Freedom rock - Military Music - Military Times

Freedom rock

Like a lot of Americans, it was the Sept. 11 attacks that prompted Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik to become an outspoken supporter of the American military. But unlike a lot of celebri¬ties, Ondrasik’s sup¬port hasn’t waned with the passing of time.

The Grammy-nominated singer-song¬writer, best known for his hits “Superman” and “100 Years,” has released another compilation CD, titled “For the Troops II,” that can be downloaded for free by any military service member.

“Once the war started, I said, ‘Hey, I think it’s all our obliga¬tions to do our part; we’re all Americans,’” said Ondrasik, in the nation’s capital Nov. 13 for a small-venue performance. “I can’t shoot a gun or drive a tank or fly an airplane, but I can write a song or I can provide something that might help morale.”

The CD comes on the heels of last year’s “For the Troops I.” The new album features 14 tracks, including Ondrasik’s “Freedom Never Cries.” Artists who contributed hits to the pro¬ject include 3 Doors Down, Maroon 5, Daughtry, Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson, Josh Groban, Keith Urban and more.

Any American service member can download the entire CD from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Web site, www.aafes.com. Hard copies also have been distributed to military bases and exchanges around the world; you must have a valid military ID to receive one.

Last year’s CD reached more than a half-million service mem¬bers, with 400,000 downloads alone. Ondrasik wanted to show troops that there are plenty of other musicians who appreciate what they’re doing and want to give back.

“I looked at it as an example of people from across the political spectrum coming together to make a statement,” he said, “es¬pecially in the music business, where you wouldn’t think neces¬sarily that that would be the first industry to stand up.”

Ondrasik has spent plenty of time with troops, traveling abroad with the USO and performing in places such as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Hawaii; Guam and Japan. He also has visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other mili¬tary bases where he noticed a common tie among service members: their love of music.

“The great thing about music is people can take it and use it how they want. I’ve talked to many soldiers, and music is im¬portant to them. Whether it’s what they listen to before they go on a mission or when they come back, or on their downtime when they’re trying to reconnect with home.”

Ondrasik included many diverse genres on the disc, persuading record labels to give him hits from artists such as Isaac Hayes, Joe Perry and Roy Orbison.

“I wanted songs people knew from artists that people knew,” he said. “Because as much as this CD is about the music and the songs, it’s equally about the ges¬ture. And I don’t want someone giving me their B sides from a record that came out 10 years ago. I want the hits that are on the radio.”

One of Ondrasik’s singles on the CD, “Freedom Never Cries,” is a powerful ballad to liberty that includes the chorus line, “I never loved the soldier until there was a war.”

“Now that the troops aren’t on the front page anymore, now that they’re not the lead story on every cable channel, I think it’s more important than ever to continue these projects,” he said.

He’s already laying the plans for next year’s CD and continues to be impressed by the mettle of the American military.

“As a general rule, I’m struck by how humble people are,” he said. “For the most part, the attitude is, ‘Hey, I’m just doing my job, I’m not doing anything special. I’m just doing what anybody else would do.’

“And all those statements are not true. Because you’re not just doing a job. ... Most people can’t do what you do!”

The interview

Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik.