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/
SHE
Five for Fighting Lyrics
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She's nobody's daughter
A stranger to the lovers at her feet
She makes potions between kisses
And wishes on the sun
Because the stars late at night she can't see
She's standing right beside me
I've waited my whole life
For somebody to find me
I know you don't like her
But she's my girl
She's better than ice cream
I know you know what I mean
Better than the real thing
She can make my heart scream
She's my girl
She's my girl
There's beauty in disaster
You can just ask her
But you wont like what you will hear
Her name has stitches between letters
Goes on forever
In a skyline rainbow made of tears
She's my best friend
She's standing right beside me
I've waited my whole life
For somebody to find me
I know you don't like her
But she's my girl
She's better than ice cream
I know you know what I mean
Better than the real thing
She can make my heart scream
She's my girl
She's my girl
We all need someone to love
Fire to touch
Reasons to rise above the cold
In a paralyzed world
It's not enough to pretend alone
She's my girl
She's better than ice cream
I know you know what I mean
Better than the real thing
She can make my heart scream
She's my girl
She's my best friend
She's standing right beside me
I've waited my whole life
For somebody to find me
I know you don't like her
But she's my girl
She's better than ice cream
I know you know what I mean
Better than the real thing
She can make my heart scream
She's my girl
She's my girl
She's my girl
The lyrics of Five for Fighting's song "She" are a tribute to a woman who is clearly very special to the singer. The song describes her in glowing terms, noting that she can "turn wine to water," meaning she has a calming effect on him. She is also "nobody's daughter," indicating that she is fiercely independent, and "a stranger to the lovers at her feet," suggesting that she may be elusive or difficult to win over. Despite this, the singer sees her as his closest ally - "She's my best friend/She's standing right beside me."
The second verse reinforces the theme of the woman's mystique, describing her as using "potions between kisses" and wishing on the sun because she cannot see the stars. Her name is even said to be "stitched between letters" and to "go on forever in a skyline rainbow made of tears." Yet, despite all this, the singer insists on his love for her and his need for her ("I've waited my whole life/For somebody to find me").
Overall, the song is an ode to the power of love, friendship, and connection, and the idea that sometimes, the people who mean the most to us are not the easiest to understand or define.
Line by Line Meaning
She turns wine to water
She has the ability to transform something indulgent and potentially harmful into something pure and essential.
She's nobody's daughter
She is an individual not defined by anyone's expectations or judgments.
A stranger to the lovers at her feet
Despite her apparent allure, she remains an enigma to those seeking her affection.
She makes potions between kisses
Her actions in love are not only passionate, but also imbued with a mystical power.
And wishes on the sun
She maintains a positive outlook, even as darkness envelops her at night.
Because the stars late at night she can't see
The things she desires most may be just out of reach, no matter how much she strains to grasp them.
She's my best friend
She is someone with whom the singer has an unbreakable bond, a level of closeness that transcends romance.
She's standing right beside me
Her presence is a constant source of comfort and stability for the artist, no matter what life throws their way.
I've waited my whole life
The artist has been searching for someone like her for a very long time and feels privileged to have finally found her.
For somebody to find me
The artist was longing for a relationship that would help him navigate his way through life's challenges.
I know you don't like her
The singer is aware that others may not share their appreciation for her unique qualities.
But she's my girl
Regardless of what others may think, the artist holds her in the highest regard and considers her his own.
She's better than ice cream
Her companionship is even more fulfilling than something as delicious and enjoyable as ice cream.
I know you know what I mean
The singer believes others can understand the depth of emotion he feels for her, even if they don't share it.
Better than the real thing
Even the tangible, material pleasures in life can't compare to what he feels when he's with her.
She can make my heart scream
She has the ability to stir up such intense emotions in the artist that it feels like his heart might burst.
There's beauty in disaster
There are opportunities for growth and learning even in the most challenging and painful parts of life.
You can just ask her
The singer suggests that there is someone who can provide perspective and insight on this point – presumably, the eponymous 'she'.
But you wont like what you will hear
Even if you seek her perspective, you may not be comfortable with the truths she reveals.
Her name has stitches between letters
Her identity is not a seamless, smooth thing – it is composed of different pieces that may not fully align with one another.
Goes on forever
Her identity is something that will persist throughout time, through all the ups and downs of the future.
In a skyline rainbow made of tears
The beauty of her identity is juxtaposed with a sense of sadness, a recognition of the struggle and pain inherent in life.
We all need someone to love
Love is an essential component of the human experience and is necessary for true fulfillment.
Fire to touch
Love is something that ignites a passion within us, something that we can feel viscerally.
Reasons to rise above the cold
Love can help us to overcome the harsh, indifferent aspects of the world and forge connections with others.
In a paralyzed world
The world can be daunting and overwhelming, making it hard to connect with others or take action.
It's not enough to pretend alone
Faking one's way through life or putting up an emotional wall is not sufficient to tackle life's challenges – genuine connection with others is needed.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN THOMAS HARDING, DEREK A E FUHRMANN, JOHN ONDRASIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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