It appears that Mr. Urban is concentrating on his career again, thanks be to God. Reports are coming in from long time fans that they are finding that special connection with him again. He’s not phoning in the shows. He’s reaching out to the fans, making the shows special, making them remember why they are fans. Even those that have been critical of his actions over the last two years are saying he should be in the running for Entertainer of the Year. The complaints are unimportant in the overall scheme, i.e., one song is in the wrong place in the show; he’s not changing up the set list as promised; etc. The chitchat about “the wife” has been reduced to just dedicating a song to her. The less said about her, the better - actually nothing at all said about her would be ideal, but apparently he thinks she “saved” him. Now if his interviews would be just about the music and the shows, we’d be fine. But, as long as he is married to the Queen of Oz, she will have to be mentioned.
The newspaper reviews have been excellent. There was even one recently that didn’t mention his wife! Imagine that! It was all about the music! One reviewer said his show would have been perfect if he had played more of his older songs. I guess the skeptics aren’t alone in not being crazy about Love Pain. If the record is “a reflection of his marriage”, ‘nuff said.
There are rumors that they are filming a new DVD at some of the recent and upcoming shows; there are rumors that he’s producing a Greatest Hits CD; there are rumors he’s making a new record; there are rumors he’s extending the tour.
These are good rumors, Mr. Urban. These are the rumors that give us hope that you haven’t abandoned your career that was skyrocketing before you met the Washed Up & Washed Out one. Our hope for you is that you can get back to being one of Nashville’s brightest and best. Our hope for you is that Nashville accepts you back. Unfortunately, your credibility with your fans has taken a big hit with your diva behavior of late. That credibility, sadly, will never be reclaimed. Certainly, all relationships have their ups and downs. Hopefully your relationship with your fans is on the way up, and past transgressions will fade. The hurt will always be there, but we’ll be proud of you, nonetheless.
Oh, and Keith... make sure you say “Hi” to your Mum for us. We miss her. You do remember her, right? She used to be “your biggest fan”.
The newspaper reviews have been excellent. There was even one recently that didn’t mention his wife! Imagine that! It was all about the music! One reviewer said his show would have been perfect if he had played more of his older songs. I guess the skeptics aren’t alone in not being crazy about Love Pain. If the record is “a reflection of his marriage”, ‘nuff said.
There are rumors that they are filming a new DVD at some of the recent and upcoming shows; there are rumors that he’s producing a Greatest Hits CD; there are rumors he’s making a new record; there are rumors he’s extending the tour.
These are good rumors, Mr. Urban. These are the rumors that give us hope that you haven’t abandoned your career that was skyrocketing before you met the Washed Up & Washed Out one. Our hope for you is that you can get back to being one of Nashville’s brightest and best. Our hope for you is that Nashville accepts you back. Unfortunately, your credibility with your fans has taken a big hit with your diva behavior of late. That credibility, sadly, will never be reclaimed. Certainly, all relationships have their ups and downs. Hopefully your relationship with your fans is on the way up, and past transgressions will fade. The hurt will always be there, but we’ll be proud of you, nonetheless.
Oh, and Keith... make sure you say “Hi” to your Mum for us. We miss her. You do remember her, right? She used to be “your biggest fan”.
47 comments:
Ok, did I write this blog and forgot the I wrote it! lol
Yes I does appear to be back on track. I've been to a few of the new shows and they have been great!
I am so glad to have him back and it's basically all about the music..unless the misses needs a photo op!
Keith remember this..Keep the misses out of the music..and you'll be just fine
Urban Myths your spot on with your analysis of the entertainer/fan relationship. If he keeps up the hard work and performs the way the long time fans know he can perform then I too think he is well back on his way to the Entertainer of the Year accolades he was getting before this fiasco. As I have stated in previous posts Keith's treatment of the European fans has been terrible. I think he needs to do something major to make amends with the European fan base. While I am happy with the progress Keith has made towards getting his career back on track, I hope the Washed Up/Washed Out one will allow him to have his career.
It looks like only time will tell if urban is truly back on track, personally as well as professionally. And of course it all depends on whether or not he is actually calling the shots. From what he's stated, I'd guess if he did tour again next year it'll be far limited than this year. Probably the US, canada, austalia, of course. and etc. Of course that all depends on whether he releases another cd next year... I dont believe he'd tour without a cd to plug..and I really cant imagine him touring just to make up gigs he canceled this year in the european cities.
