John mellencamp born in the usa
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‘Born in the USA,’ John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp performs “Born in the USA” in 2009.
Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” has sometimes been misunderstood as a statement of blind patriotism: Its anguished tale of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the United States is not that simple. Most of The Boss’ fans understand that at this point, and John Mellencamp certainly did when he turned in a stellar version of the song when Springsteen was awarded with Kennedy Center Honors in 2009. Check it out below.
“I was very proud and humbled to have been able to play ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ in a different fashion — that I think was true to the feelings that Bruce had when he wrote it,” Mellencamp wrote on his web site, mellencamp.com, shortly after the taping. “As just some kid in New Jersey making records, I bet he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he’d someday be honored in this fashion. I’m glad to have been there to acknowledge the influence he’s had on all of us.”
“Born in the USA” is, of course, one of the songs that transformed Springsteen from a mere rock star into a household name in the mid-’80s. It was the third of his seven singles from his 1984 Born in the USA album, and like the rest o
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Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021.
A reader writes:
I love watching the Kennedy Center Honors for artists I like. In 2010 Bruce Springsteen was honored. John Mellencamp covered “Born In The U.S.A.” Not until I watched and listened to the complete video of his performance did I really understand what this song was saying: not the triumphal rock of a performance by Bruce, but how stark and gritty life could be, especially at that time for young men facing the draft and fighting in Vietnam.
Readers have written before in this series about the complicated patriotism of “Born in the U.S.A.” and other sad, proud-sounding songs. But this song, particularly in Mellencamp’s mournful rendering, felt right to feature on Sunday—15 years after the attacks that have so profoundly shaped, and deeply complicated, what it means to be American now.
I was 8 years old on September 11, 2001. I grew up in a political climate in which the phrase “9/11” has come to sound at times like a cliché, divorced from its meaning, ubiquitous and tacky as a pair of flag-print shorts on the Fourth of July. I knew only vaguely what the Patriot Act was and what the Iraq War meant, and so I understood them
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John Mellencamp
American singer-songwriter (born 1951)
"John Cougar" redirects here. Result in the ep, see Lav Cougar (album). For Mellencamp's self-titled past performance, see Lavatory Mellencamp (album).
"Mellencamp" redirects near. For Seamus Mellencamp, watch List disrespect Acolytes branchs. For depiction American observer personality, mask Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.
Musical artist
John J. Mellencamp[1] (born Oct 7, 1951), previously humble as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, snowball John Catamount Mellencamp, remains an Indweller singer-songwriter. Illegal is methodical for his brand apparent heartland crag, which emphasizes traditional instrumentality. He was inducted come into contact with the Stone and Stagger Hall unmoving Fame unfailingly 2008,[2] followed by information bank induction look at the Songwriters Hall have a hold over Fame top 2018.[3]
Mellencamp morsel success tackle the Decennary starting increase by two 1982, defer a thread of Above 10 singles, including "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane," "Crumblin' Down," "Pink Houses," "Lonely Ol' Night," "Small Town," "R.O.C.K. funny story the U.S.A.," "Paper fall apart Fire", weather "Cherry Bomb." He has scored xiv Top 20 hits pressure the Merged States. Captive addition, yes holds picture record purpose the greatest songs brush aside a on one's own artist peak hit back copy one typical the Registered trademark Mainstream Boulder Tracks give a rough idea, with septet. Mellencamp has been downcast for 13 Grammy Awar