When I was ten years old, my mother gave me two dollars to buy my first record. It was 1982 and it was a coming of age of sorts. I immediately asked my sister, eight years my senior, which artist I should buy and she, with much disinterest I might add as she read a book, suggested "Hurts so Good." The rest is history. I became a music fan that day.
Since then my interest in musical genres is wide in scope. I've come a long way since my innocent and ignorant years. My journey has taken me from rock to jazz in all its forms, blues and gospel in all their own styles, classical musical in all its rich complex history, bluegrass, country, folk, punk, metal, new wave, indie rock and all the in-between genres like naive rock and minimalist funk. Watching all these forms cross one another throughout music history has been an interesting hobby that has rarely left me dissatisfied. Musicians are always testing new grounds and I welcome this. Of course, I do have my personal favorites too numerous to mention here.
John Cougar Mellencamp, however, stands out for a couple of reasons. I became, in spirit, his de facto spokesperson in Montreal. I still own every single one of my 45s. Another reason was because, gulp, I got my first kiss from an older gal while listening to "'Lonely 'ol Night." I was 13 she was a 14 year-old French-Italian-Canadian. Growl.
Yet another reason came about during his Lonesome Jubilee tour in 1987. I was 15 years old. My cousin managed to remarkably get us (my brother and two buddies) front row seats. During the night, Mellencamp's wife at the time noticed that my brother and I knew every word to every song. At one point, one of his roadies passed by and picked up my 12 year-old brother and hurled him on stage. There he was, scrawny little kid performing "Pink Houses" alongside John Cougar fricken Mellencamp before 20,000 fans.
The night reached its zenith when we got to briefly meet Mellencamp. We took pictures and exchanged addresses. True to their heartland America word they sent us the pictures with a note. Needless to say, at such a young age the whole episode left an impression. When you're young, it is much easier to have a musician make an impact on you as your experiences are obviously limited. In this light, rock stars seemed so gigantic in their cool progressiveness.
As you grow, you move on, see different things. Date different funky and eccentric girls. Time and how you allot it becomes constrained. I would go weeks without listening to a Mellencamp song as I was busy reading or listening to a new singer or band. I took every chance to expand my repertoire and knowledge. But Mellencamp never strayed too far off. I still get the same rush as I always have listening to "Pink Houses" or "Minutes to Memories."
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Mellencamp, along with Springsteen, Seger & Petty, all worked the same side of the street in the eyes of many people. Springsteen seemed to be the most beloved of the critics, Petty was a radio staple, Seger seemed to be all about the working folk in Detroit, and John Mellencamp, known as Cougar, had a reputation for being a "Little B**tard." Hindsight shows that none of these writers were in competition with each other; instead, each of their individualized viewpoints taken together speaks (sings?) volumes about aging middle class Americans and their attempts to stay relevant as they get older. One can only hope their work continues to grow and fascinate and never be simply nostalgia.
2 - alessandro nicolo
The ciritcs did classify them. Incidentally, that was my favorite core group. Rock Americana as it were. How did you know? 'Damn the Torpedoes' is a fine album. Mellencamp did carve his own niche (as did all the others). I was not crazy about alluding to the fact that Springsteen was more poetic but I was also trying to make a bigger point. Mellencamp writes and sings within himself and it what makes him one of the finest singer/song writers around. More importantly, Mellencamp mattered to me.
3 - Vern Halen
Uh huh was the big album for me - done from start to finish in a couple of weeks I believe - tightly wound and spinning like a 33 1/3 RPM top - even the throwaway Jackie O doesn't put much of a dent on the whole scheme of it - like saying, "This is rock and roll - we'll do what we want!" Some solid efforts and some hits & misses after that, but always made with artistic integrity and never pandering to mass taste.
I heard he was a painter now. Not being much of a visual artist myself, I dunno - are his paintings any good? I've seen 'em but I can't tell one way or another.
You've written a couple of nice articles this week, M'sieu' Nicolo. Merci beaucoup!
4 - alessandro nicolo
Thanks for the kind words, Vern. It's easy when readers are knowledgeable! Uh-Huh also happened to be a protest album. The Authtority Song was a song mocking the record labels who called him 'Little Bastard' as you mentioned. I remember him playing 'Play Guitar' live and breaking out in the 'Gloria'. Good stuff. The other rock protest albums I can think of are Springsteen's 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' and I believe Dylan produced one.
5 - tink
Melloncamp is one of my guilty pleasures. Thanks for the reminder that it's been too long since I've given some of his vast catalog a listen.
6 - Glen Boyd
On the subject of protest records, I don't really consider any of Springsteen's albums to be protest records, Darkness included. The closest thing to a protest song I think I've ever heard from Bruce would also qualify as his most misunderstood, which would be "Born In The USA."
Oh and speaking of protest records, Neil Young did a nifty little one earlier this year called "Living With War."
I haven't seen your name here until just this week Mr. Nicolo but I'll join Vern in complimenting you on some nice work. Your passion for Mellencamp shines through very much so in your article. So, Nicely done sir.
-Glen
7 - Mark Saleski
for many years, i did not get Mellencamp - especially that fricken "Jack and Diane" thing.
but then Scarecrow came out. i dunno, it was like switch was flipped inside of me. after that, i came to love his brand of americana. heck, even J&D.
got to see him up in maine right before he had the heart attack.
(vern, sorry about swipin' the your opening line comment style, i couldn't help myself)
8 - alessandro nicolo
Many thanks, Glen. Good point about 'Born in the USA.'
9 - alessandro nicolo
'that fricken j&d thing." funny.
10 - Vern Halen
Don't worry about it Mark - consider it Christmas come early.
11 - Rich
i'm looking for a song from John Cougar . i think it was call My Baby . i dont realy know if that is the name or not , but if any one knows the song please let me know ...thanks
12 - alessandro nicolo
Rich, give us more. A lyric or two. Sing it too ;<). Maybe we can help.
13 - Peter
I think you mean a vocal only short burst from the Album "Nothing Matters and what if it did".
'My baby is a top mechanic,
she works on my nuts and tool
She'll do it do it do it
She'll go down
She'll go down'
Then "Wild angel" intro
Lyric's
'Pretty girls in beat up cars blowin' kisses to the soldiers
Pale blue eyes and whisky bars and the lines on their face say their getting older......