Blame it on Mad Max.
New Zealand-born, Australian-bred country star Keith Urban says Aussies have a need for speed. So it's no wonder Urban is performing a pre-race mini-concert Feb. 15 at the Daytona 500. (His performance will be televised on the Fox network.)
Since debuting on the American scene with his first solo album in 1999, Urban has raced to the top of the country music world. The singer-guitarist has racked up seven No. 1 hits, another seven Top 5 hits, and 10 million albums sold. He won Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his songs "You'll Think of Me" and "Stupid Boy."
Along the way he married actress and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman, and the couple had their first child, daughter Sunday Rose, last July.
Urban took time out from recording his new album, "Defying Gravity" (due out March 31), to answer some questions via e-mail.
You're set to perform at the Daytona 500. And, in the video for your new single, "Sweet Thing," a Ford Mustang is sort of one of the "characters." Are people in your native New Zealand and Australia as obsessed with cars as Americans?
Oh yeah, Aussies are definitely obsessed with speed. One of my favorite films still to this day is "Road Warrior" ("Mad Max 2" in Australia) with Mel Gibson. The XB Ford Falcon GT that he drove was THE pinup car of many Aussie boys. I wanted one so badly but had to buy a truck to get all our band gear around. But, when I had my first No. 1 song here, I bought a '94 SS Impala. Black, 5.7 liter ... mmmmm. I ended up selling it to George Jones. Who knew Ol' Possum was such a speed freak.
New Zealand-born, Australian-bred country star Keith Urban says Aussies have a need for speed. So it's no wonder Urban is performing a pre-race mini-concert Feb. 15 at the Daytona 500. (His performance will be televised on the Fox network.) Since debuting on the American scene with his first solo album in 1999, Urban has raced to the top of the country music world. The singer-guitarist has racked up seven No. 1 hits, another seven Top 5 hits, and 10 million albums sold. He won Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his songs "You'll Think of Me" and "Stupid Boy."
Along the way he married actress and fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman, and the couple had their first child, daughter Sunday Rose, last July.
Urban took time out from recording his new album, "Defying Gravity" (due out March 31), to answer some questions via e-mail.
You're set to perform at the Daytona 500. And, in the video for your new single, "Sweet Thing," a Ford Mustang is sort of one of the "characters." Are people in your native New Zealand and Australia as obsessed with cars as Americans?
Oh yeah, Aussies are definitely obsessed with speed. One of my favorite films still to this day is "Road Warrior" ("Mad Max 2" in Australia) with Mel Gibson. The XB Ford Falcon GT that he drove was THE pinup car of many Aussie boys. I wanted one so badly but had to buy a truck to get all our band gear around. But, when I had my first No. 1 song here, I bought a '94 SS Impala. Black, 5.7 liter ... mmmmm. I ended up selling it to George Jones. Who knew Ol' Possum was such a speed freak.
Speaking of the "Sweet Thing" video, when the guy has to sell his
car to get some cash to support his family, is there any autobiography
there?
Yeah, I had a real nice EA Ford Falcon in Australia that I had to sell when I moved to Nashville in 1992. When I got here, I bought a real cheap 1985 Dodge Ram (again because I needed to get my guitars and amps around). That thing was a beast. I loved it.
Let's say you can use only three words to describe your new album, "Defying Gravity." What are those three words?
"Just Play It."
What's one of the "sleeper" songs on the new album?
I wouldn't say it's a sleeper song, but there's a song called "If Ever I Could Love" that blossomed from such simplicity into something really big and beautiful. This song contains the lyrics ("You know I can't read your mind my love but it seems to me, that your heart and mine tonight are defying gravity") that bore the title of the album.
This will be your first new album since your daughter was born last July. How has becoming a parent affected your music? Do you find yourself thinking, "Hmmmm, is this a song I'll want Sunday Rose to be listening to when she's 7 or 17"?
Pass.
At a Live Earth concert, you played a duet with Alicia Keys on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." In your new duet with Brad Paisley, "Start a Band," you guys talk about playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" and the Allman Brothers' "Ramblin' Man." Do I sense a trend here?
I grew up playing country music in some pretty rough pubs in Australia. You had to play from the heart with fire and conviction or they'd eat you alive. You get the same story down here in the South. I mean c'mon, it's ALL connected -- Waylon, Skynyrd, Willie, the Allmans. And, as a guitar player, the South is where it all began. I got no interest in doing an out-and-out rock 'n' roll record 'cause I'm far too big a fan of banjos, mandolins, acoustic guitars, three-part harmonies, etc.
Will Nicole and your little daughter accompany you to Daytona?
I certainly play better when my wife is in the audience.
If You Go
WHAT: Keith Urban's Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show performance
WHEN: Approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Race begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
ADMISSION: Race tickets are $55-$185. Pre-race Sprint FanZone passes are an additional $95. Patrons must purchase a race ticket to buy a FanZone pass.
INFORMATION: 800-PITSHOP (748-7467) or online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Yeah, I had a real nice EA Ford Falcon in Australia that I had to sell when I moved to Nashville in 1992. When I got here, I bought a real cheap 1985 Dodge Ram (again because I needed to get my guitars and amps around). That thing was a beast. I loved it.
Let's say you can use only three words to describe your new album, "Defying Gravity." What are those three words?
"Just Play It."
What's one of the "sleeper" songs on the new album?
I wouldn't say it's a sleeper song, but there's a song called "If Ever I Could Love" that blossomed from such simplicity into something really big and beautiful. This song contains the lyrics ("You know I can't read your mind my love but it seems to me, that your heart and mine tonight are defying gravity") that bore the title of the album.
This will be your first new album since your daughter was born last July. How has becoming a parent affected your music? Do you find yourself thinking, "Hmmmm, is this a song I'll want Sunday Rose to be listening to when she's 7 or 17"?
Pass.
At a Live Earth concert, you played a duet with Alicia Keys on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." In your new duet with Brad Paisley, "Start a Band," you guys talk about playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" and the Allman Brothers' "Ramblin' Man." Do I sense a trend here?
I grew up playing country music in some pretty rough pubs in Australia. You had to play from the heart with fire and conviction or they'd eat you alive. You get the same story down here in the South. I mean c'mon, it's ALL connected -- Waylon, Skynyrd, Willie, the Allmans. And, as a guitar player, the South is where it all began. I got no interest in doing an out-and-out rock 'n' roll record 'cause I'm far too big a fan of banjos, mandolins, acoustic guitars, three-part harmonies, etc.
Will Nicole and your little daughter accompany you to Daytona?
I certainly play better when my wife is in the audience.
If You Go
WHAT: Keith Urban's Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show performance
WHEN: Approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Race begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
ADMISSION: Race tickets are $55-$185. Pre-race Sprint FanZone passes are an additional $95. Patrons must purchase a race ticket to buy a FanZone pass.
INFORMATION: 800-PITSHOP (748-7467) or online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com
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