Back in the 80s when farmers were losing their farms to the banks he started Farm aid to help them. He grew up in Indiana and never left. He still lives there. A real hometown boy making it big. He has sooooo many amazing songs. Yry paper and fire, we aint even done with the night, pink houses. And there are 100s more. ✌❤
Agreed. The Scarecrow album was all about the farmers. Great great songs. I saw him live on the tour for that album. AMAZING!!! This guy is the real deal. Down to earth, great songwriter, singer, and dancer!!!
Hi guys, you asked what the line "back when a smoke was a smoke" meant. He meant a cigarette, not marijuana or crack or any other drug. Meaning that life was innocent. Life was really like that, it was so much more innocent back in the day. Holding hands and dancing close, lyrics about love and tenderness. Music reflects society and when you listen to the old music, you see the values and the feelings of people that lived back then. It makes me sad sometime when I reflect on the lyrics of many of the songs today. Often superficial, and disrespectful to women, they are often just violent words being yelled out into the crowds, or sad poignant songs that reflects a kind of helpless loneliness that just rips your heart out. I try to keep an open mind and listen to all kind of music. But what I have found is that What you listen to greatly effects how you feel. When you listen to positive music, you find that the world seems a little more hopeful.
I thought the same thing, but looked up the lyrics and it's actually "back when a sport was a sport". I couldn't believe it! I always heard it like you did, lol. Shocked me to see it on a few different lyrics sites.
So well said. And i 100% agree with you. I swear thats why young girls today have no respect for themselves. Thats what they are hearing. And young men listen to violence in the lyrics. Holding hands DID mean to much when growing up in the 60s& 70s.✌❤
I was lucky and able to attend the MTV Pink House contest party.. got to watch a sneak preview of the movie "Streets of Fire" lots of great times that night
The Autoharp brings back a lot of childhood memories, an old elementary school teacher of mine played it in class and had the class sing songs......John is a true Storyteller !!
"The Authority Song" "Lonely Old Night" "Little Pink Houses" "Ain't even done with the Night" "Wild Night" "Paper in Fire". Mellencamp has a ton of great stuff.
Yeppers those are definitely must listen to songs you guys rock !!!! I don’t know if you guys feel it when you listen to his music but I feel like I got a big of good ole American cherverolet , apple pie, Midwest vibe makes me proud to be an American 🇺🇸
This song is significant in several ways. I was the first video on MTV with a mixed couple dancing together. In a interview in Florida he was asked about this song meaning he said it was about a venue that was in my hometown where he did his first show. They said he wouldn't make it, best artist from Indiana.
This song is so evocative -- "holding hands meant something", "dancing was everything" -- it takes me back to those very things years ago with someone you had a crush on, and at those exact moments in time, you didn't think life could get any better than that.
Mellencamp can rock. I always looked at him as like an "Americana" artist. Songs about growing up in the midwest and life as a young American. Loved everything he did.
@@blakerh he openly admits that he’s pretty tough to get along with, I mean, his nickname ‘Little Bastard’ pretty much sums it up. You called him a fraud in an earlier comment and actually he’s about as far from a fraud as anyone can be. He is who he is and owns it.
Actually that squeezebox sound is a melodica. It's a reed instrument that's blown into but has keys like the squeeze box. Jon Batiste used to make use of one often when he was bandleader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Autoharp is often a featured instrument in country music...especially the more traditional songs. It's always cool to see someone use it as part of pop/rock.
As has been stated, John Mellancamp is a true blue American born and bred artist. "Americana" is the sound that's most used with his music. I love this artist because it seems that everything he put out was about the simpler life. Hard work and family is what comes to my mind when I hear him. You just don't find holesome music much anymore and that also what I get from his work. Try ROCK in the USA, Little Pink Houses, The Authority Song, Small Town, The Walls Come Tumbling Down.... you won't be disappointed!
Yes, indeed! He has a HUGE impressive list of songs! I especially love "Ain't Even Done With The Night", one that hardly anyone talks about, but is imo, one of his best songs! It came out in 1980 when he was still John Mellencamp. It has this catchy ol skool vibe that I've always loved, and I love how he dances and sings in the video! 🥰
In addition to being a damn fine musician and surrounding himself with even more others, he insisted on making social progress with his videos. The interracial couple was still something that raised eyebrows - but it advanced the cause of an enlightened society. I wish we still had musical acts that were autonomous enough to make these kind of influential statements.
Cherry Bomb was one of his best songs, in my opinion. Another great one was Rain on the Scarecrow, about the hard times of the farmers. John and Willie Nelson and some other artists would put on a benefit concert every year to help out the farmers.❤️
Cherry Bomb is actually my favorite song of his. It's got such a melancholic vibe to it. 80's artists had a great knack at creating different sounds that will immerse you into a certain mood.
I love how easily he seems to evoke feeling of innocence and youth through his subtle observations. We can all connect with that. I love your reactions --we're all right there with you. Would love to see more.
Forgot to mention... I saw John Cougar Mellencamp live at Farm Aid in 1987 as a 10 year old girl. Little did I know I'd still be loving his music in my 40's!!! Great music is timeless.
seems forever ago but a friend and I endured a scorching Saturday afternoon while attending the then annual Taste Of Chicago. That day the musical entertainment was John Cougar Mellencamp opening for The Beach Boys. Hurts So Good was still pretty new, I think this was '83. Was an awesome show, and after his performance JCM allowed a pretty large group of us to mingle around by the side/back stage area (this was in the outdoor arena) and kind of greet him, get autographs, stuff like that...he was so genuinely cool, down to earth and really appreciative of his fans there...it was a really cool moment. Now, at the other end of the spectrum, once the BB finished their performance they weren't having any of that....no one was allowed to sort of migrate over to where they were post-show. They had like roadies/guards and such telling people nope, can't be back here, ect. Not the BB's fault, just their staff weren't having it....which was disappointing cause I love the Beach Boys as well but no autographs that day. Point to note: they shouldn't have worried about we fans that day as everyone who had kind of mingled around JCM and met him and the like were all well behaved and it was so chill. Was thinking that since the BB had been in this business quite a long time already to this point, perhaps they/their staff and such had already seen enough of what they'd consider 'mob scenes' with fans and just chose to avoid all that. I can understand that though....some people just don't know how to act sometimes. But it was an excellent experience getting to sort of meet and hang out by JCM and his band for just a little while...made us forget that it was like 105 degrees that day. :)
My favorite John Mellancamp song is “Ain’t even done with the night” it was off of an earlier album before he really hit big but the arrangement of the song shows that attention to the small details in the music that are so prevalent throughout his 80’s repertoire.
