Music Monday this week took me down the Internet rabbit hole
Posted By RichC on March 9, 2026
My wife rarely gives me any recommendations for Music Monday (correction: “never has given me a recommendation”), but she informed me that this week she heard a song that she wanted me to include. 
So … I’ll do it, since it is a rarity.
It is a 1993 song written by Linda Perry and performed by her and 4 Non Blondes. I suspect those who grew up listening to music in the 90s know a bit more about the band and the hit “What’s Up?” I have probably heard it since the talented voice sounds familiar, BUT never really thought or knew much about it (although I do wonder why Brenda said the lyrics reminded her of me???)
The song originated well before 4 Non Blondes formed. Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins recalled sitting in a room with Linda Perry—then working as a waitress nearby—performing their original compositions to one another while both were struggling musicians in San Francisco. During these sessions, the two played early versions of “Semi-Charmed Life” and “What’s Up?”, which would later become major hits for their respective bands. Decades later, Jenkins realized that the songs shared in that private session would go on to sell a combined 17 million records.[3]
The title does not appear in the song’s lyrics; instead, the chorus repeatedly features the line “what’s going on?”. The official title “What’s Up?” was deliberately chosen to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye‘s 1971 song “What’s Going On.”
What’s Up? (lyrics)
25 years AND my life and still
I’m trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realised quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made FOR this
Brotherhood of man
For whatever that means[Chorus:]
And So I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
JUST To get it all out what’s in my head
AND I, I Am feeling a little peculiar
AND So I wake in the morning and I step
Outside AND I take deep breath
AND I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What’s goin’ onAnd I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA
I said hey! what’s goin’ on
And I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA
I said hey! what’s goin’ onOOOH, OO! OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO
OO-OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOO
OOOH! OOO-AAH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO
OO-OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOO Whats up?And I try, oh my God do I try
I try all the time
In this institution
And I pray, oh my God do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution[Chorus:]
And So I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
JUST To get it all out what’s in my head
AND I, I Am feeling a little peculiar
AND So I wake in the morning and I step Outside
AND I take deep breath
AND I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What’s goin’ onAnd I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA
I said hey! what’s goin’ on
And I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA
I said hey! what’s goin’ onAnd I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA I said hey! what’s goin’ on
And I SING hey-YEAH-YEA-EAH, EAH HEY YEA YEA
I said hey! what’s goin’ onOOOH, OO! OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO
OO-OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOO-AHH-HAA25 years of my life and still
I’m trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destinationOO-OOH-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOO
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