4 Non Blondes’ 1992 song “What’s Up?” made the American group a US one-hit wonder with its powerful chorus asking, “What’s going on?”
The song was written by lead singer Linda Perry and released on the band’s debut album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More! Despite the title “What’s Up?”, the phrase is not sung in the chorus; the repeated lyric is “what’s going on?”
The single reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a major international hit. Its rise was driven by Perry’s forceful vocal performance, the song’s gradual build, and a widely played music video.
The title was chosen to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye’s 1971 song “What’s Going On?” The distinction is a frequent source of mix-ups. Linda Perry later became a successful songwriter and producer for other artists.