John Ondrasik, the platinum-selling, Grammy®-nominated singer and songwriter known more broadly by his performance name, Five for Fighting, has released a new version of his single Can One Man Save the World? and powerful companion music video, featuring the Ukrainian Orchestra. The song, inspired by the courage of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, asks the nation, and the world, to stand up for the core values of freedom and justice.
Watch the incredible video above. Learn more below.
Moved to action that extended beyond songwriting, Ondrasik entered an area that had seen heavy combat shortly after the Russians pulled back from the capital with an American production crew led by Save Our Allies co-founder Nick Palmisciano and filmmaker Hollywood Heard. In coordination with the Ukrainian military, Palmisciano and Heard filmed and documented Ondrasik’s performance with the Ukrainian Orchestra conducted by Victoria X. Proceeds from the single and its companion video will benefit Save Our Allies and further its mission of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“I was honored to perform my new Ukraine tribute song Can One Man Save the World with the Ukrainian Orchestra in the ruins of the Antonov Airport – in front of the Ukrainians’ beloved Mriya, the world’s largest cargo plane that Russia destroyed at the outset of the war,” said Ondrasik. “In sharing this musical collaboration on such hallowed ground, I saw firsthand the fortitude and grace of the Ukrainian people, who whether playing a violin or driving a tank, will not be deterred by Putin’s atrocities and aggressions.”
To achieve his audacious goal of filming a music video in a war zone, Ondrasik enlisted the aid of Save Our Allies (SOA), a direct-response rescue and relief organization formed during the fall of Afghanistan to assist with evacuations from those fleeing the Taliban. Since its founding in August 2021, SOA’s impact has continued in Afghanistan while extending to Ukraine, where they have provided on-the-ground support with precision evacuations, including the rescue of injured Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall, and “last mile” medical and logistics support.
Ondrasik continues to use his gift to bring awareness to the plight of the Ukrainian people and is inspired by the work of Save Our Allies, saying, “Can one man, one person, save the world? Not alone they can’t. Though this song recognizes President Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians, it is equally about each one of us. I believe we all, as free individuals, and free nations, must do our part in ensuring that freedom and liberty is defended when one of our fellow democracies is being destroyed. As the last words of our video state: ‘History Starts Now.’”
I was honored to perform my song “Can One Man Save the World?”, with the valiant Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv. Proceeds of song/video will go to my incredible partners @saveourallies to help the Ukrainian people. Pls watch and share. History Starts Now! https://t.co/JrvU8wuja6 pic.twitter.com/eMKLKwRTmV
— John Ondrasik (@johnondrasik) July 9, 2022
About Save Our Allies
Established in 2021 in direct response to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Save Our Allies was founded by three Special Operations Veterans and the caregiver of a catastrophically wounded Veteran. They have successfully evacuated over 17,000 people from Afghanistan and have been a leading NGO in Ukraine since February 10, 2022, where they have performed precision evacuation, last mile medical care, and logistics. They continue to be a force for good to help the suffering of innocent people anywhere the need arises.
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