30+ Years Later, UNV’s “Something’s Going On” Still Whispers Truths We Feel in 2025

In an era where AI-generated melodies and TikTok snippets dominate the charts, there’s something deeply grounding about revisiting the slow jams that shaped the emotional core of ‘90s R&B. One of those gems is UNV’s “Something’s Going On”, released back in 1993 — over 30 years ago — and still as hauntingly relatable in 2025 as it was then.

UNV — short for Universal Nubian Voices — might not have had the commercial reach of Boyz II Men or Jodeci, but what they did have was heart. And in “Something’s Going On,” they gave us a timeless reminder that sometimes the loudest part of a breakup is the silence before it.

The track opens with a lush, almost cinematic atmosphere: smooth synths, a slow-dance tempo, and harmonies that drip like honey. It’s a song built on space and subtlety, the kind of arrangement that invites you to listen closely — because the real tension is in what’s not being said. And even now, in the age of instant reactions and overexposure, that kind of restraint feels refreshing.

Lyrically, it cuts deep with quiet precision. “I can feel it when we touch / Something’s going on with us.” That line could just as easily live in a 2025 situationship as it did in a 1993 love story. It’s not about fights or betrayal — it’s about that gut feeling that the emotional chemistry is fading, and no one wants to say it out loud. The kind of moment that still hits — whether you’re 17 or 47.

Musically, it’s aged gracefully. No overproduction, no flash — just tight harmonies and soul. And in today’s world of AI remix culture, it’s a masterclass in how simplicity and sincerity age better than trends.

If you’re curating a grown-folks playlist, a nostalgic R&B set, or just need a song that gets the “unspoken breakup” vibe exactly right, UNV’s “Something’s Going On” deserves a slot. It might not go viral, but it’ll stick with you — and in 2025, that’s rare currency. ~ Doug D. Sims