Michael Jordan

Album: America Town (2000)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) offers to give up all his worldly possessions and even burn his piano if he could become Michael Jordan. Ondrasik is a huge sports fan, particularly of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team (the Five for Fighting moniker comes from a penalty doled out in hockey), but there are limits to his dedication. In this song, he pokes fun of people who don't have those boundaries, and give up too much of themselves in the worship of sports heroes.
  • Michael Jordan was retired when this song was released, but he was still the most popular athlete in America, having won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was also the subject of a Gatorade advertising campaign featuring a jingle with the refrain "If I could be like Mike," and lyrics about dreaming of being like the superstar.

    Jordan thus made a fitting namesake for this song, as he was the subject of such adulation. He did play again, suiting up for the Washington Wizards from 2001-2003.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.