Jack and Diane - John Cougar Mellencamp | Andy & Alex FIRST TIME REACTION!

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

"Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone". At this point I know EXACTLY what he means.⚛😀❤

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Miserable sod. Overrated. "Life....." etc, yeah that's what you wannna hear when you're 20. Decent enough tune but he didn't do it for me.

[@livenhfree]

"The thrill of livin". That was the 80s for me. 22-32. Best decade of my life. Not that it hasn't been good/great since, but in terms of "thrill," yeah... nothing like then.

[@markstoudenmire4935]

Ditto.

[@joeday4293]

That line sure does hit different now at age 52 than it did the first time I heard it when this song came out, around age 10. LOL

[@davesage4931]

Hold on to 16 as long as you can man.

[@roberthughes2402]

Crumblin Down and The Authority Song should be next. They are straight up bangers.

[@popandroid]

Crumbling Down might be his best I swear...next to Jack and Diane and Hurt So Good I guess.

[@loosilu]

@@popandroid Was just thinking this.

[@billbitterman9487]

Authority Song is almost a straight out copy (ok call it influenced) of I Fought The Law by the Bobby Fuller Four.

[@generoberts9151]

I 2nd that. “Small Town” is nice too

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

They could do every track from Uh Huh and American Fool both albums were all killer, no filler.

[@greenbrown7776]

This song really kicks you in the gut when you're eligible for Social Security now but can remember when this was a brand new hit.

[@scottingram7634]

I"m right there with you, brother.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I feel you, my man🫡

[@Historian212]

Yup.

[@christinemmac]

Same, dude. Same 😏

[@blakerh]

Yep

[@Ginny-t7y]

"Paper in Fire" ,"Cherry Bomb" , "Hurts So Good" , "R O C K in the USA", so many. Maybe a John Mellencamp week!

[@popandroid]

had us then lost us with R-O-C-K...we can def. live w/out that cheese-fest. 😉

[@mal74]

Check It Out too.

[@RobertCartwright-sk7rr]

Authority song.

[@tomflorio3639]

@@popandroid Yeah, that's never been one of my favorites either. For my money, they should go with "I Need A Lover", "Rain On The Scarecrow", "Paper In Fire" or "Get A Leg Up".

[@loosilu]

Scarecrow would be a great Patreon album.

[@wbychowski]

JCM's album "Scarecrow" might be my favorite 80's album. There's not a weak cut on the album.

[@a2zme]

Absolute Masterpiece ..

[@thepayne7862]

His follow up album to Scarecrow, The Lonsome Jubilee is very good too. It gave us Paper in Fire and Cherry Bomb,

[@a2zme]

@@thepayne7862 'Paper in Fire' still sounds insane on a HiFi system .. I feel sorry for the young headphone-wearing generation :)

[@tomflorio3639]

I go back and forth between "Uh Huh" and "Scarecrow" as my favorite JCM albums. He matured a bit on "Scarecrow"; on "Uh Huh" he's just straight up rocking. My mood determines my answer! 🙂

[@loosilu]

THis should be on Patreon.

[@VGKDean]

Rain On The Scarecrow is a low key banger

[@sundayze]

Could not agree more!

[@funkster007]

Great tune!

[@lt.spears1889]

Yup

[@Historian212]

Amazing song.

[@christyverplank3552]

That entire album is a banger.

[@mikeharris3733]

"I Need A Lover " and "Ain't Even Done With The Night" were his first hits. Both are worth checking out.

[@tjtampa214]

Ain't even done with the night I sure did play that one a lot. I played his one album I can't remember the name of it but just over and over.

[@TheFlowNetwork]

"I Need A Lover" - one of the best intros ever.

[@j_karma]

​@@tjtampa214"Nothing Matters and What If It Did" is the album these two songs came from. I love all of JCM's stuff.

[@m.y.o.b.724]

"Hurts So Good" should be included.

[@debrafong8899]

Yes! His first album is my favorite. I especially love “Make me Feel.”

