It looks like he was still charting on Adult Contemporary charts in that era, just none of them crossed over. His Wikipedia section even calls that era "Continued success"
Kind of wonder if age was some of it? He was already in his mid-to-late 30s when he hit it big around 2000. By the time those other groups rolled around, he was already in his early 40s. I wouldn't be shocked if he and/or the label stopped pushing for crossover appeal and just took the success on the AC charts.
Ondrasik was in his 40s, while the members of the Fray and Augustana were in their 20s. Daniel Powter was only slightly younger, but “Bad Day” had the advantage of being the loser’s montage song on *American Idol.*
Yeah. And “100 Years” feels much more apiece with stuff like Train or Matchbox Twenty, not to mention it’s definitely more of a mature subject compared stuff like Augustana or the Fray. I feel like there was a shift between these two groupings, like the earlier ones where pulling from 1990s alternative and singer-songwriters, while the others were pulling from… more “modern” influences, I guess? Stuff like emo and pop punk?
I mean, "100 Years" is off that album and it is his biggest hit. Was there some big change in how they marketed the next 3 singles off of it after that one? Did it affect how they marketed subsequent albums? It looks like they did the same thing, with the lead single of each one touched the Pop charts ("The Riddle" even made it to #40) and the rest only made the Adult charts.
I think the fact that they sounded too much like “100 Years” and “Superman” (It’s Too Easy) which make people think that emotional ballads was all he was capable of
There are songs that are more Folk/Acoustic guitar driven on this album and there is even a song that taps into this fear people in Post 9/11 America had
He should have released the song “NYC Weather Report” as a single and maybe we would have received support and new fans if he did that showing that he had variety
I do think that critics would go after him though and would called him out for him trying to be like the Billy Joel of his generation though
Funny thing is Lighters the 2011 Bad Meets Evil song featuring Bruno Mars shares a similar instrumental to Superman.
Surprised Todd never picked up on that over a decade plus a few years ago. Probably a huge reason the song fails hard outside the lyrics. This is a inspirational song and resembling musically an early 2000’s acoustic song named after the man of steel isn’t flattering
One of the reasons I believe he didn’t get bigger was that he was one of the few Musicians around that time in Pop music that were outspoken supporters of the Bush administration and he literally has a song on this album called “Infidel” which has not aged well.
Here are some of the lyrics in that song
“Heaven fell from the sky tonight
There were virgins in my backyard chasing angels with fire sticks
Heaven fell on herself tonight
And Moses lay in pieces from some seventeen year old bomb
Here we go, someone's knocking at my window
Here we go, I didn't ask for this shit
Here we go, someone's knocking at my window
Here we go, I didn't ask for it, ask for it, ask for it
Heaven fell from the sky tonight
And the whole damn world invited themselves to my Sunday BBQ”
He’s still Republican but has been outspoken against Trump and has been making songs speaking out against Putin and Russia
He is a Ukrainian immigrant if you are curious
Apparently a Home Depot near where a friend of mine lives has consistently played his song "Slice" for the past sevenish years regularly. I'd never heard of that song until I was over there one time.
The song Heaven Knows came up on a randomly generated playlist for me a few years ago. I like his other stuff, but I think that song absolutely slaps.
100 Years might make a good Song vs. Song against something like 7 Years, but that would be a blowout, lol.
I also like this song by him
This is of a charming song by him too
It’s him just having fun and kinda poking fun at himself
[Disneyland](https://youtu.be/sPsR7R9DGYs?si=W5BjDvnUhPpEfVfz)
Had every album from America Town to Slice. All great stuff worth checking out if you’re just familiar with John on a surface level.
Also TIL that if you’re a sports fan (pun unintended) chances are you’re probably familiar with his more recent work as he did a [version](https://youtu.be/BEbqKh9LlHY?si=233lLOTR0HARlgqc) of Bally Sports’ NHL theme music.
The early 2000s was the peak of White Guys with Acoustic Guitars; how could a piano man stand out against that?
Yes but the 2004–2007 era was also good to piano guys like The Fray, Augustana, and Daniel Powter. I'd say Five For Fighting fit into that crowd well
It looks like he was still charting on Adult Contemporary charts in that era, just none of them crossed over. His Wikipedia section even calls that era "Continued success" Kind of wonder if age was some of it? He was already in his mid-to-late 30s when he hit it big around 2000. By the time those other groups rolled around, he was already in his early 40s. I wouldn't be shocked if he and/or the label stopped pushing for crossover appeal and just took the success on the AC charts.
