Huffington Post Video Premiere: "Troubled Land" by John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp -- Farm Aid champion and one of the heartland's favorite singer-songwriters -- has created a new video for the song "Troubled Land," a track from his latest album, Life Death Love And Freedom. The black and white clip was directed by Martyn Atkins, shot on location in Savannah, Georgia, and takes its subject matter beyond the implied anti-war message of Mellencamp's tag line "bring peace to this troubled land." The video's small town backdrop to Mellencamp's troubadour style of storytelling employs visuals such as a threatening wolf, teens pummeling a luxury car in a junkyard, a reverse-burning flag, and money freely blowing along a sidewalk, suggesting a decaying culture in desperate need of repair. Further emphasizing that point, one of the verse's lyrics conjures harbingers of sorrow and hunger walking ever-closer to their destination, visually accented by a sign-spinner performing with a "foreclosure" advertisement and a gas pump meter spinning wildly upwards. However, the video ends with a message of hope, its last scene showing a baby crawling across an American flag, suggesting rebirth and renewed idealism.
Watch the video:
For this article, John said the following:
We're fighting wars we shouldn't be fighting and we've been spending money we don't have on those wars. Working people are falling into poverty and jobs are shipped overseas as corporations get tax breaks for doing so while our prisons overflow. I put out a song about the way things are called 'Troubled Land' to give folks the news like Woody Guthrie used to do with his music.
And in his recent Indiana radio ad for Barack Obama, Mellencamp stated, "I've seen a lot of small towns, and now I'm seeing small towns across America dying, folks losing their jobs and their homes. Eight years of George Bush has really hurt, and John McCain is just more of the same...I'm proud to support Barack Obama, because whether you live in a small town or a big city, it's time for a change."
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This is absolutely terrific! The imagery and music all fit together perfectly. Great job Mellancamp!
John Mellencamp has always expressed strong oppositions on what he see's as trouble's ahead from this law makers in DC.I respect his views.It's obvious Wall Street is not happy with our to nominee's.I noticed when Obama's Numbers went down on the polls WallStreet had Jumped higher in one day then in history.I honestly believe these big money people are very nervous of Obama.And him being black is not where I am going with this,I think his lack of experience is scaring the Hell out of these folks.
J E GREENWOOD,IN
Here's another perspective. Obama's "lack of experience" campaign slogan really seems to be code for "too young" which, thankfully, he hasn't used tactically in a reverse strategy against McCain. But if he did, the spotlight would shine pretty brightly on Palin...
Thank you, Mr Mellencamp for speaking your mind .And thank you for the reminder that the responsibilty for a better future rests with all of us, and it begins with our votes. You deserve all the respect in the world.
John "Cougar" Mellencamp! I have always liked this guy and enjoyed his music and to the person who talked about him not selling music to advertisers in the 80s--hey, time changes for everyone. I couldn't begin to tell you what I am willing to sell now that I just couldn't imagine or didn't NEED to sell in the 80s...
He hates the 'Cougar'
It was never his some record exec stuck that in on his first album without his knowledge
I have to admit, though, it does sound cool
Sorry but didn't Mellencamp sit on the fence about a month or so ago? Seems I remember him offering his services to both parties during their conventions. Did he just recently realize the state his country and small towns in Indiana are in? Have always loved his talent but it looks like he read the polls and jumped on the wagon. Hope I am wrong about this.
I think he honestly wants Obama elected and yeah, it took him a while, but he's on board so we'll take it! ;)
I'm a big Mellencamp fan and would like to insert some facts. You are definitely wrong about him being for both sides.
John has never done anything associated with the Republican party. What you are remembering is that in the Spring John played at Indiana rallies for both Obama and Clinton and didn't really endorse either candidate. He had also supported Edwards in Iowa last fall (before the scandal). John played on the 2004 Vote for Change show and also did events for Kerry during that campaign. John probably first met Obama at the 2004 Democratic convention when John played (Small Town no less) the convention stage and his wife Elaine was a delegate. His website had a picture up of John and Obama at Farm Aid 2005 in Chicago.
John was outspoken in the 1980's against Regan's policies and was one of the first celebrity critics of the 2003 Iraq war releasing a song against it BEFORE the invasion (before the Dixie Chicks etc). He took a ton of heat for it, even in his hometown.
Oh boy have YOU got your facts wrong about JM! I live in the same IN town as Mr. Mellencamp! I've almost bumped into him on the street.! We know him around here and he is not a Republican. He's a Hoosier through and through!
Yes in the primaries he played for both Obama and Hillary after Edwards dropped out. In 2004 he rocked with the Chicks, Springsteen and others to try and help Kerry.
Listen to his songs and you'll know he's for the little guy. He's against this war...and not just recently! He has been working since the 80's on behalf of farmers.
And as another poster said..he's taken some heat in this red state for his stand but just like a true Hoosier boy he stands his ground.
Seriously...read up on him...and if not...listen/read his LYRICS for goodness sake! He doesn't go where the wind blows by any means!
SR
PS Yes he is STILL well loved in his HOOSIER state!
It's great to see John support Obama - This may open some other people's minds and eyes. No matter what other people say.
Once again only the best from John Mellencamp! THANK YOU!!
Great to see Mellencamp back! Hopefully future president Barack Obama appreciates the rock n' roll legend he has on his side.
mellencamp's still got it... so good. let's hope his fellow hoosiers take note!
Mellencamp is the man.
Mellancamp might have an ounce of credibility if he hadn't sold out to Chevy, or if the song lyrics had been "This is NOT our country." Wake up John. The unregulated free market has been destroying families, towns, cities, farms, for over thirty years. I'm sure the royalties are still rolling in though, so for you, it's 'No worries,mate.'
How do you sell out to Chevy ..........Spray paint yourself orange?
Apparently he turned down literally millions of $ worth of ad offers back in the 80s for songs like 'Hurst so Good', 'Pink Houses', 'Cherry Bomb', 'Small Town', etc. So gimme a break. Get off your high horse.
John wrote the music and Chevy paid him for it.
That is what professional musicians do.
Otherwise they would just play in basements and street corners.
you have no idea what your talking about.
Sending out love to all the corners of the land..........Barack jumps up on the stage and takes the mic in his hand.........he wants to end the war in Iraq and make peace with Iran..........and if you try to dis him he couldn't give a damn...............................................................Obama 08
...and everybody has their different ways of contributing, this video and his campaigning for Obama was his!
I just want to see Palin and the Buchmann likes accuse Mellencamp of beig anti-American. The radio ad he made for Obama in Indianna was a force on its own. Thank John!
John's reputation for being pro-heartland and a Farm Aid hero probably stops the Palin-McBush team from attacking him for fear of swing state retribution...
Mellencamp is a true American and struggled much along the way to be where he is--true to his beliefs of doing what he does best and true to his convictions doing what is best for his family and his country. It is typical of people like you Tomoso808 to not stop and consider what JM did with the money Chevy paid him, but rather jump to conclusions. I is unimaginable the number of many poor families and charities who benefited. And, through all the years of JM's music, it was the only jingle that was ever sold out for advertising. Oh yeah...and to an American company!
They'd need serious innovation in nailing-jello-to-the-wall technology to make that stick.
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