Saturday, November 27, 2010

A Skeptic's Review of Keith Urban's 'Get Closer"

Keith Urban is a lot of things; musician, performer, media star, celebrity husband, father, son, brother and addict. All of those are important elements in what makes this record work, but it also becomes glaringly obvious that Urban is walking a fine line between perception and reality.

Get Closer is a well crafted record. The musicianship, the production, and the quality of the cover material is all top notch. The reintroduction of typical country instruments such as banjos and mandolins make this record a stronger musical ride than 'Defying Gravity', and not as experimental as 'Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing'. Urban went back to the catalog and looked at what worked. One of the things he missed in that search are the strong lyrics that made both 'Golden Road' and 'Be Here' the diamonds they are. To say that the lyrics on 'Get Closer' are juvenile would be giving them credit where it doesn't belong; that would be a step up; childish is more like it. If only the lyrics complimented the music...

'Put You in A Song' is silly. A 43-year old man with as much experience in life as Urban has had should not be overwhelmed by first love. He is too far removed from being a teen to actually capture that time. Sarah Buxton, who crafted the gorgeous 'Stupid Boy', is a better songwriter than this. Leave the puppy love to Taylor and Justin; they have the audience for that. The rest of the record suffers because of the lyrics, which is sad because songs like Georgia Woods will be great in concert, but won't work for sing-alongs.

'Without You', which was written by someone else but reinterpreted by Urban as a commentary on his current marriage, becomes a hideous show of dependence. Listening to this song makes one wonder if Urban has transferred his chemical dependencies onto his spouse; it is grating. The words to many of the songs indicate that there is in Urban's world the ability to flip the coin from devotion to obsession and dependence. That is depressing because this could have been a good record. 'Shut Out the Lights' has great vocals and could be a big single. Written during the golden era of 2004-2005, it is a lovely song that is mature and thoughtful. The 'Luxury of Knowing' will become an Urban classic. His vocal on this is outstanding and it is about adult topics. Listening to the last two songs makes the rest of the record pale in comparison. Listening to 'Get Closer' makes one wonder what happened to Keith Urban, and what might the future bring?

86 comments:

Hatti said...

I agree with your blog Skeptic. Many of us cannot believe what has happened to this multi talented man. I love SOTL. I also think YGF is very cute and in the right perspective. GW has alot of potential. He has put enough good songs in this CD to tell us he hasn't lost it totally. So for what reason he sunk this CD I have no idea. If it was to promote Moosie Girl then he is a fool!! She is not worth sacrificing his career for!! She would put him in the ground and step on his grave if it would give her an Oscar!!

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bstnactrs said...

Well, lets face it, Keith has never been a great lyricist...most of the best songs on the albums mentioned were co-written w/other people...Ketih writing alone has always been simplistic IMO. His lyrics have always been a bit "juevenille" with a few exceptions...still, they were enjoyable.

So I don't think its the writing - I think its the sound. It is definitely a different sound.

I have to admit that while I like some of the songs on the last 2 albums, I haven't loved most of them right away....they have to grow on me.

rememberwhen said...

FF, I don't think Keith is obsessed with BG at all. If that was the case it wouldn't have take her and his people six months to get him to call. I think this is part of the his job. Keith was hired to keep her in the public eye. If anyone is obsessed it is BG with pr.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
maclen said...

It's plainly clear that orb not only has "dilluted' his image...he's also dilluted his music. Orb is NOT a very good songwriter...he's pedestrian at best. What the latest cd plainly shows that he and Marx can "plunder" the 80's sounds for a few "catchy" jingles. He needs a "studio load" of co-writers to put out a paltry 8 songs for his official cd...plus a few "outtakes" to flesh out a "deluxe" version. And I am not at all moved that the orb is "better than this!" This is a cd he HAD to come up with...and it is lacking in many ways, and I dont see the orb's "position" getting any better in the near future to expect orb to come up with any better quality cd. Some have pondered that orb may offer up another cd next year...if that is true, then expect the same level of lightweight platitudes. Now, as to the quote from last tread...was in Safeway today, and perused the latest issue of People...and IT IS true...orb "rates" kidman #1 over his own kid! Only a douche would publicly "RATE' his family members with a number ranking! Seems orb did catch something from the jackass napalm. But what do you expect from the warped viewpoint of the lalaland mindset. So apparently orb would save the wifey in the event of a sinking ship, evidently...over his helpless 2 year old daughter. THAT IS the message the clueless orb is sending out there...by his own addmission! But you obviously will be that idiotic when your so committed to sniveling...and groveling...and pandering to such an embarrassing and ridiculous degree!

Anonymous said...

Well said maclen!! I absolutely agree.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hatti said...

Well everyone, I don't want to belabor this, but I don't believe this child is his. I don't believe Moosie Girl is the child's mother either. If Moosie Girl could have children she would have had them with TC and not adopt. She would very well have been a lot better off it that were the case. I believe this child was Moosie Girl's brain storm since TC had a child with Katie Moosie Girl couldn't look like she was unable.

I know it's hard to believe but she is obsessed with keeping in pace with the Cruises. I believe this over board jumping on the couch done by KU is exactly that. And especially on Oprah!!!

What KU said in essence is, if it wasn't for Moosie Girl buying herself a baby he wouldn't be known as a father at all. So I guess the money bags comes first before the child. Heck the money comes before anyone and anything for Moosie Girl, now doesn't it.

KU has been overheard talking about the fact that his womanizing was no problem cause he is not able to have children. Amanda with her hours and hours of unprotected sex was another way of saying the guy can't have kids. He also said in an article it would be a miracle if he had a child. People took it as tongue in cheek. Instead of the God's honest truth!!

