Social media making everyone hate one another, anger, hate, and politics rule the realm. Then there is you guys. You two are the reason for the internet. Bringing hope and laughter, music and thoughtfulness, cheer and joy! TY Please remember, with every single view, weather they "like", "comment", or "subscribe" or not, you guys are bringing nothing but love and joy into the universe and putting a song in each viewers heart. God bless you guys, and may you grow and grow and grow.
I so agree with the perception on social media, but I recently had an exchange with someone I disagreed with politically, but we were able to have a respectful disagreement with no hatred or vitriol, so I remain hopeful we CAN get through this together.
A funny coincidence; at that time of this song, there was a couple on the soap opera, Young and the Restless, named Jack & Diane. Also, when he started in the 70's, he went by John Cougar.
And the music he is making now is hauntingly gorgeous. Life, Death, Love and Freedom is one of the best albums of the last 15 years and I'll fight anyone who disagrees. It's fantastic.
John Mellencamp has never written a bad song, he just one of those artists who just bangs out great song after great song. He's up there with all the other greats, he doesn't get enough credit.
Such a great song. I maintain that this song has one of the greatest lines ever. "Hold on the 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon" What adult can't relate to that?
I turned 18 when this song became a hit in the UK,and was intent on defying that line if I could. He was known as John Cougar then and that was the autumn of 1982; not long after that it became John Cougar Mellencamp,so it seems the Cougar has been dropped since.
@@rjjcms1 John's record company forced him to change his name to Cougar. He did not like to do it but did it anyway. As he became more famous, he had the power to go back to his real last name Mellencamp and eventually Cougar was gone for good.
John Mellencamp was his name but not a great rock name according to his new label, so he became John Cougar. John Cougar was his name when this song dropped. This was a #1 hit so it’s a great song to start with. John was all about blue-collar, working class folks because that was his frame of reference growing up. After John became more popular he popped his last name back on and became John Cougar Mellencamp! You should do Pink Houses next. You’ll love it. ❤️
It wasn't even so much that it wasn't a rock name rather than he was being built up to be a heart throb and thought Cougar fitted the part more than Mellencamp.
I'm literally crying from the memories this video brings up. It was one of the first songs on MTV. There weren't many videos at that time so you heard this one all the time. Got sick of it then but brings back memories now!
John's style of music is referred to as heartland rock. He was born, raised and still lives in Indiana. My fave by him is Cherry Bomb. Others are Small Town, Pink Houses and R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. Many of his songs reflect his roots in small town Midwest. He is one of the founders of Farm Aid, an annual concert to raise awareness of and benefit struggling family farms.
Jack & Diane is a classic slice of Americana Rock. John Mellencamp is such a great artist from his early days through to the present day. You really must react to Small Town.
When he first started out ,he was known as John Cougar because the record company made him change his name. He eventually went back to his real name of Mellencamp.
There's an old adage, "Youth is wasted on the young." I happened to be 15 years old when this song came out. So when I turned 16, I always had this song in the back of my mind. I always tried to remember this is a special time and I should hold on to it for as long as I can. It was good advice that came to me at just the right time.
John J. Mellencamp (born Oct , 1951) became -> Johnny Cougar -> John Cougar -> John Cougar Mellencamp -> John Mellencamp... (Wikipedia)"...known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock..." Yup! He made albums under all 3 nom-de-plumes! :) Check out to more favorites of mine: 'Paper in Fire' and 'Cherry Bomb'
I give this reaction an A+. This song was huge back when I was in high school in the early 80s, and I owned the cassette of this album. I love me some John Cougar Mellencamp, Thanks for this one
Amber, your mom sounds so fun! My mom played music all the time like that when I was little, too. That's why I love music from the 60's and 70's but wasn't born until '77. I love that you guys have this channel and we get to experience the music all over again, sometimes in new ways.
John 'Cougar' was once seen as a successor to Springsteen. That proved to be too much pressure to live up to, but he's stayed in the industry. Blood on the Plow is my favorite of his songs, and it came out shortly after he seemed to stop chasing rock-icon status, changed his stage name to his real name, and wrote about more social issues (like Blood on the Plow).
Saw him several times and he is great live!!!! Cherry Bomb is my favorite. All of his songs tell a story like Bruce Springsteen. He's one of my favorites!!!!!!✌❤
Thank you SO much for reacting to John Cougar Mellencamp! I have hardly seen ANY reactions on his songs and he has a TON of excellent, fun ones in his catalog. So Americana, so many of those story-telling songs. Besides this one, "Small Town" is also one of his most famous along with "Rockin' in the USA", "Little Pink Houses", "Hurts so Good", "Fire and Ice" - so many!
