Mellencamp: I had to sell out to Chevy If I ever wore a hat, I’d take it off to John Mellencamp right now. After the two or three critics who still give a shit about his career criticized him for giving the song “Our Country” to Chevrolet, he didn’t soberly reflect on his “environmentally conscious liberal beliefs” and admit he sold them down the river. No. He defended his decision by explaining that while he still doesn’t think artists should sell their songs to advertisers, his career is in the tank, and this is the only way for him to reach new people. The exact quote is: “For a guy my age, there’s no place for our music to be heard. These records take too long [to make] ... and they’re too hard to do, and why would you want to do them unless people are going to hear them?” If Mellencamp’s music had this much balls, he wouldn’t have a problem reaching my generation. For those who are interested, “Our Country” is on Mellencamp’s new CD, Freedom’s Road, released Tuesday—and Amazon says it “sounds richer and more powerful than it has as a truck commercial.” —Posted by David Kiefaber

January 24, 2007 in Kiefaber | Permalink

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You know what's funny? Your coverage of his move put him back in my consciousness. I imagine all 401,454 people who read this site daily will get a little eyebrow raise from this, too. So maybe John did the right thing?

I like his reasoning way more than I like his music.

Have you ever had that experience? You don't like the person's art (product, whatever), but some part of their personality captures your respect, so you like them at least a little more than you normally would?

Neat post. -- Chris...

Posted by: Chris Brogan... | Jan 24, 2007 9:26:08 AM

I don't know how putting a bad song in a bad commercial is going to help anyone's career.

Posted by: thumper | Jan 24, 2007 10:26:16 AM

I will say this for John~

In his hometown he has developed an art center. You gotta admit he could have moved from south central Indiana but he still is a presence here. There's other people born and raised here, famous people that never left a clue that they came from here). Dont be embarassed of your roots. Perhaps that's why he'll get the joke that the only people listening to his music are a bunch of Indiana hicks stuck in the eighties.

But he's been pretty loyal to them and so I guess they return the loyalty. It's how it works with me and my Alaskan malamute.

Back to John:

Anybody that promotes local art and talent, and not exactly the idol way, but the old fashioned way has heart, right? He also does art stuff besides singing. He probably doesn't advertise that. He'd probably like for you to experience a small town (with all the pain and pleasure) to figure it out for yourself. I'm just guessin.

Maybe the groundhogs.

Posted by: Nancy | Jan 24, 2007 10:38:42 AM

he should reinvent himself and return to being Johnny Cougar. now if only Mercury would bring back the Cougar.....

Posted by: ad_scribe | Jan 24, 2007 12:01:00 PM

John is still a hero, a small town guy singing to the whole world. Trying to make a differencs, good for him, what ever he has left in his tank is good for the USA. I will be with him to the end. Let some new people be lucky enough to jump on his bamd wagon. He is as much a icon to this country as apple pie, and chevrolet . Mellencamp is my man, while chevrolet is my vehicle. God bless the USA

Posted by: scott nasta | Jan 24, 2007 3:43:51 PM

Great. Now Tom Waits will be in a Pepsi spot.

Posted by: makethelogobigger | Jan 24, 2007 5:07:07 PM

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