So all this rubber belly and beating up the paps b/c they took pics of a removable rubber belly look plausible b/c it is all true!!!

Put it in that prospective and his remark is more true to form now isn't it!!!

Then let us go to the prenup that states any child that is acquired in this marriage will be in Moosie Girl's charge totally. She will say where the child will live and what the child will do and KU has no say what so ever. Well he signed that prenup cause he knew there would be no children. He never expected her to swing a deal with someone and put on a big charade. I'm sure that cost her a pretty penny for him to go along with it. I think that was about the time he got all his stuff back.

So my dears this has been an arrangement and still is. Don't look any deeper then the surface that really is where the truth lies.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hatti said...

FF what I am saying is that he may feel affection for the child. But he is suppose to put the obsessive adoration on his famous trying to win an Oscar wife. It has nothing to do with this child. Neither of them understand what it means to be a parent. They have people that take care of that child! They are not biological parents they are not parents!! So what he said was not anything major to a guy that has a Photo op kid!!!

FF I understand to you this is major. But how many celebs have you heard talk about their kids or are interviewed about their kids. Usually they wave and over. Only the phoney do this.

You would have no idea what Tim and Faith feel about their kids or Alan Jackson any of the others. People tell interviewers no personal stuff just the music and my career that's it!! No not these two. All this is such crap.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A440 said...

FWIW, he's not the only one who does that. Several years ago, my local paper ran the column of John Rosemond, a conservative family therapist who said that in a marriage, children are of secondary importance. The most important thing, to each partner, was the other partner. Mom and Dad come first with each other, above any children.

Funny, but in my opinion, I don't think Keith places Sunday second because he's a right-winger. He does this because, imo, he sees her as an interloper. Remember at the very beginning of the marriage how he wanted lots of time with Nic alone? Nic said in an interview that he wanted a good long time of bonding with her before they made any big moves or changes. He wanted her all to himself. She, however, wanted a prop child.

Remember the "Keith knows I want a chlld, and he's getting there slowly" statement? Well, apparently Her Ladyship simply moved along at her own pace, leaving Keith to cross his fingers that the Clomid wouldn't work. (By one account, it did rather quickly, in fact.)

But as I mentioned above, putting kids second is the belief of many faith-based and conservative parents. Keith is hardly alone in his actions.

Hatti said...

There again 440 who talks like that. What other celeb has ever brought out all that crap. Even the Travoltas at the age they are did not go indepth about what they had to to to have this baby.

But if you really can't have children and you want to build a lie then you start out ( I guess) with the most outlandish crap and build from there.


I understand how people feel about his comment. But if this was real in any way, shape, or form we would hear a normal saying like. (Yeah we're a team we all work together Sunday makes us a three some.) They are both number one in my book!

I would suggest that you remember where KU comes from. They are still of the impression the bloke wear the daks in the family!! And next is the wife/Mum then the biters!! Now there you go maties. I really think your over exaggerating this.

In my generation the Dad was always no.1 he was the bread winner. I raised my kids the same way. Dad was a good Dad and numero uno!! But of course we did everything together including suffer when times were hard!!!!

My thing in this is not the child but their impression that we are all stupid and gullable, all the drama, the rubber bellies, getting people beat up and the lies for all of it!! I am a bit more outraged by that then this stupid sentence that Moosie Girl wanted said!!!

It is all a charade the funny part is? They have pulled this off without being challenged for five years. How? She has a very powerful PR crew and Rupert Murdoch!!!

hoosierlady said...

The idea regarding the order of importance by Biblical standards:

God
Spouse
children

because if you have God as your head, live by Godly principles, then your marriage will be strong, if your marriage is strong, then your family is strong, if your family is strong, then your children are strong.

You have to admit, it makes sense.

maclen said...

mikki said...
"Well said maclen!! I absolutely agree."

Yes, mikki, by the time this cd fizzles away...the orb will have spewed the most embarrassingly gushing tripe that will get sooo tired by the time he bothers to go live in support of this weak cd!

Fading Fan said...
"Maclen, I will be curious to know how his devoted fans excuse away his ranking of the number 2 spot for that little girl. The subject will either be avoided, or they will be making A-holes out of themselves trying to defend him."

Well, Fading Fan, I figure with the monkey site having been shut down to prying and mocking eyes...they most assurdly will simply ignore it and simply pander to their dellusional little rantings on his "frosted highlights!"

Hatti said...

Yes hoosierlady, just as long as you know who God really is!! In this case does Moosie Girl really know?? ((giggles)) I got the feeling she is telling KU just why SHE is !!!

Tara said...

I don't think it has anything to do with god or being conservative. Keith Urban isn't a conservative nor is he that attached to god except when it benefits his pocketbook.

I doubt he spends much time with his daughter except perhaps as a once in awhile playmate.

This putting Kidman on a thrown is what is so disconcerting. No one can live up to those expectations and while that may be part of the plan a major fall on his part will have to happen in order to create that balance that he is so fond of talking about.

A440 said...

I wonder if Nic returns the favor and puts Keith first in this scenario. Somehow I get the feeling that Nic puts Nic first.

Urban Myths said...

http://bit.ly/iiGxYk

OFFSTAGE: Keith Urban's Intervention
November 29, 2010;
Written by Alison Bonaguro

Keith Urban fans all know he went to rehab four years ago. But Monday (Nov. 29), when Oprah Winfrey asked Urban about his substance abuse, she asked him specifically, "What was the substance?" He replied, "Everything. Alcohol and cocaine, predominantly."