American music. One great prism on the diamond of our country’s amazing music. Blues, jazz, rock, hip hop, country and more. All delicious. Thanks for your open hearts.
Pink Houses is great... But my personal favorite is Rain on the Scarecrow... I grew in the country on farm with Farmers for neighbors.. Rain on the Scarecrow means so much to so many farmers and the struggles they went through during those times..
Thank you for reacting to my request of Jack and Diane! John Melloncamp used to be known as John Cougar Melloncamp. He sings about the heartland of America - Little Pink Houses is another great one. He is from the Mid-West, he's been singing forever and his songs make you want to clap along and dance.
I enjoy the way Amber's face is when she's listening with her eyes closed and suddenly her eyes pop open and they light up when something hits her right in the heart. I do this when music is on and I'm alone. Keep up enjoying music and life and your family. They are gone so fast. Peace kids.
I recommend "Crumbling Down". You gotta see him dance! Here are more recommendations: Sonic Youth: " Dirty Boots" REM: "End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" Black Keys: "Tighten Up" Men at Work: "Down Under"
He's from Bloomington, In. A home boy to us Hoosiers! Love him!! He made a memorial gift for my daughter's dad in 2015, when he passed. He was also in the music industry.
Hurt So Good and The Authority Song are just some of his great songs.. This was Soooo Big when MTV was still very new and was all about Music Videos in the early 80s!! The great thing about the 80s was that there were so many great styles of music that were all popular with everybody at the same time!! Being unique was encouraged and people were so open to new takes and blends of styles. It was truly a great time to be young!
MTV in the early eighties was truly revolutionary. It defied genre based radio stations out of neccessity, they just needed content to fill air time. The result was a true melting pot of music.
John Mellencamp is one of my favorite singers. This is from his "John Cougar " days. Another great one is Pink Houses. He always tells a story in his songs.
One of my all time favourite songs. I used to crank this up in the car whenever it used to come on the radio. This and please play “Hurts so good” also another great song.
The Pictures were of John and his first wife, all filmed in his home town where he still lives to this day..One of the best storytellers out there....Seen him 20 some times over the years.. Try.."Hurts so Good", "Pink Houses", "Paper in Fire", just to begin with....."Crumblin' Down", "Minutes to Memories"..Geez I could go on
Fun Fact for you Jay and Amber: When John Mellencamp originally released this song, he was professionally known as "John Cougar" He'd later go on to use the name "John Cougar Mellencamp" before ultimately dumping the "Cougar" and using his birth name of John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp is a true American icon. I'm lucky enough to have seen him a few times. Scarecrow, is my fav. John has had lots of hits. He has been working with Steven King on a musical! He's still making music. So glad you found him.
Start with Hurt So Good, Pink Houses, Crumblin’ Down and Authority Song. John (Cougar) Mellencamp was one of the better parts of my teenage years. The videos might not stand the test of time but the songs sure do.
Hi Rob Squad , This was great to see you enjoy this song and video . A couple of favorite songs of mine by John Mellencamp is "Pink Houses" and "Rain On The Scarecrow"... he's one of those artists that has so many great songs it's kinda hard to pick through his songs. I look forward to more of your videos . Thank you
Here are the John Mellencamp songs that I recommend: Cherry Bomb, Small Town, Pink Houses, Ain't Even Done With the Night, R.O.C.K. in the USA, Lonely Ol' Night, Paper in Fire, Crumbin' Down, Rain on the Scarecrow, Check it Out, Authority Song, Hurts So Good, I Need A Lover, Love and Happiness, Now More Than Ever, and Get A Leg Up. Sorry the list is so long, but I've been listening to him since 1980, and he's had a lot of great songs.
I'm so glad you did this song! So low-key and realistic. When you have each other, you don't need glitz or glamour - "hey Baby, you ain't missin' nothin'..."
The drum fill into the big section in the middle was a defining moment for Kenny Aronoff's career. He tells the story in the documentary, Hired Gun (available on Amazon Prime).
The Jack & Diane story can be for anyone. This song will always make me think of my grandparents as well as my parents. Both my grandparents back in the 1950s & 60s, young Americans doing the best they can in life and raising kids, 30 years later my parents meet doing the best they can in life and raising me… that was back in the 2000s. Now 3 out of 4 of my grandparents have died (in 2004, 2017, and 2020)… yet life still goes on and now I’m a young American doing the best I can
One of the founders of Farm Aid, along with Neil Young and Willie Nelson. Check out some live performances from past Farm Aid shows. Support your local farmer….
