How Keith Urban Taught Me the Secret of Life (and How Country Can Save What's Left of the Music Business)
Recently I spent a little time interviewing Keith Urban in Nashville in the middle of spending time with my late great father in hospice in Florida. I already had an advanced copy of Keith's joyful new album Defying Gravity with me then and found myself listening again and again to a gorgeous new Keith song "Standing Right In Front Of You." Even on an album full of uplifting songs of love, that track stood out and somehow helped lift my spirits at the exact time when my spirits really needed any lifting they could get.
That got me thinking about the role of music in our lives, and the fact that especially in trying times like these, there's something to be said for music that makes you happy, or at least reminds you what happiness sounds like. I predict that Defying Gravity will be a smash not only because it's a radiant and accomplished piece of work by a wildly gifted singer-songwriter and guitar slinger, but also because it's music from the heart to the heart at a time when a lot of people out there need that kind of direct, emotional conversation even more than usual.
Even though he is almost annoying handsome, talented and yes, married to the glamorous and gifted Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban is -- I can attest -- a wonderful, soulful gentleman who understands a little about hard times himself. Defying Gravity reflects the fact that he's in a great place now, which is lovely for him, but also his profound sense of gratitude after coming through some of life's challenges, which is a timely reminder for the rest of us.
As Keith told me in Nashville, "Between marriage and sobriety and having a child, it's been an extraordinary gift that I just couldn't have imagined -- or maybe I could have imagined but didn't know how, or when or if. So for those things to come together now is absolutely beautiful. It's allowed me to be present in a way I've never quite been. I was always thinking about tomorrow or the past -- anywhere but here. Even though I made an album called Be Here, I still wasn't every really here. Now I love being present -- I have a lot to be grateful for in the present."
That genuine sense of gratitude is, to my ears, one of the reasons that country music remains in a far better place than the rest of the music world. As a rule, the country music business has always stressed artists honoring their fans -- and remaining connected with them -- more than their rock & roll brethren. When I talk to country artists, I often feel a real sense of appreciation for the people out there who spend their hard earned money and give them a gig in life. For too long, rock has celebrated the distance between the rock star and the rock fan, while country has generally emphasized the common ground.
Okay, so maybe most of us can't look as cool as Keith Urban did playing on the Today Show this morning, but we can still share the music as we attempt to defy gravity ourselves.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I remember stumbling upon a pathetic tribute to Lynard Skinnard on some Country awards show, where each "star" had a sloppy go at a verse of Sweet Home Alabama. I was about to change the channel when Kieth Urban stepped up, kicked in the energy it so needed, sang it in tune and added a blistering guitar solo to seal the deal. It humbled everyone else on stage and the backup band seemed relieved they didn't have to work so hard to keep it together. I became an Urban fan at that moment.
Most music today is just manufactured product, and though Urban can't escape the rules of the business, he is that rare star that can transend the moment, eclipsing the others around them. There are only a few dozen around in any generation. I will leave it to the readers to make their own lists.
Shine on Keith, and try to keep your soul and integrity intact.
For people who like Keith Urban and are thinking of venturing into the fantastic world of Country, I recommend the band Blackhawk.
As a former LA Rocker I can attest to the truth of this too. And the cool thing about it is that even the rock and roll community is improved sometimes by the welcoming attitude of many Nashville artists and songwriters.
Back in the early 90's I would have scoffed at the idea of writing a country song and made all those assumptions about people in 'fly-over' country. Its a luxury of your early 20's to be snotty twit right? But as I grew to learn about songwriting I grew to respect Nashville. I learned from some great Country writers how to really craft a song and keep crafting them day after day even after my life got boring and the rock and roll lifestyle slowed down wasn't feeding me lyric and song ideas anymore.
Then Nashville and LA started to reach out to each other - especially in the songwriting community. And Americana grew in popularity and some of the ridiculous stigma rock snobs, put on Country artists started to wear off.
Now all of us, artists, fans, etc.....need to find a new way to inspire and get our music out there and make a decent living. I hope maybe good souls like Mr. Urban can join the conversation about new music models.
Now, my Mom is maybe heading toward the end of her life and maybe I can find a little solace in Mr. Urban's song too.
http://brightsong.typepad.com
latest song posted "The Flood"
Well said and good luck to you
ps did not mean good luck in a flip way
Thank you for a refreshing read. As a Nashvillian (transplant) and as a songwriter, I cringe when Nashville or country music shows up in more progressive news outlets, since often it's only to mock its excesses of jingoism or lack of originality. Not that these aren't common in country music, but the news is not all bad. It's nice to see someone like Keith Urban recognized not only for his talent, but his humanity.
I like what's been said here about the role of music in our lives; it's making me think about the idea of communication having three parts: speaker intent, message, and listener interpretation. Music, as communication, reflects this: the magic is not only in what the songwriter meant or within the song itself, but also in how the listener hears it.
I'd heard "They Can't Take That Away From Me" many times without paying attention until the morning after my father died, when my mother and I were getting breakfast and that song came on, and the lyrics touched us both and caused us to break down. The song hadn't changed, but my hearing of it had changed forever.
By the way, I'm sorry for the loss of your own father. It's a horrible milestone, and one that few people who haven't lost a parent seem to be truly able to relate to, which can make the experience even lonelier. I hope you have good support around you. Best wishes.
Thank you so much for what you have written.
Amazingly, I put "They Can't Take That Away From Me" on the playlist -- alongside Keith -- that I played for him in hospice while we were just sitting around and spending time together. Sinatra was my father's absolute favorite, and when I mentioned my Dad in the liner notes of Sinatra's "Duets" album, he called me up and said," Thanks, you just paid me back for college." Not a bad deal for me, huh?
Thanks again -- and I'm sorry for your loss too.
David
Thank you David. As a long time fan of Keith Urban, I really appreciate your personal insight to this most talented musician. I would love to meet Keith and be able to converse with him, as you did. His new CD "Defying Gravity" is wonderful. Every song should be a hit. The new Tour begins next month. Looking forward to seeing him as many times as finances will allow. Thanks again for your article.
Thank you mickeygolden
I just say him Friday at the House of Blues in LA, and it was wonderful. Apart from everything else, he's a real guitar hero. Between he and Brad Paisley, country has some very coo young guitar gods.
DW
Funny how just the right person sometime turns up and brings a sense of something that we really need. Sounds like that's what happened to you in coming in contact with Keith Urban during the painful, stressful time you've gone through. And, then ad to the mix some music that connects with the heart - pure serendipity happens. I am so sorry to hear of your personal loss.
You touched on something, David, that I've long believed about music - it's not always the music that gives us a lift when we need it most. Rather, it's the continued ability that we time and again come back to that lets us 'feel' and experience the music. If we let it, it helps us through times that are so heart breakingly sad. After a long illness, my mother passed away and I felt crushed. Then one day, here at home, alone, I put on an old Linda Ronstadt album and the song "The Sweetest Gift" came on. I must have played it ten times, bawling all the way. Suddenly, it hit me - it wasn't the music - heck, that song always made me cry. But, it was the ability to feel and enjoy the music, again.
What would we do without music? I can't even imagine. /TA
Totally well put, Totally
Thanks so much for that.
DW
I caught Keith this morning on Today and this afternoon on Ellen. He is the best live entertainer in country music. It's great to know his personal life is as excellent as is his professional career.
Agreed kjames
DW
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
