John Mellencamp - Paper In Fire

[turttlemt]

Looking back on this old video, I know now, why I was so in love with him at 19....

What a spunk!

Yeah, he's songs are great too. ; )

Great insight.

[stevobath]

Fuck Springsteen...JCM :)

[scchapmanfan]

cool, it sounds a little like bon jovi to me....

[RaguelAngelofBalance]

He's got a great "country" sound without being "country".

[dictator54]

he started out john cougar because his manager and the recording people thought it would be better for his career than his real name, he caught on real fast and put a end to it, this was in a documentary about him

[Garibaldi01ful]

Do you know why we begin with the name John Cougar when not? Answer: Because it was the shadow of Bruce Springsteen, then when it started to be recognized in the United States and the world he took his true not John Mellecam Songwriter, guitarist, singer, director and artist-American painter Live for ever great man, 60 this year, 63 for me

[Garibaldi01ful]

John Cougar was also this very great actor, writer, singer, thanks " John Mellecampfrom " from one french in Moscow & long live for you man ...

[insanitydontlastlong]

great video all around ...id a never found it without jewels help thx jewel

[ibeeneverywhereman]

great dynamics

[dsurt1]

whois the babe playing the banjo please

[silvams76]

LOOKING GOOD JOHN

[silvams76]

LOOKING GOOD JOHN

[LittleBossBunny]

Gotta be his best video

[hungry4JohnnyD]

his smile.. 

[CHRISM5252]

that lisa germano is smokin hot

[lyonslaforet]

If you think John Mellencamp is a second-rate Bruce Springsteen, this gem should make you change your mind!

[theironworker781]

Thumbs up if you had a crush on the chick playing the fiddle.

[ImStumblinIn]

@theironworker781 Lisa Germano is the fiddle player. She toured with him from 1987 to about 1994. She was and is amazing ♥

[44thuserid]

@theironworker781 HAD?!?!?! I still love her!!

[plac69]

@theironworker781 thats funny she got me too dude..uh..ma'am..whatev...

[misterbrad100]

@theironworker781 I believe that that is Lisa Germano on fiddle.

[kaine969]

He did burn down a dorm at Vincennes University. I think that is what this song is about.

[cocolossal69]

I soooo love this song, brilliant!!!

[GavinJ37]

To think Mellencamp is about to marry Meg Ryan. Good luck to him. He's gonna need it.

[tulllguy]

why is James Taylor playing the drums?

[3126michelle]

oh to be 24 again this was the sexiest man in music of the 80s followed closely but steve perry and lou gramm

[hawkeyepierce12]

Just heard this song on the radio yesterday evening. The first time i heard it in years. Brings back memories!

[EDSHAM]

Can you believe we were young once?

[cultation1]

@EDSHAM im only 17 and heard this on planet rock its awesome!

[asspunchquarterpound]

there's not much more to be said, but just super bowl video's by Mellencamp. This is one of the best ever. Coming to that village, suffering from poor, bad conditions, how they all come together as a family and fight to survive with pride. Welcoming John and his band to represent. Mellencamp will go down as one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest. He is for the people! No certain color matters. I give you a legend of greatness and humanity, John Mellencamp.

[mecaskey100]

@asspunchquarterpound I could not agree more. Hard to believe this is almost a quarter of a century ago!Great video, great song, great person!

[diamonddhk222]

john-awesome!

[billiarboy]

Love it all JCM

[blackandtanful]

なかなかの好盤だった"ﾛﾝｻﾑ･ｼﾞｭﾋﾞﾘｰ"､ｼﾞｮﾝ･­ｸｰｶﾞｰ･ﾒﾚﾝｷｬﾝﾌﾟ､ｱﾒﾘｶﾝ･ｼﾝﾌﾟﾙ原点ﾛｯ­ｸの見本ﾅﾝﾊﾞｰ"PaperInFire"

[309stinkybigboy]

@residentmich1 I bet it really tans your ass to hear some real music. What is "good" to you.

[AthensWarier21]

I know its a metaphor but when i was 8 i set fire to a newspaper which later burned the living room rug cause of this song. Probably the hardest my parents tanned my ass but this great song is forever burned into my head :)

[jimicheesecake]

As a fellow Hoosier this guy walks on water here. Sells out every show. Still livin in that small town John.

[scotthoward2000]

i reamber this song being #1 during the ou and texas weekend!!!!!!!!!! and ou burned up texas like paer on fire;)

[zymybmebm]

Mellencamp has the best smile I've ever seen.. Smiling was and still is like a part of his face! Perfect!