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

I Need a Lover is an absolute must from him

[@Ldastro]

Extended Version!!

[@maryann1252]

I’ve been saying this for YEARS!

[@wildcatvxa2372]

2:32 musical intro

[@LouieLouie3]

Yess 💯

[@VOTOG-ic6hm]

Yes. The long version

[@reednewell2164]

“Hold on to Sixteen as long as you can. Changes come around real soon make us women and men.” Isn’t that the truth…

[@loristone9242]

It sure is! I came here looking for this comment. I always felt like this was the most prolific line in the song. 💖

[@darrinlindsey]

Then the next day you're 50

[@raygunsforronnie847]

@@darrinlindsey And then looking at 70.

[@agoodday4pi]

Its funny how songs like this one, ‘Changes’ by David Bowie, ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith, etc. hit different when you get older 🙂

[@TheFlowNetwork]

"I Need A Lover" has one of the best intros of any song ever!

[@bostonwhofan]

I was 16 years old when this song was released. I'm 58 now. My advice to teenagers and people in their 20's: Hold on to 16 or even 26 as long as you can. It goes by really fast, and you don't realize it until one day you are 49 years old and just about to turn 50. But there is some good news, in my opinion, I never really had a thrill of living until I was about 47 or 48 years old. At that point, my kids had graduated from high school. I was well established in my career. Money issues which were always an issue when younger finally weren't too much of a concern anymore. I no longer gave a bleep what people thought about the clothes I wear, the music I listen to, or even if they liked me. At around 47 years old, in my case, life started to get really good. I'm approaching 60 now, and the thrill of living continues to be amazing.

[@charlesh946]

you are so right BostonWhoF. Where did it all go? Listening to this getting ready to cash my first paycheck at 1st job in '82. lol man.

[@kdm71291]

I’m 61 now, and I concur regarding how fast time goes.

[@walterhaynes1259]

Damn @bostonwhofan, you just described my whole life!

[@MacSvensson]

agree 100% I'm 53 now and have never been happier than the last couple of years.

[@shanadellos6034]

Right on 👍! Nearly 57 and that all tracks!

[@joejohnson1094]

Glad you guys finally made your way to Mellencamp! Gotta do “I Need A Lover”next!! It rips so hard. “Rain On the Scarecrow” as well.

[@Historian212]

If they do, they need to also listen to Pat Benatar's version, also great.

[@ac7ivesleeper610]

I was a truck driver in the 80s and 90s and one morning early like 3:00 in the morning I was eating breakfast at the counter when this guy come in and sit next to me. I had no idea who he was but he offered to buy my breakfast and did and it was John Cougar Mellencamp. It turns out his bus busted a fuel line so he was sitting out the morning in the truck stop. We small talked for a while and I think it was like 6:00 in the morning the sun was just coming up when we parted company and that's when he told me his name, otherwise I would never know it was him. Only listening to people on the radio you have no idea what they look like.

[@mrmaticuluos]

Awesome story!

[@ScottHarlow-y3m]

@@ac7ivesleeper610 Did he say "John Cougar Mellencamp" or just "John Mellencamp"? The story I heard was that his first manager had him billed as "Johnny Cougar" because he thought "John Mellencamp" was a lousy marquee name. Allegedly John hated the name "Johnny Cougar" but since he recorded under the name before he got the nerve up to try to change his name back, his label balked but agreed to "John Cougar" then later "John Cougar Mellencamp" but it took more years before he could drop "Cougar", long after he fired the manager that first stuck him with "Johnny Cougar". That's what I heard anyway. I don't know how accurate it is.

