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Watch Jake Owen Throw It Back to 1982 in New Video for “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)”

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | April 20, 2018

Jake Owen dropped an eight-minute video for his new single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane).”

Jake’s new tune is interspersed throughout the clip that throws it back to 1982 to tell the story of a high school couple—played by MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge—trying to find their paths in life. And wouldn’t ya know it, their paths cross again 10 years later in a familiar diner, with Jake Owen as their server.

Both melodically and lyrically, Jake’s new single is rooted in John Mellencamp’s iconic 1982 hit, “Jack & Diane.” In fact, Mellencamp received a songwriting credit on Jake’s “I Was Jack (You Were Diane), along with songwriters Tommy Cecil, David Ray, Jody Stevens and Craig Wiseman.”

“When I heard the song, I thought to myself, ‘I’m glad I didn’t write this,’ because the legalities behind using a song that is that iconic,” says Jake to Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown. “[The songwriters] sent it to [Mellencamp] and his manager, and they actually got back to us saying that as many times as they’ve heard people try to take that song and do something with it, John’s never been for it. Ever. And, they said that. He gave us his blessing to use it. And, they actually licensed us some of his content to use for our video that we’re making, so it feels good to know that he kind of gave his stamp of approval. I mean, that was a big kind of chance for me—thinking about doing this song—because of the folks out there that are gonna be like, ‘How are you gonna take a classic song like this and redo something that’s already great?’ You know? And, really for us, it was more about paying homage to that song while still making it relevant in today’s world.”

“I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” is currently No. 14 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Check out the new video below.