I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Marvin Gaye (1939–1984) for his efforts on the song “Ain’t no mountain high enough”, where—at 1'40'', right after the song has changed gears into a higher register, in reply to his co-star Tammi Terell, years later to break down on stage in his arms and to die shortly thereafter—Marvin single-handly invents, saves and declares finished Soul music; all of this he achieves with a single, short “whoo” cry-out of excitement in reply to Tammi’s line “My love is alive”, equally plausibly saying “My love is a lie”.
Go and listen. It is all in there, a universe you did not even dream of, in this one burst of sound from the lungs of a dead man, recorded over forty years ago. Thank you, Marvin.
(Strictly speaking, Marvin would qualify for a fruit tart of honour. Or, actually, a whole sweets shop of honour.)