[@ac7ivesleeper610]

@@ScottHarlow-y3m Please keep in mind that at the time I was 25 years old and now I am 63. I haven't really thought about that day in a very long time. I remember we walked out of the T/A main area together and walked to the garage where they were working on his gorgeous bus and talked to the mechanic before I walked on to my truck. I remember it was snowing, but not cold, but I can't remember much past that. Oh, he wore an older John Deere ball cap. I think I remember he said John Mellencamp. I'm not even sure I spelled it right. It's sort of fun trying to remember that day, but as I write this I'm laying in my hospital bed waiting on surgery tomorrow. Plus I was watching KZbin and trying not to doze off. I wish I could remember more.

[@harpergras]

They don't make them like John Mellencamp anymore. This man has always been awesome. For me, all of his songs are outstanding.

[@stephenbrewer5415]

Saw Mellencamp with John Fogerty years ago. Hell of a show. JCM had Fogerty come up onstage with him and Mellencamp said ‘when I grow up I hope I write a song as good as this’…and they ripped into “Green River”.

[@TheDivayenta]

Wow!

[@murraybozinsky7067]

Jack & DIane is an anthem of the age.

[@joenutz2738]

Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone. Means more with every passing year

[@adgato75]

Tastee Freez was an ice cream joint. This line actually causes a lot of confusion because most people think of a chili dog as a hot dog with chili on it. In this context, a Chilly Dog or Dawg is a frozen drink. Like a Slushie or Icee

[@davidchapman2213]

I’m 55 years old and I’m just learning this. Thanks.

[@racing2cat]

A good comparison is Dairy Queen. 🙂

[@adgato75]

@@racing2cat Yep !

[@dewdew34]

Didn't know that. They still exist, one in town here, but i never go there, it's for young folks...

[@davidchapman2213]

@@adgato75 Sorry. Clarification: I didn’t know that the term was Chilly Dog in the song. I always assumed he said chili dog and then wondered how you sucked a chili dog. lol. I knew of Tastee Freeze.

[@jeffreyjohnson7359]

When I was 19 in 1983, my dad died. I remember thinking about the line "Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone."

[@phillysher7]

💔♥️

[@333perfection]

🫶

[@sedatedape315]

JCM doesn't get the recognition that he deserves. A true piece of mid-lands "Americana" with voice, vocals, and instrumentation. Always with some tasty acoustic guitar! A great song writer and one of the founding members of "Farm-Aid' concerts and organization.

[@auckalukaum]

I think he doesn't get so much recognition because he's a raging asshole to literally everyone. In the early 2000s he released a statement or interview on his website crying about how he forced by the evil record label to make all those catchy pop songs and all he ever really wanted to do was play the blues in out of the way bars, and anyone who likes all his preceding music are idiots. That's when I stopped buying his records and going to his concerts. My feeling was, if he didn't want to write all those pop songs and just wanted to play in front of 5 people in a dive bar, I'll gladly take his mansion and land off his hands. Oh, and publishing rights. A serious, mega-asshole of epic proportions.

[@michaellaporte4951]

I've heard him called the poor man's Bruce Springsteen, and while that's not entirely untrue, you can't deny he knew how to write a song. "Cherry Bomb", with its autoharp and accordion rhythm and nostalgic lyrics, is probably his most appreciable hit to me.

[@sedatedape315]

@@michaellaporte4951 I've heard JCM called that! And I would like to think John likes it. I've seem John in concert, and I've seen Bruce in concert. Both were amazing but it felt more.... comfortable at John's. Kinda like being at a county fair. Bruce's concert was great but felt like....a concert. Not knocking either. Been to lots of "concerts" and "fairs." And I've enjoyed all of the artists/bands. Getting crazy with AC-DC or floating away with Celine Dion.

[@Rainyman63]

I always found this „poor man‘s Springsteen“ label insulting. Mellencamp has his own unique style and imho is one of the greatest american songwriters, on par with the likes of Tom Petty or John Hiatt.

[@carlgibbons5777]

Mellencamp is in the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Thinking he gets a lot of credit.

[@daleperkins4901]

Mellencamp had one of the greatest backing bands ever, especially Kenny Arnof on drums --- that mini-solo in middle KILLS!!!