He came to my small hometown in Missouri around 1984 to support the farmers protest and give a free concert in a parking lot. He cares about the Heartland!
Small Town, Pink Houses, Hurt So Good, Authority Song, Cherry Bomb, Paper In Fire, Check It Out, Rockin in The USA, Lonely 'Ol Night...oh, and Crumblin' Down. Yeah, that's a good place to start.
40 years of Mellencamp hits to enjoy! So many great songs. Based on what you’ve reviewed & what you seem to be drawn to, Paper in Fire is a great song you should review. His recent music is more philosophical and insightful on life lessons learned as he aged. They are as amazing as his earlier music.
Grew up in Indiana and part of my family lived in Seymour, Indiana where John is from...My family knew his family and remember seeing John in town once and my uncle waving and him waving back....I was like..that's John Mellencamp! He said yeah and....didn't think anything about it since to him he was just Johnny...😊 Love his music since it is very much the music of my home and great memories growing up in a small town in Indiana!! Great times and memories
My late wife and I loved this song, we used to dance in the kitchen whenever we heard this song. Today it brings a tear to my eye, but it's a tear of fond memories. Thank you guys for this. peace!
Mellencamp like Springsteen have songs about the Everyman or Average Joe. Springsteen is more Jersey and it will show in his songs where Mellencamp is all about the heartland. Two different versions of middle-class America. Both very talented musicians.
This song never gets old because it takes me back to my early youth. Love the clapping in this song when I usually hate it. Great story song. john Mellancamp has a lot of great songs.
I’ve noticed that a lot of younger reactors mention the ‘not-singing’ singing. As an older bloke (54) it struck me as an odd thing to say. I think it’s a result of all these TV talent shows that you guys have had to grow up watching which are all technique and no soul. Rock and even Pop, was never about singing. Or being a good musician really. It’s about the whole package. There’s good music and bad music. And both can be produced by good or bad musicians/singers. Now there is, for the most part, just product.
Great insight. As a huge Bob Dylan fan, this really hits home for me. And don't call yourself "older", I'm 51 so that would make me older too, and I'm not quite ready for that...
Cherry Bomb, Little Pink Houses, Hurts So Good, I need A Lover, Crumbling Down, Rain On the Scarecrow, Authority Song, Play Guitar, Pop Singer, Rumble Seat, Aint Even Done With the Night, A Hand to Hold Onto, Small Town, R.O.C.K. in the USA...I love some John Mellencamp, AKA John Cougar
great that your reacting to this, could you please react to "When Jesus Left Birmingham" it's my fav. tune of his. You can go down his rabbit hole of great stuff.
I saw him in 87' at the Shoreline Amplatheatre--Fantastic! He played for 2 hours and 20 minutes (including a 20 minute break for a shower and change of clothes) He, and everyone of his backup were great as well. He let them each do their own little solo.
So So So Happy you are getting into John Cougar Mellencamp!!! The man is a rock Icon his music is just Toe tapping fun music!! He has so much great music but a good one you love with that Blue Grass feel to it is Paper In Fire you will NOT be disappointed!!
This was the song that broke my daughter's teen heart. In the late 90's, We were driving down the highway and I was playing with the radio. That opening riff came on and my daughter said stop right there. I did, and the song played out and my daughter said with great disgust, "Gawd, has someone copied this already!" Apparently, some Rapper had 'sampled' that riff. I told her that this song came out when her mother was in high school. She sighed and asked, "Is anything I listen to original?" I replied, "Not likely. But then again, a lot of what I grew up listening to wasn't original, either. Welcome to popular music."
Thank you for doing John! He is up the the Eagles in the America genre of music! 😎👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 just two American kids doin the best they can!
I got married the year this dropped, was working at a paper mill. The album was American Fool. First three tracks were all over the radio, couldn't swing a dead cat without hearing one of them; Hurts So Good, Jack & Diane, Hand To Hold On To. I put this on my turntable and let it spin so many times. Bought the CD when I finally got a player. Two other tracks on the album were favorites; Thundering Hearts and China Girl. Later in life I sang songs to my two boys when they went to bed. Small Town and Blood on the Scarecrow were two I sang from the Scarecrow album, 'cause I didn't know many lullabies. His song Human Wheels I want them to play when I depart this world. I dig your reactions, keep it up.
John "Cougar" Mellencamp. People either loved or hated him. I still love him because his music is still relevant to today. Rain on the Scarecrow, the loss of American farmers. ROCK in the USA. Paper in Fire. My favorite line in this song "hold on to 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon make us woman and men." He is a storyteller up there with Bob Seger.