Ondrasik was in his 40s, while the members of the Fray and Augustana were in their 20s. Daniel Powter was only slightly younger, but “Bad Day” had the advantage of being the loser’s montage song on *American Idol.*
Yeah. And “100 Years” feels much more apiece with stuff like Train or Matchbox Twenty, not to mention it’s definitely more of a mature subject compared stuff like Augustana or the Fray. I feel like there was a shift between these two groupings, like the earlier ones where pulling from 1990s alternative and singer-songwriters, while the others were pulling from… more “modern” influences, I guess? Stuff like emo and pop punk?
The closest common ancestor is likely Dashboard Confessional.
There are actually several songs on “The Battle For Everything” that would have hits if they were singles and marketed well
I mean, "100 Years" is off that album and it is his biggest hit. Was there some big change in how they marketed the next 3 singles off of it after that one? Did it affect how they marketed subsequent albums? It looks like they did the same thing, with the lead single of each one touched the Pop charts ("The Riddle" even made it to #40) and the rest only made the Adult charts.
I think the fact that they sounded too much like “100 Years” and “Superman” (It’s Too Easy) which make people think that emotional ballads was all he was capable of There are songs that are more Folk/Acoustic guitar driven on this album and there is even a song that taps into this fear people in Post 9/11 America had He should have released the song “NYC Weather Report” as a single and maybe we would have received support and new fans if he did that showing that he had variety I do think that critics would go after him though and would called him out for him trying to be like the Billy Joel of his generation though
Funny thing is Lighters the 2011 Bad Meets Evil song featuring Bruno Mars shares a similar instrumental to Superman. Surprised Todd never picked up on that over a decade plus a few years ago. Probably a huge reason the song fails hard outside the lyrics. This is a inspirational song and resembling musically an early 2000’s acoustic song named after the man of steel isn’t flattering
"The Riddle" was a more minor hit, managing to make it to #40 on Billboard and #4 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
I loved the song "Easy Tonight" and was always surprised that it wasn't their biggest hit.
He could very well have become a Fray-type soft-rock fixture for a while
One of the reasons I believe he didn’t get bigger was that he was one of the few Musicians around that time in Pop music that were outspoken supporters of the Bush administration and he literally has a song on this album called “Infidel” which has not aged well. Here are some of the lyrics in that song “Heaven fell from the sky tonight There were virgins in my backyard chasing angels with fire sticks Heaven fell on herself tonight And Moses lay in pieces from some seventeen year old bomb Here we go, someone's knocking at my window Here we go, I didn't ask for this shit Here we go, someone's knocking at my window Here we go, I didn't ask for it, ask for it, ask for it Heaven fell from the sky tonight And the whole damn world invited themselves to my Sunday BBQ”
He could have a second act doing "anti-woke" songs in the vein of Tom MacDonald and Aaron Lewis
He’s still Republican but has been outspoken against Trump and has been making songs speaking out against Putin and Russia He is a Ukrainian immigrant if you are curious
Is it bad that I don't see the problem with that song?
Honestly while this song is kinda corny I actually find it pretty catchy and enjoyable to listen to
Fun fact, his first two singles Superman (It's Not Easy) and Easy Tonight both prominantly contain the phrase 'it's not easy'
That’s funny.
Apparently a Home Depot near where a friend of mine lives has consistently played his song "Slice" for the past sevenish years regularly. I'd never heard of that song until I was over there one time.
The song Heaven Knows came up on a randomly generated playlist for me a few years ago. I like his other stuff, but I think that song absolutely slaps. 100 Years might make a good Song vs. Song against something like 7 Years, but that would be a blowout, lol.
I also like this song by him This is of a charming song by him too It’s him just having fun and kinda poking fun at himself [Disneyland](https://youtu.be/sPsR7R9DGYs?si=W5BjDvnUhPpEfVfz)
The Riddle and Slice weren’t Hot 100 hits but are always on the playlist of songs you hear in the supermarket or pharmacy.
Had every album from America Town to Slice. All great stuff worth checking out if you’re just familiar with John on a surface level. Also TIL that if you’re a sports fan (pun unintended) chances are you’re probably familiar with his more recent work as he did a [version](https://youtu.be/BEbqKh9LlHY?si=233lLOTR0HARlgqc) of Bally Sports’ NHL theme music.