大象传媒

From writer Abdul-Rehman Malik:

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Last night here on 大象传媒 Radio 2, we heard Janis Gaye, wife of the American singer-songwriter and soul sensation Marvin Gaye, tell the story of his remarkable and troubled life. Marvin Gaye was murdered by his father 30 years ago this week. If he had lived, today would have been his 75th birthday.

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My parents had eclectic musical tastes. On any given night, the turntable might play host to the Sabri Brothers, Stevie Wonder and the dulcet tones of Paul Anka. My mother tells me that I鈥檇 wander around our little flat tunelessly crying out, 鈥淥h, please, stay with me, Diana-aaah!鈥�

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The sound that really nurtured their souls, though, was the melodious recitation of the sacred texts. We had recordings of people reciting the Quran from places as disparate as Kuala Lumpur, Karachi and Cairo. Each brought their own passion and inflection to words which we considered divine.

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I however also realised that a working knowledge of pop music was essential

social currency in the schoolyard, so became an avid listener of Top 40 radio. 听Ever the aspiring rebel, I still kept my ears open for songs that offered more than a good tune. Songs that might reflect my growing awareness that things were not right with the world. Enter Marvin Gaye.

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Tracks like 鈥淢ercy Mercy Me鈥� and 鈥淲hat鈥檚 Going On鈥� were profound meditations on ecological catastrophe and war. 鈥淲ith the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?鈥� he once asked. I was hooked.

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The 13th century mystic Rumi tells the parable of the reed flute. Cut from the reed bed, it makes a sound both enchanting and mournful. 鈥淎nyone pulled from its source, longs to go back,鈥� complains the reed. 鈥淲hen I am played, I mingle in the laughing and grieving, but few will hear the secrets hidden within the notes.鈥�

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I鈥檇 like to think Marvin Gaye heard the secrets within the notes. Even as he battled his own demons, it was to love songs he constantly returned. Like Rumi, Marvin too wanted to connect to the true source of love. 鈥淕od is our friend,鈥� he sang, 鈥渁nd all He asks of us is we give each other love.鈥� It is probably the greatest gift we can give. Happy birthday Marvin 鈥� and thank you!