@@DJHolte Hmm. John's version made it up to #25 on the Billboard charts, while Pat's never made the top 100. Honestly, I totally forgot she covered it. His version is an absolute classic.
I’m from John’s hometown; what you see is what you get. I’ve never met him, but his dad and my dad used to golf together. I’ve seen him at least a dozen times, but the best BY FAR was when he showed up at the Bluebird, a local place in Bloomington IN, with JJ Cale and Lou Reed in ‘87. The place held maybe 200 people but I’ve met 5,000 people who were there that night.
That's an "Auto-Harp" he's playing on the beach. Check out "Pink Houses" , "Paper and Fire", "Rain on the Scarecrow", "R.O.C.K. in the USA". He's got a large catalog, and it's all very good.
I grew up with “John Cougar”! He didn’t become John Mellancamp for many years. Either name he was someone I listened to over and over!!! His music was so ingrained into my years of growing up. Every song is so great and they each have an special memory to go with them. His music will always be a part of my life! How about a Loverboy song? Working for the weekend, Loving every minute of it are great songs! (So many more)
yes, it tells the story about a Baby Boomer (he's 2 years older than me) becoming an adult and starting to become aware that we had been sold a bill of goods with the whole "American Dream" thing......and many "learned to love their servitude", just like the guy in the song with a freeway running through his yard, who thinks he's got it so good... It's also about a general "waking up to reality" that happens to most as we become adults, and have adult experiences. Most adults lead lives of quiet desperation, after their "dreams just kinda came and went".
I'm an 62 yr old daydreamer rmembering good times like this, When holding hands meant something baby. It's all gone. That's a harpsichord, we all learned to play them briefly in grade school believe it or not. Funny I put the "Holding meant something baby" up in my remarks before you even mentioned it My favorite line !
John is a true American original - one of the best songwriters and performers from the 80s and 90s. His trilogy of albums starting with Uh-Huh (1983) and then Scarecrow (1985) and culminating with the album this song is from, 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee are three of the best back-to-back-to-back albums in Rock history. This album also features stand out tracks like Paper in Fire and Check it Out. You can't go wrong diving into more John songs!
This got me emotional just reminiscing about a song about reminiscing!! This was my favorite song at one time and my favorite JCM song ever. I love y’all, thanks for your appreciation for great music! ❤️
This entire album, Lonesome Jubilee, had this very rural Indiana sound. It's my favorite album of his. The instrument John plays on the beach is called an auto-harp.
When he emerged on the scene, the record company told him the John Mellencamp wouldn't "sell", so they made change change it to John Cougar! He hated it and as he got more successful he introduced his own name back and went by John Cougar Mellencamp and then he dropped the Cougar altogether!
It’s like Kenny Rogers said about switching from pop to country-You know you have made it when you can tell the label what you’re going to do instead of them telling you what you’re going to do.
Thank you for being the first comment I’ve seen that actually acknowledges and explains this name situation. John HATED the whole “Johnny Cougar” thing. And said that no one ever called him “Johnny” in his life. He was embarrassed by the Cougar thing, but wanted a record contract so bad after so much rejection that he went with it. I was so happy for him when he overcame the name with us talent and fame.
John was my favorite as a teen I was smitten when “Ain’t even done with the Night” came out and he was my first concert at 15 still love this talented artist.🥰
I always get a chuckle when y’all say a song is innocent. Jack and Dianne gets filthy!! “Dribble off those Bobby Brooks and let me do what I please”. Bobby Brooks was a brand of jeans!! My wife of 41 years wore something similar, “back in the day”!!
I'm actually from the area in Indiana where John Mellencamp is from. Everyone here knows his music, even if we don't realize it for a while. Lots of ties in the communities to people that played in his bands over the years. My uncle even had a picture of them at a bonfire together playing guitar together way back before John became famous.
The killer backing vocals are performed by Crystal Taliefero. She is very talented, plays numerous instruments and has worked with Springsteen and Billy Joel among many others.
In his early career, he was known and recorded as John Cougar, and his stuff was a lot more rock! Try things like "Tumblin Down" or "Hurts So Good!" Love your videos and they always make me smile!
His early works starting in the 70’s were as the made-up name of John/Johnny Cougar. The name was forced on him. As he became more widely known and respected in early 80’s he added his last name to it as John Cougar Mellencamp. Finally he dumped Cougar altogether and has been John Mellencamp ever since. The line in question is “That’s when a smoke was a smoke” EDIT: read through Correction was pointed out to me as Sport. 👍
He writes about rural life, life in a small town because that’s what he’s from and his music is about life so everyone can relate to it. ❤ And I bought this song on a 45 record back in the day and still have it and play it! Glad to see a new generation listening to our music and falling in love with it and putting it out there’s for hopefully more people to get to know it too!❤ “ Holding hands meant something baby.” He’s talking about when he was young and him and his friends and girlfriend. I’ve always thought this song has a Cajun sound to the beat and I love everything about this song and video!❤ I also like the part in the song when he’s talking to his wife and he says, “I hope they’re (our kids) not laughing to loud when they hear me talking like this to you.”❤
As a fellow Hoosier (person from Indiana), I've grown up hearing John (Cougar) Mellencamp & have been a fan for as long as I can remember. I agree with many of the other comments - he's an underrated songwriter. He tells the story of the American farmer & common man, similar to Springsteen songs. His "The Best That I Could Do" would be a great place to start! His greatest hits kind of album although it still doesn't have all of them!! My personal favorites include Minutes to Memories, Justice and Independence, Authority Song, I Need a Lover.........
