Jack and Diane

"Jack and Diane" is a 1982 hit song written and performed by American singer-songwriter, John Cougar (Mellencamp). 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. Famous musical comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic was denied permission to use this song for his self titled debut album. Legally, Weird Al can parody any song he chooses (as long as he pays royalties for using the melody of the original song), but he has always asked permission because he doesn't wish to offend the original artist. He, thus, chose 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".

Trivia

2003 promotional one-sheet for Something's Gotta Give

• 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.
• Nancy Meyers' 2003 romantic comedy Something's Gotta Give starred film legends Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson; the theatrical posters and DVD cover capitalized on it with a simple design featuring a picture of each, with the two actors billed above the title as simply "Jack and Diane." Upon its release, it was almost impossible to find reviews or press coverage of the movie that didn't refer to it at some point as a "little movie about Jack and Diane."