John Cougar "Hurts So Good"

Indiana's favorite son, John Cougar's career had been gaining momentum slowly for six years by the time he released the album American Fool in June of 1982. Two years earlier, he had issued his best-selling album to date, Nothin' Matters And What If It Did, which had produced two Top 40 hits including the #17 hit "Ain't Even Done With The Night". It gave no indication, though, of the monster success that awaited Cougar.

It was hardly surprising when rock radio embraced "Hurts So Good," American Fool's first single. A rocker in the mold of classic Rolling Stones, the song featured a grinding guitar riff and a big, singalong chorus. However, "Hurts So Good" quickly became popular at pop stations as well and, in late May, the song became Cougar's fourth US Top 40 hit.

Throughout the summer of 1982, "Hurts So Good" continued to climb the charts as the song was perfectly suited for blaring from rolled-down car windows and warm nights. By July, "Hurts So Good" became Cougar's first Top Ten hit and, six weeks later, it appeared likely to top the chart as it had reached #2. However, it would climb no further, instead, spending a month blocked from the top by an even bigger hit that year - Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger."

For Cougar, "Hurts So Good" would be the breakthrough that would kick his career to stardom. Although it wouldn't hit #1 on the pop chart, it would top the album rock chart and help its parent album, American Fool, to the top as well. The momentum would propel two more hits from the album into the Top 40 as American Fool would sell more than five million copies. In early 1983, Cougar would win a Grammy as "Hurts So Good" took the prize for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

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