The older I get the more the song rings true (I was 16 when "Jack & Diane" debuted). DH & I often reminisce about all the great times we have spent together (36 years) and with the Army family (friends for over 3 decades) we have. Getting old can be painful in many years, but looking back can be so sweet!
If i could go back and be young back in those days when i was, i wouldn't hesitate for a second to do it. If i had the opportunity to be young today....no thanks i'd rather have the memories i made back then !!!
@@cesarnarro6013 I think we had it made. Great music, great friends and we actually went out and DID something rather than having our faces buried in a screen or taking selfish after selfie.
One of my all time favorite artist,became a fan when I was 8.Seen him live twice,the concerts were amazing.I would also suggest Crumblin Down,Authority Song,Rain On the Scarecrow,Paper In Fire and Check It Out(that one has a live video that really shows how good he is live).John uses a lot of different instruments and sounds,you will never be disappointed.
So glad you get to hear this song , it is almost as popular as the national anthem , when i was younger this was on so often so i give this song a bright rainbow for color cause it is really hoppin ! Thank you ! 😍😍
JM is truly a great and underrated song writer in my book. To see a different side of him you should check out "Rain on the Scarecrow", which is about the plight of the American farmer, or "R.O.C.K. in the USA" which is about the inspiration he got from some of rocks early pioneers.
"What is that instrument?" That is an autoharp. It's a very easy-to-play instrument that shows up a lot in folk music, especially from the Appalachian Mountains. Next Stops: John Cougar Mellencamp, "Rain on the Scarecrow" (a more serious side of this artist) Maybelle Carter, "Never on Sunday" (a short autoharp instrumental) Storyville, "What Passes for Love" (Storyville featured John Mellencamp's lead guitarist, and Stevie Ray Vaughan's bassist and drummer)
Love John … a lot of club songs, and many night dancing with girlfriends to songs like this by very good cover bands. We were indeed young, but now young at heart.
I heard this on the radio driving today. I hadn't heard it in quite a while. How funny it was to see this same song on your reaction today. 🤩 I've always liked John Mellencamp!
My FAVORITE rock guy ever! I've seen him in concert 4 times. He's amazing! Some suggestions: Little Pink Houses, Paper In Fire, Rain on the Scarecrow, Hurts So Good, Ain't Even Done With the Night, Small Town...so many great songs! He started Farm Aid. He is from Indiana and very into helping the Midwest farming communities. Such a cool cat!
Mellencamp and I grew up in the same America. His lyrics remind me of my teens and early 20s. Such a great time to be young. Everyone should experience that!
The line in question is, “That’s when a sport was a sport”, as per the official lyrics. It’s possible he does say “smoke” as so many here claim. Officially released lyrics often don’t match up 100% with the final audio product. But when I first heard this as a kid, I, too heard, “spoke.” The p sound is most definitely there, at least the first time he uses it in the sentence. Mellencamp was one of the original founders of Farm Aid, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. I believe the annual music festival is still going strong today, and definitely worth making your way to at some point. It was created to help raise money for farmers, whom, when originally founded in 1985, were really struggling financially. Many farms, especially the smaller ones, were being repossessed by the banks. It’s pretty cool these three musicians took it upon themselves to help out. I’m never not in the mood for a Mellencamp song, especially his more melodic ones. So many folks have already suggested some of his greats. “Pink Houses”, “Small Town”, “Hurt So Good”, “Paper Fire”, “Rain On The Scarecrow”, and “Rock in the U.S.A.” are all excellent. I‘ll go a different route with my suggestion for your next Mellencamp reaction, with the 2001 hit “Peaceful World.” It features female singer, India Arie, with some amazing vocals; the song also sports a great message.
True….sometimes the annunciation of words aren’t clear in a lot of songs. Depending on accents, audio quality, speakers, lost in guitars, drums, bass…??? Unless lyrics come from original material and even then sometimes changed at recording.
Always thought it was smoke and assumed it meant that when one said they were going for a smoke, it was cigarettes and not pot. My nephew was asked if he smokes a few weeks ago and I said, cigarettes, not pot which he promptly said eww, no 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️😂
No, you were correct the first time. He sings "That’s when a sport was a sport". Some have just misheard the lyric. I bought this album when it first came out and this is the first time i've ever heard it suggested that he sings "smoke".
Story goes he changed the lyric sheet to sport was a sport so it didn’t get the parental advisory warning. But sang smoke was a smoke. Don’t know if true just what a heard once
I had to laugh at the thumbnail that said "Cheery Bomb". LOL. How funny that you've done a song called "Cherry Bomb" twice in two weeks. Course, this version is a universe away from The Runaways song. Some other of JCM's songs you should check out are "Hurts So Good", "The Authority Song", R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", and "I Saw You First". Fun fact - this video was partly shot on the beach at Hilton Head, SC. The instrument he's strumming is called an autoharp, and the line you're asking about is "That's when a sport was a sport."
John was the bomb. Late 70's - early 80's; and all of the gals in my dorm (1982), including myself, were in love with him! He has many, many great songs, so I am not even going to bother listing any. Looks like others have provided great songs, because there are no bad ones!
The song came out when I was 19 years old having my first kid somehow I could relate to it then and somehow I still relate to it now. Great song great reaction.
I spotted the autoharp immediately. When I was in 5th grade I wasn’t one of the “popular” kids. My sweet kind teacher took pity on me. Every time she taught music she chose me to play the only instrument we had-the autoharp. Thank you two for being teachers. I’m pretty sure you’re just as kind as Mrs Jasper was. Funny as an adult (30 years later) I went back to that same school as the Principal’s Secretary. Today you definitely made me smile 😊
"I need a lover" that won't drive me crazy....someone who knows the meaning of Hey Hit the Highway! Sorry, you mentioned JCM, and that song and lyrics were bustin.
We saw John 'Cougar' Mellencamp open for Heart in the early 80s in Lakeland Florida. He was excellent, a great showman and performer as well as an amazing story teller.
An Indiana guy. Cougar was a name his record company wanted him to have. I’ve seen him so many times I can’t even count. Major rabbit hole authority song, I need a lover, r o c k in the USA, crumblin down, lonely o’ night. He’s still hot at 71
Back in the 80s when farmers were losing their farms to the banks he started Farm aid to help them. He grew up in Indiana and never left. He still lives there. A real hometown boy making it big. He has sooooo many amazing songs. Yry paper and fire, we aint even done with the night, pink houses. And there are 100s more. ✌❤
Lol I just posted similar, talking about this being the source of his and Meg Ryan’s issues. She’s all about the limelight. He ain’t.
Willie Nelson, John mellencamp and Neil Young came together to start farm aid.
Agreed. The Scarecrow album was all about the farmers. Great great songs. I saw him live on the tour for that album. AMAZING!!! This guy is the real deal. Down to earth, great songwriter, singer, and dancer!!!
Rain on the Scarecrow
@@blakerh well i don't know him personally.. He just did a great thing for the farmers among other artists.
Hi guys, you asked what the line "back when a smoke was a smoke" meant. He meant a cigarette, not marijuana or crack or any other drug. Meaning that life was innocent. Life was really like that, it was so much more innocent back in the day. Holding hands and dancing close, lyrics about love and tenderness. Music reflects society and when you listen to the old music, you see the values and the feelings of people that lived back then. It makes me sad sometime when I reflect on the lyrics of many of the songs today. Often superficial, and disrespectful to women, they are often just violent words being yelled out into the crowds, or sad poignant songs that reflects a kind of helpless loneliness that just rips your heart out. I try to keep an open mind and listen to all kind of music. But what I have found is that What you listen to greatly effects how you feel. When you listen to positive music, you find that the world seems a little more hopeful.
I thought the same thing, but looked up the lyrics and it's actually "back when a sport was a sport". I couldn't believe it! I always heard it like you did, lol. Shocked me to see it on a few different lyrics sites.
@@dreamweaver8913 I knew he wasn't saying 'smoke' but it needed to be and that is how I sang it....
Yeah, he's saying sport, not smoke.
So well said. And i 100% agree with you. I swear thats why young girls today have no respect for themselves. Thats what they are hearing. And young men listen to violence in the lyrics. Holding hands DID mean to much when growing up in the 60s& 70s.✌❤
@@dreamweaver8913 omg really??????
“Hurt so good”, “Small town”, “Pink houses”…..the list goes on…..check out some of his newer stuff too 👍
"Lonely 'ol night" is a good one too.
Love hurt so good great song.
I was lucky and able to attend the MTV Pink House contest party.. got to watch a sneak preview of the movie "Streets of Fire" lots of great times that night
Pink houses for sure that song gets to me all the time
The Autoharp brings back a lot of childhood memories, an old elementary school teacher of mine played it in class and had the class sing songs......John is a true Storyteller !!
WOW...my own grade school music teacher played one too!! Mrs Gross (later Mrs Mahan) taught me love many different kinds of music
Was in several elementary school in the 60's
Same memories of that for me too!! ❤️
Ditto.
So did my elementary music teacher, a part of our youth shared by many of us!
"The Authority Song" "Lonely Old Night" "Little Pink Houses" "Ain't even done with the Night" "Wild Night" "Paper in Fire". Mellencamp has a ton of great stuff.
Also "Hurts So good," "Hand to Hold On To," "Crumblin' Down," "Play Guitar," "Small Town," "I Need a Lover," etc. He has had soooooo many hits.
Another great one 'Ain't even done with the night'!
Yeppers those are definitely must listen to songs you guys rock !!!! I don’t know if you guys feel it when you listen to his music but I feel like I got a big of good ole American cherverolet , apple pie, Midwest vibe makes me proud to be an American 🇺🇸
@@bsanderfer My dad was so into Mellencamp and every time I hear Hand to Hold on To - that one always hit home with him
My favourite is Rain On the Scarecrow
This song is significant in several ways. I was the first video on MTV with a mixed couple dancing together.
In a interview in Florida he was asked about this song meaning he said it was about a venue that was in my hometown where he did his first show. They said he wouldn't make it, best artist from Indiana.
He was the definition of middle America sound and proud of his indiana farm town sounds. You must do "Authority Song" or "Hurts so good"!
Essential songs! Agree!
This song is so evocative -- "holding hands meant something", "dancing was everything" -- it takes me back to those very things years ago with someone you had a crush on, and at those exact moments in time, you didn't think life could get any better than that.
Mellencamp can rock. I always looked at him as like an "Americana" artist. Songs about growing up in the midwest and life as a young American. Loved everything he did.
That is a great description
Definitely fits in the "Americana" umbrella
Play Guitar is my favorite Mellencamp song.
@@blakerh he openly admits that he’s pretty tough to get along with, I mean, his nickname ‘Little Bastard’ pretty much sums it up. You called him a fraud in an earlier comment and actually he’s about as far from a fraud as anyone can be. He is who he is and owns it.
