berry gordy was a songwriter. >> ironically, here he was trying his best to make black music that would play "the ed sullivan show" and kill. >> back in the '60s, marvin gaye wanted to be frank sinatra. >> he was clean, svelte, clean-shaven, d clean-shaven, debonaire. all that changed in the '70s. >> why can't i make a record like the beatles? i'm selling records like they sell. why can't i have that artistic expression? ♪ punish me with brutality ♪ talk to me honey so you can see what's going on ♪ ♪ what's going on yeah what's going on ♪ ♪ tell me what's going on ooh >> marvin gaye was affected by the vietnam war. his brother was in vietnam. so he's hearing all these stories about what's going on over there. he's seeing the protests here. and it's changing him. >> he holds up a mirror to america. look at yourselves, america. >> he's talking about the war. he's talking about poverty. changing artists in a way that berry gordy is not super happy about. ♪ everybody thinks we're wrong they do ♪ >> initially he did not want marvin to do what's going on. >> motown was supposed to be nonthrea