Then he talked candidly, more so than I've ever seen him do (and do I love Winfrey for her ability to make that happen), about how his wife Nicole Kidman saved him with an intervention. He said he had just gone off the rails, and then, Nic saved him. "That's the point right there where she really should've just walked. I'm just so glad she didn't," he said, with a lump in his throat. "She made a decision to turn around and initiate, ultimately, this intervention. And it was done in such a way that the love in that room at that moment was just right, and I was like, 'Put the cuffs on, let's go.'

He went on to describe the intervention, saying, "It was Nic and a small group of people I'm close to in Nashville. To see love in action to that degree -- at that time in that way -- I'd never experienced anything like that. And all the rest of it is very, very, very personal. I was actually set to go and play a show the next night, and I just said, 'I don't want to do anything but go.'" He left that night. That's the power of an intervention from the people who love you the most.

Tara said...

I guess somewhere someone can find the clip he made for his fans when he supposedly first left rehab in Jan 07 and compare it to what he says on Oprah.

Hatti said...

Oh please Tara that's like comparing an Elephant with an Albino Giraffe can't do it.

This new bucket will never hold water!! But it's HIS new bucket it's just got a lot of holes in it!! ((giggles)))))))

Unknown said...

I just watched Keith's interview with Oprah. Either he is a damn good actor or he really is in love.

& like I said before, he aint an actor. He's a singer.

Watch the interview. Pretty convincing if he's actually lying.

Anonymous said...

Funny, as I remember it, it was a phone call from NK telling Keith that he either go to rehab or the marriage was over. Thats the way it was reported in the media. She wasn't even in the country when she confronted him.

maclen said...

Urban Myths said...
"http://bit.ly/iiGxYk

OFFSTAGE: Keith Urban's Intervention..."

...and the "PR BS" continues to roll on with no shame or embarrassement...

...and Tara..apparently that video is no longer found at the ivillage page link at splash...

http://www.ivillage.com/keith-urban-rehab-0/1-a-24130


Keith Urban Talks Rehab
Lindsey Unterberger ON Jan 22, 2007

"I admit, I have a big soft spot for country singers. So, I found the latest video message Keith Urban left on his website particularly touching. He talks about rehab, why he stayed so long and what life was like before he got help:

"What it was, was a lot of small things that were happening in my life, and a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery, and they were making my life unmanageable," he says.


http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20046393,00.html

Keith Urban: Rehab Saved My Marriage
By Liz Corcoran
Monday July 16, 2007

"Urban terms his time off as crucial, and credits wife Nicole Kidman, 40, as the one who "really took the reins" and steered him towards rehab.

"My wife was away," he says about events that led up to his seeking treatment. "She hadn't really been away before, and it came as a shock to me to be alone and not prepared for it; alone with this thing that I had, this big monkey on my back."

He adds, "Not going in would have cost me my career at the very least, and my marriage would have been gone, anyway. That real cleansing and surrendering everything is what was really needed for me. I realized, 'This is the crossroads of my life. If I want a life, this is the time to take charge."

... funny...no mention of a kidman "intervention"...just...."THAT WERE TELLING ME"...MY WIFE WAS AWAY"..."I WAS ALONE" and "I REALIZED" Boy, it was pretty lame of orb to take all the credit 3 years ago!

Hatti said...

It looked to me like he was definitely remembering a real relationship that was back when!!

When he read that note it seemed like it wasn't something he felt deeply about or was that familiar with!!

No I don't believe one word. This is a promo for a CD and another run for an Oscar!!!!

Hatti said...

Thanks maclen, that's how I remember it. I guess he woke up one morning with a script in his hand!!

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
maclen said...

...past posted...

...and the evidence keeps coming...

http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/about7882.html

Keith Urban shares rehab story with fans
Reuters
Monday, January 22, 2007

"Urban, who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, said there was "no big, cataclysmic event" that triggered his rehab stint. Rather, it was "a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery, and they were making my life unmanageable."

...and once again, that "reality" is confirmed by the press release to flak, people.com...

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062604,00.html

"So why did the country star, who first went to rehab in 1998 to treat a cocaine addiction, seek help in the first place? In a video message taped Jan. 18 and posted on his Web site (www.keithurban.net), Urban, who married Kidman last June, says there was no particular event that got him to seek help but rather a series of signs that perhaps he needed a refresher course in sobriety."

Again, NO mention of a "intervention"...because it didnt happen. It is simply more fabricated PR BS.

hoosierlady said...

Way to go Maclen, caught them both bold face.

That's why we're here, gals.

Anonymous said...

NK thinks the public is stupid. Changing history every few years to suite her PR needs is typical. Shes done it often enough.

Your right maclen. Its simply more fabricated PR BS.

Unknown said...

OK seriously, I saw NOTHING wrong with him when he was talking about Nicole. I mean he's a naturally shy guy anyways. You're just trying to find faults because you don't want to believe that he honestly could be in love with his WIFE.

And by "no particular event" got him into rehab, I think he meant event as a RESULT from his problem, i.e got drunk beat some dude up, etc. It was mainly that everyone around him saw that he had a problem and they stepped in and told him he needed to take care of it.

What I DID think was weird was Nicole and her random "I love Sunday Rose's little shoulders!" comment. Uhhh...

& I didn't understand why they couldn't be interview TOGETHER.

Guess she's too akward...

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hatti said...

Well FF, I guess they figured no one would remember what really happened that got him into rehab.

I guess no one is suppose to remember that she wasn't around she was out of the country.

I guess no one is suppose to remember that when he got out of rehab his great supporter had a party with alcohol flowing !!

I guess no one is suppose to remember that he said it was alcohol and not drugs that he had to go to rehab to fix!!

I guess no one is suppose to remember that he has never been seen going to or coming from a meeting of anykind.

And I guess we are not suppose to have witnessed him receiving a bottle of Champagne and drinking from it just a few months ago.