A lot of his music has almost a Zydeco groove to it. Autoharp, squeeze box, and fiddle, for sure. JCM is amazing.
Actually that squeezebox sound is a melodica. It's a reed instrument that's blown into but has keys like the squeeze box. Jon Batiste used to make use of one often when he was bandleader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Autoharp is often a featured instrument in country music...especially the more traditional songs. It's always cool to see someone use it as part of pop/rock.
Mother Maybell Carter was a master.
A staple of elementary school music teachers in my day.
I kept wanting to call it a lap harp
Maybell Carter played guitar, Sara Carter played Autoharp and sang lead.
@@i4long Maybell played it too.
When a smoke was a smoke. When groovin' was groovin'....
As has been stated, John Mellancamp is a true blue American born and bred artist. "Americana" is the sound that's most used with his music. I love this artist because it seems that everything he put out was about the simpler life. Hard work and family is what comes to my mind when I hear him. You just don't find holesome music much anymore and that also what I get from his work. Try ROCK in the USA, Little Pink Houses, The Authority Song, Small Town, The Walls Come Tumbling Down.... you won't be disappointed!
Paper in Fire is my favorite by John Mellencamp.
Isn't he over 70 now??
@@michaelasay8587 He's exactly 70! 😊
Yes, indeed! He has a HUGE impressive list of songs! I especially love "Ain't Even Done With The Night", one that hardly anyone talks about, but is imo, one of his best songs! It came out in 1980 when he was still John Mellencamp. It has this catchy ol skool vibe that I've always loved, and I love how he dances and sings in the video! 🥰
I still remember him as a John Cougar Mellencamp, never liked it when he dropped the cougar , dunno why, songs still sic as though….
In addition to being a damn fine musician and surrounding himself with even more others, he insisted on making social progress with his videos. The interracial couple was still something that raised eyebrows - but it advanced the cause of an enlightened society. I wish we still had musical acts that were autonomous enough to make these kind of influential statements.
Cherry Bomb was one of his best songs, in my opinion. Another great one was Rain on the Scarecrow, about the hard times of the farmers. John and Willie Nelson and some other artists would put on a benefit concert every year to help out the farmers.❤️
Farm Aid!!
love rain on the ScareCrow
I was at the first Farm Aid! My Uncle and Aunt took me. It was AMAZING!!!!
Rain on a scarecrow!!!
Cherry Bomb is actually my favorite song of his. It's got such a melancholic vibe to it. 80's artists had a great knack at creating different sounds that will immerse you into a certain mood.
I love how easily he seems to evoke feeling of innocence and youth through his subtle observations. We can all connect with that. I love your reactions --we're all right there with you. Would love to see more.
“Rain On The Scarecrow”, is a good JCM listen.
SCARECROW is one of the most underrated albums of the 80s.
💯 love that song.
Scarecrow is a must, great story about real problems in America at the time
That's my favorite, plus Paper in fire.
That's my favourite song by him
Forgot to mention... I saw John Cougar Mellencamp live at Farm Aid in 1987 as a 10 year old girl. Little did I know I'd still be loving his music in my 40's!!! Great music is timeless.
"Hurt So Good" was a JCM radio hit in the early 80's, and I remember playing volleyball with my friends, with this song blaring. Good memories!
seems forever ago but a friend and I endured a scorching Saturday afternoon while attending the then annual Taste Of Chicago. That day the musical entertainment was John Cougar Mellencamp opening for The Beach Boys. Hurts So Good was still pretty new, I think this was '83. Was an awesome show, and after his performance JCM allowed a pretty large group of us to mingle around by the side/back stage area (this was in the outdoor arena) and kind of greet him, get autographs, stuff like that...he was so genuinely cool, down to earth and really appreciative of his fans there...it was a really cool moment. Now, at the other end of the spectrum, once the BB finished their performance they weren't having any of that....no one was allowed to sort of migrate over to where they were post-show. They had like roadies/guards and such telling people nope, can't be back here, ect. Not the BB's fault, just their staff weren't having it....which was disappointing cause I love the Beach Boys as well but no autographs that day. Point to note: they shouldn't have worried about we fans that day as everyone who had kind of mingled around JCM and met him and the like were all well behaved and it was so chill. Was thinking that since the BB had been in this business quite a long time already to this point, perhaps they/their staff and such had already seen enough of what they'd consider 'mob scenes' with fans and just chose to avoid all that. I can understand that though....some people just don't know how to act sometimes. But it was an excellent experience getting to sort of meet and hang out by JCM and his band for just a little while...made us forget that it was like 105 degrees that day. :)
@@Dooklawz Awesome story!
Me too.
"17 has turned 35, I'm surprised that we're still livin'"...Always liked that line.
My favorite John Mellancamp song is “Ain’t even done with the night” it was off of an earlier album before he really hit big but the arrangement of the song shows that attention to the small details in the music that are so prevalent throughout his 80’s repertoire.
Completely agree with this comment.
Great choice! Another really early one of his is "I Need A Lover" -- which was more famously covered by Pat Benatar.
@@DJHolte Hmm. John's version made it up to #25 on the Billboard charts, while Pat's never made the top 100. Honestly, I totally forgot she covered it. His version is an absolute classic.
And Hurts So Good
Yes,best song!
I’m from John’s hometown; what you see is what you get. I’ve never met him, but his dad and my dad used to golf together. I’ve seen him at least a dozen times, but the best BY FAR was when he showed up at the Bluebird, a local place in Bloomington IN, with JJ Cale and Lou Reed in ‘87. The place held maybe 200 people but I’ve met 5,000 people who were there that night.
That's an "Auto-Harp" he's playing on the beach. Check out "Pink Houses" , "Paper and Fire", "Rain on the Scarecrow", "R.O.C.K. in the USA". He's got a large catalog, and it's all very good.
Yes! An autoharp! Every kid in my grade school back in the 60s anxiously awaited their turn to play that instrument in music class!