Maclean, I think he has to record and release a new cd early next year. I don't think Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing did as well as Capital was counting on it to do. Part of that has to do with the fact that the Album in my opinion is not the same quality as the ones that proceeded it, and part of that has to do with the fact that Keith went into rehab at the same time as the album was being released, so he was unavailable to do the required promotion for the album.
if i can just forget about the man's heinous personal life, i can enjoy his shows. i have attended 2 of them, and he was great!
and i really miss seeing mum
nice blog!
Great Blog!
I miss Mum too.
I'm waiting patiently for the shows in my area and I really hope he brings it!
Great blog! I don't think he will tour without a CD to plug...but why not put out a greatest hits CD along with a new DVD? I think that's where he's heading. But I also hope that he's loving performing enough right now, that he won't want to slow down more than he already is.
If he starts hearing the ETOY buzz...maybe it'll get those competitive juices flowing again. He will need to put in the time, if he is to be even considered for the big awards again.
I have read a few reviews from longtime fans, and while I'm happy they have had a good time I am still skeptical of the man. Sure he's "been there" for a few shows but I am not convinced that he is back. Sorry but 2 years of being an idiot and not caring? I'm not ready to believe it.
I agree with your point, don't believe the lies, a few shows or even one tour will not show how he intends to handle his career in the future. Its one thing if he doesnt release a cd next year and doesnt tour, but what I look to is the canceled gigs, especially the UK, who were canceled twice. In my opinion, if he just ends up shrugging them off by not rescheduling them, he'll show himself to being someone who will not be worthy of those fans adulation. And then you might start to wonder, who will be next?
I think Keith is on a track, just not quite the right one. I don't think Nashville will take very kindly to him if doesn't maintain a residence and spend some quality time there when it comes time to voting for EOTY. I know there are others that don't live there, but they still live in this country.
While I agree that his show is probably far superior to any of the others that are out there as far as the headliners performance goes, I just don't think that the CMA's or ACM's are really ready to go "global".
I tend to agree. I think he's burned some bridges and it will take a commitment to his career, country radio and to Nashville and the fans to get back to where he was in 2005.
I read a post on the CMT board from one of the industry insiders, who posts the billboard singles predictions. He said that Keith had lost favor with some of the radio stations, because of his focus on his "personal life" and so, they weren't putting his songs on air enough to get a #1. No #1's ...less industry support ... likely no awards or certainly no ETOY award ... and that is likely to continue until he shows an interest in his career and does it full time.
This may be his choice, but no one can argue that his marriage and his focus on his wife is hurting his career. NK is giving up NOTHING for him...he's sacrificing his career for her. Hopefully, when this relationship implodes, he can look back with his "old man's eyes" and not regret these decisions.
He is trying to shore up the radio aspect by doing all of these "call-in" interviews from OZ during his mini vaca's. I'm not quite sure if it will be enough though.
As long as he continues in this farce-he will never put his energies into his career full time. I don't think he'll get his former status back from Nashville at this time-he has to earn it, AGAIN.
Too much doublespeak, too much time away.
Urban does seem to be walking a tricky tightrope these days. Battling his addictions... those addictions having hurt the sales of his latest CD. His own stated desire to stay close to his new wife, who herself is on record of saying she doesnt believe a woman can have a successful career and marriage,... so he has doubts about touring, and that doubt shows in his latest erratically scheduled tour. All these doubts are the perfect ingredients for a hollywood marriage failure. So of course, something in that situation is going to have to eventually give. But what?
Somebody mentioned all the radio station phone interviews he's been doing lately. He should learn to not talk about the wife. If the dj's bring it up he needs to change the focus back to the music. Which he hasn't been doing. Who knew that Nicole was such a saint and saved Keith? PLEASE Keith give us a freakin break. Saving you is the last thing she has done.
He needs to show enthusiasm and excitement for the music and tour when talking to the interviewers. Instead it always loses focus. The man sounds like a broken record always mentioning her.
It's pretty established that the far more established celebs demand what can and cannot be asked during interviews. Some interviewers agree to that of course, in order to get the interview. Kidman obviously demands that, as she doesnt talk much about the marriage, and what she does say about it is all generic and superficial. So apparently it is urbans responsiblity to speak of the state of the marriage, although it seems everything is either going great, and when obviously it has not gone great, kidman was able to rectify it, and all is going well. How much of that will continue if it turns out not to be too advantagous to his music career or her movies? I think that will be the ultimate determination of the success or failure of this marriage.
Well I don't see her being successful in the movies anymore. She obviously hasn't made a decent movie in how many years? Keith could possibly still save his career and integrity if he just got rid of the weight pulling him down...HER!
He had so much going for him before her. He was doing it all on his own and could have been at the top of his game. I don't understand why he sold all of that and for what?
I don't believe he's back on track at all.
He's back on track enough to try and save his failing career.
