Happy Anniversary, Jack and Diane!
John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane” was released as a single 36 years ago this month. Which means, if Jack and Diane were a real couple they would be celebrating their 36th anniversary together.
In April of 1982, back when John Mellencamp was still calling himself John Cougar, the album American Fool was released featuring “Jack and Diane.”
The album also featured the song “Hurts So Good,” which was released as the album’s first single that same month; and although Mellencamp wrote a number of other hit songs, none compared to “Jack and Diane.”
In fact, that little ditty, ’bout Jack and Diane, ended up being the only number-one single of Mellencamp’s entire career, spending four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
John Mellencamp – Jack and Diane
Did you know…
- “Jack and Diane” was originally written about an interracial couple? Yes, Jackie was not supposed to be a football star–he was supposed to be African American. Of course, the record company didn’t like that, and asked Mellencamp to make Jack be anything else – and to that, Mellencamp said: “Through much debate and me being young, I said, ‘Okay, we’ll make him a football star.’” And that is how Jack became a football star.
- And the clapping within the song was never meant to make it to the final recording –only to help keep tempo–but was later thought to be a necessary part of the song? It’s hard to believe that such a classic was such a challenge to record but Mellencamp has admitted looking back, it’s funny to think about.
- “Jack and Diane” have been called “Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Most Famous Couple” and it’s no wonder. Country music, in particular, has proven that rock ‘n’ roll was the sound of a generation and continues to make its mark, in memories and in generations and genres to come. Check out some of the influence John Mellencamp’s song has had on the world of music below.
Jake Owen – I Was Jack (You Were Diane)
The song’s title and the beat are pretty self-explanatory.
Kenny Chesney – I Go Back
The song’s first line: “Jack and Diane painted a picture of my life and my dreams…”
Old Dominion – No Such Thing as a Broken Heart
The song opens with: “I wonder if Jack and Diane ever made it”
Angie Krueger is a journalist who enjoys eating to Classic Rock music. She also enjoys listening to it.
