"Jack and Diane"
Single by John Cougar
from the album American Fool
Released	1982
Format	45 Record
Recorded	1982
Genre	Rock
Label	Riva Records
Writer(s)	John Mellencamp
Peak chart positions
#1 (US)
John Cougar singles chronology
Hurts So Good/Close Enough (1982) Jack and Diane/Can You Take It (1982) Hand To Hold On To/Small Paradise (1982)

"Jack and Diane" is a 1982 hit song written and performed by American singer-songwriter, John Cougar. It appears on Cougar's album American Fool. It was chosen by RIAA as one of the Songs of the Century. The single spent four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one in 1982, and, to date, is the biggest hit single ever for Cougar, especially with its accompanying music video. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951) is best known for being an American rock singer-songwriter. ... American Fool is an album by John Cougar, now known by his real name of John Mellencamp, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). ... See also: 1982 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 list of years in music // January 15 - K.C. and the Sunshine Bands Harry Wayne Casey is seriously injured in an automobile accident in Miami, Florida. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Riva Records was a record label founded the UK in 1975 by Billy Gaff, manager of Rod Stewart. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951) is best known for being an American rock singer-songwriter. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951) is best known for being an American rock singer-songwriter. ... Hurts So Good was a number two hit in 1982 for John Mellencamp, who was known at the time as John Cougar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... In popular music, a chart-topper is an extremely popular recording, identified by its inclusion in a ranked list—a chart—of top selling or otherwise judged most popular releases. ... For other uses, see Song (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951) is best known for being an American rock singer-songwriter. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... American Fool is an album by John Cougar, now known by his real name of John Mellencamp, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). ... The RIAA Logo. ... The Songs of the Century list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... In popular music, a chart-topper is an extremely popular recording, identified by its inclusion in a ranked list—a chart—of top selling or otherwise judged most popular releases. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ...

Famous musical comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic was denied permission to use this song for his self titled debut album. He, thus, had to alter the musical content of his intended parody song "Chuck & Diane" and changed the title to "Buckingham Blues". Incidentally, however, "Weird Al" did get to do a parody of this song on The Simpsons episode "Three Gays of the Condo". A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... This article is about the musician himself. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Trivia

• Jessica Simpson samples this song in her single, I Think I'm in Love with You
• Cougar revisited the characters of Jack and Diane in his 1998 song Eden Is Burning, one line of which is, "How could I have been so wrong about you".
• The song was mentioned in the opening lines of the Kenny Chesney song "I Go Back" ("Jack & Diane painted a picture of my life and my dreams")
• Jack and Diane is also referenced in the Bowling For Soup song, 'Why Don't I Miss You?' ("Two young kids like Jack and Diane...")
• Cougar stated that the clapping wasn't supposed to be included in the finished song. It was recorded with the clapping in order to help keep tempo and then it was to be removed. However, he realized the song didn't work without it.

Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American pop singer and actress who rose to fame in the late 1990s. ... I Think Im in Love with You is the third and final single from Jessica Simpsons debut album, Sweet Kisses. ... Kenny Chesney (born Kenneth Arnold Chesney, March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer. ... I Go Back is a single by American country music singer Kenny Chesney. ... Bowling for Soup is an American Grammy nominated, comedy influenced pop punk band who originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994. ...

External link

• "Jack and Diane" music video with lyrics