I grew up with “John Cougar”! He didn’t become John Mellancamp for many years. Either name he was someone I listened to over and over!!! His music was so ingrained into my years of growing up. Every song is so great and they each have an special memory to go with them. His music will always be a part of my life!
How about a Loverboy song? Working for the weekend, Loving every minute of it are great songs! (So many more)
He was always John Mellencamp...his first record label renamed him Johnny Cougar and he fought a long legal battle to stop that absolute crap.
I've known him by 3 names - Johnny Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp, and John Mellencamp.
@@madtypr Dont forget that he released a handful of albums as "John Cougar" too... ;-)
I've never heard a bad song from him! This song really tells the American story about growing up.
yes, it tells the story about a Baby Boomer (he's 2 years older than me) becoming an adult and starting to become aware that we had been sold a bill of goods with the whole "American Dream" thing......and many "learned to love their servitude", just like the guy in the song with a freeway running through his yard, who thinks he's got it so good...
It's also about a general "waking up to reality" that happens to most as we become adults, and have adult experiences.
Most adults lead lives of quiet desperation, after their "dreams just kinda came and went".
LOVED THIS REACTION!!! AMBER AND JORDAN, YOU GUYS ARE A JOY TO WATCH!!!
John Cougar Mellencap! Yay!!! There are numerous hits to choose, I think “Hurts So Good” is perfect. It’s upbeat, fun, and a BANGER! 🤩
I'm an 62 yr old daydreamer rmembering good times like this, When holding hands meant something baby. It's all gone. That's a harpsichord, we all learned to play them briefly in grade school believe it or not. Funny I put the "Holding meant something baby" up in my remarks before you even mentioned it My favorite line !
I remember harpsicord.
You guys are on fire today! John Cougar Mellencamp has so many songs to choose from
John is a true American original - one of the best songwriters and performers from the 80s and 90s. His trilogy of albums starting with Uh-Huh (1983) and then Scarecrow (1985) and culminating with the album this song is from, 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee are three of the best back-to-back-to-back albums in Rock history. This album also features stand out tracks like Paper in Fire and Check it Out. You can't go wrong diving into more John songs!
Great pick! “THAT” is an autoharp. My kindergarten teacher used to use it when she played music to us little tykes. A very simple instrument. 🤙
My kindergarten or first grade teacher played it for us, too.
@@susandenell3982 Me too! Haven't seen one since until the movie "Walk The Line."
Dolly plays one too! Like there is ONE instrument that she doesn’t play!!
Is it? I always thought an autoharp was played laying flat on a table. I don’t remember being able to hold it up against one’s chest while playing it.
We played that in grade school!
This got me emotional just reminiscing about a song about reminiscing!! This was my favorite song at one time and my favorite JCM song ever. I love y’all, thanks for your appreciation for great music! ❤️
If you’re doing John Mellencamp you’ve got to do “Paper In Fire” (that instument was an autoharp)
Yes . i 2nd this vote✌😄
Yes, that should be next.
Definitely should be next - awesome video too
Absolutely! I like watching the girl with the fiddle get into the music. I almost said "violin", but remembered what type of music it is. LOL!
One of my favorites.. up there with Rain on the Scarecrow and Jack & Diane
The chorus is When A Sport Was A Sport and Groovin' Was Groovin'. The female singer is Crystal Taliefero, she has sung with many an artist.
This entire album, Lonesome Jubilee, had this very rural Indiana sound. It's my favorite album of his. The instrument John plays on the beach is called an auto-harp.
Great lyrics ”We were young and we were improving”. I miss feeling those days too.
When he emerged on the scene, the record company told him the John Mellencamp wouldn't "sell", so they made change change it to John Cougar! He hated it and as he got more successful he introduced his own name back and went by John Cougar Mellencamp and then he dropped the Cougar altogether!
It’s like Kenny Rogers said about switching from pop to country-You know you have made it when you can tell the label what you’re going to do instead of them telling you what you’re going to do.
Thank you for being the first comment I’ve seen that actually acknowledges and explains this name situation. John HATED the whole “Johnny Cougar” thing. And said that no one ever called him “Johnny” in his life. He was embarrassed by the Cougar thing, but wanted a record contract so bad after so much rejection that he went with it. I was so happy for him when he overcame the name with us talent and fame.
John was my favorite as a teen I was smitten when “Ain’t even done with the Night” came out and he was my first concert at 15 still love this talented artist.🥰
I always get a chuckle when y’all say a song is innocent. Jack and Dianne gets filthy!! “Dribble off those Bobby Brooks and let me do what I please”. Bobby Brooks was a brand of jeans!! My wife of 41 years wore something similar, “back in the day”!!
This is one of my all time favorite songs. It reminds me of my teenage years in my small hometown. ❤️
17 has turned 35, I'm surprised that we're still livin'. If we've done any harm, I hope that we're forgivin'.
Nice!!
I just enjoy you two so much!
Keep being you!❤
John is pure Americana, he's a national treasure.
JOHN "cougar" Mellancamp is an icon! HE DOES ROCKING BOMBS TOO.
That's when a smoke was a smoke. Love him. Another good one is Little Pink Houses !
Sport
@@groovydjs Yep its sport. I owned this album when it first came out in 1987 and the lyrics were on the album cover.
Learn something new every day.👍
Thought it was a smoke all this time. 😳😁
I'm actually from the area in Indiana where John Mellencamp is from. Everyone here knows his music, even if we don't realize it for a while. Lots of ties in the communities to people that played in his bands over the years. My uncle even had a picture of them at a bonfire together playing guitar together way back before John became famous.
John's songs always remind me of the small town I lived in for many years. He captures that feeling and life style so well!
Violins, accordions, wood blocks and cowbells! John has a distinct style and character to his music.
needs more cowbell.
