Marvin Gaye - TV Appearances in the 1980�s

• Artist: Marvin Gaye
• Song: Intro (Praise, Heavy love affair etc.), Got to give it up, Come Get To this, Let�s Get It on, After The dance, Tammi Terrell Medley, How Sweet It is, I Want You, Inner City Blues
• TV-Program: Full Concert
• Duration: Possibly around an hour
• Year: 1981

In late 1970�s Marvin moved to England to hide the problems he had in America. Still he couldn�t find the peace he was looking for and in the early 1980�s Freddy Cousaert asked Marvin to come with him to a seaside city of Ostend in Belgium. Freddy Cousaert was a big fan of Marvin and wanted to organise a small tour for him in Europe. Ostend gave Marvin a chance to be himself and by Freddies support Marvin started to take control and care of his life again.

The actual tour titled "The Heavy Love Affair Tour" opened on 13 June 1981 at the Hippodrome Bristol, England. The tour consisted of 12 shows from which all but one took place in England. The last show on that tour was played on 4 July at the Casino Kursaal Ostend. The Concert was filmed by Belgian TV but because of some copyright issues it wasn�t broadcasted. Apparently some years later Brittish TV channel BBC2 had the film and the rights to broadcast it. Some clips of this film can be seen on the "Behind The Legend" DVD which incorrectly states that the clips would be from the concert held in London Apollo.

The concert itself is great and event though Marvin�s voice in the beginning sounds a bit rusty he really seems to enjoy performing on his "home arena".

Great big thanks to Dirk!

• Artist: Marvin Gaye
• Song: Sexual Healing
• TV-Program: Music video
• Duration: 4 min 5 s.
• Year: 1982

This is the only "modern" music video where you can see Marvin acting. The film was originally planned to be shot in London but for some reason it was filmed in a night club at Los Angeles. Released on Midnight Love album by Columbia this was the last real hit of Marvin's before his death, providing him two grammys.

Watch the video at YouTube.com

• Artist: Marvin Gaye
• Song: American National Anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner)
• TV-Program: 1983 NBA All-Star Game
• Duration: 3 min 10 sec
• Year: 1983

13th of February 1983, the Forum in Los Angeles bursted to aplodes after Marvin Gaye had performed his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the opening ceremonies of NBA All-Star game. It has been said that the people were hypnotised from his crystal clear voice as he started singin. According to Davis Ritz biography Marvin worked with Gordon Banks to create the rythm track with a drum machine just a day before the game. The drum patter resambled a bit of Sexual Healing giving it a funky athmosphere and the singing drove the forum crazy.

Nelson George wrote on the Billboard magazine: "Striding to mid-court in a dapper white suit and shades, Gaye turned our stiff "Stars Spangled banner" into a warm, jazzy platform for his impeccable phrasing". Marvin himself stated: " It was difficult to sing because it was written for an operatic type of voice. A soul singer isn�t exactly comfortable singing it, but nor is any other ethnic person really. So I think in a country full of ethnic nationalities, we should sing in accordance with what is most comfortable. I can�t sing white. I have to sing it so it moves me. Since I am a soul singer, I must sing it my way, and I can�t see singing it their way..."

Thanks to MidnightLady for her help...

Watch the video at YouTube.com

• Artist: Marvin Gaye
• Song: (Sexual Healing)
• TV-Program: The Grammy Awards
• Year: 1982

23 February 1983 at the Shrine Auditorium it finally happened. Marvin Gaye won two Grammy awards for Sexual Healing (best male vocal and best instrumental performance) as the awards were given to him by Rick James & Grace Jones. Marvin also performed "Sexual Healing" live in the ceremony but it was kind of an disaster as it wasn�t rehearsed well enough, however the audience didn�t seem to care.

While speaking his acceptance speak Marvin looked qute nervous but really happy.

-"Thank you very kindly ladies and gentlemen. I�m not very much for speaches. I�m not much of a public speaker, I always say that. I�ve waited a very long time, twenty some years to win an award such as this. Thank you to my family, my friends, my children who are there, Bubba and Nona. Can you stand up Bubba and Nona and say "hello Dad" quickly? We can�t take a lot of time, we�ve gotta go. There they are. Love you Baby. My mom. I love you everybody. Thank you God. I love you. Stay with us. We�re gonna try to give you more. ilove you."

• Artist: Marvin Gaye
• Song: What�s Going On
• TV-Program: Motown 25
• Duration: 7 min
• Year: 1983

Allmost all of the past and present Motown artists gathered together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Motown records. Marvin gets a really warm welcome from the audience, while looking kinda tired and drugged with his eyes half closed. Dressed in a sophisticated white suit and acting relaxed Marvin gave one of his most memorable performances to the audience. Marvin started up by sitting at the piano and recalling his black roots with the words...

"Maybe today is the result of yesturday spent in wooden churches, singing the praises of our Maker in joyous harmony and love. Part of it has to be the songs we sang, working under the blazing sun, to help pass the hard times. Yesturday was also Bessie Smith, New Orleans and gospel choirs, folk songs, Bojangles. Yesturday was the birthplace of today. Today is twenty-five years of climbing and building, and opening doors and breaking old rules. Today is also love songs, and guy-and-girl songs, and songs of protest and anger, songs of gentleness and songs of wounds left unattended for far too long, songs to march to, to fly to, to make love to. It�s music pure and simple and soulful, and if you insist, full of promise and determination, unity and humanity; today is the birthplace of forever."

After this prologue the music gets louder and Marvin stands up and starts singing What�s Going On? This was Marvins last real public tv performance before lapsing into final depression and death.

Watch the video at YouTube.com