So what does this all mean? It means to me that when you start with lies your concealing the truth. And it means to me it is all lies!!!!

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"Way to go Maclen, caught them both bold face.
That's why we're here, gals."

Hatti said...
"Thanks maclen, that's how I remember it. I guess he woke up one morning with a script in his hand!!"



Yes, hoosier and Hatti, and it was NOT that hard! Seems they have NO idea that that kind of stuff stays lingering on the "innertubes"...they probably ponder it out with each other..."Oh, they wont bother to pull out all those back issue of magazines and check the quotes." Naw....I just called ALL the magazines they've ever done interviews with...and had them "Xerox" and send me ALL the pages of quotes!

mikki said...
"NK thinks the public is stupid. Changing history every few years to suite her PR needs is typical. Shes done it often enough.
Your right maclen. Its simply more fabricated PR BS."

Yeah, mikki, and orb is now clearly..."kidman lite"...as in "lite weight"...

maclen said...

Fading Fan said...
"Hatti, I heard something about how even some monkeys are a little confused about the rehab interview compared to what was said in the past, but I'm sure they will find a way to excuse the lies."

I'm really getting the feeling that the monkeymod over at monkeyland got a "heads up" from an orb "brain trust" lackey...that the orb was prepared to shamlessly and pitifully grovel and pander to kidman in this VERY embarrassing manner! So they very quickly...and rather ineptly...shut out their fawnsite to prying and mocking eyes...so as to save themselves that collateral embarrassment! So, how is the new private fawnsite "layout" working for them? For kicks...I just thought I'd do a little..."digging"...and...HA! get a load of monkeyland...from just a few days ago...Nov 25...

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:e3VJ_bk0zkkJ:www.keithurban.net/discussions.html%3Fsort%3Dnew%26pg%3D4+new+layout+monkeyville&hl=en&gl=us&strip=1

"JuliaKUModerator posted...

Negativity!
Enough is Enough! You all have had a week to vent and now its time to get back to supporting Keith and his music, which is what this place is all about! Once I get the proper tools in place, those threads and posts will be deleted and the boards will be cleaned up. This is NOT the place to be negative. On another note, there is some bullying going on here and this will not be tolerated. You can not publicly or privately threaten members or "go off" on them. Several have been brought to my attention in the past few days (still going through more emails). If this continues, then your privledges to this site will be taken away and your membership fee will be refunded. There are only TWO moderators here, Katie and myself and I have an open email policy, if you are unhappy or someone is making you uncomfortable please email me personally and that will be dealt with promptly.This is supposed to be an escape, a happy place and as I have said many times no ONE member is more important than the other 90,000, so please lets all get along and support Keith.I really hope this is the last time I have to post on this subject and please consider that you all have been warned that the behavior like this will not be allowed to continue."

So, it seems the monkeys are "reverting" back to their "primative" ways! It's not enough to take their money...and then rip them out of concert tickets with their scalping tickets...or keep them "in the dark" of any info till WAY after the monkeymembers learn of it from themselves at OTHER sites...now they get to "pay" to have the monkeymod threaten to kick them out? Is it any wonder the orb's cd sales have fallen? That the orb's single in falling on the country "fansie requested spins" charts? I'm VERY sure after this laughable debacle...monkeyland "membership" will ALSO laughably fall! 90k members!? NOt many willing to pay for the "fabulous" perks, huh!

A440 said...

People, it is possible for Nic to be out of town when she first becomes aware of a real problem, and then return to Nashville and set up an intervention.

Just because he's not mentioned an intervention before doesn't mean it absolutely didn't happen...it means he's never mentioned it before. He IS allowed to keep some details to himself. Yeah, I find it awfully convenient for Nic now to be given credit for this new and telling detail, but it very well could have happened that way. And nobody in the public is in the position to prove otherwise.

This stuff aside, it pisses me royally for Keith to do his Fawning Servile Lover schtick on TV yet again, and for Her Ladyship to do nothing to give him any credit for his sobriety. If you listen to Keith, he's nowhere in this equation in terms of staying clean and sober. He's just some mindless, empty vessel. A puppet whose strings are pulled by The Great And Wonderous Nic.

In one of his new songs (gee, are we sure Nic didn't secretly write them? She's just so brilliant...) he sings, "I'm nothing, nothing without you."

Frankly, Dude, I'm beginning to believe you.

A440 said...

PS: He's scheduled for Leno and Ellen. Why so late in the game? Is this one last PR push before Team Urban leaves for Australia?

blue sky said...

Thank goodness for sister in laws. I have one that hasn't ever missed an Oprah/Dr. Phil show. Now she has a different impression of Keith in that interview. She saw tension with a smile, and she said a good example is when he is talking about meeting Nic. She said even though he was smiling, there was tension in the face, and then pay attention to his foot. His legs are crossed, but toes on the upper leg are extended and pointed up towards his head. He was tensed up. Your foot naturally hangs down in a relaxed position when you are chilled out.

Then I thought of the subject they were discussing, and in that picture that was released of them meeting at the G'day LA event, wasn't there another gentlemen in the picture with them - some type of ambassador or something? At the time, they gave this man credit for introducing Keith to Nic. From that article, it wasn't Keith that went over on his own and met her.

Tara said...

the time line of events doesn't mesh to have been able to set up an intervention.

why didn't Oprah ask the most basic question?
Nicole didn't you know he was a an addict when you married him? Weren't you aware he was using?
She had to have known and she did NOTHING until he was too public in Nashville. When it would have looked bad for her then actions where taken and she hauled his ass to Betty Ford and not Cummberland where he had been a patient.
Yeah she loved him alright and still does.

Bstnactrs said...

I have to agree with Laura - I saw Keith a couple of years ago and he was miserable - I saw a much different Ketih With Oprah yesterday.

