John Mellencamp came to pop music prominence in the early 80's with the release of Uh-huh (1983) and American Fool (1982). Hits included Authority Song and Pink Houses and Jack and Diane.
My brother has never been much of one for birthdays, and so in 1986, I opened a solitary present from Jason on what had to be my 11th birthday. 1985's hit Scarecrow. Another birthday meant another John Mellencamp album. To the best of my recollection it was either American Fool or a greatest hits collection. 1988 brought me The Lonesome Jubilee.
That was pretty much it, as far as I can remember. That was the end of the John Mellencamp birthday era, when every year I would open a single present, and every year, it would be yet another John Mellencamp record. The peculiar thing is that I don't really like John Mellencamp, and neither does he. I don't dislike Mellencamp, and like a sport, I gave the tapes a whirl, but Mellencamp is not so much my style.
Jason's birthday apathy is well documented in the Steans Family oral history, and, in fact, from 1991 to 1996, it's safe to say nobody actually received a birthday present from him.
One dark day in the mid 90's I asked him "why Mellencamp?"
He didn't remember.
"You DON'T like Mellencamp?"
"No. He's fine, I guess."
"You had Mellencamp records."
"You gave those to me."
"I did?"
"Yes."
"I'll be damned. So you don't like John Mellencamp?"
"He's fine, but I never was really a big fan."
And he had a good long laugh at my expense.
As he emerged from Law School, birthday presents reappeared, and eventually, they even showed some knowledge of other's preferences.
Yesterday I opened a final and belated (by 2 months) birthday present from Jason. Thanks, man.
No comments:
Post a Comment