"Check It Out" is a 1987 song by

John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation ...

released as the third single from his album ''

The Lonesome Jubilee ''The Lonesome Jubilee'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp (credited as simply Mellencamp on pressings). The album was released by Mercury Records on August 24, 1987 (see 1987 in music). Four singles ...

'' in 1988. The single was a top 20 hit, reaching number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Lyrics and music

According to Mellencamp biographer David Masciotra, the song "describes the rewards and punishments of a typical American middle-class family" and professes that "our attempts to solve the mysteries of the heart and grasp the truth of humanity are fraught with disaster and disappointment." Mellencamp biographer Paul Rees called its sound "uplifting".

Reception

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said that Mellencamp's rough county-ish feel takes you into the heartland f America and that the song "features a nice instrumental

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line that sounds like an otherworldly

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and leads into the verses." Masciotra calls it "a uniquely powerful testament to the mystery of inner life".

Music video

The video was shot as a live performance at

Market Square Arena Market Square Arena (MSA) was an indoor arena in Indianapolis. Completed in 1974, at a cost of $23 million, it seated 16,530 for basketball and 15,993 for ice hockey. Seating capacity for concerts and other events was adjusted by the use of larg ...

in Indianapolis on December 11, 1987, during Mellencamp's massive Lonesome Jubilee tour.

Charts

Weekly charts

References

1987 songs 1988 singles John Mellencamp songs Song recordings produced by Don Gehman Songs written by John Mellencamp Mercury Records singles {{1980s-rock-song-stub