Five For Fighting
Biography
Five for Fighting has one main member, John Ondrasik, who considers himself mainly a singer and songwriter, though he is also competent as a guitarist and pianist. The name he picked for his band refers to a form of discipline used in the turbulent sport of hockey. Players who fight during the game are sent storming away to cool down for five minutes in a penalty box. In other words, they get five for fighting.
Ondrasik, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, started his musical training when he was only two years old. His mother, a piano teacher, gave him lessons. When he was around 13, he appropriated -- which is a nicer way of putting it than saying stole -- his sister's guitar. He taught himself to use this instrument and soon to write music. Somewhere along the way, he also took vocal lessons in opera. He soon discovered that opera wasn't his cup of tea, and Ondrasik leaned toward music by artists like Billy Joel, Journey, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
In 1997 Ondrasik, using the stage name Five for Fighting, released his debut album, Message for Albert, for Capitol. Five for Fighting followed it three years later with America Town, released through Columbia. It continued Ondrasik's themes of love and life, but with a more political spin. The album might have been simply another strong outing from a talented singer/songwriter, were it not for the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the nation's embrace of Ondrasik's delicate piano ballad "Superman (It's Not Easy)." Five for Fighting performed the song at the Concert for New York City that winter, and America Town went platinum. While it was a bittersweet way to find fame, "Superman"'s success gave Ondrasik the artistic license he'd always craved. When The Battle for Everything appeared in early 2004, it was Five for Fighting's most stylistically ambitious and lyrically bold recording to date. 2006's Two Lights continued Ondrasik's exploration of blue-collar America, focusing on love, mortality, war, and family. The concert album Back Country Live followed in 2007. ~ Charlotte Dillon, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
This is so precious! It really makes you stop and cherish every moment we have.
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When scanning the stations on the radio while riding with my mom in her car, this is one of the only bands we both like.
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i'm getting married in june and 100 years reminds me that i need to say a proper goodbye to my single life....
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I like this man, his voice, and the style of music. Its like sugar on sweet bread.
Christina |
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Five for fighting is true, and pure, John shows how life really is, and keeps it real, overlook his high pitch voice and listen closely
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quit hating honey, if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to listen to it
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Damn! This man's voice sounds like a freakin' ambulance siren. When I heard one of these guys's songs I kept looking around for the fire truck! Hey guy, how about waiting until after your testicles drop to make another album!
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Beautiful, simple, georgeous music by a brilliant, talented artist. yeah, I like Johnny O.
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My Daughter was married recently and we used this as one of the songs. Magical!
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MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN WHEN THIS SONG CAME OUT. SHE STOOD ABOUT TWO MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE I BROUGHT HER HOME BECAUSE OF A HEART CONDITION. EVERYDAY THAT MY WIFE AND I WENT TO SEE HER, THEY WERE GIVING THIS SONG ON THE RADIO. IT STILL PUT A LUMP IN MY THROAT WHEN I HEAR IT.
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keatnisher, what forms your doubt that a musician can't produce much music past the age of 44? I guess that artists like Miles Davis shouldn't have won a grammy for Best Jazz Performance at 66 years of age. After hearing Beethoven's Fourteenth Quartet (written when he was 51 years old), Franz Schubert is said to have remarked, "After this, what is left for us to write?".
Just take people like Bob Dylan and Burt Bacharach out in the back yard and shoot them. They have nothing left to offer. |
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100 years is the perfect rainy day mood buster. Great tune, someone who can actually carry a note.
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This guy can really sing...what a voice..I'm sure he'll be just as talented when he's in his sixties!!!!
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Just because people are older then thirty doesn't mean they're OLD. A LOT of people keep making music well into their fifties. I'm writing this in stead of my brother, because if he saw your comment he'd probably go on and on and on about how you're some sort of 'age raceist' -.- His words, not mine.
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He is so cool! I can't believe that's what his name means! Love his music!
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keatnisher you are so damn funny! You doubt he will be making more music because of his age? What are you? 10?
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hey keatnisher, just because you're in your 40's doesn't mean you're dead. Most of the time people get better with age you moron.
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on January 7th, (2009 of course) he will be 44, so i doubt he will be making much more music.
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John Andrasik has such an incredible gift of writing lyrics that make you think and talk about everyday life. It's so easy to relate to his lyrics. And, the melodies are instrumental arrangements are phenomenal too!
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LOVELY, love all of the songs.. amazing voice.. I love hockey, so the whole Five for Fighting thing rocks too.. I think that I may have found one of my favorite singers!
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I've fallen in love w/ "5 4 Fighting" thru another "crush" of mine:Smallvi l l e . It's a foolish cliche story but it really helps me to keep on believing there's still room in the world for the pure in their hearts. That's what Five also brings me.Way to go, guys!
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100 years is one of those songs that just stays with you....even before it became a commercial!
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mayer? 100 years definitely doesn't sound like Mayer. Maybe like Dave Matthews though.
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