Universal Music Group (UMG), Motown Records and The Root, along with host Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), led a panel discussion on the arts and activism at the 2019 Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference on Friday, Sept. 13, in Washington, D.C. The event was a backdrop for the debut of a new powerful video featuring Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
Throughout history, artistic expression has inspired social conscience and action. This the first video from Universal Music Group’s “Never Made” project, which is a series creating compelling content for songs before the days of music videos.
The video, directed by Savanah Leaf and presented by Motown Records, explores current issues through Gaye’s nearly 50-year-old classic song and Leaf’s visual storytelling. The panel conversation explored the relationship between the arts and activism, highlighted ways artists empower their audiences to engage in the political process, and discussed the ongoing influence and cultural impact of arts and entertainment.
Shot over the course of four days in Detroit and Flint, Michigan, the video features many community members. Savanah Leaf, whose directorial credits include the award-winning short film The Ayes Have It and music videos for Common and Gary Clark Jr., explained her objective with this project.
“We wanted a place that resonates with the song and the history of Motown, while also remaining relevant to the sociopolitical issues in the music video,” Leaf stated. “It was very important for us to find real people that resonated with the stories, rather than casting actors.”
Flint mayor Karen Weaver and pivotal activists involved in the Flint water crisis – including Ariana Hawk, who was featured on the cover of TIME with her young son at the height of the crisis – can be seen in the video.
Steve Smith, who also has deep roots in the community and worked for Motown as one of the recording engineers on “What’s Going On,” also makes an appearance. Gun violence, the shortcomings of the American healthcare system, police shootings and other topics are also addressed by the video.
One of the more moving scenes was watching a student walk the hallways following a mass school shooting. In recent years, it has become an all too frequent occurrence. We are practically desensitized to the crimes. But watching her through a hallway filled with bullet casings is chilling.
“This is a historic song for an important moment in history, and what’s beautiful is that its message is timeless and universal,” Leaf notes. “It’s about human emotions, human relationships and a coming together. My hope is that our music video will remind people to continue asking the question Marvin Gaye asked in 1971.”
The “What’s Going On” video is available exclusively at The Root here.
, Motown Records and The Root, along with host Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), led a panel discussion on the arts and activism at the 2019 Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference on Friday, Sept. 13, in Washington, D.C. The event was a backdrop for the debut of a new powerful video featuring Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."){kind=link}