Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.

An analysis of an artwork according to its content

 NAME
BACKGROUND
 Marvin Pantz Gay Jr. (Marvin
Gaye)

 ALSO KNOWN AS
 Prince of Motown
 Prince of Soul

 BORN
 April 2 1939
 Washington DC.C U. S

 DIED
 April 1 1984 (Aged 44)
 Los Angeles California U. S

 YEARS ACTIVE
 1957-1984
 EDUCATION

 Gaye attended Syphax Elementary

School

 Randall Junior High School

 Spingarn High School

 Cardoza High School

 In 1956, 17 years old , Gaye dropped

out of School and enlisted in the
United States Air Force as a basic
airman.
o Gaye’s main influence was his minister
father
INFLUENCE

o Rudy West

o Clyde McPhatter

o Ray Charles

o Little Willie John

o Frank Sinatra

o Billy Eckstine

o Nat King Cole

o His major musical influences were doo-

wop groups such as:
o The Moonglows
o The Capris
 THE MOONGLOWS

 Later 1959 , Gaye become the lead

Vocal of the Songs unemployment and
Mama Loocie

 Lead Vocal
 AWARDS

 GRAMMY AWARDS (1983)

 Best R & B Vocal Performance,
Male, For “ SEXUAL HEALING”

 Image Awards ( NAACP) (1988)

 Hall of Fame (WINNER)

 GRAMMY AWARDS (1983)

 Best R & B Instrumental
Performance for “ SEXUAL
HEALING ) (INSTRUMENTAL
VERSION)
I don't make records for pleasure. I did
when I was a younger artist, but I don’t
today. I record so that I can feed people
what they need, what they feel.
Hopefully, I record so that I can help
someone overcome bad time.
Marvin Gaye
NME- December 1982
 ANALYSIS

 TITLE
 MERCY MERCY ME

 ART FORM
 MUSIC

 SUBJECT TYPE
 SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT

 DATE RELEASED
 JUNE 1O 1971
 COMPOSITION

 INSTRUMENT USED
 PIANO, STRINGS,SAXOPHONE

 CHORDS
 Cm7,
C#m7,Emaj7,F#m7,Amaj7,Fmaj7,
Dm7,Gm7,Bbmaj7,F#maj7,D#m7,
G#m7,Bmaj7

 STYLE
 Switching from major to
minor
 MERCY MERCY ME

Whoa, ah, mercy mercy me

Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east

Whoa mercy, mercy me,

Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury

Ah, oh mercy, mercy me

Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, no no, na, na na, na
My sweet Lord, na, na, na
My Lord, my sweet Lord
 THEME
 This song basically talk about
the environment and how
mankind is sadly destroying
it. The song’s profound lyrics
mention among other things,
the blue skies vanishing, oil
spilling on the ocean
destroying aquatic life,
radiation killing animals and
over crowdedness of the earth.
He concludes by asking how
much more abuse can mother
earth stand

 This song is used to lament on

how the world has changed
from beautiful and safe place it
used to be into something very
sad.
 References

www.songmeaningandfacts.com
www.guitartab.com
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye
www.newworldencyclopedia.org