John Melloncamp started Farm Aid along with Willy Nelson. When the farmers of Indiana were getting foreclosed and they were loosing there farms. John bought out many of them and the gave the lad back. Such a generous man and he never forgot his roots. To this day he still lives on the farm he grew up on.
Social media making everyone hate one another, anger, hate, and politics rule the realm. Then there is you guys.
You two are the reason for the internet. Bringing hope and laughter, music and thoughtfulness, cheer and joy! TY
Please remember, with every single view, weather they "like", "comment", or "subscribe" or not, you guys are bringing nothing but love and joy into the universe and putting a song in each viewers heart. God bless you guys, and may you grow and grow and grow.
This comment means so much to us! Thank you for taking the time to watch and to leave such a positive comment. We appreciate you more than you know!
I have to agree considering he was one of the top 80s rock and wasn't pop great musician
I so agree with the perception on social media, but I recently had an exchange with someone I disagreed with politically, but we were able to have a respectful disagreement with no hatred or vitriol, so I remain hopeful we CAN get through this together.
A funny coincidence; at that time of this song, there was a couple on the soap opera, Young and the Restless, named Jack & Diane.
Also, when he started in the 70's, he went by John Cougar.
For REAL!
You guys are Jack & Diane! Just 2 american kids doin the best they can....
That's it! We're all Jack & Diane.
Exactly!!!
I love that! These two are so cute!
Just came here to say this!
John Mellencamp is fantastic! Hurt so Good and Authority Song are rocking tunes!
Definitely gotta include "Pink Houses" as well
"Small Town" as well..
All of these are excellent suggestions.
Authority Song is my favorite Mellencamp song.
And Little Pink Houses! Remember when his name was John Cougar?!
You have to listen to Pink Houses, Hurt So Good, Authority Song, Rain on the Scarecrow...so many great songs!!
I was about to say the same thing
@@billhorrigan4388 Check out Ghost towns along the Highway-A modern Pink Houses reality.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
dont forget small town. one of my favs
Grew up in the same town as John...
Seymour, Indiana. His sister was a classmate of mine. He also recorded music under the name Johnny Cougar.
John Mellencamp is to Indiana, as Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey. Both of them tell stories through their music.
And Bob Seger to Michigan.
The only difference is Springsteen cannot sing, Mellencamp can.
I was basically going to say the same, but I feel John Mellencamp represents the whole American Midwest heartland, not just Indiana.
and Billy Joel is to LI New York
or Stevie Ray Vaughan is to Texas
Not many do reactions to John Mellencamp, he is so underrated!! MANY hits back in the 80s !!
And the music he is making now is hauntingly gorgeous. Life, Death, Love and Freedom is one of the best albums of the last 15 years and I'll fight anyone who disagrees. It's fantastic.
@@TaniaJennings Have to check it out !! Thanks. My favorite song from him is Cherry Bomb-- -an oldie but a goodie !!!
John Mellencamp has never written a bad song, he just one of those artists who just bangs out great song after great song. He's up there with all the other greats, he doesn't get enough credit.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
I don't know what you mean? He was so popular & very well known?
Such a great song. I maintain that this song has one of the greatest lines ever. "Hold on the 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon" What adult can't relate to that?
"Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone" That is so so so true. Best line of the song.
I turned 18 when this song became a hit in the UK,and was intent on defying that line if I could. He was known as John Cougar then and that was the autumn of 1982; not long after that it became John Cougar Mellencamp,so it seems the Cougar has been dropped since.
@@rjjcms1 John's record company forced him to change his name to Cougar. He did not like to do it but did it anyway. As he became more famous, he had the power to go back to his real last name Mellencamp and eventually Cougar was gone for good.
@@Vinnie-cv5qvOh,I see. Thanks for explaining it.
Hold on to 16 as long as you can.
John Mellencamp was his name but not a great rock name according to his new label, so he became John Cougar. John Cougar was his name when this song dropped. This was a #1 hit so it’s a great song to start with. John was all about blue-collar, working class folks because that was his frame of reference growing up. After John became more popular he popped his last name back on and became John Cougar Mellencamp! You should do Pink Houses next. You’ll love it. ❤️
It wasn't even so much that it wasn't a rock name rather than he was being built up to be a heart throb and thought Cougar fitted the part more than Mellencamp.
Well, it was more the record label's idea than his.
@@elbruces That's what I meant :)
Loved pink houses
I think part of the Pink Houses video was filmed in Little York, about 10 miles east of me. :)
Check out his song "Cherry Bomb" One of his best songs IMHO.