[jaworskij]

3:04 - that man has ants in his pants.

[beergut66]

kenny holdin it down

[FMITB]

You know all those black folk don't give two shits about John Mellencamp

[Jetdeck7]

@FMITB So, what's your point? Who cares if they do or don't, what's that got to do with this being a great song?

[glimmeringwoodchips]

bingo!!!

awe some

[DaveWollenberg]

John hit #9 in Billboard, 10-3-87. Featurin' Lisa Germano's fiddle. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx!

[residentmich1]

What are you people talking about ? Give a good listen to this stuff.

It's garbage pure and simple, garbage I tell you.I have a good ear for music and this is pure shit .I am John's biggest hater.

[superaksel1]

@residentmich1: you know garbage all right. Lovely song and performance.

[DRpretorius39]

@residentmich1 ---Then why is your dumb ass here listening to it???

[MrUrbango]

@residentmich1if you dont like his music and watch his videos you must want to suck his d***

[JDPackard]

@residentmich1 biker NIGHTMARE comming your way

[iheartShaunCassidy]

@kris39100

I know, right!!!:)

[kris39100]

Awww!! Adorable when the little girl gives John a kiss!!!!!

[residentmich1]

This song sucks for real

[JLM2777]

@residentmich1 u suck  real big dongs

[AmberRoper]

This is the 1st song of his I ever heard ... and it's still my fav!

[Wallylex]

@AmberRoper

Me too!

[madrider622]

When I was 5 or 6.. my dad would always put this cd in the truck.. and I always wanted to know what it was.. Finally found this song.. We used to go to work with this song all the time.

[perlewitzaudio]

This song jams!!

[mugzsta1]

I love the facial expressions of the black girl playing the tambourine

[1955Bradpitt]

hot chick on fiddle

[SuperPassionflower]

it's been so many years but STILL....I really LOVE this song, what awesome clip btw. John Cougar Mellencamp I only saw playing live once, in the Hague, that was at the time of Lonesome Jubilee album and it was and EXPERIENCE!!! What an incredible Artist he is.

[turret173]

pick up lonesome jubilee and scarecrow kids

back in a time when u didnt need skip

[lifeguide74]

Absolutely his best effort of a good career.

Real 80's rock!

[theschoolofchuck]

Way to many electronics in the video to take the setting seriously. Good tune though.

[wakwak350]

vevo root dogs

[LilikoiHapaGirl]

Out of all his awesome stuff this is my personal favorite....it's sexy and hot!

[levisguy53]

@LilikoiHapaGirl has to be my fav too

[33smokechic]

love it!!!!

[johnny991965]

Wow! People analyse JCM's songs to death! Just enjoy the music folks!

[squidbillydog]

It 's all to do with ecclesiastes

[mgcwilson1]

And I'm "Fire"

[nene72744]

golly i love that fiddle player she is ssoyou ooo shiting hot hot hot,,,id tap that,,,she is cute ,,,,,you can almost see thrue that thin dress she has on,,,,,,,,lol

[soullessSiIence]

I love how people likes to be under control. 'Artists' like to be the puppets of the powerful, and we all support that by watching this. I just love how we prefer being owned than being on our own.

[xGxNxRx4eva]

I miss when music took skill to create. It was original. everything sounds the same now.

[buckize68]

Wow, do I miss 80's music!  Love this video, love this song!

[EmmaRose473]

Shouldn't this video/song have 'millions' of views? People now a days don't know anything about 'real' music...

[Jessyleppert]

I like it , His Guitar has a Tattoo.

[diamonddhk222]

any questions? John's soul is for real - he plays no games! love his music-

[alishakay07]

He's pretty smokin in this video haha

[drewkuch]

I was bicycling today, on my 10th mile, loaded down with gear....this song came on my pandora radio and my feelings went from tired to wide awake and jamming the hell out. Catchy tune. :)

[shelbykenny]

some ppl can and will complain about anything, just to be complaining. That's all they know.

[EvaSorensen1]

jefgg your a jackass youn don't even get it

[nolangleason]

:01



[toriboy25]

DAMN!

[Jefgg]

John Mellencamp can have whoever he wants in his videos. Did he really think that showing a lot of Black people in his videos would help his sales in the Black communities? I doubt it made any difference. It's not like BET Jazz would add him to their play list. I know not all Black people watch BET, but I can't think of another channel that plays mostly Black artists.

