacha-chow!
Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow!
What does the fox say?â
In the second verse, Vegard describes the fox in all of its glory: âBig blue eyes, pointy noise / Chasing mice and digging holes / Tiny paws up the hill / Suddenly youâre standing still.â In the bridge, which is more legato, the bros continue to characterize this mysterious animal: âWhat is your sound? Will we ever know? / Will always be a mystery / What do you say?â Unusual, âThe Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)â is a classic from the 2010s. It is a novel song that never grows old.
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5. Shawn Mendes, âWhat The Hell Are We Dying Forâ
âWhat The Hell Are We Dying For?â // Island // 2023
âSmokeâs in the air, the cityâs burninâ down.â Well, yes, Shawn Mendes, there were gnarly forest fires in Canada that created bad air quality and pollution in the US, particularly in New York in early June 2023. Early in âWhat The Hell Are We Dying For?â, the Grammy-nominated Canadian heartthrob commits to a âcall to actionâ regarding climate change.⯠However, in this song, written and produced with friends while experiencing that horrid air, Shawnâs love life also creeps in. âI wanna save us, but I donât know how,â Mendes sings vulnerably at the close of the first verse.âŻIt leads into the chorus, which might have dashes of the populationâs indifference to climate change but embraces the end of a relationship. âIf we donât love like we used to / If we donât care like we used to / What the hell are we dying for?â he asks, continuing, âIf it doesnât cut like it used to / If youâre not mine and Iâm not yours / What the hell are we dying for?â Mendes is in his feelings, particularly in the bridge (âLivinâ without you / Is not livinâ at allâ), as well as the expressive, ultra-nuanced ad-libs and powered vocals towards the end.⯠There is a raw nature, amplified not only by the brief time âWhat The Hell Are We Dying For?â was conceived, recorded, and released but also the pop/rock aesthetic. The enjoyable âWhat The Hell Are We Dying For?â  gives some mixed messages â the climate change message goes out the door early on â but hopefully, Mendes has escaped love funk.
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6. The Waitresses, âI Know What Boys Likeâ
Wasnât Tomorrow Wonderful? // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1982
Per The Waitresses â specifically Patty Donahue: âI know what boys like / I know what guys want / I know what boys like / Iâve what boys like.â Word. âI Know What Boys Likeâ is the sole hit by the American new-wave band. As infectious as the song is, it didnât ignite the pop charts, peaking modestly at no. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. Still, this Chris Butler-penned gem is considered a classic from the 1980s, appearing as the fifth track on their 1982 album, Wasnât Tomorrow Wonderful?. The lyrics arenât deep. Donahue continues singing in the first verse, âI see them looking / I make them want me / I like to tease them / They want to touch me / I never let them.â The second verse is similar to the first, where sassy Patti mentions her âcat moves,â singing, âFun to frustrate them / They get so angry / Like pouty children / Denied their candy / I laugh right at them.â In the bridge, she acts as if sheâll let the boys indulge, but itâs hard to believe anyone who asserts, âYou can trust me / Sucker.â Besides the simple but entertaining lyrics, and Donahueâs fun, tongue-in-cheek performance, the instrumental delivers the goods too. Itâs the prickly guitar, the big bass line, the quirky groove, and the unconventional phrases. Thereâs also a raucous saxophone in the mix enhancing the timbre. âI Know What Boys Likeâ is a classic that deserves wider recognition.
