World (Five for Fighting song)
Encyclopedia
"World" is the title of a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Five for Fighting
. It was released in November 2006 as the second single from the album
Two Lights
. It reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling the song "admittedly more abstract" but the average listener will pick out certain lines and find a relatable message. He goes on to say that "alongside, the piano-driven, orchestrated melody is his most captivating yet lush and instantly memorable."
's nuclear program. It was directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.
to promote their Wednesday night, post-apocalyptic drama Jericho
. The video consisted of scenes from the first half of the season edited together. The song has also been used on The History Channel
in a promotional montage for the network. PBS also used the song during the first episode of the documentary series Carrier
. Most recently, this song has appeared in a commercial for Sears, featuring rapper LL Cool J, actress/singer Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical, and Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. World has also been used by Autism Speaks
, and several other group supporters, as a theme to promote awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The song has been featured in the organization's video's as well as several fan made video's promoting the cause.
Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting is the stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. He is best known for his piano-based rock, such as the Top 40 songs "Superman " , "100 Years" , and "The Riddle" .-Early years:...
. It was released in November 2006 as the second single from the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Two Lights
Two Lights (album)
Two Lights is the fourth album from the piano rock artist Five for Fighting. The first single is titled "The Riddle". The song was released on June 14, 2006, and the album was released on August 1, 2006.-Track listing:# "Freedom Never Cries" – 4:22...
. It reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart.
Content
"World" is a wistfully upbeat, piano-driven melody that, like his other singles, paints vivid pictures of human life driven with deep emotion. The song's lyrics are notably more cryptic than in previous singles, but are driven by the chorus hooks, "What kind of world do you want?" and "Be careful what you wish for, history starts now."Critical reception
Chuck Taylor, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling the song "admittedly more abstract" but the average listener will pick out certain lines and find a relatable message. He goes on to say that "alongside, the piano-driven, orchestrated melody is his most captivating yet lush and instantly memorable."
Music video
The music video for "World" features aspects of the bright side of life including children, marriage and fireworks. There are also references that go with the lyrics including a brief image of a mushroom cloud in a cup of coffee, with a newspaper's headline featuring North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
's nuclear program. It was directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson.
In popular culture
A separate music video for the song was made by the U.S. television network CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
to promote their Wednesday night, post-apocalyptic drama Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
. The video consisted of scenes from the first half of the season edited together. The song has also been used on The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
in a promotional montage for the network. PBS also used the song during the first episode of the documentary series Carrier
Carrier (documentary)
Carrier is an Emmy Award-winning 10-hour documentary television series about a six-month deployment of a United States Navy aircraft carrier in 2005 from the United States to the Middle East and back...
. Most recently, this song has appeared in a commercial for Sears, featuring rapper LL Cool J, actress/singer Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical, and Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. World has also been used by Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, and by his wife Suzanne, a...
, and several other group supporters, as a theme to promote awareness for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The song has been featured in the organization's video's as well as several fan made video's promoting the cause.
Chart performance
| Chart (2006-2007) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 14 |