Five for Fighting, the stage name of singer/singwriter John Ondrasik, has some crazy timing. He popped over to Israel for a five day immersion in the reality and the pain of our post-October 7th reality. And he was in Tel Aviv on the night that the Islamic Republic of Iran launched more than 300 attack drones and ballistic missiles at us. As we now know, 99% of the offensive weapons were intercepted. Beyond miraculously. But within minutes of Ondrasik performing his amazing new song – “OK” – about October 7th and this seriously messed up world we live in – the Home Front Command issued directives country-wide for everyone to seek shelter. Iran was attacking imminently. We were told 24-48 hours. It turned out to be much less. Ondrasik could have left that night – he was travelling with his young son. But he did not. He stayed. And that tells you everything you need to know about the man. Thank you, John. He performed on Saturday night at Hostage Square at the big weekly support rally for hostages and their families. Moments after he finished his set I went backstage to congratulate him on a magnificent and moving performance. Within minutes we were all hurrying home. I caught up with John on Saturday midday - as we were waiting to see what Iran would do - and we had a great talk about the moral cowardice in the west that is emboldening violent extremism. He understands that it's not just about Israel but that western democracy and freedoms are threatened by this surge of Marxist and extreme Islamist violence. Since the introduction to this podcast was recorded, the 7-year old Beduin girl who I mention having been critically injured, has died. Her tragic fatality is the only one. A number of people were injured by missile and drone debris and there was some damage to a major Israeli Air Force base. Ondrasik stayed on for the full five days. Five for Fighting. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing high alert regarding Iran and its proxies in the region, he was unable to visit the site of the Nova music festival. But I am confident that John Ondrasik will be back. Not only is his music beautiful but he is one of those rare artists who has a moral backbone and is speaking out, no matter the consequences. The world needs more John Ondrasiks. Five for Fighting. Go Leafs!
You really don’t want to miss this amazing discussion. Or the video for the song. “OK.”
Except. We are so not OK.
In the two decades since Five for Fighting’s first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik), has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything;” and the top-10 charting “Two Lights,” along with an EP and live albums. A post 9-11 anthem, Ondrasik performed “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11th attacks. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned tens of millions of streams and placed him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning “The Blind Side,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Sopranos,” and the CBS drama, “Code Black.”
S2. E23. We Are Not OK: Five for Fighting in Israel.