John Ondrasik was born in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He grew up there in a musical family, with his mother teaching him the piano from the age of two. As a teenager, he learned how to play the guitar as well and started to write music. While he also learned to sing opera briefly, he quickly decided that he would like to be a piano playing popular musician along the lines of Elton John and Billy Joel. Ondrasik adopted the name "Five for Fighting" which is an expression in ice hockey when a player is sent from the rink by the referee for a major penalty. The name was used for the reason that it would be more memorable than his real name.
In 1997, his first album, 'Message for Albert', was released by EMI. Although not quite breaking through commercially, fans of modern singer-songwriter music provided a warm audience for Ondrasik. After the success of 'America Town', Capitol Records re-released this debut album to give it a more mainstream audience.
In 2000, Ondrasik signed with the aforementioned Columbia Records and released 'America Town' on September 26, 2000. At first, it made little impact until track "Superman (It's Not Easy)" became an American anthem after the September 11 attacks. Ondrasik performed the song at 'The Concert for New York Cit'y in late 2001.
"Superman (It's Not Easy)" started climbing the charts reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40. While 'America Town' itself failed to make the top 50 of the Billboard 200 album charts, its consistent sales led to it going platinum. "Superman (It's Not Easy)" was also an international hit reaching number one on a composite adult international chart (based on performance in the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Australia). Ondrasik's second single, "Easy Tonight", would make the top 20 of the world adult chart as well as going top 20 in New Zealand.
His third album, 'The Battle for Everything', debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 in February 2004. Its first single, "100 Years", was another top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and again reached number one on the World Adult Top 40. It also was number one on a composite world airplay chart and top 10 on a composite world modern rock chart. (based on USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Canada and Australia).
The Five for Fighting song "100 Years" was used in a ubiquitous JP Morgan Chase commercial, and more recently in an episode of Scrubs. The song was also used in the last scenes of the final episode of JAG.
Lately, Ondrasik's sixth album, 2013's 'Bookmarks', came out after a four year gap between his last release. The album has received critical praise from a variety of publications such as Allmusic, where the reviewer lauded how Five for Fighting produced " sturdy tunes wrapped up neatly in a shiny, appealing gloss". Released by the label Universal, his work also hit the #54 slot on the Billboard 200, with his fans happily looking forwards to his future endeavors.
See more at: http://www.fiveforfighting.com/
Alright
Five for Fighting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I turned around and I asked for more
And she didn't even mean a thing to me
I left my spirit at the chapel door
I sailed around til I lost the war
And you didn't even think to send a thing
I never been better in my life
You know the score
I'm just fine, I'm fine, feeling fine
A regular sawed off valentine
That nothing more
I hit my head upon the chamber door
And all the marbles rolled on the floor
And all the psychos in the ward start screaming
I'm alright, alright, I feel alright
I never been better in my life
You know the score
I'm just fine, I'm fine, feeling fine
A regular sawed off valentine
That nothing more
My baby
I'm alright, alright, I feel alright
I never been better in my life
You know the score
I'm just fine, I'm fine, feeling fine
A regular sawed off valentine
That nothing more
The lyrics of Five for Fighting's song "Alright" are about a person who is going through a difficult time after a breakup but is trying to convince themselves and others that they are "alright." The song begins with the singer saying he took her leaving like he did before, implying that he has been through this kind of heartbreak before. Then he says that she didn't mean anything to him despite his turning around and asking for more, indicating that he may have been needy and clingy in the relationship.
The next few verses describe the singer's descent into depression, as he says that he left his spirit at the chapel door and sailed around until he lost the war. This suggests that he turned to religion and perhaps even self-destructive behavior to cope with the breakup. He also says that he hit his head upon the chamber door and all the marbles rolled on the floor, which could be a metaphor for losing his mind. Despite all this, the singer insists that he is alright and feeling fine, like a "regular sawed off valentine" who is nothing more than a surface-level representation of love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Alright" convey a sense of denial and repression in the face of emotional trauma, as the singer tries to convince himself and others that he is fine when clearly he is not.
Line by Line Meaning
I took her leaving like I did before
I accepted her departure in the same manner as in the past.
I turned around and I asked for more
I requested further explanation or effort in the relationship.
And she didn't even mean a thing to me
She held no significant importance or emotional attachment to me.
I left my spirit at the chapel door
I entered a place of worship, but lost my enthusiasm or conviction.
I sailed around til I lost the war
I kept fighting until I eventually faced defeat.
And you didn't even think to send a thing
You made no effort to reach out or maintain contact.
But I'm alright, alright, I feel alright
Despite the challenges, I am doing well and feeling fine.
I never been better in my life
I am currently at my personal best state of being.
You know the score
You are aware of the situation and the outcome.
I'm just fine, I'm fine, feeling fine
I am perfectly okay and doing well.
A regular sawed off valentine
I am a typical, average person, no special qualities or characteristics.
That nothing more
There is nothing else beyond what is already known or expressed.
I hit my head upon the chamber door
I encountered a physical obstacle or injury.
And all the marbles rolled on the floor
Everything fell apart or became scattered and chaotic.
And all the psychos in the ward start screaming
The individuals in the hospital or care facility began acting erratically or in a disturbed manner.
My baby
A term of endearment or affection for a loved one.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN ONDRASIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rhio Reyes
on Superman
wow ganda