Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik reimagines 'Superman' to honor Israeli hostages

Musician John Ondrasik, the voice behind Five for Fighting, has released a powerful new version of his iconic hit “Superman”—this time, with a profound message. The reimagined track is dedicated to the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and aims to raise global awareness and empathy for their continued plight.

In a recent interview on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Ondrasik passionately discussed the motivation behind this emotional musical tribute.

“I am not Jewish,” Ondrasik clarified early in the conversation. “One doesn’t have to be Jewish to condemn the evil that is Hamas. One merely needs to be human, have a heart, and a soul. I’m honored to support the families and the hostages.”

Ondrasik, known for heartfelt, soul-stirring songs, has long used his music to respond to moments of tragedy and resilience. “Superman” originally resonated as an anthem of healing after 9/11, and now, with its re-release, it serves as a rallying cry for the hostages still held in Gaza. 

The inspiration for this new version came directly from the family of Alon Ohel, a hostage held in Gaza for over 550 days. “Alon is a fantastic piano player,” Ondrasik explained. “His family reached out to me asking about a musical collaboration. When they sent me a picture of Alon as a toddler wearing his Superman jammies, it became clear this was the right song.”

In addition to his work on this project, Ondrasik previously released “OK (We Are Not OK),” another song reflecting on the trauma experienced by Israelis after October 7th.

Reflecting on the emotional toll of meeting hostage families during a trip to Israel, Ondrasik said, “I had my son with me, he's 24-years-old, the same age as many of the hostages. I kept imagining what if it was him. It is an outrage of humanity that we’re still here, 17 months later, and these hostages are still in Gaza.”

Silence from some of the music and entertainment industry on the subject hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ondrasik. While he acknowledges private support from some peers, he was openly critical of those who have remained quiet.

"Silence is complicity,” he said bluntly. “Imagine a world on October 8th if Bono, Springsteen, and Barbara Streisand all came out supporting Israel and calling for the release of the hostages. I think we’d be in a different place.”

Despite facing online vitriol and threats, Ondrasik remains committed. “Music has a way of cutting through the noise and humanizing these people,” he said. “It's not political, it's not religious—it’s moral. And we need to get them home.”

Ondrasik, optimistic, ended with a message to the Jewish community and to all who support bringing the hostages home: “People of sane character and moral compassion love you, support you, and we will be with you through this whole thing.”

The new rendition of “Superman” is now available on all major music platforms, with the accompanying video streaming on social media.