[@scottingram7634]

How about Arnof's drumming on Justice and Independence '85?

[@SuperSusieBell]

John born in Indiana left for fame but eventually came back to settled in the heartland again ~

[@carlgibbons5777]

Mellencamp is a Democrat that cares about real Americans. Total opposite of the Republican party that only cares about the rich and their donors.

[@joemc1960]

He's got a slew of great songs, but my favorite is "Ain't Even Done with the Night." Brings me right back to working at Peaches Records in the early '80s

[@texasca9753]

Yep, it's such a good song about something we don't explore enough IMO.

[@bostonwhofan]

Ditto, although I worked at Strawberries records in the Boston area back in the early 80's.

[@vincentjoyce5100]

Which Peaches? I was Sound Warehouse 85 in FW

[@williamroper5422]

Hurts So Good and Small Town should be next.

[@BClarke]

Those are my suggestions too. I also push for “Check It Out”, which I think is very underrated.

[@ricardovargas4546]

Lonely ol' Night. "She calls me baby, she calls everybody baby" Love that line.

[@joddo81]

You should do ..Rain On the Scarecrow

[@vieella389]

Tastee-Freeze--my first job in 1975. I first heard this song after being on the road for too long; I was in Australia and tired of talking about where I was from, where I had been, where I was going next. The lyrics became "life goes on, long after the thrill of travelling is gone".

[@juniorvega42]

Hurts So Good is an absolute 80s banger! This man had hit after hit!

[@alejandrobojorquez6181]

" We Ain't Even Done With The Night " by J C M. another Rock Classic highly recommend this song

[@nyrocks5580]

For many of us who were that age at the time the song came out, we have a strong connection to it. He was a legitimate hit-making machine for a long time and a handful of his albums are great from start to finish.

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

I was 13 in 1982 when this came out, owned it on cassette and vinyl. I 100% agree with what you just said!

[@popsmcgee9775]

Studio version of I Need a Lover has one of the best openings/intros of classic rock imo.

[@christopherone1]

great song.

[@thetannaree]

💯 and he’s so honest about the topic 😂 I love that songgggg

[@johnchambers5029]

Tastee Freeze was a hamburger/shakes restaurant chain similar to Dari Queen and was popular in the Midwest. John is from Indiana and many of his songs relate to the Midwest small town and farm life.

[@Elephant2024-wi2li]

Especially 'Small Town' and 'Pink Houses.'

[@Scaramousche1955]

They're still alive and kickin'

[@Peppers19781978]

I still to this day laugh when I hear that line because who sucks on chili dogs? I grew up near a Tastee Freeze and have fond memories going there as a kid especially my grandmother taking me every Friday after school. Very few exist now.

[@dawnmclees]

@johnchambers5029 The tastee freeze where I grew up in the 70’s was more like a hamburger stand no inside dining and yes their chil dogs were the best

[@dougman23]

@@Peppers19781978 the original line was "suckin' on cigarettes outside the Tastee Freeze", and the record company requested he change it. So he changed it to something far more questionable...

[@johndef5075]

Paper in Fire is a banger.

[@tjtampa214]

Thanks for naming that one, I was just going to look it up because I forgot the title but yes great song!

[@sallydwyer2735]

Agreed!

[@magicbrownie1357]

Yes! My two favorite Mellencamp songs are from that album. Paper in Fire and Cherry Bomb.

[@anthonyyoutubefan7567]

The production still sounds good...42 years later.

[@dianedavies8291]

This song will always remind me of my good friend Jack O’Brien. He died tragically in 97 while working as an Ironworker connecting a building. We always sung this to each other jokingly when it played on the radio. ✌️♥️🎶

[@IZZY_EDIBLE]

Fun fact. Where those dirty electric chords hit, Mellencamp told his lead guitarist to follow them on acoustic guitar with that "dun, dun-dun-dun-dun-dun" riff. Dude refused to play anything that simple, so John played the riff himself. JACK & DIANE became a huge hit, and the dude had to play it every show!

