![]() The ordeal provided one of the many strange-but-true memories of the early MTV years (and not the only one involving a contest – when they did a promotion with Van Halen making a viewer a “roadie for a day,” the guy who won almost died from the alcohol, drugs and assorted excess). When Rolling Stone ran an article pointing this out, Sykes flew to Indiana and bought another house, which is the one they gave away (after painting it pink). They got a great deal on the place – John Sykes at the network remembers paying $20,000 for it – but unfortunately, the house was across from a toxic waste dump. MTV ran a contest based on this song where they gave away a pink house in Indiana. It was another way for me to sneak something in.” “It’s really an anti-American song,” Mellencamp told Rolling Stone about “Pink Houses.” “The American dream had pretty much proven itself as not working anymore. Mellencamp has expressed his love for his country, but has also criticized the US government for going to war in Iraq, developing a dependency on foreign oil and not doing more to support the working class. His songs are sometimes misinterpreted as patriotic anthems, when a deeper listen reveals lyrics that deal with the challenges of living in America as well as the triumphs. Mellencamp is from a rural town in Indiana and often writes about the American experience. ![]() ![]() This is the album that in my opinion placed John Mellencamp with the so-called “Heartland Rockers” like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob Seger. The song was on the Uh-Huh and that album peaked at #9 on the Billboard Album Charts in 1984. Pink Houses peaked at #8 in the Billboard 100 and #15 in Canada in 1984. The image stuck with Mellencamp, who wasn’t sure if the man should be pitied because he was desolate, or admired because he was happy. As described in the first verse, he saw a black man sitting in a lawn chair just watching the road. Inspiration for this song came when Mellencamp was driving on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis. Susan Miles won the house along with a pink jeep and a garage full of Hawian Punch…not sure how that factored in. MTV then had to get another house and they finally did and gave it away. It was across the street from a toxic dump. Oh yes, you could win a free house in Indiana where Mellencamp was from…a pink one of course! MTV got a good deal on the first house…20,000 dollars…there was a reason for that. I remember this song well but I also remember the MTV giveaway contest.
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