I can’t believe I forgot about that one! I love that song! 🤦🏻♀️
The song and video
YES ..... I slept on it when it came out, but now.....
MY FAV !!!!!!!!!
I love cherry bomb! Yes!
I'm literally crying from the memories this video brings up. It was one of the first songs on MTV. There weren't many videos at that time so you heard this one all the time. Got sick of it then but brings back memories now!
John's style of music is referred to as heartland rock. He was born, raised and still lives in Indiana. My fave by him is Cherry Bomb. Others are Small Town, Pink Houses and R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. Many of his songs reflect his roots in small town Midwest. He is one of the founders of Farm Aid, an annual concert to raise awareness of and benefit struggling family farms.
@Mary Ann C, Cherry Bomb is my favorite by him also. 👍👍👍🤩🤩🤩💥💥
I love Cherry Bomb, Paper and Fire and Rain on the Scarecrow the most. In that order
@@ZoeyPaigeLunaPhD Yes, yes and yes. But maybe I would put Paper and Fire 1st. Also his cover of "Wild Night" is exceptional.
Minutes to Memories and Between a Laugh and A Tear.
@@thorsluter7835 Yeah Paper and Fire is……well FIRE. :D
"Hurts so good", "Pink Houses", "Authority song", "Crumbling down", "R.O.C.K. in the USA" are a few other song you must listen and react to.
Love all these choices !!
small town eh hem
Don't forget "Rain on the Scarecrow." ... blood on the plow......
I always thought R.O.C.K in the USA was so much better than springsteens Born in the USA - I hated that song, so repetitive and boring.
"You've got to stand for somethin'." "Paper and fire". "Minutes to Memories". "I need a lover who won't drive me crazy" "CHERRY BOMB"!
Love how Amber starts just singing along like she just can’t help it!! 😁😁
One of the wisest lyrics ever written: Hold on to 16 as long as you can. Changes come around real soon make us women and men.
Jack & Diane is a classic slice of Americana Rock. John Mellencamp is such a great artist from his early days through to the present day. You really must react to Small Town.
SMALL TOWN!!!!
And Pink Houses.
and authority song :)
When he first started out ,he was known as John Cougar because the record company made him change his name. He eventually went back to his real name of Mellencamp.
There's an old adage, "Youth is wasted on the young." I happened to be 15 years old when this song came out. So when I turned 16, I always had this song in the back of my mind. I always tried to remember this is a special time and I should hold on to it for as long as I can. It was good advice that came to me at just the right time.
I believe the song is about him and his first wife. Jack is a nickname for John.✌❤
It's inspired by the 1962 film "Sweet Bird of Youth" .
John J. Mellencamp (born Oct , 1951) became -> Johnny Cougar -> John Cougar -> John Cougar Mellencamp -> John Mellencamp... (Wikipedia)"...known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock..." Yup! He made albums under all 3 nom-de-plumes! :) Check out to more favorites of mine: 'Paper in Fire' and 'Cherry Bomb'
“Paper in fire” is one of my favorites of his.
One of the greatest lyrics
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.
So very true.😢
I give this reaction an A+. This song was huge back when I was in high school in the early 80s, and I owned the cassette of this album. I love me some John Cougar Mellencamp, Thanks for this one
Amber, your mom sounds so fun! My mom played music all the time like that when I was little, too. That's why I love music from the 60's and 70's but wasn't born until '77. I love that you guys have this channel and we get to experience the music all over again, sometimes in new ways.
He’s got decades of great songs. ❤️
Hurt So Good, Rain on the Scarecrow, Ain't Even Done With the Night, Paper in Fire, etc. The list of great Mellencamp music goes on and on!
❤️ that you are listening to him! Lots of great songs!
Hand to hold on too and ain’t even done with night, also Rain on the scarecrow are great songs by John Mellencamp.
John 'Cougar' was once seen as a successor to Springsteen. That proved to be too much pressure to live up to, but he's stayed in the industry. Blood on the Plow is my favorite of his songs, and it came out shortly after he seemed to stop chasing rock-icon status, changed his stage name to his real name, and wrote about more social issues (like Blood on the Plow).
Rain on the Scarecrow is the name of the song 😉.
Loved him. Hey was very talented. Got to see him live and the whole band was fire. One of my favorites is 🎶When the waaalls come tumbling downnn🎶
Saw him several times and he is great live!!!! Cherry Bomb is my favorite. All of his songs tell a story like Bruce Springsteen. He's one of my favorites!!!!!!✌❤
Yes, I was going to say that.
