I’ve been a fan of Keith Urban’s since I saw him playing his heart out in a little bar in Florida in the late 90’s. He was skinny, a bit bashful and a hellova performer. His music was raw and passionate. He was hungry. You could feel it emanating from him.
I didn’t hear anything more about Keith until “But for the Grace of God” came out and it was exciting to think this was that same guy. I watched him grow as an artist…gain popularity and success. I loved that he was different, that he was so truly talented. I loved that he seemed like a regular guy, but his story was one of tenacity to overcome adversity. I loved that he seemed accessible to his fans and truly grateful for their support. In fact, I think it’s because of that long standing admiration that this last couple of years has been so painful to watch.
This uber talented man has been exposed as a womanizer, a drug addict (I thought that was old news), a drunk and a cheater. And the reason we found out about this…well that is all down to the relationship with Nicole Kidman. Who’d have thought that those who warned that this relationship could actually negatively impact his career were right? However, it seems clear to me that if he had not gotten together with NK we would never know about his drinking, drugging and promiscuity. We’d still be innocent admirers of the Keith Urban of old.
When Keith won CMA Male Vocalist and Entertainer Of The Year in 05, he had such career momentum. But instead of taking the “bull by the horns” and getting on with his career, he stopped touring and made his first “official” appearance with NK. That seems to have been for many fans, the first step toward rehab. The press became progressively more vicious toward Keith, he cancelled a show because of voice problems (and though that was likely legitimate, he was seen “canoodling” with NK while he was supposed to be on voice rest), and headlines focused on NK and their relationship, and not on his enormous talent. Keith, who had always been funny and quick in interviews, became cranky. He stopped showing interest in his fans. He started to look stressed and withdrawn to many. This once private man was no longer private. In some cases, the photo ops seemed to be staged. Rumors of a PR contract arose.
The wedding was a spectacle, which was not at all what I’d have expected from Keith. The honeymoon photos did not show two people in love…but showed two people who seemed distant and uncomfortable together. In spite of the reports of ‘happy couple’…Keith looked sullen and withdrawn. His performances during the summer of 06 were spotty. The ‘skeptics’ had predicted that something bad was going on…and they even said that there would be reports of him cheating and possibly doing drugs. Many scoffed at those claims, but we all know what happened in Oct 06.
Despite being balanced and at peace, Keith ended up in rehab … and the stories of one night stands with a porn star and a long standing affair with a party girl emerged. The press had a field day. Keith was portrayed as a drunken, drug addicted cheater and NK…the victim…became the woman who was standing by her man. Of course, she played the sad and injured wife, while going out drinking with friends and continuing to meet work commitments. Rumor has it that she really only visited him 3 times during his 90 day stay. Heck, he had to fly all the way to Australia on Christmas day, in order to spend some of the holidays with his wife of less than six months. For me, that spoke volumes about their relationship.
Keith emerged from rehab spouting gratitude to his wife…after all she had saved him. He has seemed subdued and humorless in many of his interviews. He continues to be cranky at times…on edge…uncomfortable with the press. He’s been inconsistent in his answers…sometimes volunteering very personal information and other times, refusing to discuss very general topics. His frequent tributes to his wife are disturbing.
I personally am not surprised by this behavior. He spent 90 days in rehab. In rehab, I am sure that no stones were left unturned re: the whys of his substance abuse issues and cheating. It is a stressful, life changing experience for anyone who takes it seriously. But I also have to admit to being surprised at some of the things that he’s said since rehab… in fact, I’ve been downright disappointed.
The biggest disappointment to me was the revelation that he’d actually considered not touring in 2007. What happened to the guy to whom music was like breathing? It seemed that NK had taken over his life including his career, and that he was sacrificing his career for the marriage, while NK didn’t make any concessions.
Why did Keith emerge from rehab so apparently changed? I honestly think that he came out of rehab having re-evaluated his life. He knew he screwed up big time…maybe part of the big screw up was getting married when he knew he wasn’t ready to commit to NK. I think he regretted the cheating and likely the drug use. Who knows? But for some reason, he has been trying to convince everyone (possibly most of all, himself) that he is with his once in a lifetime love and that she saved him. Most of the anti NKers are not buying this. Most of us don’t care for NK…find her to be a manipulator in the truest sense of the word.
