the best songs ever

[Eric the Green]

Considered one of the greatest Motown songs, Dancing in the Street was co-written by Marvin Gaye. DJ Morgan (whom I quoted on the Bewitched page) said "you hear it everywhere." It reached #2 on the US national charts in early Fall 1964. It was meant (according to several interviews with Martha Reeves that I heard) to encourage people who were going through a long hot summer of riots to be peaceful and dance instead. She considered it an honor to have participated in this song. Ironically, The Rolling Stones in 1968 made an answer song called "Street Fighting Man," using a few words from the Motown song, to celebrate the revolutions of that year. But the Mamas and Papas covered the song in 1966 and used it as theme music for love ins in 1967. Mike Jagger of the Rolling Stones later teamed up with David Bowie for a hit cover in 1985. Different folks have used the song for their own purposes, but clearly it's for getting together whether for peace [/i]or[/i] for rebellion.





https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_in_the_Street

Like the other songs from Motown/Gordy that I heard at first, it took some time for me to appreciate this one, but it finally struck me as extraordinarily experiential immersion experience into what the words describe. It is perhaps the most elaborate, sensitive and expertly produced example of the Motown Sound, which is appropriate, considering its idealistic purpose to bring folks together in celebration. Martha Reeves gave the song its distinctive melodic shape with her vocal styling. It's a lot more than the usual song about lost love or romance. It's a landmark in music, and it's right up there on my list along with my favorite two Supremes songs.

Among other things, it's the most recognizable example of the mixolydian mode, because of the lower 7th tone.