Appears in đ»:
- The Waitresses, I Know What Boys Like: 1 Hit WONDERful 14 (2024)
- 13 Marvelous Songs in the KNOW (2024)
- BOY, These Songs Are About You, Part 2 (2024)
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7. Kevin Abstract, âWhat Should I Do?â
BLANKET // RCA // 2023Â
Rapper and singer Kevin Abstract has a question: âWhat Should I Do?â. âWhat Should I Do?â appeared on his 2023, post-BROCKHAMPTON solo album, Blanket. On the Romil Hemnani and Jonah Abraham produced joint, Abstract continues to embrace alternative music. The three-minute cut commences with a unique intro. A fine touch is the rhythmic guitar đžaccompaniment. Besides strong work behind the boards by Hemnani and Abraham, Kevin puts in the work vocally. Throughout, his voice sounds unique, thanks to the effects and the approach he sings with. The vocal layering, as well as the use of call and response, are welcome features. The melodies are tuneful, specifically during the refrain: âDonât touch me, it turns me on / Frizzy hair, naked, hit the bong.â Of course, in the chorus, he poses the titular question â âWhat should I do?â Notably, there is only one verse, prime evidence that âWhat Should I Do?â is a more contemporary track with a less orthodox form. Beyond the verse, the bridge is unique, preceding the extended outro (âBa-baâ). âWhat Should I Do?â is muy interesante!Â
Appears in đ»:âŻ
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8. Haddaway, âWhat Is Loveâ
The Album // BMG Rights Management GmbH // 1993Â
âWhat is love? / Oh, baby, donât hurt me / Donât hurt me, no more.â Iconic. Trinidad-born, German-bred singer Haddaway (Nestor Alexander Haddaway) dropped a dance bop for the ages with âWhat Is Loveâ. The most memorable section is excerpted above: the timeless chorus! The lyrics arenât deep, but they are relatable to the nth degree. âWhat Is Loveâ is the opener from The Album (titled Haddaway elsewhere), released in 1993. Dee Dee Halligan (Tony Hendrik) and Junior Torello (Karin Hartmann) wrote and produced this enduring â90s bop, which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the RIAA.  But this was Haddawayâs only top 40 hit in the United States.
The chorus is the crĂšme de la crĂšme of âWhat is Love.â Undoubtedly, it is the section to beat â the part everyone remembers! But, there are plenty of reasons beyond the chorus why this song is the sugar honey iced tea. Halligan and Torello put in work behind the boards. The production is colorful, catching the ears from the onset with its slick, driving synths. The beat is sick, the perfect catalyst for the dance floor. Haddaway brings ample energy with his vocals. He possesses a lovely instrument that was tailor-made for this song. Not only is the melody tuneful during the chorus, but it shines in the verses, too. âNo, I donât know why youâre not there / I give you my love, but you donât care,â he sings in the first verse, continuing, âSo, what is right and what is wrong? / Give me a sign.â The second verse is penned simply as well, finding Haddaway hurt. Oh, the plight of love, particularly unrequited love! Haddaway is the star but shout out Lisa Noya for her stellar vocal ad-libs. Those runs are sweet! More than three decades later, âWhat Is Loveâ by Haddaway still slaps. It is a dance bop for the ages. It has been sampled many times.
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9. William DeVaughn, âBe Thankful for What You Gotâ
Be Thankful for What You Got // Unidisc Music Inc. // 1980
âThough you may not drive a great big Cadillac / ⊠You may not have a cart at all / But remember brothers and sisters / You can still stand tall.â How so, William DeVaughn? Itâs simple: âBe Thankful for What You Gotâ! âBe Thankful for What You Gotâ was written by DeVaughn and produced by Frank Fioravanti and John Davis. No, this is not a Curtis Mayfield classic â itâs all William DeVaughn! A memorable and ultra-successful soul classic, it peaked at no. 1 on the R&B charts. It also gave William his sole hit on the pop charts, peaking at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. DeVaughn may only be renowned for this song and its remixes, but, itâs a whale of a song to be renowned for.
