My Family Dislikes Mellencamp because of Me

    I was always commenting that I attended school with his daughter, which I think caused an inoculation against a more objective of his merits and styles as an artist. Now granted, he is not Billy Joel (who is?), or Elton John, or Phil Collins, or James Taylor, and on and on.

    But, some of his music is iconically good, yes? I think so. Despite having some lean years in my liking, as well, I enjoy hearing a John Cougar Mellencamp song, which can be because of nostalgia due to my Hoosier roots, my Bloomington background, my presence closer to his family.

    He is no world killer, Perry Cuomo, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond.

    But, he is one of the best that Indiana has.

    Maybe when this Hoosier is gone, his music may sound a little better to them.

    Maybe not.