THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

405-John Cougar-Jack & Diane.

1982-Number 25 single.

Best Bit- At 2.31. In America Jack & Diane are probably Pop Music’s most famous couple, but worldwide there are others. Dire Straits sang about ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ (see also best songs 298) Bon Jovi told us of Tommy and Gina,’ (see also best songs 325) the Beatles introduced us to Desmond and Molly, Lesley Gore was sobbing her heart out over Judy and Johnny, I could go on, but I won’t.

John J. Mellencamp, was born on October 7th, 1951, in Seymour, Indiana, United States, his first major breakthrough in the music industry occurred when being signed by Tony DeFries of ‘MainMan Management,’ DeFries had already managed artists of the calibre of David Bowie, (see also best songs 807-40-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) and Lou Reed (see also best songs 401-165-131 and 58.) DeFries thought the name Mellencamp was unmarketable, and insisted that Mellencamp release his debut Album ‘Chestnut Street Incident’ in 1976 using the name Johnny Cougar, which Mellencamp hated, but felt he had to go along with. It wasn’t until he became a major star, that he got his own way, with the release of his seventh studio Album ‘Uh-Huh,’ recorded under the name John Cougar Mellencamp.

John Cougar Mellencamp who is one of the leading exponents in the genre of music that is ‘Heartland Rock,’ (see also best songs 549) has sold in excess of 60 million records worldwide. His discography includes 24 studio Albums released between 1976-2023, and 71 singles between 1978-2023, there are also five official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on Billboard, his fifth studio Album ‘American Fool’ reached Number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart in 1982, selling in excess of 10 million copies worldwide, while 22 of his singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100, with ‘Jack & Diane’ peaking the highest at Number 1, spending four weeks at the top of that chart. In the UK, John Cougar Mellencamp has had two top 40 hits, with ‘Jack & Diane’ reaching Number 25 in 1982, and ‘Wild Night,’ featuring Me’Shell Ndegéocello, making Number 34 in 1994.

‘Jack & Diane’ was the second of three singles released from John Cougar Mellencamp’s fifth studio Album ‘American Fool,’ from April 1982, the song was written by John Mellencamp, with the production being by Mellencamp, and Don Gehman. ‘Jack & Diane’ tells the tale of two American teenagers who take their relationship to levels that they are not yet ready to cope with. They eventually realise that being 16 and carefree is better than being grown up with all of life’s responsibilities. When Mellencamp first wrote the lyrics the song was about an interracial couple, with Jack being African/American, but his record label persuaded him to change that as they felt more people would relate to Jack being an aspiring football player. According to Mellencamp, ‘Jack & Diane’ was originally inspired by the 1962 American drama film ‘Sweet Bird of Youth,’ which was based on the 1959 play of the same by Tennessee Williams (1911-1983.)

John Cougar Mellencamp has stated his debt to Mick Ronson (1946-1993) (see also best songs 661-440-334-186-131-58-37 and 5) for his input on ‘Jack & Diane,’ he has said, ‘Mick was instrumental in helping me arrange that song, as I’d thrown it on the junk heap. Ronson came down and played on three or four tracks and worked on the American Fool record for four or five weeks. All of a sudden, for ‘Jack & Diane,’ Mick said, Johnny, you should put baby rattles on there.’ I thought, ‘What the fu#k does put baby rattles on the record mean?’ So he put percussion on there, and then he sang the part ‘Let it rock, let it roll,’ as a choir-ish type thing, which had never occurred to me, and that is the part everybody remembers on the song. It was Ronson’s idea.’

‘Jack & Diane’ is also famous for it’s iconic drum break at 2.31. Mellencamp was inspired by the Phil Collins (see also best songs 741) song ‘In the Air Tonight,’ and asked his drummer Kenny Aronoff to come up with something. Kenny Aronoff has recalled what Mellencamp told him, ‘I need you to come up with a drum solo or something after the second chorus.’ At that moment, I was absolutely terrified and excited. Excited because I’m now going to be playing on the record. Terrified because I knew that I had to save the song in order to save my career. Because if I didn’t come up with it, they’d replace me. Two people had already been fired in the band and when I joined two years prior, I was fired from playing on the record. So, this was a scary moment for me.’ The chances are that when you hear the song on the radio, you will find yourself doing some ‘air drumming.’

‘A little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane, two American kid’s growing up in the heart land. Jack he’s gonna be a football star, Diane debutante in the back seat of Jacky’s car.’