[JiminyKracker]

@Jefgg It probably increased his sales with white ppl, giving him a certain credibility that was becoming in vogue at the time. Look at Paul Simon with Graceland and Madonna with "Like a Prayer". The end of the 80's was, in a way, the end of white dominated music charts. The 90's ushered in a new era of success for hiphop/rap groups, and white artists who embraced this genre would always struggle for credibility with both white and black audiences. Music has never quite recovered lol

[Jefgg]

@JiminyKracker I'm colorblind, literally and figuratively. My neighborhood is nothing to write home about. I don't know how I would feel about a recording artist shooting a video here and making us look like we should be in National Geographic. My neighborhood is mostly Latins and Hasidic Jews with some Indians, African-Americans, Asians and ethnic whites. I don't know if we meet John Mellencamp's standards for diversity.

[JiminyKracker]

@Jefgg It would probably be perfect for a vid in this decade, since 'diversity' is the current trendy word. It just ain't harmony unless there's everything from an Inuit to a pygmy living within earshot.

[Jefgg]

@JiminyKracker You might be right. I left out one ethnic group. Dislike for them unites the rest of us. But most of us get along most of the time.

[mrkaycee28]

@Jefgg I remember BET would play this video..and well as the Rockin in the USA video.

[winston2818]

du bon rock américain qui fait de cet artiste une valeur sur

[tularosanazarene]

hates vevo putting a commercial on every video :(

[kqr573v2]

@tularosanazarene I don't understand all of the complaining about commercials on vevo. It sure beats having to pay a subscription fee to see the videos. But then again, I never see commercials on my vevo because my browser has an optional ad blocker. It took like 30 seconds to download for free and install. It's easier to do something about it than just sit and complain.

[Yellowjjacket]

@kqr573v2 Who cares about the commercials, what's important is Mellencamp, and his "storytelling," music. Guys a genius who puts a stamp on a song so you remember just where you were when you first heard it.

[epicwin770]

@tularosanazarene use adblock on google chrome

[levisguy53]

@epicwin770 thanks, didn't even know they had it until now

[culverandhardy626]

@tularosanazarene heres the solution download firefox adblock plus

[darkmanoo6]

@tularosanazarene Use fire fox and adblock plus and grease monkey

[tularosanazarene]

hates vevo putting a commercial on every video

[michaelsmorrison]

Lies And Smiles I grew up in a ghetto of my own construction A ghetto of lies and smiles A place where people take charge of their own destruction A place of fire and lies A place where people dream Then sell out their life A place where they breath but they don't receive what they need M.S. Morrison

[ceeceesrevenge33]

Ahh bring back the music of the 80's or even the 90's for that matter it's soooo much better than that crap that's out there now!!

[nikkijo9999]

this video was shot in savannah ga

[casspercamehome]

@nikkijo9999 Just curious how do you know it was Savannah ?

[JDPackard]

no vevo...

[Saraleander]

I love this song! And damn, he was hot back then!!

[ctrygardener]

Yes this is the South. I remember when this video came out. I live in the Southern Mountains, and yes we are poor, by some measurements, but we are still proud - we are still holding our children, our parents, and our land! 

[chubphucka]

theres not a single hate bone in john's body........period

[geniseslettherebe]

@chubphucka you obviously have never heard crumbling walls

[curlballn]

what third world country did they shoot this video in?

[MrGrande8844]

@curlballn that my friend.. is most likely the south.

[kja427]

I gather Mr. Mellencamp was in an acoustic phase in his career when he made this. It's not bad, it's just an observation of mine. Is this what Delta Blues sound like?

[TheIrishmary]

When I saw the show in Detroit where the pistons played, I think that's Where he played, anyway, they layed down on the stage during this song, I liked it, smoking stage, etc, but chicks were throwing bras and panties up on stage, LOL

[Colonel1181]

This song brings all types of people closer.

[buffspringfield]

VEVO SUCKS

[iLiekSkittlez]

Man I love that 90's hair.

[DeSpookrijder]

@iLiekSkittlez 80s hair, but nevermind.

[stoneroses13]

@DeSpookrijder the drummer's hairstyle is an all time fashion.

[detroitquick]

Great song and great real world video

[rcody20]

I would love to meet John some day and pull hi hair lol

[swtanney]

train or dylan, i came here to watch a mellencamp vid, but i'd take dylan

[NascarTigger]

One of the best concerts I have ever attended, several times actually!!!

[corrections189]

I bet JCM was banging Jane Clark. She should always play barefooted. hey now

[cyndi327]

an honest man's pillow is is piece of mind.....

