Five for Fighting
The voice behind 'Superman,' his piano-driven anthems capture the quiet triumphs and heartbreaks of everyday life.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: January 7·Generation X
Biography
Vladimir John Ondrasik III, operating under the moniker Five for Fighting—a name taken from hockey's penalty box—crafted a space for thoughtful, piano-based soft rock in the early 2000s. A mathematics graduate who pursued music on the side, his breakthrough was anything but overnight. The poignant ballad 'Superman (It's Not Easy)' became an unexpected post-9/11 anthem, transforming a song about vulnerability into a national comfort. He followed this with '100 Years,' a beautifully structured meditation on the passage of time that became a staple at weddings and graduations. Ondrasik's work is characterized by its narrative quality and emotional precision, offering not just melodies but miniature stories set to music. He has maintained a steady presence on adult contemporary charts, proving the enduring appeal of a well-written song in an ever-changing musical landscape.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Five was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Five Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Five's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His song 'Superman (It's Not Easy)' reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a defining post-9/11 anthem.
- '100 Years' spent over 60 weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at No. 5.
- He has released over ten studio albums, consistently charting on the US Billboard 200.
- Performed 'Superman' at the 2002 NHL All-Star Game, connecting his stage name to its hockey origins.
Did You Know?
His stage name, Five for Fighting, refers to a five-minute major penalty in ice hockey.
He holds a degree in mathematics from UCLA.
He is an avid hockey fan and has performed at numerous NHL events.
The music video for '100 Years' features actor James Franco.
“'I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane, I'm more than some pretty face beside a train.'”
