I Heard It Through The Grapevine Analysis

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“I heard it through the grapevine” is a song written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield. Motown Records first released the Gladys Knight and the Pips version in1967. Their version of the song is up-tempo with strong piano beats and background vocals. The Gladys made the song sounds more like a funk/gospel song (specially with back and forth gospel sections between the lead singer and the band)


On the other hand, Marvin Gaye recording is filled with sadness and tension-which makes more sense since the song is about a man who finds out his lover is not loyal to him- Marvin version is a Motown Classic : Straight-up , slower tempo and simple rhythm . There are some string and horn sections in it played by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

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