I saw no tension at all - he seemed comfortable even considering the topics and very laid back and yes, he did look Oprah in the eye when speaking about it all - and, he called her "Nic" and not "my wife".

Big difference in him these days. he really does seem happier to me.

I know many don't wanna hear it but, something changed after rehab and whatever happened between these two made this relationship (whatever it was) stronger.

maclen said...

A440 said...
"People, it is possible for Nic to be out of town when she first becomes aware of a real problem, and then return to Nashville and set up an intervention.
Just because he's not mentioned an intervention before doesn't mean it absolutely didn't happen...it means he's never mentioned it before. He IS allowed to keep some details to himself."

That is NOT even the point, A440. My point is...I DONT BELIEVE IT. He NEVER mentioned an "intervention" in the past 3 years...he took ALL the credit for taking the initiative to check into rehab...now he gives kidman ALL the credit. So he was either not truthful about it 3 years ago...or he's not truthful about it now...take your own pick. That IS the point. The main thrust of your argument, "He IS allowed to keep some details to himself."...IS NOT even correct...he DIDNT keep it to himself...I'm not even debating whether he can or not. I'm pointing out he gave two different reasons...and I'm more apt to believe the original..."non" groveling...reason.

Anonymous said...

Bstnactrs, the only change I see is that he seems to have gained some ground in this arrangement since NK's career hit a wall with Australia. Shes been struggling with her career throughout 2009-2010. He finally has something she needs - the PR he provides her at every country awards show, photo ops, etc.

I do think your right, their in this PR game together.

Tara said...

I think it will be to his benefit to have her successful again.

She got nominated for an independent spirit award so the awards race is on
I wonder if Keith owns a lot of suits?

Love the pictures today of the happy couple with the senior Urbans well they were happy after the photographers got them..

Anonymous said...

And there they are today on Just Jared. In Nashville with Keith's parents. NK looking all down to earth right off the farm. Tell me this isn't one big PR campaign to get that oscar nomination.

By the way, Sunday is no where in sight.

Bstnactrs said...

You could be right mikki, who knows what's up with him - all I know is he was never convincing before and I believed it was b/c he was never sincere - I believe he is now - for whatever resons.

The one thing that does really bother me though is the credit going all to her.

I wish he'd credit himself for staying strong - he can be grateful to her all he wants but at the end of the day, he chooses not to abuse a substance...just like he chose to abuse them during their courtship, engagement and beiginning of their marriage. She didn't "save" him back then did she?

Not that she was really the one who saved him anyway but, that's besides the point.

Tara said...

he is no more convincing than one of his songs tells me he loves her

much better actor than he is given credit for

get her an Oscar nomination Santa!

Unknown said...

It does bother me that he does not give himself enough credit. I cant remember who said this, but they were right, it seems like he's never had a good self-image.

& FadingFan, I apologize I must have read it wrong I didn't know that you were asking I thought you were stating. & Yes, I could very well be wrong, as could you and everyone else on here.

Also, HOW in the world could Nicole not know about the problem before their marriage?!! Oprah should have asker her that.

rememberwhen said...

He isn't sincere now. He has just learned to play the game. It took four years, but he learned.

I don't think their relationship is real at all, just pr. You can memorizes any script that is given to you. To me he looked nervous and that stupid smile. When the camera went away it went away.

At the end of the show where BG picks the person that is going to Oz tells it all. Keith called BG baby(Just like everyone else), not Baby Girl. Then Keith covered her eyes so she couldn't see who the name was when she picked. He didn't even touch her, his hand was stiff. Now that is not normal. Most people when they cover someones eyes they love will at least touch them. Why in the world are they still so awkward around each other? They have been married for over 4 years. Then after the name was picked Keith talk to the woman and hugged her twice, and didn't even look over at BG. It was like BG wasn't even there. Funny when the woman came up she chose to stand next to Keith and not BG. I thought she was the big star. LOL

I'm so glad Keith's Mom and Dad came over. It must be hard for Nicole to look older than her own Mother in law. Marienne and Bob looked great.

Hatti said...

I believe that Oprah caved on this one. I think she wants her trip down under to go well and not to have any waves. So she accepted all the baloney and went with the flow.

I'm sorry, I have to disagree with the obsevation that he was at ease. I didn't see at ease, I saw guarded and nervous not sure of what Oprah was going to pile on him.


If it was true that there was all this chemistry in meeting Moosie Girl then why did it take six months and her people meeting his people before there was any contact/contract? Believe me he had no trouble following someone that interested him and persuing it quickly.

What ever the reason for all this. I have to tell you it's a biggie!!!

As far as the rehab? Well we know there is another story to that as well. He wants it like this I guess it's whatever!!

I believe he started with lies to let us who know the truth to hold on to your hats b/c this is going to be a bunch of whoppers!!!

The straw that broke the camel's back for me was stumbling all over that personal note. Please, he sings in front of thousands of people with out so much as a twinge!!

There again another lie!! The blinking, the hand to the face and the focus on Oprah as he answered, to me was not showing a laid back look!!

The only part of that note he dwelled on was to have faith!! I do have faith, faith that something is very rotten in Denmark!! ((giggles))))

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SkepticRN said...

I am going to interject a point of view here that may not be popular. My HUSBAND comes before my children. Why? Because if I put mu children before my marriage, I very well may lose my marriage, and where would the children be? Children deserve a loving environment where the parent place each other first, and then the children. It's called stability in the relationship. While I am no Kidman fan, I have to say that Keith has his priorities straight in that he intends to put Kidman first so that Sunday grows up in a home with two parents. Sounds to me like someone has been taking parenting and relationship classes. All to often in this country the children come first...leading to broken homes as the parents neglect each other and he relationship!

hoosierlady said...