âBe Thankful for What You Gotâ is groovy to the nth degree. Itâs not only the drums and percussion, though. The warm organ, rhythm guitar, and robust bass also contribute to the sheer excellence. Even as dynamic as the instrumental is, the song lays back, never coming off as overwrought or too much. DeVaughn sings gloriously, never forcing things, yet oozing with soul. The lyrics are positive and uplifting, promoting gratitude â counting your blessings. Also, the chorus is cool and iconic: âDiamond in the back, sunroof top / Digginâ the scene with a gangsta lean / Woo-ooh-ooh.â Indeed! DeVaughn also gets a lift from background vocals, who also maintain a sense of ânon troppoâ (not too much). âBe Thankful for What You Gotâ is potent yet characterized by its cool energy. This classic has often been sampled by others including songs by N.W.A. (âGangsta Gangstaâ), Ludacris (âDiamond in the Backâ), and De La Soul (âKeepinâ the Faithâ).
Appears in đ»:
- William DeVaughn, Be Thankful for What You Got: 1 Hit WONDERful 42 (2024)
- 15 Ear-Catching FOR Songs (2024)
- 13 More Songs Driven by the Power of BE (2025)
- 13 More Songs Where YOU Are the Focus (2025)
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10. Vickie Winans, âOh What Loveâ
Vickie Winans // Live In Detroit II // Light // 1999Â
âOh, what love, He has for me / That He would give His life?â The one and only, Jesus, thatâs who, Vickie Winans. Back in the day, my mother would play Winansâ Live In Detroit (1997) and Live In Detroit II (1999) nonstop. One of the great songs from Live In Detroit II is âOh What Loveâ, which speaks to Godâs (Jesusâ) ultimate sacrifice of his life. As Winans sings the lyrics, she is incredibly authentic â with a cry in her voice as she sings about Christâs crucifixion.
âThey beat my Jesus
They beat him all night long
Until He saw every little bone
And when He took His very last breath,
He hung His Head and died for you and I.â
Those are powerful, powerful lyrics. The point is, a regular man, very much a human, wouldnât sacrifice his life for someone else, let alone everybody. Winans highlights this selfless nature, supported by a spirited choir on the bridge/vamp section. âJesus went to Calvary / To save a wretch like you and me / Thatâs love, thatâs love.â So true, so true! Perhaps the most inspiring part of this section, that precedes one final, loving chorus is when Vickie and choir assert, âThatâs not how the story ends / Three days later, He rose again / Thatâs love, thatâs love.â Indeed, âOh What Loveâ.
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11. Candy Candido & The Jud Conlon Chorus, âWhat Made Red Man Redâ
Peter Pan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) // Disney // 1953
âHana Mana Ganda.â Say what!? Many classic animated features arrived during Disneyâs Silver Age (1950 â 67), including Peter Pan in 1953. Peter Pan was a movie I watched many times as a child â a true classic by the studio. That said, when youâre a child, you often miss the controversies and suspect decisions made, particularly in a film originating from a different time. The controversies are present, notably in select songs, which has prompted Disney to issue content warnings. One of the most troublesome songs from Peter Pan is âWhat Made Red Man Redâ, which insensitively portrays Native Americans. Sadly, it is one of many instances where Disney has exhibited racism.
The cringe of âWhat Made Red Man Redâ begins with the chanting by the Native Americans in the film. It does not feel like an authentic representation, promoting stereotypes. Constantly referring to Native Americans as injuns is a total miss (âOnce the Injun didnât know all the / Things that we know now / But the Injun sure learned a lotâ). Mercy! The Indian chorus translates the lyrics, which sound like utter nonsense â at least in the hands of Disney. Worse than the chanting (with drum) and use of Injun (dated and offensive) is the titular lyric â âWhat made the red man red?â The explanation, you ask? âLetâs go back a million years / To the very first Injun prince / He kissed a maid and start to blush / And we allâve been blushing since.â That is another controversy in itself: redskin. Ultimately, âWhat Made Red Man Redâ is not one of Disneyâs finer musical moments.
