John Cougar Springsteen???

One of our saving graces over here has been our music. Darin purchased an ipod about two years ago (right after Chad bought his. Coincidence or younger brother envy? You decide.) It has come with us on several trips and kept Darin (and myself, at times) company on runs. Right before we made this trip we purchased a speaker with a dock for the ipod and made it our principle stereo system. Good thing we did. Having our music to listen to has been wonderful. As a start to our morning or the end of a long day (even just hanging out doing laundry) the music has made us feel somewhat normal in this strange land. Obviously with two people putting their favourite music on one ipod there is quite the mix. I have been introduced to new bands (Lowest of the Low, Ghettobillies and Nine Days) and Darin has been introduced to some new ones as well (Everything But The Girl, Anna Nalick, and Damien Rice, to name a few). It is hard to get bored listening to the mix we have. There is definately something to suit every mood.
One thing I didn't know about Darin is that he is a fan of John Mellancamp (John Cougar, John Cougar Mellancamp... whatever) Now, I was a fan as well at one point, however limited my knowledge of his music was. Jack and Diane was once my favourite song. I could listen to it ad nauseum and not get tired of it. I even owned the tape, (yes, I had tapes, records too - and cool ones, not just Baby Beluga (although it was one of my faves at one time too) although I never listened to it in its entirety. Just that one song (and occasionally Hurt so Good, just because I knew it).

Now the point of this ranting is that somewhere along the line I have been misled. One day a few weeks ago a song came on in random play and I said casually "Oh, I didn't know Bruce Springsteen was on the ipod." I have never received a blanker stare from Darin. It was not Bruce at all. Yup, you guessed it. It was John Mellencamp. I proceeded to do this with several other songs thinking everyone of them was The Boss but alas I was wrong every time. It turns out I know practically every song this guy has ever recorded, at least his greatest hits, and I'm wondering why the popularity of Bruce was once so high. What did that guy sing besides Born in the USA (that was him, wasn't it??) Darin just lowers his head and shakes it wondering, I'm sure, who is this woman I married and what is wrong with her.

My apologies to "The Aunt" and Uncle Merv, who are devout fans of The Boss. I should have paid more attention.

In other music news it was just brought to my attention that a certain friend of ours (who shall remain nameless for his own protection) was lucky enough to attend a U2 concert during the Joshua Tree tour (I'm very jealous, by the way, but seeing as I was only 8 years old I will let it slide) He must have got a little too excited during Bullet the Blue Sky. 100, 200...300??? Too, too funny.