[JimmyLachonga]

The banjo player ain't playin. good video.

[oepseknoeps]

een prachtige anti racisme clip.

[jtmichaelson]

I betcha Justin Bieber does rocks and he might even be hot and stuff like that. But not here. The video is john Mellencamp's "Paper In Fire". I hope Bieber rocks your world but you took a wrong turn down Mellencamp street.

[jerwrog]

@jtmichaelson I hear ya

[curvy71]

i had the biggest crush on John Cougar Mellencamp in the 1980's

[retroolschool]

Always was a great song...but where in the hell was this filmed?

[jtmichaelson]

@retroolschool Baton Rouge, I believe.

[tcasteel77]

@retroolschool savannah ga i believe was where this one was filmed

[YoMomma82100]

@tcasteel77 my favorite town anywhere

[SuperLiftRick]

If this song doesn't get you movin' and your blood flowing.....You BE DEAD...!!!

[IRONxPIBA]

yo conozco una de las afroamericanas

[BarronYale]

Too many Ads!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mysbananen]

gay

[39tommyboy]

every time i go to finish up my show for my friends on cougar day i find another kick ass song to jam to. lol how can i have forgotten paper and fire. ??? because im coming down with alzteihmers disease? i dont want it but i want its cousin so i can at least tune my wife out during the day and politly say who are you ???? lol godbless.

[MarnieB42]

@39tommyboy LOL , too funny,! Love this song, and I too, had forgotten about it, good to hear it again after all these years. :)

[breffnipark]

another cracker from John Mellencamp ! :)

The guy is brilliant !

[TAZ27591]

Anyone know who the violinists is? She is way hot! I love this video, just to see her.

[nessie96]

@TAZ27591 Her name is Lisa Germano.

[daniel21979]

I also do a cover of John mellencamp but "Hurts so good"

will see

[Spindry96]

Great song and a beautiful video. It's wonderful cos everyone obviously enjoyed making this video and it's so heart warming seeing the African Americans shinning as brightly as they do here because they are the most musical and soulful people on this planet!

[DodoReale]

a great song with a great heart . blues, rock, folk, gospel, all in one..inspired words and good melody.

[urahore1]

Everything burns. Even Skull and Bones. I am looking forward to meeting you.

[sneeldson]

@ aprx 2:22 when the old man walks outta the house, there in a back ground is a juke box with a picture of jesus above it. Great symbolism..... if you got music and jesus you will be okay.

[sneeldson]

IIRC the video was shot on the oldest street in New Orleans, but yet is not paved. John has always had a understanding of the plight of being black in america, and its come across in many of his songs along with having black back up singers. It did cause some people to dislike him, as i remember people in school calling him a N*** lover. I never felt it or saw it like that...... had it not been for John and his music, many a nights listing on my bed with head phones....i may have ended things.

[Ranger4402]

I am not being racist here. The black women who sing backup have a real distinct sound that I have never heard white women sing. Is this a regional accent or one that is charateristic of specialized vocal training? The best way to describe the sound is it sounds fuller as in the singer is using 100 percent of her voice vs. only part of her voice. Yet she isn't screaming her lungs out and making noise instead of music.

[Ranger4402]

I don't get the 1st verse. She had a dream. Boy it was a good one. So she chased after her dream with much desire. But when she got to close to her expectation, well her dream burned up, like paper in fire.

That verse is sad. Someone pursues their good dream, expects to achieve it and it all falls apart. That verse tells me don't pursue your dreams.

Anyway...this is one of his best songs ever. I do enjoy it.

[starqz]

@Ranger4402 I don't think the song is saying don't pursue your dreams, its just saying that when she got close to achieving her dream it turned out to not be what she expected it to be. You can interpret it like that or your way, but I think he means that her dream was an illusion that she decided wasn't what she really wanted after all.

[lindaroth]

now there is the cool, sexy john cougar i fell in love with at 16. . . you are right he does songs with a lot of conciousness, aware of the farming situations and the problems and fun of growing up. . .

[mrbullsauce]

I love this down home and down to earth song and video..would have loved to be an extra in this video!!

[deeway1963]

John is the BEST!

[strangefishmusic]

I had a friend some years ago who was a big JCM fan but I never really 'got' him till I heard this! Superb!

[pdhomo]

they do this every year...always will now.

[pdhomo]

i think i saw some of my friends in this video.

[michellekidd1967]

If you have to post racial bullshit then you have no life and dont appreciate music

[delly60]

Good song !

[Jdennies13]

this is the outher song of his i havent heard for some time this great