Awww...how sweet! You're back again! Hope you enjoy your visit with the Peapod Squad!
My first “experience” with Five for Fighting came during the months after the horror that was 9/11. John Ondrasik’s raw and introspective “Superman” was played often. It became a musical plea for hope during those awful times. I instantly fell in love with Ondrasik’s soulful voice.
Besides writing and performing songs that speak to the heart of the human condition, John is a passionate champion for charitable causes. His whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com has already raised over $300K for various charities. A dedicated supporter of US troops, he has also produced a CD volume compilation series that is available for free to every active armed services member.
In short, not only is Ondrasik a brilliant musician…he’s a beautiful human being.
When One2One provided this album for my review, I knew I’d love it. What I didn’t know was that it would become one of those rare CD’s where I never want to skip a track.
Check out the single “Chances” below. Then head over to FFF’s YouTube channel to catch more videos.
Ahh Harry Connick, Jr. It was love at first croon for me. I remember listening to my cassette (yes, I’m that old) ofWe Are In Loveover and over and over again in college. I had a poster of him on my dorm room wall. Oh yes, we were in love. Well, at least I was in love. He had no clue I existed…as clearly evidenced by his going off and marrying some other woman. Seeing as how Jill Goodacre was a Victoria Secret lingerie model and all, I understood his attraction to her…especially after I saw how much she favored me.
Given “our” background, you can imagine how excited I was when One2One sent me a copy of Connick’s newest CD, Your Songs. I had the shrinkwrap removed by the time I got halfway back to the house from the mailbox. And much like that cassette in college, I’ve listened to this glorious music over and over and over again.
He collaborated with Clive Davis on this album and performs with a full jazz big band and string orchestra. The tracklist features songs that are familiar and timeless. The voice is as velvety smooth and rich as always…if anything, like fine wine, it has gotten better with age.
All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)
This is sure to become one of my favorites. I’m already trying to figure out how to talk my husband into letting me put my old poster back up somewhere in our house.
And because he’s more than just a pretty face and fantastic voice, Connick teamed up with Branford Marsalis and the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity to create Musicians’ Village, a community in the Upper Ninth Ward…deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. Now that’s someone whose music I want to support!
You can catch Harry Connick, Jr. on Letterman (9/30), the Today Show (10/1) or on Rachel Ray (week of 10/5).
My first “experience” with Five for Fighting came during the months after the horror that was 9/11. John Ondrasik’s raw and introspective “Superman” was played often. It became a musical plea for hope during those awful times. I instantly fell in love with Ondrasik’s soulful voice.
