| Keith Urban goes but for the grace of God
Imagine being 20 years old, in a band with four number 1 country singles under your belt, and knowing that the only direction your career can take is... up? For most people, hitting those number 1s would be a pinnacle, but if your name were Keith Urban, you’d have just opened the gate at the start of the long road to your dream of living in Nashville, not Australia, and making music in the place and tradition of your American heroes – people like Don Williams, Loretta Lynn and Charlie Pride.
Sitting in the spring sun on the patio at the Ranchman’s during a quick stop in Calgary, blue-eyed Urban looks as though he’d be able to get away with trading on looks, not talent, for a while. But with the number 1 country single in Billboard, and his self-titled, Grammy-nominated debut album riding the top 15, Urban’s proven he has more than looks in his corner. And when he opens his mouth to speak in an intriguing Nashville-smoked Aussie accent and starts talking about Gandhi, it’s obvious that he has no intention of fitting into any moulds, in spite of the fact that as a child he spent endless hours practicing to be just like his American country idols.
"I went on a television talent show before my voice broke, so I was young, 11 or 12.... I remember the judge telling me to stop playing country and western, get into some real music, otherwise I’d end up sounding like Dolly Parton and being absolutely useless, and then he gave me three out of 10. Scathing, but a good point."
And indeed, Urban’s album sounds like a Nashville radio station, with influences from his childhood idols blending in a manner that becomes Urban’s own. When asked whether he’s listened to some artists who don’t trample the beaten path – like Whiskeytown, for example – Urban admits he hasn’t because he isn't a fan of "alt anything."
"I like a little more musicality, structure. I like stuff like John Mellencamp, where it’s just organic, it sounds more rootsy."
But those looser, gritty artists may yet have a chance to weave their influence into Urban’s more mainstream sound, for the singer learned to have an open mind from his laid-back theocratist grandfather. For example, when the president of Urban’s record label suggested that he remove the reference to God on his eventual number 1 single, "But For the Grace of God," Urban re-recorded the song with the word "you" substituted.
"It’s, like, let’s give it a shot, I’ll try it. But it grated so hard against my spirit, that he just thanked me for trying it, and we changed it back, and he got behind it."
Like many artists, Urban has drawn on the end of a long and serious relationship for songwriting inspiration, although he views romantic relationships as almost unhealthy in the context of societal expectations.
"I can write about love, but all kinds of love. Love of a family, higher power, self. Most love songs are just the most terrible co-dependent cries for help you’ve ever heard. You know, ‘I Can't Live (If Living is Without You).’ How about, you know I love you, but if you leave, I’ll be just fine. Why can’t you write that in a song? I think we can gradually get to that point in song, but in my case, trying to get my foot in the door, I can’t be that radical."
Urban credits grandfather for teaching him a healthy, balanced life view.
"I don't think my dad had a really good handle, so he shied away from any beliefs. We were taught there’s no such thing as God or Jesus, religion is bad; it causes wars. He wouldn’t even define himself as atheist, because that was a belief, too. As I got older, my curiosity got me. My granddad was such a passionate musician, a piano player. He was always peaceful, never got stressed out. I was in New Zealand and he got his television fixed, and paid $80, and it was a fuse. I was freaking out, ‘This guy ripped you off!’ ‘Yeah, that’s his problem, not mine. I got my television back.’ It was like Gandhi would have seen it – you only do harm to yourself when you cheat others."
Although he is aware that speaking of a higher power is not comfortably acceptable in our consumerist society, Urban, as in the case with his hit single, is not afraid to walk his talk.
"I think everyone gets a little too stiff and self-righteous about that too. Call it great spirit, universe, whatever you want...." But just because Urban can embrace the divine within himself doesn’t mean he is ready to proselytize.
"Some days, I just feel like I’m gonna fuck up, get up and have a bunch of Guinness." |