The killer backing vocals are performed by Crystal Taliefero. She is very talented, plays numerous instruments and has worked with Springsteen and Billy Joel among many others.
Great reaction, you really captured the spirit of the song! 😊
Lyrics - That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young, and we were improvin'
In his early career, he was known and recorded as John Cougar, and his stuff was a lot more rock! Try things like "Tumblin Down" or "Hurts So Good!" Love your videos and they always make me smile!
His early works starting in the 70’s were as the made-up name of John/Johnny Cougar. The name was forced on him. As he became more widely known and respected in early 80’s he added his last name to it as John Cougar Mellencamp. Finally he dumped Cougar altogether and has been John Mellencamp ever since.
The line in question is “That’s when a smoke was a smoke”
EDIT: read through Correction was pointed out to me as Sport. 👍
No, it's actually sport was a sport
@@taniaPBear You’re right, lol! All these years I heard smoke. Puts me right there with everyone that thought it was “spoke” 😂
@@NOLAgenX Totally sounds like smoke. I was a bit deflated when I first learned it was sport, just doesn't feel the same, does it?
@@taniaPBear you’re right, it doesn’t but I’d rather know the actual word. Thanks for the clarification.
I always thought it was Sport was a Sport".
He writes about rural life, life in a small town because that’s what he’s from and his music is about life so everyone can relate to it. ❤ And I bought this song on a 45 record back in the day and still have it and play it! Glad to see a new generation listening to our music and falling in love with it and putting it out there’s for hopefully more people to get to know it too!❤ “ Holding hands meant something baby.” He’s talking about when he was young and him and his friends and girlfriend.
I’ve always thought this song has a Cajun sound to the beat and I love everything about this song and video!❤
I also like the part in the song when he’s talking to his wife and he says, “I hope they’re (our kids) not laughing to loud when they hear me talking like this to you.”❤
Have no doubt that John is a Rock & Roller……..he is one of America’s greatest singer/songwriters.
As a fellow Hoosier (person from Indiana), I've grown up hearing John (Cougar) Mellencamp & have been a fan for as long as I can remember. I agree with many of the other comments - he's an underrated songwriter. He tells the story of the American farmer & common man, similar to Springsteen songs. His "The Best That I Could Do" would be a great place to start! His greatest hits kind of album although it still doesn't have all of them!! My personal favorites include Minutes to Memories, Justice and Independence, Authority Song, I Need a Lover.........
Me too👍✌
Lonely Old Night will always be my favorite of his.
Yeeesss!! Great reaction. John Mellencamp is so instantly sentimental.
John is his own genre. Very original and campy. Listen to John Mellencamp with Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Wild Night it's really who he is.
Love his version of 'Wild Night'!!!!
The original by Van Morrison is pretty good too
Used to love this song in high school in fall 1987 That music video just was so Hometown as it gets. He is a national treasure
The older I get the more the song rings true (I was 16 when "Jack & Diane" debuted). DH & I often reminisce about all the great times we have spent together (36 years) and with the Army family (friends for over 3 decades) we have.
Getting old can be painful in many years, but looking back can be so sweet!
If i could go back and be young back in those days when i was, i wouldn't hesitate for a second to do it. If i had the opportunity to be young today....no thanks i'd rather have the memories i made back then !!!
I was 16 as well. Miss those much simpler day’s, crusin down the boulevard in my home town listening to “John cougar”
Mellancamp.
@@cesarnarro6013 I think we had it made. Great music, great friends and we actually went out and DID something rather than having our faces buried in a screen or taking selfish after selfie.
@@cesarnarro6013 wow, that is so true. Kind of sad for the future generations.
shimmy off those Bobby Brooks :P
Loved your obvious enjoyment! This is my favorite of his great works. It’s joyous and nostalgic.
One of my all time favorite artist,became a fan when I was 8.Seen him live twice,the concerts were amazing.I would also suggest Crumblin Down,Authority Song,Rain On the Scarecrow,Paper In Fire and Check It Out(that one has a live video that really shows how good he is live).John uses a lot of different instruments and sounds,you will never be disappointed.
Gotta add 'Wild Night' and 'Ain't even done with the night'
So glad you get to hear this song , it is almost as popular as the national anthem , when i was younger this was on so often so i give this song a bright rainbow for color cause it is really hoppin ! Thank you ! 😍😍
JM is truly a great and underrated song writer in my book. To see a different side of him you should check out "Rain on the Scarecrow", which is about the plight of the American farmer, or "R.O.C.K. in the USA" which is about the inspiration he got from some of rocks early pioneers.
Both of the songs you suggested are excellent. They should do both of them.
Both great song forgot R.O.C.K
One of my favorites. Still has his poster. Don't stop with just this song.
"What is that instrument?" That is an autoharp. It's a very easy-to-play instrument that shows up a lot in folk music, especially from the Appalachian Mountains. Next Stops:
John Cougar Mellencamp, "Rain on the Scarecrow" (a more serious side of this artist)
Maybelle Carter, "Never on Sunday" (a short autoharp instrumental)
Storyville, "What Passes for Love" (Storyville featured John Mellencamp's lead guitarist, and Stevie Ray Vaughan's bassist and drummer)
🎵 That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young, and we were improvin' 🎶
I have had the privilege of seeing him live. He is AMAZING in concert
Love John … a lot of club songs, and many night dancing with girlfriends to songs like this by very good cover bands. We were indeed young, but now young at heart.
"Rain on the Scarecrow" is one of his best songs
I heard this on the radio driving today. I hadn't heard it in quite a while. How funny it was to see this same song on your reaction today. 🤩 I've always liked John Mellencamp!
"Ain't Even Done With The Night" is a great song by John Cougar
My absolute favorite song by him!!! Yes!
