Okay, strike my previous comments. I apologize if my callous remarks offended any of Johnny Cougar's fans. He's sold millions of records, so he must be a really good song writer. He has nice hair and made cool videos for MTV. Who can forget "Hurts So Good" with those bikers on Harleys? He's just not my cuppa tea and I'll leave it at that.
He had his moments. There is a certain type of song he does -- "Paper In Fire", "Pop Singer", "When Jesus Left Birmingham", "Check It Out" - hell, even "Pink Houses" - that I like well enough. And it makes for pretty good road music.
And I think it is funny that Ronald Reagan's handlers were so out of it, they asked permission to use "Pink Houses" in a campaign commercial, because they thought it was a patriotic song (Mellencamp refused.) This was just after Springsteen had rejected their request to use the equally upbeat and optimistic "Born In The USA".
I am pretty sure JCM is above Ryan Adams/drivel level, is all I am saying. But I lost a whole lot of interest in him when he decided his music should make a broader "statement". He fogot his own best advice, to just shut the fuck up and play guitar.