[@ecbst6]

I was that age when it was new, it's an anthem.

[@savageman2194]

Bobbie Brooks slacks were a name brand in the 70's.

[@dwinkleman]

I seem to remember they were kinda pricey. The "in" girls would wear them.

[@savageman2194]

@@dwinkleman , "we" shopped and received them on the discount floor...that said...those britches lasted for 3-8 years. Good and bad.

[@Historian212]

Yes. They also made sweater sets and other separates.

[@aileenturrietta7553]

More Mellencamp please!! I been begging for years. Finally 😊

[@jvmonte6638]

Great reaction guys. Great song and artist. My favourite of his is The Authority Song. Hope you get to hear this at some point.

[@scottcollins5013]

"Check It Out" is my favourite John Mellencamp song. Kinda of a sequel to this one, offering a glimpse of after the thrill of living is gone.

[@bafalan]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqLbdXWfnrudorMsi=BP5YlAqwtFTIwh_2 Love this video of John performing Check it Out live in Indianapolis, basically his "home court".

[@scottboswell6406]

I have tons of respect for this artist!! The record company wanted to 'sell him' a certain way, including trying to change his name from Mellencamp to Cougar. He fought against it the whole time, with them reaching the compromise of making the 'Cougar' his middle name, then just the initial. He has some Really Good Songs to hear, including Hurt So Good, The Authority Song, Rain on the Scarecrow, and Cherry Bomb!!

[@cd-vq6dz]

Gen Z trying to talk about how this song is going from teens to early 20's in life cycle just cracked me up. You guys don't understand the true profound message of this song and how it mirrors life for almost all people, but in about 20 years you will. Bank on it.

[@jlsage4059]

Yep

[@alexandriaocasio-smollett5078]

Speaking of being “cracked up“.. Your smug condescension cracks me up. You act like the exact same things aren’t true about you to the generation prior… and to them by the generation prior… and to them by the generation prior. The irony is that by behaving like you’ve arrived to some state of omniscience to the point you condescendingly mock people you clearly believe to be behind/beneath you proves you haven’t.

[@brendablevins2637]

And so how old are you? Big words with lots of letters! Relax😉

[@paulhislop4591]

This album introduced us to drummer Kenny Aronoff. Simple, yet powerful fills and grooves. This song has a simply powerful fill.(I'm a drummer, in case it wasn't obvious). Side note: I remember first seeing John Cougar on The Midnight Special a couple years before this and I didn't think much of what he was doing - more style than substance. This is miles better than that.

[@eboethrasher]

Kenny went on to be such a successful session musician, much like Benmont Tench from the Heartbreakers.

[@bradparnell614]

This was chosen as one of the most popular songs by my senior class in high school. Though not a small town, we lived only an hour or so from the small town that John Mellencamp was from and could relate to it quite a bit. We also had a Tastee-Freez where I was growing up. It was a huge chain back in the 60s and 70s and as the song suggests, a popular hangout for teenagers. Over the years they had become another of those chains that shrunk tremendously. The closest one to me now is almost 4 hours away. Now I want some soft serve.

[@scottingram7634]

That was Bloomington, wasn't it?

[@bradparnell614]

No. Bloomington is where he lives now, which is also the location of Indiana University. He grew up in Seymour, Indiana which is farther south. It's about an hour or so north of Louisville, KY which is where I live and where I believe John eloped with his first wife.

[@11stirling]

I saw John Cougar live in Louisville Kentucky in 1984, he rocked Freedom Hall for a solid 2 hours! One of the concerts I still say was so impressive in the fact that he just kept jamming! We all left feeling we got our ‘money worth’ and then some. What a fun time to be a teenager!

[@vidpie]

Tastee-Freez sells soft-serve ice cream. Its founder invented the soft-serve ice cream machine. "Expansion of the brand was rapid in the 1950s; in 1952, there were 315 locations, more than 1600 by mid-1956, and by 1957 there were nearly 1,800 locations." Today, there are four.

