I Was Jack (You Were Diane)

"I Was Jack (You Were Diane)"
Single by Jake Owen
from the album Greetings from... Jake
ReleasedMarch 12, 2018 (2018-03-12)
GenreCountry
Length3:08
LabelBig Loud
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Joey Moi
Jake Owen singles chronology
"Good Company"
(2017) 		"I Was Jack (You Were Diane)"
(2018) 		"Down to the Honkytonk"
(2018)

"I Was Jack (You Were Diane)" is a song recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen. It was written by David Ray, Tommy Cecil, Jody Stevens, Craig Wiseman, and John Mellencamp, with production handled by Joey Moi. It is Owen's first single from his sixth studio album Greetings from... Jake.

Content

The song is a tribute to John Mellencamp's 1982 single "Jack & Diane", and credits Mellencamp as a co-writer for incorporating that song's guitar riff. Rolling Stone writer Chris Parton described the song: "Owen's updated version highlights the original's impact on present-day America, while a regular Joe reminisces about falling in love to the tune years before."[1] Owen said that he asked Mellencamp personally for permission to incorporate portions of "Jack & Diane" into the song, and recorded it after receiving Mellencamp's permission. Owen said that he wanted to record it because of the feelings of nostalgia that the lyrics evoked in him.[2]

The song is Owen's first release on Big Loud Records, following a decade on RCA Records Nashville.[3]

Commercial performance

The song has sold 110,000 copies in the United States as of August 2018.[4]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Platinum 80,000‡
United States (RIAA)[14] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Parton, Chris. "Hear Jake Owen Update John Mellencamp in 'I Was Jack (You Were Diane)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Whitaker, Sterling. "Jake Owen Got John Mellencamp's Blessing for 'I Was Jack (You Were Diane)'". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Stefano, Angela. "Hear Jake Owen's Brand-New Single, 'I Was Jack (You Were Diane)'". The Boot. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  4. ^ Bjorke, Matt (August 14, 2018). "The Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: August 14, 2018". RoughStock. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "Jake Owen Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Jake Owen Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Jake Owen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "Jake Owen Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  9. ^ "Jake Owen Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "Country Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Radio Songs - Year-End". Billboard. 2018. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Jake Owen – I Was Jack (You Were Diane)". Music Canada. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Jake Owen – I Was Jack (You Were Diane)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 30, 2021.