Linda Perry’s Inspiration
Perry wrote “What’s Up” in the early 1990s, before the band recorded their debut album Bigger, Better, Faster, More! (1992).
She has described the song as a personal cry for clarity and frustration, expressing confusion about the world, injustice, and the search for meaning.
The title, “What’s Up,” actually never appears in the lyrics; Perry originally called it that to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
Songwriting Process
Perry composed it primarily on acoustic guitar, which gave the song its raw, stripped-down, soulful core.
The chord progression is relatively simple, but Perry’s vocal delivery gritty, impassioned, almost breaking into a scream gave the song its intensity.
Lyrically, it is both personal and universal: Perry channels her own feelings of alienation and frustration, but in a way that listeners around the world connected to as an anthem.
Band Contribution
While Perry was the creative engine, the other band members (Christa Hillhouse on bass, Dawn Richardson on drums, and Roger Rocha on guitar) contributed to shaping the song into its final rock arrangement.
The band built a layered, grungy yet melodic sound around Perry’s acoustic foundation driving bass and drums under her soaring vocals.
Their background as part of San Francisco’s alternative rock scene gave the song a slightly rebellious, underground texture, aligning it with the rawness of early 90s alt-rock.
Recording & Production
The track was produced by David Tickle, though Perry has said she wasn’t entirely happy with the polished production compared to her raw original demo.
Despite her concerns, the final recording captured a balance of folk-like intimacy and arena-sized rock energy.
The song’s explosive chorus delivery Perry’s cry of frustration became its defining hook.