[@BlakeElliott35]

The attention to detail going on in the production behind this song is so underappreciated; glad y'all noticed

[@robertg1556]

Saw him at the Greek a few years back. Sounded just as good live. Awesome concert.

[@todvball]

Warms my heart when you chose this JCM timeless classic . The lyrics are profound ... The arrangement of every instrument and vocals plays a unique role. "S" tier in my book . Other early gems worth noting: "Thundering Hearts", "Hurts So Good", "I Need a Lover" ...also "Play Guitar" . All great tunes. Stay cool in Florida!!

[@JaneWalters-ni7se]

Tastee-Freez was one of the best burger joints ever! ❤ I miss the delicious treats to this day. And yes, we wore Bobbie Brooks slacks, high waist, big legs, too cool 😎 for school, darlings! This is a classic, perfect song 🎵 👌 🙌 😍 👏 ❤️

[@lynnschnekenburger7270]

Awww, the first time I heard "I Need A Lover" , it was true love and the love affair continues to this day. "Junior" is a must listen. John Mellencamp has an incredible catalogue of work - just amazing!!!💕

[@emilyflotilla931]

"Check It Out" was a favorite for me.

[@Vendzor]

Me too, but the Tavares version 😁

[@bafalan]

@@emilyflotilla931 where does our time go?

[@Shortsac72]

Hanged in until the end to get your perspectives. My first time coming across you fellas. You've earned my "Hit that button" "Tasty Freeze" was an ice cream stand franchise back in the day.

[@a.duncan4790]

No one has mentioned 'Play Guitar' from the Uh Huh album, So good!

[@bleonar3]

My favorite JC song.

[@kimmycook2698]

That line...'Hold on to 16 as long as you can...' he was very right.

[@lreadlResurrected]

When my kids were young, we would put on a mix-tape or CD in the car. I used to tease them about when the singing would start on his song, "I Need A Lover". It has the longest inro in the world and it stops every few bars and invites you to think it's over, but it's not. 🙂

[@cletus1n3]

I remember being on a marching band trip when this was new; several people brought their boomboxes and were playing music for the road trip... This one came on and everybody in the bus was singing along at the top of their lungs. Great fun...

[@j_karma]

Mellencamp is to the Midwest what Springsteen is to the New York / New Jersey area. They both paint realistic images in their songs of life in their surroundings. I love all of JCM's work from the late 70s through the 80s. 🎸

[@kayteague6119]

I've always thought this. I'm a Midwestern girl and can relate to the Mellencamp/Springsteen sentiment. .

[@TheFairyintheFishBowl]

“Hurts so good “ is my favourite! ❤

[@heidigrezel2596]

Post Pink House's. That song was overplayed, but I had forgotten how much I loved that song. Next, Cherry Bomb, Ain't Even Done With the Night, Rain on the Scarecrow, Authority Song, I Need A Lover. Mellencamp also did a movie about his life, Falling From Grace, which he starred. Talented guy.

[@grandpa_plays_chess2]

One of my all-time favorite moments was a JCM concert in St. Paul. He opened with the first chords from this song and had people leaping out of their seats, and they never sat down for the whole show.

[@ronaldpena8990]

Reminds me of early MTV.

[@BDizzleMySchnizzle]

This song is a straight up piece of Americana. Never gets old.

[@roystoyscomics1361]

Tastee Freeze is a fast food ice cream store. Selling vanilla or chocolate ice cream cones amongst other frozen treats. Their ice cream machines don't break down as much as McDonald's. Lol 🤣😆 These days you don't see too many standalone stores anymore. In my neck of the woods they are part of the Wiener Schnitzel franchise much like Carl's Jr. and Green Burrito. 😊

[@wb2463]

At last, been waiting for you guys to hit this for a while! I've always thought this is one of best examples of a quintessentially 80's production sound done well; it has all the bombastic 80's elements and unique sounds, but is still so well crafted and not at all overdone.

