What's Going On
Marvin Gaye · 1971 · 7 tracks
A genuinely calm album. 4 of 7 tracks are fully gentle.
Across the 7 What's Going On songs we've measured, intensity averages 37/100 — calmer than the typical song we measure (46/100).
They run from Abraham Martin and John (the calmest here, 21) to Save the Children (the most charged, 46), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. Most of it lands around 1971.
The widest dynamic swing belongs to Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).
Sensory Arc
Bar height = dynamic range. Color = sensory level. Hover or tap to identify each track.
Tracklist
Frequently asked about What's Going On
Answered from our measurements of every track above.
What is the most intense What's Going On track?
Of the 7 What's Going On tracks we've measured, “Save the Children” scores highest at 46/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.
What is the calmest What's Going On track?
“Abraham Martin and John” measures gentlest at 21/100. It runs 90 BPM. The tracks here span 21–46 on our 0–100 intensity scale.
How intense is What's Going On overall?
What's Going On averages 37/100 intensity across 7 measured tracks — calmer than the 46/100 catalog average.
What is the average tempo of What's Going On?
The What's Going On tracks we've measured average about 88 BPM — slow, ballad-range tempo.
Which What's Going On tracks are calm enough for background listening?
These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “Abraham Martin and John”, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”, “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”, “God Is Love”.
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