My FAVORITE rock guy ever! I've seen him in concert 4 times. He's amazing! Some suggestions: Little Pink Houses, Paper In Fire, Rain on the Scarecrow, Hurts So Good, Ain't Even Done With the Night, Small Town...so many great songs! He started Farm Aid. He is from Indiana and very into helping the Midwest farming communities. Such a cool cat!
that's when a sport was a sport
and groovin' was groovin'
and dancing meant everything
we were young and we were improvin'
Smoke was a smoke
Mellencamp and I grew up in the same America. His lyrics remind me of my teens and early 20s. Such a great time to be young. Everyone should experience that!
Rain on a Scarecrow
Little Pink Houses
Authority Song and this one are my favorite John Cougar Mellencamp songs!
Glad you like Mellencamp. He writes some deep and dark stuff too. He had a very, very long run of hits for many years.
One of my top 5 songs is by John Cougar "Ain't even done with the night" I promise you'll love it.
87, my first high school dance at a new school, all new friends but this song was the vibe! Good music's always linked to a happy memory.
Little Pink Houses is a great tune of his!
My aunt and uncle are in their late-80's and they still hold hands all the time when they're together. It is special.
The line in question is, “That’s when a sport was a sport”, as per the official lyrics. It’s possible he does say “smoke” as so many here claim. Officially released lyrics often don’t match up 100% with the final audio product. But when I first heard this as a kid, I, too heard, “spoke.” The p sound is most definitely there, at least the first time he uses it in the sentence.
Mellencamp was one of the original founders of Farm Aid, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. I believe the annual music festival is still going strong today, and definitely worth making your way to at some point. It was created to help raise money for farmers, whom, when originally founded in 1985, were really struggling financially. Many farms, especially the smaller ones, were being repossessed by the banks. It’s pretty cool these three musicians took it upon themselves to help out.
I’m never not in the mood for a Mellencamp song, especially his more melodic ones. So many folks have already suggested some of his greats. “Pink Houses”, “Small Town”, “Hurt So Good”, “Paper Fire”, “Rain On The Scarecrow”, and “Rock in the U.S.A.” are all excellent. I‘ll go a different route with my suggestion for your next Mellencamp reaction, with the 2001 hit “Peaceful World.” It features female singer, India Arie, with some amazing vocals; the song also sports a great message.
True….sometimes the annunciation of words aren’t clear in a lot of songs. Depending on accents, audio quality, speakers, lost in guitars, drums, bass…??? Unless lyrics come from original material and even then sometimes changed at recording.
Always thought it was smoke and assumed it meant that when one said they were going for a smoke, it was cigarettes and not pot. My nephew was asked if he smokes a few weeks ago and I said, cigarettes, not pot which he promptly said eww, no 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️😂
No, you were correct the first time. He sings "That’s when a sport was a sport". Some have just misheard the lyric. I bought this album when it first came out and this is the first time i've ever heard it suggested that he sings "smoke".
Story goes he changed the lyric sheet to sport was a sport so it didn’t get the parental advisory warning. But sang smoke was a smoke. Don’t know if true just what a heard once
It’s the accordion that gives it that unique Mellencamp ‘heartland’ sound. Really nice.
Saw him 5 times. Hes so good. A ton of energy on the stage. The girl who plays the violin is incredible!✌❤
When a sport was a sport, I finally read the lyrics and realized it was a sport , not a smoke.😁😁
I had to laugh at the thumbnail that said "Cheery Bomb". LOL. How funny that you've done a song called "Cherry Bomb" twice in two weeks. Course, this version is a universe away from The Runaways song. Some other of JCM's songs you should check out are "Hurts So Good", "The Authority Song", R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", and "I Saw You First". Fun fact - this video was partly shot on the beach at Hilton Head, SC. The instrument he's strumming is called an autoharp, and the line you're asking about is "That's when a sport was a sport."
John was the bomb. Late 70's - early 80's; and all of the gals in my dorm (1982), including myself, were in love with him! He has many, many great songs, so I am not even going to bother listing any. Looks like others have provided great songs, because there are no bad ones!
Another great song from John Cougar Mellencamp to react to is “Authority Song”
The accordion and fiddle--driven sound, paired with Kenny Aronoff's power drumming, makes for a truly unique sound.
The song came out when I was 19 years old having my first kid somehow I could relate to it then and somehow I still relate to it now. Great song great reaction.
Listening today with "fresh ears", yours Amber and Jay, I've realized what a happy song this really is... 🙂
U have to listen to Hurt So Good....that's another great hit by him.....
I spotted the autoharp immediately. When I was in 5th grade I wasn’t one of the “popular” kids. My sweet kind teacher took pity on me. Every time she taught music she chose me to play the only instrument we had-the autoharp. Thank you two for being teachers. I’m pretty sure you’re just as kind as Mrs Jasper was. Funny as an adult (30 years later) I went back to that same school as the Principal’s Secretary. Today you definitely made me smile 😊
John Cougar Mellencamp - Pink Houses - Small Town - Hurts so Good - Crumblin Down - Paper and Fire - Authority song - Scarecrow
There so much to John Mellancamp very smart artist , musician, dancer and down to earth . Love him .
"I need a lover" that won't drive me crazy....someone who knows the meaning of Hey Hit the Highway! Sorry, you mentioned JCM, and that song and lyrics were bustin.
Oh yeah!! That's a great song!
We saw John 'Cougar' Mellencamp open for Heart in the early 80s in Lakeland Florida. He was excellent, a great showman and performer as well as an amazing story teller.
An Indiana guy. Cougar was a name his record company wanted him to have. I’ve seen him so many times I can’t even count. Major rabbit hole authority song, I need a lover, r o c k in the USA, crumblin down, lonely o’ night. He’s still hot at 71
This was the first concert I ever went to. My mom took me because her friend canceled. Still in the top five best live performances I've seen.