[@ecbst6]

"I wonder what Tastee-Freez is" Oh, wow 🙂

[@Ellenred5257]

A fast food place

[@tjtampa214]

We had one around my house before it got here I never knew what it was. But it's an ice cream joint with a walk-up window or drive through

[@aquatarkus2022]

When your town is too small for a Dairy Queen.

[@josephwalker5577]

@@aquatarkus2022Not necessarily. We have 125,000 people and we have one. In conjunction with a Weinerschnitzel.

[@richardlindell9976]

Like a DQ.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Love how the bass part is constant, and the things he does over it sometimes follow it and sometimes create a syncopated effect. And that bridge! Unexpected and friggin fantastic.

[@betsyduane3461]

Tastee-Freez is an American franchised fast-food restaurant founded in 1950 specializing in soft serve ice cream plus burgers, fries, etc. In 1957 there were 1800 locations, now just 4 today, but they became a brand of ice cream sold by others more than a retail location.

[@ventiicedchailatte]

Huge respect to you both for just listening + enjoying the music, rather than speaking during most of the goose-bump inducing moments !! 🦄

[@jmnjoe1]

Minutes to memories. Rain on a scarecrow. Lonely ol night.

[@soapytiger]

Yes, MINUTES TO MEMORIES!

[@owenbb505]

There's some cool choices you can pick from with Mellencamp...To me, he rocks hardest with "Rain On The Scarecrow". Great reaction as always, guys!

[@tylerhackner9731]

Such a great song!

[@GoodStuffForeverMore]

Classic 😎 One of THE best songs ever 🎶 You you hear that riff and you know what's coming🙌

[@curtisgunnarson1768]

“Rain on the Scarecrow”

[@brennalee904]

Crumblin Down and Paper in Fire...awesome...during the Top 40 over play era of my life he was someone I never got tired of. Enjoyed your reaction it made me have to go listen to him for the first time in a long time. Have a great day guys!

[@stellahalcyon9859]

I have long contended that "sucking on chili dogs outside the Tastee-Freeze" is one of the greatest American rock poetry lines ever. Meanwhile it occurred to me the other day that I don't recall that you'all have tried on Motorhead yet. "Ace of Spades" is the obvious first.

[@aquatarkus2022]

Ace of Spades!

[@lisalovemc717]

Saw John Cougar in mid 90s and honestly it was one of the best shows I've been to, and I've been to over a hundred concerts. He just had everyone up singing and dancing. He has sooo many great hits.

[@msmrsro]

I went through a John Cougar phase in college, had all his albums on vinyl or cassette. Got to see him in concert back in the late 80s. He’s turned into an old curmudgeon but his music still hits.

[@reallymysterious4520]

Yes he has turned into somewhat of an A-Hole but still love his old material

[@aquatarkus2022]

He's a leftist crank now.

[@jeffreyporter4678]

He has always been an A-hole.

[@TheGrimeFamily]

Grade 7 when this came out. 80’s was the best times of my life. From John Cougar to Metallica. I turned 12 the summer of 82. Thanks for the flash back.

[@gordonbezanson4710]

Was15. I think we all made that transition 🤟ozzy, iron madien first for me and shit ton of others.

[@livenhfree]

Early 80s. The best decade for popular music. Change my mind.

[@tonyascarlett2413]

The 90's is my favorite, especially Grunge.

[@antarcticorb9197]

Best was late sixties and seventies.

[@aquatarkus2022]

Real rock died in the 80s.

[@livenhfree]

@@tonyascarlett2413 Def some great stuff in the 90s as well. Grunge didn't do it for me, though. Too dark. 80s was just one big party.

[@Vendzor]

I respectfully disagree; it's gotta be '70s

[@RuthKing-wm9nw]

Hurts So Good! Thanks for all the great music and love how you guys enjoy hearing something great for the first time!