Yes, SkepticRN, the Biblical principle regarding family order is the way to go. IMO putting the children before the parent is a recipie for disaster, leads the kids to believe they can put one parent against the other, etc., united front, iron hand, those kids need to have absolute foundations. Life is HARD. They need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt they have someplace firm to land. Their home needs to be safe, warm, and happy, a place where no one judges or laughs at them, a place where they are accepted and loved just because they are.

But I'm just a country gal from Indiana, what could I possibly know.

Hatti said...

FF, I have a feeling these pics were done like everything else far ahead of time. You know when they knew this was going to happen they were here in Oct I think last year? Well that's close enough don't you think? I will watch GAC tomorrow night if they aren't there then I don't think they were here at this time. Marienne certainly don't look happy to be part of Moosie Girl's photo op!!


SkepticRN,you have to have a relationship to cultivate and nurture. There has to be respect for each other before anyone comes first or second. I stated my feelings in an earlier post so I won't rehash.

I don't believe and never will believe this is a marriage. Moosie Girl uses both KU and Sunday for her PR!! She needs this Oscar nod. She needs this wholesome family look to sell a movie nothing more.

For him to dedicate his CD and put that stupid cover out there besides pouring his script of undying devotion he got paid very well!! It's all business as usual!!!

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
123xyz said...

Hatti the show already aired on the NFL network and Keith's parents were there. His Mom's is seen getting off the plane when it lands in TX right behind Keith. She's also in the car behind him in another shot. Then at the end Keith is in a sky box talking about the show and he goes and sits down to watch the rest of the game. Already in his row are Chuck, his Dad and his Mom. I doubt that these photos were taken today as Keith did have to go to Canada today. I think they were taken yesterday and posted today. The high in Nashville yesterday was 63 degrees. They were dressed appropreiately for that in those photos.

maclen said...

Fading Fan said...
"SkepticRN & Hoosierlady, you are completely missing what I was saying. There are certain aspects where the adults come first and many where the child shoud come first."

Ha!...yes...I would gather, SkepticRN and hoosier...that you DO NOT "explicitly" convey that to your kids...if in fact you do have kids? It is just a ridiculously unnessessary statement to make...out loud...even if it may be what you believe! It's TOO open ended... it leads to too many follow up enquiries...not that I believe orb's "wifey is #1 and my kid is #2" will get any follow up enquiries from the likes of oprah! It is an "open door" to a plethora of, "And what precisely does that mean?' Does he mean, he "loves" kidman more than his kid? Does it mean, as I originally hypothesised, "Would orb save the wifey before the daughter on a sinking ship? And ultimately, an agreement to that self admitted belief comes the question, SkepticRN and hoosier, "If you have more than one child, which would you "rate" first? And even more savagely blunt..."Which child do you love more?" For if you are too "queasy"...or a little "iffy" answering those questions...I have to say your "priciples" are basically rather bogus!

Anonymous said...

FadingFan, NK gets top billing because its her connections that gets the PR out to the media. It IS obvious. All this PR BS is OBVIOUS.

Posters are saying the "family photos" could not have been taken today as it was raining and cold in Nashville. Hatti is right. NK holds on to photos and puts them out when she needs the PR.

maclen said...

So, in the return of "Insomniac Theater 3000"...

...this is funny...

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20101130/keith-urban-edmonton-101130/

Edmonton expecting 15,000 for free Keith Urban concert

"Clegg says the line has definitely grown since then, but she didn't know by how many.
She says the mall expects 15,000 people to come to the concert at the indoor ice rink."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/breakingnews/west-edmonton-mall-expecting-15000-fans-for-free-keith-urban-concert-111068914.html

Keith Urban fans get real close for free show at one of world's largest malls

"EDMONTON - He may have charmed 3,000 Edmonton fans with a free mini-concert at one of the world's largest shopping malls,..."

...well...THEY WERE only off by about...12,000 fans! Evidently, the Mall asked orb's "brain trust" how many to expect! OH, and an "exclusive"...

"Urban plans to tour the album in 2011 with nine stops in Canada — Ottawa, Toronto, London, Ont., Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver."

...HA! It's the return of "Mr. international superstar"
Which then gets us to the orb's struggling single...as previously mentioned...orb's single DID fall back once again on the Country charts...from #13 to #14. His positive spins are basically leveled out at the below 100 marks...80's...70's etc. As to the cd...a rather anemic 162k cds sold in its first week...to a 55% drop in it's second week to 75k cds sold.

http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi

So basically falling out of the top 10 already, to #13 from #7. Why, those are Defying Sales numbers! Is capnash going to be satisfied with those numbers...taking into account the orb's new "non-traditional" contract...where capnash is simply "distributing" the cd, under license from orb and probably NOT getting as big a cut. But on the other hand, they clearly DIDNT spend much on the cd this time in those "collateral" expenses...which would explain why the single is struggling! So, I also read that orb played a free gig at a "taco shack!

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/EntertainmentNews.aspx?Section=2&Id=1491470&SM=1

Keith Urban Performs Free Show In Front Of Dallas Taco Diner

...What...wasnt a Taco Bell available, at least? Yeah, definatly...this KILLER promo not paying much dividens for the orb!

A440 said...

SkepticRN, Keith took parenting and relationship classes at the U of Nicole Kidman. Of course this is in keeping with what she wants.

I stumbled over an old quickie interview of hers last night, from about a year ago. She was asked about her plans. She replied "that her career comes second to her role as a wife and mother."

"Now my priority is my family -- my baby and my husband -- that's non-negotiable."

Baby and husband. In that order.

Which is bullshit, of course. Nic comes first in Nic's world. So, again I ask: where is Keith in this scenario?