Because of the changes in Keith, some fans are totally disenchanted. Some can’t get past the fact that he used to project an image of a private man…a barefoot poet of sorts … a man who could be the guy next door but who happens to be the most talented artist out there. Some feel that he’s lied to the fans about who he is and so, he’s a fraud. Others dislike NK for many reasons…her apparent lack of maternal instinct while using her kids for photo ops, her manipulation of the media to project an image of the eternal victim, her choice of highly sexual roles, some with children…and they feel that Keith has been tainted because of this association. Some fans are angry at the changes they see in Keith and some have become “x-fans”.
Without a doubt, Keith’s fan base has begun to erode. His singles aren’t making it to #1. His CD hasn’t sold as briskly as the label expected. He isn’t selling out venues any more. But is Keith’s career a lost cause? I think some fans are gone for good…they couldn’t separate the private man from his music and so, can’t listen to the music anymore because to them, it isn’t honest. For them, his music has been tainted by his marriage and relationship to NK. For some, it isn’t a lost cause. Some are holding out hope that the Keith Urban of old will come back and show the world that he’s more than NK’s loser husband.
I’ve been waiting to see him perform live myself to know whether there is hope. Some fans were reporting that his shows were lack luster…most were reporting great shows. Reviews were almost universally positive. I saw him three times in the last few weeks and I can tell you that they were great shows. They were all sold out. He was funny, interactive, and putting 110% into the performance. That’s all I needed to see.
I could care less if he continues to spout BS about NK. In the end, what does his marriage have to do with his music? Some say that the last CD was terrible so proves he has lost his muse. I didn’t like his LP&TWCT as much as previous albums myself. But the truth is, it wasn’t a complete loss. It has sold nearly 1.5 million copies. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy in 2006. It was not Keith’s usual sound. Many people felt that was NK’s influence. It might have been…or maybe it’s the way his music is evolving. I am holding on for the next album to see what the future holds. The truth is that all artists have some CD’s that are better than others. If he continues to produce the pop sound that predominates on the LP&TWCT CD, I may move on, as I prefer music with a bit more of a rootsy edgy sound. But I’m willing to stick around and see if he is able to produce another Golden Road or Be Here. Imagine the possibilities!
Some don’t like that he sold an image to the public that was not accurate. I suspect that many of the creative people who make the music, art and movies that we enjoy are very different in real life from their public personas. PR teams are paid to create and sustain an image for public consumption. Keith’s team did that successfully for years and now that image has been blown out of the water. He is no different than most musical artists, except he was “exposed” so now we know way too much about the real Keith Urban.
I personally never bought the barefoot poet image…and maybe that’s why I’m not as disappointed as some. I see a very flawed man. A man who has a creative soul but who is immature, insecure and self absorbed. As a result, I believe he isn’t equipped to deal effectively with the strains associated with life in general, and especially life in the limelight. I think he spiraled out of control in the fall of 06, because of the situation he found himself in. I think rehab caused him to reflect on his life, accept the mistakes he made, and put him in a position to try to get his life back on track. I don’t know if this marriage is “real” or for PR purposes. In the end, that doesn’t matter to me if the man creates kick ass music.
If he spouts tributes to NK, for me it’s a non-issue (don’t get me wrong, I don’t like it; it really makes him sound weak). What matters to me the most is that his music is important to him and he needs it. Recently, he seems to indicate that he need his music…loves touring and generally seems more involved in his career. Skeptics who attended concerts as recently as Nashville in December, described Keith as on fire. He was the old Keith. They said he had that sparkle in his eye. That’s all that matters to me.
I consider myself lucky to be able to compartmentalize things as I do. I can be ticked off at him for the BS he spouts in interviews and the way NK makes him look p-whipped. The inconsistencies between what he says and what he does annoy me. But I still see that immense talent shining through … and now he seems to revel in the music. He seems to be on fire. He seems to love performing ….he looks most comfortable on that stage…he’s enjoying his touring mates … appreciating his fans. That’s all I need to hear to give me hope that Keith Urban is coming back. Like I said before, I don’t care who he’s married to. I just want him to be committed to his career and his music.
How about you? Can you get past the private life BS and let him get back to the music?