Appears in đ»:
- Candy Candido & The Jud Conlon Chorus, What Made the Red: Controversial Tunes đđ¶ 13 (2023)
- 11 More Songs That Totally Have It Made (2024)
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12. Bobby Caldwell, âWhat You Won’t Do For Loveâ
What You Wonât Do for Love // Big Deal // 1978Â
âI guess you wonder where Iâve been / I searched to find a love within.â The late, great Bobby Caldwell does a fabulous job singing about L-O-V-E on his beloved song, âWhat You Wonât Do For Loveâ. HE continues singing, âI came back to let you know / Got a thing for you and I canât let go.â The feeling is SOOO relatable. âWhat You Wonât Do For Loveâ is Caldwellâs most successful single, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. He penned this beloved record from his 1978 album, What You Wonât Do For Love, alongside Alfons Fernando Kettner.âŻâŻÂ
First and foremost, the biggest selling point of âWhat You Wonât Do For Loveâ is Caldwell. He sounds utterly amazing delivering commanding, nuanced lead vocals. The centerpiece is the chorus, featuring the titular lyric:âŻâŻÂ âŻÂ
âWhat you wonât do, do for loveâŻâŻÂ
Youâve tried everything, but you donât give upâŻÂ
In my world, only youâŻÂ
Make me do for love what I would not do.ââŻ
Beyond awesome vocals, relatable songwriting, and a tuneful melody, the sound of âWhat You Wonât Do For Loveâ is a big deal.⯠The horns sound utterly fantastic, while the strings add warmth and lushness.⯠The rhythm section cooks with the prominent bass line, chill electric piano, rhythm guitar, and drum groove.⯠The sound is idiomatic of blue-eyed soul and pop-soul.⯠Adding to the allure of âWhat You Wonât Do For Loveâ is the fact that the record is in no rush, allowing the celestial instrumental to ride out well beyond the final note Caldwell sings.Â
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Appears in đ»:Â Â
- Bobby Caldwell, What You Wonât Do For Love: Throwback Vibez đ¶ïžđ¶ 113 (2023)
- Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 3 (2023)
- Bobby Caldwell vs. Gus Dapperton: Head 2 Head No. 21 (2024)
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13. Buffalo Springfield, âFor What Itâs Worthâ
Buffalo Springfield // Atco / Atlantic // 1966Â
âThereâs something happening here / But what it is ainât exactly clear / Thereâs a man with a gun over there / A-telling me I got to beware.â Word. When Buffalo Springfield is mentioned, one song comes to mind: âFor What It’s Worthâ. For what itâs worth, âFor What Itâs Worthâ was the sole top 40 hit for Buffalo Springfield, a short-lived collective comprising Neil Young đšđŠ, Bruce Palmer đšđŠ, Dewey Martin đšđŠ, Stephen Stills đșđž, and Richie Furay đșđž. The opening track from the Los Angeles-formed bandâs reissued, self-titled album peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. A song that defines the 1960s, it is considered among the best songs ever written and recorded. Stills penned and performed this epic song.
âFor What Itâs Worthâ is revered as one of the greatest protest songs. Is it the anti-war anthem that itâs often portrayed to be? No, believe it or not â that wasnât Stillâs intent. Nonetheless, it fits the bill! âThereâs battle lines being drawn / And nobodyâs right if everybodyâs wrong,â Still sings, continuing, âYoung people speaking their minds / Are gettinâ so much resistance from behind.â The verses are impeccably penned. Even so, the crowning achievement â the crĂšme de la crĂšme â is the chorus:
âItâs time we stop
Hey, whatâs that sound?
