John Ondrasik

My favorite part of concerts are when the artist takes a moment to tell the story behind the song. John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) is a gifted song writer and a wonderful story teller.

Near the end of last night’s show, John shared a story about performing in the war torn Ukraine. He painted a setting of a piano amongst the wreckage of a bombed out airport. He asked the audience to close their eyes and picture the Ukranian Ochestra accompanying him. We were then treated to a powerful ballard called “Can One Man Save the World”. The song was of course about Ukranian President Zelensky.

I closed my eyes for the first half of that song and just took it in. To me that beautiful song was a challenge to all of us to not be afraid to change our own world. That starts with kindness, courage and love for one another. As that song played I looked around the venue and saw a smiling Van Stone with his family, behind me was a father (Paul Zancanelli) with his hand on his son’s shoulder, Dave Carr was to my left swaying to the music with his wife (Barb), to my right was a loving mother with her arm around her dear son (Jonny Landis), and right next to me was my beautiful wife with tears running down her cheeks. At that moment I teared up as well and thought to myself, there is no place in the world I would rather be.

Can one man save the world? Maybe, maybe not, but what each of can do is change our own world but touching others with love and kindness.

Please take a moment to listen to this beautiful song. The video is incredible and shows us all what true courage looks like.