He figures even the "skeptics" are true "bunnies" on the inside.
All he has to do is wear some tight jeans and smile and they come running.
Keith Kidman is a famewhore and everything he does is to further his famewhore ambitions.
Including making it seem that it's "all about the music" again.
And yes....where IS Mom?
Obviously she's the biggest Skeptic of all.
Mum is mum because that's what a mum should do when her son gets married. It just wouldn't be right for her to still be a visible force in his life when he is a married man. How many of you would appreciate your mother-in-law being involved in your life like that? No, I think mum has done the right thing by staying out of the limelight and letting the new woman in Keith's life be his guiding force. Marienne is a very smart woman.
Mum has seemed to vanish completley. Which even in mother-in-law terms is odd. She was always a friendly face you'd see at the shows and was always nice. Now she seems to stay as far away from this trainwreck as some of his fans. I also agree that she may be the biggest "skeptic" of them all. She has every right to think that this "marriage" is as big a sham as the rest of us.
Perhaps she's embarassed that her son sold his soul to the devil for a very small amount of more fame.
don't believe the lies said..
"Perhaps she's embarassed that her son sold his soul to the devil for a very small amount of more fame."
It wouldn't be the first time a parent was not very pleased by their kids choice in spouses. And not every one is impressed or blowed over just because they're a rich and famous celeb, so I certainly wouldnt discount that possiblity.
Everyone seems to forget that mum was around on the 04-05 tour because she was the official babysitter - NOT because she was his best friend and travelling companion. He may have enjoyed having her & her company for that point in his life, but he is a man and having mummy around all the time just didn't make sense. All you skeptics have "romanticized" the time when mum was on tour, like it's still supposed to be like that. So what if mum isn't around, he says he speaks to her and sees her - who are we to question that? We have NO direct knowledge to the contrary. And so what if she doesn't exactly "love" her daughter-in-law, she's not married to her and Marienne is smart enough to know when to step back and let the chips fall where they may. I'm sure she's enjoying her private time and retirement just fine.
The official babysitter on 04 and 05?
And we all see how splendidly THAT worked.
So what if mum isn't around, he says he speaks to her and sees her - who are we to question that? We have NO direct knowledge to the contrary.
Sorry, but some of us do, and the truth is a lot closer to what Maclen said than to what YOU wish.
I doubt Mum was thrilled at being portrayed as an enabler by the lovely Amanda. Didn't she claim Marianne told her it was okay for Keith to drink but not to do drugs? And that she knew all about Keith cheating during the engagement?
And if Mum was that thrilled with Nicole, I think she would have insisted her daughter in law be in the family photos that were at Monkeyville.
I would stay clear of the whole situation, too. I hope she's enjoying Shane's children, she deserves the rest from anxiety.
notbuyingitinnashville said:
"Sorry, but some of us do, and the truth is a lot closer to what Maclen said than to what YOU wish"
----------
Really? You have direct knowledge that he doesn't see or speak to his mother? Is that because you would know his mother and she has told you that? That would be the only way you could have direct knowledge, right? I didn't say hearsay... which is wear most of the skeptic "facts" come from....
Whereas the bunnies seem to think that everything is great and wonderful with Mum & Keith. Without any hard facts, it's just what they want to believe. Just like this "marriage" is true love and not a business arrangement. Get real our fury friends.
Seriously the guy does no wrong in their eyes. I'm still amazed by their thinking.
Oh, I believe he does plenty wrong and I'm not quite as furry as you think. I just have a hard time with "statements of fact" that have nothing to back them up, either in print or from direct knowledge, that's all.
Dontbelieve and Notbuyingit, these so called "bunnies" come here to simply be contrarians... If you say no, they say yes, if you say left, they say right. You're better off not dealing with the twisting and mangling of the thread, whereas, if you offer them opinion, they demand facts, if you offer them facts, they demand proof of authenticity... although over the net, how are you expected to prove anything? Not too rational, these "bunnies".
I think Keith still talks to his mother...but not as much as before. I think their presence (both parents) is much reduced because they are not perceived by NK as "good enough". They are regular people...not royalty, as the Kidmans are.
That was obvious at the wedding, for goodness sakes. The Kidmans had limos and Keith's family got a bus.
NK is now ruling the roost. I don't think she wants Mama & Papa Urban there...even if it is Keith's parents, because they are not quite up to the Kidman standard. She'll tolerate them...but you didn't see them all together on her yacht or at any dinners...it's always NK's family with them.
When you see the Kidman clan out, Keith is there. When you hear of Keith visiting with his family (twice since he's been out of rehab) there is no mention of NK being there and no pictures at all.
