Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 1655 Date: 10/15/1983
Debut: 42
Peak: 9
Weeks: 16
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: John Cougar's LP American Fool was a major #1 multi-platinum hit thanks to the singles "Hurt So Good" (#2 Pop/#1 Rock) and "Jack & Diane" (#1 Pop/#3 Rock). He then had the formidable task of trying to follow-up that huge success. The results were found in his seventh LP Uh-Huh. To get things kicked off, this first single was issued. It was another success at Rock reaching #2 while becoming his third Pop Top 10 hit. It pushed the album to #9 and over time it became a triple-platinum seller.
ReduxReview: I totally loved "Jack & Diane," but I wasn't so sure I really liked Cougar. He'd have to put out something pretty awesome to get me on his team. Unfortunately, this song wasn't it. I totally hated it. I thought it was a snotty song from a punk-ass guy with way too much attitude. The video for the song kind of confirmed that for me as well. I was not having it. Little did I know that his next LP would become one of my all-time favorites. After that, I would revisit his previous albums and develop a fondness for them. In a total about-face, I ended up liking this song a lot. It's got a great rock/R&B feel to it with terrific guitar parts and immaculate drums. It took a while, but I finally warmed up to this jam.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: After American Fool did so well, it allowed Cougar to have a bit more freedom and power over his career and music. The one thing he wanted to do was shed his given stage name of Cougar and use his real name of Mellencamp. His label wasn't necessarily fond of this as John Cougar was (to them) a recognizable product name. However, knowing that the next LP could be just as successful as American Fool, the label and Cougar agreed to still keep his stage name, but add on his real last name. Beginning with Uh-Huh, he would keep the John Cougar Mellencamp moniker for four albums before finally being able to drop the Cougar completely for 1991's Whenever We Wanted.
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