The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 752

Number 752

Five For Fighting

"Easy Tonight"

(2000)
.

Genre:Alt Pop

"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."

John 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

John Ondrasik leaned toward music by artists like Billy Joel, Elton John, Journey, Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind & Fire.

In 1997

John 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

John 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

John 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

John 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. ~ [Source:Charlotte Dillon]

For Billy Joel see Number 849

For Elton John see Number 531

For Stevie Wonder see Number 657

For Earth Wind & Fire see Number 774

For Air Supply see Number 645

What do Rolling Stone think about Five For Fighting?..
"Five For Fighting's main man, John Ondrasik, makes music like he's trying hard to earn a spot on a

Dawsons Creek soundtrack. On Five for Fighting's third album, Ondrasik's self-pitying ballads overflow with dewy-eyed dreaminess, as his vocals swoon and swoop - think of a more annoying Chris Martin. Piano-based numbers such as "Disneyland" sport strong melodies, but their mush-headed philosophizing ("It's a nice day when you wake up in Disneyland") push the limits of poetic indulgence. The closest Ondrasik comes to rocking is on "Angels and Girlfriends," where he spits a series of sarcastic spoken-word verses about a lost love; its flip side is "One More for Love," a power ballad that reaches

Air Supply levels of cheesiness. Here's hoping she takes him back, and quick." ~ [RS:Mr Hoard]

Wow, boy when Rolling Stone hate someone, they lash out like a child! Laughable really when that RS critic probably earns 10% of John's wage. Imagine if John lashed out critically about that reporters Mother? If i was Five for Fighting i know what would be my next title for my next song...."F**k you Mr Hoard.. You can kiss my Posterboard!"

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number (Whatever, we hate him and so shall you) and the Album ranked at Number (because we tell you and you believe us)

This song has a total crowbarred rating of 66.1 out of 108