Tara said...

The Country Weekly interview was really interesting in that he said
he wants to be a member of the Opry.
Kinda wondering why he isn't.

I also think there is a lot of set up for the future because he stated that when he wants to spend time with Sunday she is never separated from Nicole so he can see both of them at once.
I think a lot of the talk these days from him is based on the reality that he isn't always going to be in that little girls life.

The picture in JJ was apparently shot on Monday but his parents are in Nashville.

Hatti said...

123...Thanks I wasn't sure Marienne and Bob were really here. You know we have had so many shopped pics over these five long years I have to see it with my own eyes. But your's will do nicely.

No these parents are not happy. I don't believe they feel this child is anymore their grandchild then Moosie Girl feels they are owed that title. I believe to Moosie Girl these people are her employee's parents and work for her on occassion!!!

It really is all about her!! But KU is in this for what he needs to be in this for!! ((giggles)) For lack of a better description!! ((giggles)))

Oprah played the game very well also. Is this the person that never bothered with a climbing musician for the past, what? fifteen years? But now??? Now with the worst album he has ever put out she thinks this is soooo wonderful?

To me this was just charade as all of it is. I don't for the life of me understand what the obsession is about!! Why do we have to believe? Why does she feel she has to convince the general public that all this really is truth? For TC? Well he knows it's garbage. For her precious image? Well that's a crock after Birth and a few other movies the image is exactly what it is! So why?

She crammed this whole love and family crap down our throats for her Epidemic Awfulstralia and it didn't work. The only thing she got was the handle (BOP)!! What an air head. Or is it her manager that she pays big bucks to. Is that the air head?

Oh well, AS THE WORM TURNS will just keep getting more insipid as the time goes on. Maybe one of these days the worm will wake up and see the big hole he dug for himself!!!

Hatti said...

maclen....What does that tell us? There is room for fifteen thousand and only three come? And he is big in Canada!

So is he really big in Canada? Or is that just more hype!

I think the only thing real about this is the numbers they don't seem to lie.

hoosierlady said...

No, Maclen, I do not tell my children they are third after God, and my husband.

You are right, it would be ludacris to explain that to a child, or to rank anyone over anyone, it's stupid.

I accidently commented on the Biblical principle, because, to me, it makes sense.

It was just my opinion, I didn't mean to upset the apple cart.


I'm going back to my corner now.

maclen said...

hoosierlady said...
"No, Maclen, I do not tell my children they are third after God, and my husband."

I just thought that it was a slippery slope, hoosier...and again, an unnecessary one at that! And recall the FULL quote...the complete quote is...

"There wouldn't be a Sunny without Nic, because she really saved my life, so my instincts are for Nic to know she's the No. 1 girl on my life and Sunday is No. 2."

...orb DOES flatly state that he believes that kidman...and by clear association..."sunny" KNOW that kidman is #1 and "sunny" is #2! Clearly orb is just pandering for PR purposes...but I dont doubt for a minute that for orb, "sunny" is NOT an immediate priority...and certainly at this moment..."sunny" is NOT the #1 PR priority!

maclen said...

Hatti said...
"maclen....What does that tell us? There is room for fifteen thousand and only three come? And he is big in Canada!
So is he really big in Canada? Or is that just more hype!"

Yeah, numbers dont lie. But of course the debate of those numbers are always an issue. Now I notice over at the E! board neg. and pos. boards they are debating the numbers of that "skating rink" gig. At the negative board they posted the articles I posted over the 15,000 expected numbers and the 3000 reported numbers. Then at the postive thread, they posted another article estimating the number at 12,000! Another commentor even posted a few twitter photos of the "audience"...you can see them here...

http://boards.eonline.com/Insider/Boards/thread.jspa?threadID=72060&start=2010&tstart=0

...now clearly, those twitter photos DO NOT reflect a "12,000" sized audience. You can't tell from them. NOw here is another article with photos of the show's site...

http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1319745

Urban fever hits W.E.M.

"An estimated 1,000 people were lined up as of 3:00pm, three hours before the start of the show in the Ice Palace at WEM."

...they also qoute the "15,000 people expected from Clegg, and below that they have a photo of the ENTIRE early 1000 people. Now the size of that skating rink is 190' by 85'...and as you can clearly see...that early crowd of about 1000 people fills about a 3rd of that rink. It is very hard to imagine ANNOTHER 11,000 people being ablt to fit into that place...even with those upper floor sections. So basically, the 3000 people audience IS more than likely!

Hatti said...

You know maclen, the pumped up numbers give you the impression he still has a large fan base. But this was a free bee he should have had ten thousand pushing to get in !! This is Canada he is big here, I presume.

So what do you see for his up coming tour?

Unknown said...

"Actress Nicole Kidman and her country music singer husband Keith Urban have proven themselves to be Australia's entertainment power couple, with both making the top 10 in BRW's 2010 list of the nation's highest-earning entertainers.

With earnings of $20 million, Urban retained his No5 position, while Kidman dropped slightly from the ninth spot to No10 after making $9.6 million this year."

Hmm...

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blue sky said...

Here is something else to think about when talking about the Edmonton shopping mall - it is MASSIVE. The number of people that go there in a day can equal a metropolitan city, AND let's add this into the equation - what time of year is it right now - THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON! I went shopping today - on a weekday - just like the free show, and it was nuts. People everywhere! So the majority of the people in attendance were just your average Joes holiday shopping, and they just happen upon a free show.

Hatti said...

Yes Laura she spent more than 9.6 to keep her spot and still slid. They both will continue to slide. How much money is she willing to spend to keep looking like the Aussie Power Couple that was never trademarked good thing it really is a good chuckle!!