In fact, I kind of think that's why Keith's Dad wore the tux he chose for the wedding. I think it was a "take this, Ms. Kidman...how does this fit with your high fashion sense." And I loved it.
I wondered earlier myself, when its urban's birthday, will there be at least a "leaked" story to the press... you know since there were no pics when it was kidman's b-day... of a surprise visit, or some secluded getaway, or of a grand fireworks display? But that is the disadvantage urban has of being the less established celeb. He simply appears to look like the poor soul whos trying, and endlessly looking like hes being led, to keeping himself together.
maclen - if these things were being offered up as "opinions" that would be one thing, but they're not. When I state an opinion about Keith still seeing his parents and we have no direct knowledge to the contrary, I'm told by notbuyingit.. "Sorry, but some of us do" - as in she does have direct knowledge to the contrary. So I asked if she knew Mariennne personally because that would be the place to get the direct knowledge, eh? And what do I get back? Oh, you must be a bunny. Paleeze!
And imahick, your feelings are more in line with where I'm at as a skeptic.
btw - love the new word, contrarian - sounds important. But, I'm not really. I'm more of a skeptic than y'all realize, just maybe not about all the things that get your goats.
I think it's BS to shrug off his moms disappearance because he is now married. Both my spouse and I have our parents active in our lives. No problem. Me thinks the Urbans don't care for whom Keith married and are keeping a distance and letting sonny boy learn from his mistakes.
That's hard for a parent to do, but at his age, it's appropriate.
As for Keith being "back" . I don't buy it. He's always been good at "working" whatever he wants to sell. Just like he's trying hard to sell this marriage as a real love relationship.
Does he even know who he's "working over" any more? It has to be a big blur.
Well, some of us continue to have parents in our daily lives well into our married lives (something my husband was scared to death was going to happen), and then there are those of us that have parents that choose to step back and participate with occassional dinners and phone calls, especially when you don't live in the same town. I see nothing wrong with the senior Urban's being out of the picture, I would actually expect it of parents of a grown man that got married for the first time. There is no reason for mommy to be intervening in anything in her 40 yr old sons life anymore - that would just make him seem less than if you ask me.
I thought it was kind of cute that he brought her to awards shows, but even at that I was beginning to wonder - how old is this guy? I started to have hope for him when he brought Loretta Lynn - at least it wasn't his mother...
Not too rational, these "bunnies".
LMAO!!! so true! this just struck me as hysterical maclen...
oh, and you can debate it til the cows come home, but mum's absence is very telling.....i don't care how old keith is...
Well honestly doublewide, I find the use of "Bunnies" hysterical... doesnt urbans fansite refer to them as monkeys? I probably should backtrack the blogs here and get the complete connotation, but since I dont use it myself really, just in response...
Anyways, mother aside, pertaining to signs urban may be getting back to concentrating on music, and you would think, his fans... I think the damage has been done. And its clear, whether or not you believe his marriage to kidman is to blame for some of it, I think its clear he stumbled. The stint in rehab, getting late in pr for his cd, some bad press for canceled european tours... basically, if you stumble, you have to be perfect from now on to get back to that point, and i dont beleive he can be.
I understand that Mum isn't going on tour with him for months at a time now...he IS married. But you see & hear of many sightings of he and NK with HER family. Her Mum & Dad are often around...going to dinner with them (or just NK); a day on the yacht, going to the award dinner; having dinner at Mum & Dad's; out at a party. It's common. It sounds like NK is very close to her family; Keith used to be close to his family too.
Of course, we don't know for sure, but there is only one known visit of Keith (on his own) to his Mum & Dad's and there was one reported visit on set in Bowen. Other than that...nothing.
Even at Christmas, he had a brief visit with his parents and I found it odd that the Urbans stayed in a hotel. When my in laws are in town, they stay with us...I welcome them into my home as I consider them part of MY / OUR family. Doesn't NK have a guest room at her Darlingford Home that she and TC owned together? Very strange as far as I'm concerned.
I think the Urban's just aren't upscale enough for NK...so if Keith hopes to maintain a relationship it will be him doing so...and it better not interfere with the two week rule.
I might have to agree with imahick - the Urban's are just not as upscale as NK would like. Maybe after her and Keith get that farm and that goat she wants to milk she will have a better understanding of how Keith actually grew up and maybe then she can welcome the Urban's into her home (just not the one she has in Darlington).
Although prior to the marriage there was an awful lot of togetherness with NK and Marienne, they were spotted on many occassions. What happened?
