CMA AWARDS 2017: Keith Urban

Artist: Keith Urban

Keith Urban has the chance to take home several awards going into this year’s CMA Awards, including Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Single and Music Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” “Blue” is also nominated for Song of the Year, which would go to songwriters Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey and Steven Lee Olsen.

The first time he heard “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith knew he wanted to record it. “I just know when I heard ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’ for the first time, it just struck me as one of those rare songs that encompass so many things in it,” he says. “I couldn’t even label what it was, what style it was. It’s got a bit of soul, it’s got a bit of blues, it’s got a bit of country, it’s got just a big mix of all good things. Lyrically, it’s just an incredible song, incredible song. [It’s got] great melody, great lyric. I was so hopin’ I could do the song justice when we got in the studio.”

The video for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was actually inspired by a performance he did with Carrie Underwood on American Idol.

“[The inspiration] really came from when I did American Idol with Carrie Underwood, and because it was the finale, I played in a suit, and this whole idea kind of started from the idea of playing in a suit. From there, obviously, the story of the song is pretty strong, and we started building the concept from there. But, the initial spark of inspiration was really about that.”

Keith is scheduled to perform during the 51st Annual CMA Awards, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (November 8th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

Keith Urban (1st time he heard Blue) OC: …in the studio. :31
“I just know when I heard ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color’ for the first time, it just struck me as one of those rare songs that encompass so many things in it. I couldn’t even label what it was, what style it was. It’s got a bit of soul, it’s got a bit of blues, it’s got a bit of country, it’s got just a big mix of all good things. Lyrically, it’s just an incredible song, incredible song. [It’s got] great melody, great lyric. I was so hopin’ I could do the song justice when we got in the studio.”

Keith Urban (Blue Ain’t Your Color video) OC: …about that. :28
“[The inspiration] really came from when I did American Idol with Carrie Underwood, and because it was the finale, I played in a suit, and this whole idea kind of started from the idea of playing in a suit. From there, obviously, the story of the song is pretty strong, and we started building the concept from there. But, the initial spark of inspiration was really about that.”

Keith Urban (Blue Ain’t Your Color video) 2 OC: …idea from Carter. :29
“There was something that sort of Carter [Smith] suggested by having it be almost dreamlike. The girl walks into the bar, she’s just not in a good place in life, hits the jukebox, the song starts playing, suddenly we’re on stage, and she’s in the bar and she’s on her own. So, at the end of the video, you’ll see the camera pans around and then the band’s actually not there, and so you wonder was she just imagining the whole thing. It’s very cool. I really like that idea from Carter.”

Keith Urban (first CMA nomination) OC: …for a moment. :28
“I was so excited to be nominated for my first CMA, I went out and had Manuel make me a suit for the occasion, and it was just as well, because I ended up winning, which was just an indescribable feeling. When I heard my name called amongst all the nominees, it felt surreal, and then when they actually read my name out as the winner, it was literally like time just slowed down for a minute.”