Everybody look whatâs going down.âÂ
During the chorus, the remainder of Buffalo Springfield joins Stills, singing in harmony. Besides top-notch songwriting, the musical accompaniment is top-notch, too. Buffalo Springfield donât overplay in the least. Thereâs a subtlety that speaks volumes, particularly the signature, haunting guitar riff. âFor What It’s Worthâ is an indisputable rock classic. With a song that so much can be said about it, the lyrics speak volumes. Although they disbanded in 1968, it would not be the last we heard from these musicians. Fittingly, the collective was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Appears in đ»:
- Buffalo Springfield, For What Itâs Worth: Throwback Vibez đ¶ïžđ¶ 198 (2024)
- 13 Songs That Explore It, Vol. 4 (2025)Â
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14. Marvin Gaye, âWhatâs Happening Brotherâ
Whatâs Going On // Motown // 1971
âBrother, brother, brother / Thereâs far too many of you dying…â Whatâs Going On, released in 1971, is one of the greatest soul albums of all time. Furthermore, the gold certified masterpiece by soul icon Marvin Gaye is one of the best albums of all time regardless of genre. The opening track, âWhatâs Going Onâ â where the excerpted lyrics hail â is EPIC. That makes the second track, âWhatâs Happening Brotherâ, have a truly hard act to follow. The good news is âWhatâs Happening Brotherâ continues the impressive musicianship and socially conscious themes of the title track.  After one of the lushest instrumental intros, youâll ever hear, Gaye sings in the first verse, âWar is hell, when will it end? / When will people start getting together again?â Unity â togetherness â is the modus operandi for Marvin Gaye, as well as a better world. âCanât find no work, canât find no job, my friend / Money is tighter than itâs ever been,â he asserts in the second verse, adding, âSay man, I just donât understand whatâs going on across this land? / Ah, whatâs happening brother?â What is interesting about this song which criticizes war, the economy, and disunity is that these problems remain prevalent across the world in the 2020s. The theme of âWhatâs Happening Brotherâ alone makes it relevant more than 50 years later.
Appears in đ»:
- Marvin Gaye, Whatâs Happening Brother: Throwback Vibez đ¶ïžđ¶ 71 (2023)
- 12 Brotherly Songs That Exude Brotherhood (2023)
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15. Freddie Scott, â(You) Got What I Needâ
Cry To Me â The Best of Freddie Scott // Sony Music Entertainment // 1998
âOh, baby you, you got what I need / You got everything I need / Youâre like medicine to me, oh baby.â Soul singer/songwriter Freddie Scott (1933 â 2007) recorded a surefire classic with â(You) Got What I Needâ. Released as a single in 1968, it failed to chart on the pop charts (bummer) but reached the top 30 on the R&B charts. â(You)â was written and produced by the iconic duo of Songwriting and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Kenneth Gamble (1943 – ) and Leon Huff (1942 -).  As always, Gamble and Huff âput their footâ into this one! Â
â(You) Got What I Needâ features soulful production, characteristic of the 1960s. Even early on, Gamble and Huff were âsickeningâ â the musicianship is top-notch. Among the sounds that stand out is an âold-school,â upright piano, which features one of the most important riffs of the song. Additionally, the sound palette shines thanks to the vibraphone, bright, accented horns, big bass, rhythmic guitar, and an electrifying drum groove. Freddie Scott matches the sweet backdrop, delivering commanding lead vocals. âIn a world of salty tears / So afraid and so full of fears / So glad you saved me, dear,â Scott sings in the first verse, asserting in the second, âI was drowning in the sea of love / Going down for the third time / You came and saved me dear.â Scott receives supportive background vocals.  At times, there is call and response between him and background vocals (âDon’t ever stop them, dear (Stop âem dear)â). The chorus, excerpted earlier, is the section to beat. More popular than â(You) Got What I Needâ, a classic that deserved far more attention, is the song that sampled it, the Biz Markie (1964 â 2021) rap hit, âJust A Friendâ. Ultimately, Freddie Scott âbrought itâ on this underrated â60s gem.Â
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WHAT is up with These 15 Songs, Vol. 2 (2025) [đ·: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 45th & 3rd Music LLC, Atco, Atlantic, Big Deal, Big Red, BMG Rights Management GmbH, Disney, Island, Light, Motown, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Unidisc Music Inc., Urheim, Warner Music Norway AS; Andrea Piacquadio, Mario AmĂ©, Photo By: Kaboompics.com, Yan Krukau from Pexels; AcatXIo, Pete Linforth from Pixabay]