Although prior to the marriage there was an awful lot of togetherness with NK and Marienne, they were spotted on many occassions. What happened?
maybe mum and dad didn't think the idiot would actually marry her. and of course, they had to make the engagement look all lovey dovey hunkey dorey....and i know of one pic of mum and NK that looked to be photoshopped. NK was on her cellphone.
and maclen, yes his fans are called monkeys....i heard keith in an interview say that he asked someone to create a type of logo for him, and the monkey logo is what they came up with....
Is that so, doublewide? Well it did fit in with my joking about them seeing no evil, hearing no evil and speaking no evil, on the monkeyville board about the canceled tour dates....
Basically, kidman just wanted a trophy husband...with the added bonus of urban being a good fixer uper. If he can keep himself together, she'll get the credit, which he so willingly gives her already. It wouldnt have been worth it to her if their wasn't a degree of tabloid fodder in the mix... she'd be getting even less attention than her movies, and that was the point, I think.
i had a friend yesterday (neither a fan of keith or NK) show me one of the latest articles in People mag. she said "what the hey" why does he credit HER with saving him? it sounds like he had nothing whatsoever to do with his rehab. i said "bingo" for the famewhore....makes me sick.
very good observations maclen
Thanks doublewide, so are yours... Back to the original point of whether urban is back on track? Well only time will tell, of course.... and going by what is a fact, since his tour is still ongoing, and just going till oct...(Id like to point out, since the oct dates were in fact canceled, or has been argued, "postponed", that is already guaranteeing a monetary loss of revenue... so not as successful a tour as it should be!...) but I'm beginning to ramble... the only fact I can point out is that Urban's cd sales are lower for his latest cd than his last... so he needs to get back on track.
Keith has admitted that he lost his "slot" in country music. He's not a disaster, by any means, but he failed to take advantage of the momentum he had after winning ETOY in 05 and the Grammy in 06, and he's been overtaken by others who are working hard to make their marks. (Rascal Flats, Brad Paisley etc.) Can he recover? Who knows.
Clearly, he hasn't been able to get radio to play his songs enough to get a #1 since 2005. It sounds like ticket sales for his shows are less brisk than in the past. I don't think it's desperate, but he isn't selling out venues, like he used to. Album sales are down, mind you, CD's aren't selling like they did in the past, so it's hard to make the comparison between LPAWCT and BH.
Either way, to prevent this slow slide downward, he has to have a presence in North American country music industry. He did one week of promotion for this album in Feb. and nothing since except about 15 radio interviews ... and those were phone ins from Australia, while his beautiful beautiful princess clanked dishes and served him banana bread. He didn't even show up for the country awards or the CMA music fest.
If he wants to bring the focus back to his music, he needs to stop referring to her. He needs to show up in some studios for interviews. He needs to do some major TV shows (Leno, Letterman, Ellen, Late shows, etc.) He turned down a spot on Leno in June, because he would have had to stay 2 extra days in North America and I suspect his beautiful beautiful princess didn't want him on his own in LA for two days.
I guess if he is satisfied slowly losing his status in country music, that's fine. But the truth is, I think it WILL bother him and at some point, he's going to start resenting that he is sacrificing HIS career for his BBP, while she is making absolutely no sacrifice or concession in her career for the marriage. That will wear thin, I think.
I think that if you put out a good cd people will buy it. Regardless of the cd sales trend. It just wasn't as good as it could of, should have been. The guy took a year off and that's all he came up with? Puh-leeze!
Also with him being ok with losing his country slot I hope he understands that once that is completley gone he might as well kiss his career goodbye as well. He will NEVER make it in another genre of music.
He should have never mixed his arrangement with HER and his career. It has done far more damage than good. If he can leave her out of it and really make an effort towards his music and fans he may be able to get his ass back on track. Until then I am just not seeing it.
don't believe the lies said...
"He should have never mixed his arrangement with HER and his career. It has done far more damage than good."
Yeah, that is my belief, she will continue to allow that he conform his life to her schedule, and he will in the end, I beleive, have to chose between his own career or marriage to her. As she once said, she cant have both... and she obviously is not going to make that sacrifice, so it's up to urban.
Although prior to the marriage there was an awful lot of togetherness with NK and Marienne, they were spotted on many occassions. What happened?
A lot of togetherness? I must be missing something here.
The photo op in Thanksgiving in Percy Warner park, and the photo op at the movies that many believe to be photoshopped.
That doesn't qualify to me as a Lot Of Togetherness.
The Urbans definitely made their statement by how they arrived at the wedding, by how long they stay with their son (if at all) on his many Photo Op trips to Oz, and by how LITTLE they have been in Nashville since this whole thing started.
Keith's plan to conquer Australia backfired. The only chart he charted on was the one he DIDN'T want - the country chart.
Post a Comment