Cheryl Craigie – “What’s Going On”

Taking on an iconic piece like Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic “What’s Going On” is a big task, but Cheryl Craigie handles it with real heart. On her ninth release, the Woburn artist delivers a sincere rendition that honors the original while letting her own voice shine.

The main strength here is how simple the arrangement stays, and the uncluttered background gives the timeless lyrics plenty of room to breathe, inviting us to stop and think about empathy, peace, and how we treat one another. In times like these, a message about human connection and understanding feels just as necessary as it did decades ago.

Cheryl takes total control of the sound, performing every vocal line and playing all the instrumentation herself. Her warm, expressive singing carries the emotion effortlessly, bringing a quiet power to every line. Production work with long time collaborator Eric Goldberg gives the track a clean finish, while mixing engineer Lenny Delorey adds clarity and depth.

Beyond her talent as a player and singer, Cheryl brings a genuine sense of purpose to her craft, and after years of exploring everything from folk, rock, and country to pop, rap, and Christian music, she consistently grounds her work in authentic storytelling. Original songs like “Migraine,” “Soft Place to Fall,” and “Martini Morning” have already shown her ability to connect with people, and this cover is no exception.

I completely fell in love with this single, if you are just discovering her work, I highly recommend digging into her previous catalog to hear her incredible versatility across different styles. Make sure to follow Cheryl Craigie on her official site and social pages so you do not miss any of her exciting new music coming out during the rest of this year.