He is really good live. I was only able to see him once. I love the song cherry bomb👍& He can definitely tell a story.❤️✌️🌼
Thank you SO much for reacting to John Cougar Mellencamp! I have hardly seen ANY reactions on his songs and he has a TON of excellent, fun ones in his catalog. So Americana, so many of those story-telling songs. Besides this one, "Small Town" is also one of his most famous along with "Rockin' in the USA", "Little Pink Houses", "Hurts so Good", "Fire and Ice" - so many!
Great reaction! John is such an unrated musician during the 80’s. He wrote/performed great songs. So jam worthy! ☮️
American music. One great prism on the diamond of our country’s amazing music. Blues, jazz, rock, hip hop, country and more. All delicious. Thanks for your open hearts.
Pink Houses is great... But my personal favorite is Rain on the Scarecrow... I grew in the country on farm with Farmers for neighbors.. Rain on the Scarecrow means so much to so many farmers and the struggles they went through during those times..
Thank you for reacting to my request of Jack and Diane! John Melloncamp used to be known as John Cougar Melloncamp. He sings about the heartland of America - Little Pink Houses is another great one. He is from the Mid-West, he's been singing forever and his songs make you want to clap along and dance.
Jack and Diane were every small town high school couple in America in the 80's
I enjoy the way Amber's face is when she's listening with her eyes closed and suddenly her eyes pop open and they light up when something hits her right in the heart. I do this when music is on and I'm alone. Keep up enjoying music and life and your family. They are gone so fast. Peace kids.
I recommend "Crumbling Down". You gotta see him dance!
Here are more recommendations:
Sonic Youth: " Dirty Boots"
REM: "End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
Black Keys: "Tighten Up"
Men at Work: "Down Under"
He's from Bloomington, In. A home boy to us Hoosiers! Love him!! He made a memorial gift for my daughter's dad in 2015, when he passed. He was also in the music industry.
Hurt So Good and The Authority Song are just some of his great songs.. This was Soooo Big when MTV was still very new and was all about Music Videos in the early 80s!! The great thing about the 80s was that there were so many great styles of music that were all popular with everybody at the same time!! Being unique was encouraged and people were so open to new takes and blends of styles. It was truly a great time to be young!
MTV in the early eighties was truly revolutionary. It defied genre based radio stations out of neccessity, they just needed content to fill air time. The result was a true melting pot of music.
That phrase "make it hurt so good" was used for many years in certain conversations and still is from time to time.
Wild Nights, Paper in Fire, Pink Houses, Crumbling Down, all fantastic. His drummer is awesome, Kenny Arnoff
He first came on the scene as John Cougar with his first hit 'Aint Even Done with the Night.' Check it out!
Actually that one is much later in his career, "I Need a Lover" was his 1st hit. But it's a great song regardless...
“I Need a Lover” actually took off after Pat Benatar covered it.
I grew up 5o miles from John and always related to his songs very well. Love his music.
Just saw him in concert in late 2019. He has so many hit songs. He’s a storyteller. Love him.
John Mellencamp is one of my favorite singers. This is from his "John Cougar " days. Another great one is Pink Houses. He always tells a story in his songs.
So glad the younger generation is looking into the music of the past and enjoying it. We new back then it was great. Thanks for the validation!
One of my all time favourite songs. I used to crank this up in the car whenever it used to come on the radio. This and please play “Hurts so good” also another great song.
The Pictures were of John and his first wife, all filmed in his home town where he still lives to this day..One of the best storytellers out there....Seen him 20 some times over the years.. Try.."Hurts so Good", "Pink Houses", "Paper in Fire", just to begin with....."Crumblin' Down", "Minutes to Memories"..Geez I could go on
Oh gosh, forgot about “Paper in Fire”… not sure how that’s possible!
"I Need a Lover"
When asked by a fan one time about Jack and Diane….he revealed that the name were just something he made up. Must have fit with the lyrics 😄
Amber sure knows the song.... she does all of those little moves with the music. Excellent reaction, guys. Enjoyed it. Take care and be well. Peace.
You never have to apologize for your children. I have three of my own and I love them so much!
Fun Fact for you Jay and Amber:
When John Mellencamp originally released this song, he was professionally known as "John Cougar"
He'd later go on to use the name "John Cougar Mellencamp" before ultimately dumping the "Cougar" and using his birth name of John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp is a true American icon. I'm lucky enough to have seen him a few times. Scarecrow, is my fav. John has had lots of hits. He has been working with Steven King on a musical! He's still making music. So glad you found him.