She thought that power couple was going to have a different guy attached to it, but she had to settle for a country crooner!! ((giggles))))

maclen said...

Hatti said...
"You know maclen, the pumped up numbers give you the impression he still has a large fan base. But this was a free bee he should have had ten thousand pushing to get in !! This is Canada he is big here, I presume.
So what do you see for his up coming tour?"

Yes Hattie, it's all the PR game. Put out the HIGH expected number, hoping it will simply stick. Then you get ALL the varying numbers...10,000...another article quoting 8000....

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/11/30/keith-urban-tour.html

...and of course the more likely 3000. It's all hype...and so are the "expected" numbers.
Now as to orb's upcoming tour...you may not have been around when I was posting orb's tour numbers last year. Pollstar.com post monthy updated of performers tours and at the end of the year, they posted the final grosses and averages for ticket prices, total attendances to the tour...etc. SO here is the end of year tallies...

http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/31/703577.aspx

...you can see all the averages by downloading the pdf file in the article...so I looked at the final grosses for chesney, paisley and the orb...here is how it looked...

Chesney final tour gross came in #6 with $71mil...average ticket price was $69...total tickets sold was 1 mill...52 shows.

Paisly's final numbers were #22 with $35mil grossed...average ticket price was $42...total tickets 835k...66 shows.

orb's final numbers were at #16 with $43mil grossed...average ticket price $63...total tickets sold 712k...64 shows.

Now all numbers pretty impressive, right...but relatively...they tell you how they stack up against each other...,and orb DOESNT compare TOO favorably to chesney and paisly. If you notice, chesney played 12 LESS shows than orb...but chesney almost grossed twice as much as orb...AND their average ticket prices were VERY similar. Chesney, again with 12 LESS shows, sold more tickets than orb...again TWICE as many...1.4 mil for chesney...only 675k for orb. Now, orb compared to paisly, orb and paisley played about the same amount of shows...orb's 64 shows to paisley's 66 shows...BUT orb ONLY grossed $7000 more than paisley...BUT Paisly's average ticket prices were about one third of orb's ticket prices...paisley's $42 to orb's $63...so in other words...if paisley HAD charged the $63 dollars that orb was charging, paisley WOULD certainly had grossed more than orb! And of course, paisley also sold MORE tickets than orb...paisley's 835k total tickets sold to orb's 675k sold! So, again both chesney and paisley each sold more tickets than orb did in their last tours.

Choice said...

With Keith appearing on Oprah this week, and again in a fortnight when the Oprah road show hits town, you can guarantee he is not just doing it to plug his new album. It is to plug a person too. Time to rave about Nic again, and help her in her Oscar race:
http://nicole-kidman-journey.blogspot.com/2010/12/keith-bares-it-all-on-oprah.html

Tara said...

A Grammy nomination he got. And I am happy because I do like the song a lot.

Lainey is interesting today am I wrong in thinking that she is moving to the dark side with many of us about the state of the Urban- Kidman marriage?

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LindaMarie said...

I have some serious issues with that sickening lovefest on Oprah. For starters it was not an instant attraction, if it was he would have called her immediately instead of waiting six months and if I remember correctly he was involved with someone else and he told a radio show host he thought Kidman to be attached or engaged at the time so he didn't chat with her.

Now it comes out he was addicted to drugs. Hello, I could have told him that! And his silly wife was in another country and did not stage an intervention. He was in dire straits when found and did not plan two weeks in advance to attend rehab. If you are that bad, they put you in a hospital if a bed at a rehab facility is not available right then and there. They don't let you walk around with a serious habit for two weeks. And he planned on nothing if his band was in CT waiting for him to show. Mohegan Sun cancelled the show the first thing in the morning the day of the show stating illness. He checked into somewhere on that day.

I don't believe he ever went to the BFC. You don't go to rehab and then take a "leave" to visit your wife for the holidays across the world. You leave, you start over. Your family comes to visit you, if they are allowed to. I don't believe he went to rehab because if he did, Kidman would not be his savior.

Something happened to him and it was rehab, BRC or KFC - I think he ended up at COS for three months. Brainwashing can't be done in 30 days. The man is a liar.

The end.

A440 said...

Lainey may be looking at the dark side of the KUNK marriage, but Keith is still heading toward the light.

And what was Nicole thinking of with that overly tight black dress? Does she need an OB/Gyn or simply an introduction to Spanx?

I prefer to think it's not a pregnancy I'm looking at as much as it's one cheese platter too many.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blue sky said...

Or she wants to stir up the pregnancy rumors again!

Tara said...

Linda- what you are saying is what I heard at the time. He was not in a state to make decisions and Kidman wasn't there. She later took control.

I do not think he was in a COS facility. I think Kidman made her deal with them and they left her alone. Betty Ford?? I have always wondered about because the shots of Keith were the first shots of ANY celebrity (including Liza and Liz who were much bigger names) there. I do think he was in an institution and he had the riot act read to him. Betty Ford or not
what happened? The Amanda stories broke. See what can happen if you don't play my game Keith.

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hatti said...

Truthfully Tara, If they actually filled out a marriage license and actually are married then it really isn't legal. If he was so inebriated and as well as being under the influence of illegal substances he was incapable of making a conscious decision!! Then the marriage bureau and Father Talk A Lot should not have continued either ceremony!!

Fading Fan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
F.I.N.E said...

Here's another auction to watch: a KU signed acoustic guitar.

His "savior" Nick better get busy bidding to protect her phony reputation of being so popular.

Or they can go head to head like they did on the Waylon guitar and make it look real good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MC-Keith-Urban-Signed-Breedlove-Acoustic-Elec-Guitar-/360322359412?pt=Guitar&hash=item53e4e2e074