[@Jesstron10]

JCM has 20 other songs you could hit, but Cherry Bomb should be next. Uh-Huh would be a good full album review

[@Ellenred5257]

20+

[@Rock_Snob]

“Minutes to Memories”

[@swimrski]

Cherry Bomb upvotes!

[@lisahumphries3898]

I was around 16 when this song came out and remember thinking, heck no I don’t want to hang onto 16. I want to be an adult. Haha. As someone once said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” So true!

[@paulagalloway528]

classic song about a classic moment in time

[@BobTrainor]

About time!! I’ve only been telling you to check out John for years!!

[@alphafemale267]

One of my favorites!

[@jennytalks5882]

The video goes so much better with this song❤. I remember seeing it on Cable when we first got cable many years ago. Out eyes were glued to the television. Something about it.

[@chriswheeler151]

He may well be the most underrated lyricist. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m3qX9qe9-DY7s "Jackie Brown" kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn2VaWCIi7Rjlac "Peaceful World" kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2WuhqCjZb2mgrs "Your Life is Now" kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZrQf6CVhbCnj68 "Check it Out" Mellencamp lyrics always speak to the underdog.

[@bedazzled64]

Love John Mellencamp. So many great songs (and used different names as well) One that I love (that you don't hear often) is Check it Out. You can't go wrong with any of his songs.

[@danmcconnell5941]

I think Pink Houses is S tier, a damn near perfect rock and roll song, musically and lyrically deep. J&D is right there. I might recommend Hurt So Good, I need a lover. Of course Small Town was probably his biggest hit but really I don't love it as much, but it is legendary I guess. Also Authority Song is a minor hit that I think really rocks. Ain't Even Done with the Night is an early song that really sticks to me, super catchy. Last and very important, Check it Out is potentially a sequel to Jack & Diane. Its about as deep as Pink Houses.

[@tjtampa214]

Great suggestions.. and your name Dan McConnell. It makes me think of that show Roseanne when she was married and her husband Dan. But I think their last name was slightly different, Conner?

[@robertwiles8106]

Jack And Diane was a GIGANTIC hit on early MTV. As big as any song of the era. It was in very heavy rotation for what seemed like a year.

[@vspikeog1000]

Alot of people used to make fun of him a bit...but you gotta agree now...john cougar Mellencamp is a top notch artist with a huge catalog of great songs..he is up there with Dillon and Springsteen..a true american rocker bad ass

[@thetannaree]

Who used to make fun of him? He’s always been a stud

[@cms-pacnw3315]

@@thetannaree I agree. I don't remember hearing anyone make fun of him.

[@LadybugLuv]

At 12/13 yrs old, it was always a HUGE treat when this song came on and I had my headphones on!

[@wbychowski]

Tastee Freeze is a soft serve ice cream/fast food franchise mainly found in small towns/rural America.....Similar to Dairy Queen.

[@marieaug9322]

I remember my lil brothers mimicking that guitar lick, Tete, Tete..Tete. and us hand clapping foot stomping to this song ..we loved this we were 10,3 and 2 yrs old. Lols

[@surlechapeau]

A&A, you'll love his "Hurts So Good", "Small Town" and "I Need A Lover" !!!

[@Rareplymouth]

Hell yeah

[@BallsInMyCup_]

“Pink Houses” though 🙌

[@tjtampa214]

Yeah Small Town too... they're all great.

[@JayCross]

These three are all great songs. Note that "Small Town" is sometimes used as an anthem of people offended by diversity.

[@thefallenfaith1986]

​@@JayCrossPerhaps it isn't the "dive' " that offends them - it's more how its used as a we appon against them. The entire country witnessed it during the "fire filled yet totally peaceful" 2020 summer of love. Not to mention how they're being ruh placed by the denizens of that continent to the south.

[@partisonpaul7357]

Saw Mellencamp live sometime in the mid 1980s. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.

[@buddinganarchist]

He had the clap. hehe

[@haw_n_thorne]

Oh-! A gonorrhea joke- Huh…