Start with Hurt So Good, Pink Houses, Crumblin’ Down and Authority Song. John (Cougar) Mellencamp was one of the better parts of my teenage years. The videos might not stand the test of time but the songs sure do.
SO many great songs to choose from. My favorite is "Ain't Even Done With the Night".❤️
Representing Indiana here with John. He lives just south of me.
"Hurts so Good" should be next xx
Btw Amber, as great as this channel was with just Jordan, you've become a breath of fresh air addition to it. 💕💕💕
If you like the story telling aspect, check out Harry Chapin "Taxi" or "Cats in the Cradle"
Oooh, great idea!
How about "W O L D"? That is Such a Great song!!!!
This song was everything back in the day in the Washington, DC, area. Every station was playing it. Memories ... . "Cherry Bomb" is another great one.
Hi Rob Squad , This was great to see you enjoy this song and video . A couple of favorite songs of mine by John Mellencamp is "Pink Houses" and "Rain On The Scarecrow"... he's one of those artists that has so many great songs it's kinda hard to pick through his songs. I look forward to more of your videos . Thank you
Here are the John Mellencamp songs that I recommend: Cherry Bomb, Small Town, Pink Houses, Ain't Even Done With the Night, R.O.C.K. in the USA, Lonely Ol' Night, Paper in Fire, Crumbin' Down, Rain on the Scarecrow, Check it Out, Authority Song, Hurts So Good, I Need A Lover, Love and Happiness, Now More Than Ever, and Get A Leg Up. Sorry the list is so long, but I've been listening to him since 1980, and he's had a lot of great songs.
PLEASE do "Crumblin' Down" - there's more but that one will get you. JCM was solid as it gets.
I'm so glad you did this song! So low-key and realistic. When you have each other, you don't need glitz or glamour - "hey Baby, you ain't missin' nothin'..."
The drum fill into the big section in the middle was a defining moment for Kenny Aronoff's career. He tells the story in the documentary, Hired Gun (available on Amazon Prime).
The Jack & Diane story can be for anyone.
This song will always make me think of my grandparents as well as my parents. Both my grandparents back in the 1950s & 60s, young Americans doing the best they can in life and raising kids, 30 years later my parents meet doing the best they can in life and raising me… that was back in the 2000s. Now 3 out of 4 of my grandparents have died (in 2004, 2017, and 2020)… yet life still goes on and now I’m a young American doing the best I can
One of the founders of Farm Aid, along with Neil Young and Willie Nelson. Check out some live performances from past Farm Aid shows. Support your local farmer….
He came to my small hometown in Missouri around 1984 to support the farmers protest and give a free concert in a parking lot. He cares about the Heartland!
Hand to Hold On To is one of my favorites of his. Just a real feel good song.
Jack is often a nickname for John - don't know why, but it is.
Yeah we just named him Jack
Small Town, Pink Houses, Hurt So Good, Authority Song, Cherry Bomb, Paper In Fire, Check It Out, Rockin in The USA, Lonely 'Ol Night...oh, and Crumblin' Down.
Yeah, that's a good place to start.
40 years of Mellencamp hits to enjoy! So many great songs. Based on what you’ve reviewed & what you seem to be drawn to, Paper in Fire is a great song you should review. His recent music is more philosophical and insightful on life lessons learned as he aged. They are as amazing as his earlier music.
Grew up in Indiana and part of my family lived in Seymour, Indiana where John is from...My family knew his family and remember seeing John in town once and my uncle waving and him waving back....I was like..that's John Mellencamp! He said yeah and....didn't think anything about it since to him he was just Johnny...😊 Love his music since it is very much the music of my home and great memories growing up in a small town in Indiana!! Great times and memories
Have to do Paper and Fire next!!! Love all John "Cougar" Mellencamp!
Please!
Paper in Fire LIVE!
My late wife and I loved this song, we used to dance in the kitchen whenever we heard this song. Today it brings a tear to my eye, but it's a tear of fond memories. Thank you guys for this. peace!
Mellencamp like Springsteen have songs about the Everyman or Average Joe. Springsteen is more Jersey and it will show in his songs where Mellencamp is all about the heartland.
Two different versions of middle-class America. Both very talented musicians.
I love it! Amber knew what was up!
Hi! Since Friday is around the corner, how about Janis Ian -Societys Child (1967) She was a mere 14. An ancient souk
This song never gets old because it takes me back to my early youth. Love the clapping in this song when I usually hate it. Great story song. john Mellancamp has a lot of great songs.
