Often classified as being a one-hit wonder, 4 Non Blondes released “What’s Up?” on their first and only album “Bigger, Better, Faster, More!” in 1992. The song was written by singer-songwriter Linda Perry – who later proved to be much more than a one-hit wonder – and became one of the most popular songs to emerge out of the 1990s. In this article, I will dive into the meaning behind “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes.

The Meaning of the Song

“What’s Up?” is a song about the frustration and hopelessness of living in a messed-up world. The song is often seen as a feminist anthem concerning women navigating in a male-dominated world, but “What’s Up?” was also inspired by the political landscape of the 1990s. The song doesn’t actually feature direct references to certain issues, making it a timeless anthem.

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“It was a big moment for reflection and looking in the world and politics and being defiant and being a punk rocker and standing up,” Linda Perry reflected to SiriusXM. “A lot of protests were happening in the ‘90s, a lot of them for gay people, and so that’s where the song came from: just 25 years of my life and still wondering what the hell is going on.”

In the song, Perry introduces herself as a 25-year-old, still-struggling woman, who navigates in a world made up by this brotherhood of man. The brotherhood of man could be a remark on society in general, but could also refer to the music industry Perry tried to succeed in, which to this very day remains a male-dominated industry.

Several other successful songs were inspired by the men-ruled music industry, including “Barracuda” by Heart, where rock sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson out their frustration about how they were treated as women in the music industry.

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In the pre-chorus, Perry reveals she sometimes falls into inner conflict about the issues she sees and the hopelessness she feels. She feels the desire to express her emotions and screams from the top of her lungs: “What’s going on?”

Funnily enough, the song’s title “What’s Up?” doesn’t appear in the song. It would’ve been more logical to call the song “What’s Going On?”, but to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye’s classic the 4 Non Blondes titled the song “What’s Up?”.

Despite the hopelessness expressed in the first half of the song, the second verse reveals Perry tries to remain optimistic about her position in this world. She hopes one day this seemingly unchangeable ‘institution’ will undergo a transformation.

Overall, 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” is a cry for understanding how to navigate in this messed-up world, and a cry for a movement to change something about it.

The Genesis of the Song

Before joining 4 Non Blondes, Linda Perry was a struggling musician busking the streets of San Francisco. During that period, she wrote “What’s Up?”. Perry shared an early version of the song with fellow struggling musician Stephan Jenkins, who would later become the frontman of Third Eye Blind. In return, Jenkins played an early version of “Semi-Charmed Life” to Perry. Both songs would eventually become massive hits.

Linda Perry eventually joined 4 Non Blondes in 1989. The group gained a local following and signed a record deal with Interscope Records in 1992. Later that year, the group released their only studio album Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

The Recording of the Song

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The initial album version of “What’s Up?” was a reworked version of Linda Perry’s demo by producer David Tickle. This version featured reworked lyrics, guitar solos, and a marching drum. Linda Perry was extremely dissatisfied with Tickle’s version and decided to re-record the song herself. The re-recording by Linda Perry is the version of “What’s Up?” we all know today.

Linda Perry’s production and structure of the song is minimalistic, featuring just 3 chords throughout the entire song and minimal instrumentation. According to Perry, the minimalistic approach was done on purpose.

“The music was just there to support the message, and I think those are the best productions. Those are the best songs, when you’re just letting the message carry and not all the bells and whistles get in the way.”

The Legacy of What’s Up?

“What’s Up?” was released as a single on March 11, 1993. The song became a massive worldwide hit, topping the charts in eleven countries. The album Bigger, Better, Faster, More! was also a best-seller, selling over 6 million copies worldwide.

Over the years, “What’s Up?” remained extremely popular. Surely because of the song’s catchiness and Linda Perry’s amazing vocals, but also because of the song’s strong message. “Whether you heard it 25 years ago or you’re hearing it now, anybody that listens to it is taking on their own interpretation of what this song means,” Linda Perry commented. “So, I don’t expect that song to go away any time soon.”

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