Music

Five of the Best: John Mellencamp

One of the USA’s favourite sons, John Mellencamp, is heading our way and he is bringing his unique brand of heartland rock and raft of smash hit songs with him!

John Mellencamp was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s and 90s and the singer songwriter has amassed an enviable number of songs, accolades and awards throughout his illustrious career. Known for his simple but stirring brand of folk and roots rock, John Mellencamp can lay claim to 22 Top 40 hits in the USA and 13 Grammy Award nominations.

As a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John Mellencamp will go down as a musical trail-blazer, but he is also a talented painter, actor and director.

John Mellencamp is performing at Roche Estate, Riverstage Brisbane and Oakbank Racecourse in February 2016. He will be joined by another talented singer songwriter with Jewel set to open for Mellencamp on his Australian tour. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Most people will know and love a huge number of John Mellencamp songs so we had a painstaking time trying to narrow down a list of just five songs that we consider to be his most significant tracks. We hope you agree with our final list – enjoy!

Small Town

Small Town was not one of John Mellencamp’s most successful songs in terms of worldwide chart success, yet it is a track that has become synonymous with him and his fan base. Born and raised in small town Indiana, Mellencamp was seen as a champion for small town America. In the track Small Town, Mellencamp is referring to his experiences from his birth place, Seymour, and his current home, Bloomington, which is also in Indiana. The song was released in 1985 on Mellencamp’s Scarecrow album and hit number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. The track was not a big mover on the Australian charts, yet it remains a well known and loved John Mellencamp song.

John Mellencamp - Small Town

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.

R.O.C.K in the U.S.A. is subtitled A Salute to 60s Rock and that is exactly what it is! The track was the third single off the Scarecrow album and was released in 1986. John Mellencamp was originally reluctant to include the song on the scarecrow album as he felt it was too light-hearted against the other more dour tracks. The song was a big success – it was another top 10 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts – and it was even used by former President George W Bush for his first presidential campaign. The track is upbeat and catchy and is a separation from Mellencamp’s traditional sound; yet it completely works and remains a classic hit 30 years after its debut on the airwaves.

John Mellencamp - R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock)

I Need A Lover

Little known fact: Australians discovered John Mellencamp (although he was known as Johnny Cougar back then). Mellencamp’s first single, I Need A Lover, was released in 1978 on his A Biography album, which was not released in the United States. The track made it to number 5 on the Australian music charts, which prompted its release in America where it became Mellencamp’s first Top 40 hit in his own country. The track was released in the USA on Mellencamp’s album, John Cougar. The development of Mellencamp’s name throughout his career is an interesting topic; his first manager thought Cougar would resonate better, but Mellencamp was always John’s preferred name. Once he was a mainstream success and had enough clout, John returned to his birth name, first performing as John Cougar Mellencamp and later dropping Cougar altogether. But we digress. Basically, I Need A Lover is a great song and Aussies were discerning enough to figure that out ahead of the rest of the world. Well done us!!

John Mellencamp - I Need A Lover (full version)

Hurts So Good

Hurts So Good was the lead single of John Mellencamp’s fifth studio album, American Fool. The album produced his two biggest hits (stay tuned for number one) and Hurts So Good was a major chart success, hitting number two on the US Billboard charts as well as reaching the top 10 in Australia and Canada. Hurts So Good was written by Mellencamp and his childhood friend, George Green. Mellencamp claims the first lines were written in the shower and he and Green wrote the song very quickly. The song has heavy rock influences and features a consistent clapping sound that helps to give the track the signature Mellencamp sound. This track is an absolute classic and a very deserving addition to our list of John Mellencamp’s best songs.

John Mellencamp - Hurts So Good

Jack & Diane

If you thought Hurts So Good was a big hit for John Mellencamp, you were set for a big surprise when he released his follow-up single, Jack & Diane. The quintessential small town song, the track tells the story of young American lovers in the USA heartland. Much of the music video was filmed near Lake Monroe in Indiana adjacent to Mellencamp’s property. The musical style of Jack & Diane is stunted and Mellencamp himself has described it as “weird”. The clapping that can be heard was originally only there to keep tempo, but once the track was complete it was kept, giving Jack & Diane the sound we know so well today. As well as taking the accolade as John Mellencamp’s most successful hit – it was number 1 in America  and Canada – it is also his signature song and our favourite track from one of the best singer songwriters of his generation. Have a listen to the clip below – it is sure to have you rocking.

John Mellencamp - Jack & Diane

John Mellencamp Tour Dates

Roche Estate (NSW)
February 13, 2016

Riverstage Brisbane (QLD)
February 16, 2016

Oakbank Reserve (SA)
February 20, 2016

Click here to purchase tickets.