I’ve noticed that a lot of younger reactors mention the ‘not-singing’ singing. As an older bloke (54) it struck me as an odd thing to say. I think it’s a result of all these TV talent shows that you guys have had to grow up watching which are all technique and no soul. Rock and even Pop, was never about singing. Or being a good musician really. It’s about the whole package. There’s good music and bad music. And both can be produced by good or bad musicians/singers. Now there is, for the most part, just product.
Great insight. As a huge Bob Dylan fan, this really hits home for me. And don't call yourself "older", I'm 51 so that would make me older too, and I'm not quite ready for that...
Music of 70's and 80's tend to have meaningful story telling lyrics. Many musicians were influenced by folk singers.
I love that you and your Mom use to sing this together. That’s an awesome memory to cherish. Me and my Moms use to sing Stevie Wonder
They even named the twins in Blk-ish after this song …… Jack and Diane
I was wondering if that was for the song or not!
Cherry Bomb, Little Pink Houses, Hurts So Good, I need A Lover, Crumbling Down, Rain On the Scarecrow, Authority Song, Play Guitar, Pop Singer, Rumble Seat, Aint Even Done With the Night, A Hand to Hold Onto, Small Town, R.O.C.K. in the USA...I love some John Mellencamp, AKA John Cougar
great that your reacting to this, could you please react to "When Jesus Left Birmingham" it's my fav. tune of his. You can go down his rabbit hole of great stuff.
I saw him in 87' at the Shoreline Amplatheatre--Fantastic! He played for 2 hours and 20 minutes (including a 20 minute break for a shower and change of clothes) He, and everyone of his backup were great as well. He let them each do their own little solo.
If you like singers that tell stories please take a listen to Gordon Lightfoot - "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
I love this song. Actually pretty much all of Gordon Lightfoot... but this one is my favorite.
I have no idea why, but I just read that as "The Wreck of the Ella Fitzgerald". Thought I'd share.
He has many great songs.
So So So Happy you are getting into John Cougar Mellencamp!!! The man is a rock Icon his music is just Toe tapping fun music!! He has so much great music but a good one you love with that Blue Grass feel to it is Paper In Fire you will NOT be disappointed!!
I've bounced between listening to rock and country through the years. This song is perfect. This is the center that my musical taste revolves around.
Always loved this song and Mellencamp..just punching at life.
This was the song that broke my daughter's teen heart. In the late 90's, We were driving down the highway and I was playing with the radio. That opening riff came on and my daughter said stop right there. I did, and the song played out and my daughter said with great disgust, "Gawd, has someone copied this already!" Apparently, some Rapper had 'sampled' that riff. I told her that this song came out when her mother was in high school. She sighed and asked, "Is anything I listen to original?" I replied, "Not likely. But then again, a lot of what I grew up listening to wasn't original, either. Welcome to popular music."
awesome another singer-songwriter classic
Thank you for doing John! He is up the the Eagles in the America genre of music! 😎👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 just two American kids doin the best they can!
I'm 68 years old and grew up with alot of music you react to. It's great to see young people appreciate the older wonderful music!!
This song has been a staple in my life since my Aunt Diann introduced me to it...40 yrs ago... And you 2 are so Jack and Diann😁😁😁😁😁😍😍
I got married the year this dropped, was working at a paper mill. The album was American Fool. First three tracks were all over the radio, couldn't swing a dead cat without hearing one of them; Hurts So Good, Jack & Diane, Hand To Hold On To. I put this on my turntable and let it spin so many times. Bought the CD when I finally got a player. Two other tracks on the album were favorites; Thundering Hearts and China Girl. Later in life I sang songs to my two boys when they went to bed. Small Town and Blood on the Scarecrow were two I sang from the Scarecrow album, 'cause I didn't know many lullabies. His song Human Wheels I want them to play when I depart this world. I dig your reactions, keep it up.
Watching Amber already know the lyrics....nothing better I grew up on this music :)
John "Cougar" Mellencamp. People either loved or hated him. I still love him because his music is still relevant to today. Rain on the Scarecrow, the loss of American farmers. ROCK in the USA. Paper in Fire. My favorite line in this song "hold on to 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon make us woman and men." He is a storyteller up there with Bob Seger.
In the eighties this whole album was blasting out of every house window on them old amazing gigantic speakers lol, it was a fun time to be young😁🤘🤘
My favourite Mellencamp song. So catchy! I love the story too 😊. Sending you guys all the best from Australia 🇦🇺 ❤️
John Melloncamp started Farm Aid along with Willy Nelson. When the farmers of Indiana were getting foreclosed and they were loosing there farms. John bought out many of them and the gave the lad back. Such a generous man and he never forgot his roots. To this day he still lives on the farm he grew up on.