John Mellencamp’s Best Song Is a Bruce Springsteen Rip-Off
Classic rock star John Mellencamp might be most famous for the song “Jack & Diane.” People still sing it more than 40 years later. But if you listen closely, it sounds a lot like a Bruce Springsteen song. From the lyrics to the music, it has that Springsteen vibe. Mellencamp and Springsteen are both great, but this track feels a little too close to Bruce’s style. Here are five reasons why “Jack & Diane” might be more copycat than classic.
1. John Mellencamp’s story feels like a Bruce Springsteen song
Bruce Springsteen tells stories about regular people. He sings about love, work, and growing up in tough towns. That’s exactly what “Jack & Diane” does. The song follows two teenagers in small-town America. They fall in love, face the future, and struggle with real life. This feels just like something off Springsteen’s Born to Run or The River. Springsteen made these kinds of songs first. Mellencamp just followed the formula. When people hear this Mellencamp song, they think of Bruce right away. It’s a strong song, but the story doesn’t feel original.
2. The small town setting screams Bruce Springsteen
Many Mellencamp songs talk about small towns. So do Springsteen’s. But Bruce did it first — and deeper. In “Jack & Diane,” Mellencamp sings about fast food, football, and fading dreams. That’s the same mood Springsteen created in “Thunder Road” and Born in the U.S.A. Mellencamp sets the scene like Springsteen, but it doesn’t hit as hard. The small-town life feels borrowed instead of lived. Springsteen grew up in New Jersey and filled his songs with real details. Mellencamp tried to copy that feel but didn’t match the depth.
3. The sound is Bruce Springsteen lite
Springsteen’s sound blends rock ‘n’ roll, folk, and heart. “Jack & Diane” tries to do the same. The acoustic guitar, hand claps, and sing-along chorus all sound like something the E Street Band might play. Even the slow build of the song feels like Springsteen. But it never hits the same level. This Mellencamp song sounds like it wants to be Bruce but doesn’t have the same fire. It’s catchy, but it feels like a copy. Springsteen’s songs roar with emotion. “Jack & Diane” sounds like a softer echo of that style.
4. The lyrics could be a Bruce Springsteen B-Side
Mellencamp sings, “Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.” That sounds just like something Springsteen would write. Bruce is the king of deep, sad one-liners. Songs like “The River” and “Racing in the Street” are full of heartbreak. Mellencamp tries to do the same, but the words don’t dig as deep. He writes a good line, but it feels like something Bruce would leave off the album. This Mellencamp song borrows that kind of heavy feeling. It’s not bad — it’s just not as real.
5. It came out after Bruce Springsteen got big
Timing matters. Springsteen became a superstar in the late 1970s. “Jack & Diane” came out in 1982. That’s when Bruce ruled the charts. It’s hard to ignore the fact that Mellencamp started sounding more like Springsteen just as Springsteen hit it big.
This Mellencamp song feels like a smart move to grab that same crowd. Maybe it worked — but it doesn’t feel original. “Jack & Diane” might be a hit, but it also feels like a blueprint. And that blueprint? It came from the Boss.
