John Mellencamp - "The Americans" - Live @ Walter Reed

Live @ Walter Reed Military Hospital on April 27th, 2007. John performed an exclusive concert for wounded soldiers in the Assembly Hall inside the Old Red Cross Building.

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[TheHurlco]

Well kids, this was one of the more intelligent threads ever posted on Youtube. thanks for the discourse. All that aside the best part of the jam is the bridge at 3:41. Right after that the camera pans to some soldier smiling his ass off. That's real American Rock N' Roll childrenz. Kick Out The Jams

[RealTime88]

@mninvideo That was a wonderful performance to see. I also saw many of the soliders with their kids. I'm sure a lot of them had no idea who John Mellencamp was before that day and now they have been exposed to greatness.

[alphuez]

@PortableFernie Finally watched his own comments on the Charlie Rose interview just now, and I stand (sit, actually) corrected. That said, even having that self image -- what you want and aspire to be -- is important. Our core values go deeper than policy mistakes (of which there are plenty, to say the least). And they are the only hope we have for correcting them. Viz: Martin Luher King's image in the official video.

[alphuez]

@PortableFernie Interesting thread here, and I completely agree about Little Pink Houses. I think the woman dancing with swords (not certain she's Arab, by the way) is in tandem with the line that he respects other countries, which I'd bet he personally does. Now whether or not the average American respects other cultures all that much, I'll admit that's another issue. PS: FWIW, headed myself to Tunisia (more poll work) next month -- a place I like a lot...

[PortableFernie]

@alphuez John Mellencamp also forbade John McCain from using "little pink houses", That's another song that most people dont get the real meaning. But this is nothing new. Every time i go to a wedding and they play "every breath you take by the police" it makes me shake my head. That song is not about love. Is about Stalking Obsession and neurosis. By the way, I so wanted John to run for Senate in Indiana.. If any Democrat can win Indiana is him

[PortableFernie]

@alphuez honestly, in retrospect it's not fair to compare this song to Born in the USA. I think what im trying to say, there is a lot of self-deprecation and self-reflection in this song. I seen the official video, nothing subliminal there. he puts certain images that basically, if you dont catch them, you wont get the whole message. like the gay couple and the war vet and his "what ya gonna do, it is what it is grin" towards the end of the video. the arab woman dancing with swords..etc etc

[alphuez]

@PortableFernie I think you may also misread my political views. I was arrested in anti Vietnam War protests while my dad was fighting there. I travelled to Iraq in early July of 2003 -- shortly after the invasion -- to conduct and direct the first scientific poll of Iraqis' views of the war, America's intent behind it, and their hopes and fears for their own future. I've been in more than 50 countrie and I love many of them . That said, I'm very proud to be an Amercan. As is John Mellencamp.

[alphuez]

@PortableFernie Google youtube John Mellencamp The Americans for the official video that he approved. And as I said, show me the sarcasm there...

[alphuez]

@PortableFernie Charlie Rose -- there's a great source for wisdom. Watch the other video -- the one in his more official link. Show me the irony there. On your other point: Springsteen's irony in Born in the USA is obvious -- in fact, he forbad the Reagan campaign from using it.

[PortableFernie]

@alphuez Since you cant see/hear irony, and can't see what he did there, singing that song to a bunch of abused and neglected veterans.. I'll give you this tip..Search for his Charlie rose interview, he plays him that song. From his own words.everything in this song is BS, it's about how we americans say we are like this but we are actually the opposite.. Did you see that interview? Do you also think Born in the Usa is a Hooray hooray song? my friend you need to LISTEN and put 2 & 2 together