So Long, Farewell

Yes folks, this is goodbye. A few things before I leave you....

1) When this blog was disabled in September of 2010 it was done by the owner, Skewermistress, and no one else. The truth is it's time to move forward. When there are the same lies being told 5 years on, when Nicole Kidman is "boring" to skeptics now that her current film is getting rave reviews and award nominations are coming in spades, when Keith Urban is a lying D-lister in country music, there is no sense in continually arguing with stumps of cement.

2) Although this is the last post of Skewering The Skeptics, this blog will live on in internet-eternity, whatever that may be. I decided several weeks ago to put it back online with no intention of writing any sort of final message. That was until I was sent a comment from a reader that skeptics were posting that STS was "taken down" by Blogger. I'm not aware of what has been said on skeptic message boards but anything other than what I am telling you is a lie. There's been no action taken ever, by anyone, to delete this blog. The skeptics did not get STS removed.

3) The skeptics from E! Online, Urban Myths, and Nicole Kidman's Journey are liars. What's changed, right? Every day they go online and tell stories about the sham that is this marriage. Stories is too kind of a word. The fans know better. STS is staying online so that the skeptics can't catch a break. Anyone that finds out about these women can find out the truth. And we, that have dealt with the madness, can let the blog do the work.

Here are two pics that were never sold to tabloids or gossip sites. There are dozens of photos like these folks that the haters don't want you to see. This is the real family. The real deal.






To the readers and fans, here's an interview from 1991 that Keith Urban did for radio stations across Australia. I didn't want to leave without a parting gift to you all. It's been an interesting ride!






Remember, things like the liner notes in Get Closer or the Extra Special Thanks to Keith and Sunday Urban in the closing credits of Rabbit Hole....who Keith and Nicole really are...are what's most important.

Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 09/23/10

Marion Cotillard to Co-Star in Danish Girl?

That's the rumor going around the internet the past few days. A personal favorite among many Nicole fans (this Blogger included), snagging Cotillard would be dream casting. It's not out of the question, as Nicole and the French actress have become friends after filming Nine. More importantly they have a similar ethereal quality that would make them wonderful on-screen partners.

In any case Access Hollywood is reporting that Cotillard will be doing Danish Girl but it's tough to say at this point if they are misinformed or confusing it with The Rivals, another drama with two meaty female leads, potentially to be directed by Steven Spielberg, and talked about by fans as a fantastic Kidman/Cotillard pairing.

BleedingCool.com and PunchDrunkCritics.com have latched onto the story as well. We'll keep our eyes peeled for any news. In the meantime, here's a lovely photo of Marion and Nicole on the set of Vogue Magazine's Nine photoshoot.



***************************

Click HERE to listen to Keith talk about Sunday and her first studio recording, courtesy of KFROG in California.

****************************


Billboard.com

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Keith Urban previews his seventh studio album, "Get Closer," out Nov. 16, as "Put You in a Song" roars onto Country Songs as the Hot Shot Debut at No. 29.

The song marks Urban's fourth to arrive in the chart's top 30. "Once In a Lifetime" charged in at No. 17 in 2006, followed by "Sweet Thing" (No. 30, 2008) and "Kiss a Girl" (No. 29, 2009).

Since Country Songs converted to Nielsen BDS-monitored radio airplay data in January 1990, only Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney have made more entrances in the top 30 (six each). With his sixth such song, "More Than a Memory" (2007), Brooks posted the first No. 1 bow in the chart's BDS-monitored archives.

*********************

Oscar Predictions Updated: The Field is Beginning to Sort Itself Out

by Brad Bevet


On the actress side things aren't as simple. My current #1 is Annette Bening for The Kids are All Right. She's got a lot of buzz behind her, she's been nominated three times and has yet to win. However, the list of names behind her is extraordinarily strong, some don't have the buzz just yet, but in my opinion give better performances.

My personal favorite at the moment is Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole, which was picked up out of Toronto by Lionsgate for a December release. Kidman has my #3 slot at the moment with Natalie Portman just above her in #2 for Black Swan primarily because the buzz behind Portman is a bit louder considering more people have seen Black Swan than have seen Rabbit Hole. Having seen both I believe Kidman has the stronger performance. Rounding out my top five are the as yet unseen Anne Hathaway in Love and Other Drugs and what I believe to be the young-Hollywood sentimental lock, Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone.

It's a solid five should Hathaway's performance live up to the chatter, but hot on their heels are the likes of Diane Lane (Secretariat), Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right) and Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) not to mention several others such as Gwyneth Paltrow's unseen performance in Country Strong and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld in the Coens' True Grit. Steinfeld, for that matter, could take that "young-Hollywood sentimental lock" I just awarded Lawrence.

Continuing on the women's side, the Supporting Actress race is all sewn up if you ask me as Lesley Manville gives one of the best performances of the year in Mike Leigh's Another Year. Several pundits around the web are debating over whether she'll be pushed as supporting or lead, but she is undoubtedly supporting and Sony Classics would be fools to push her in lead against much stronger competition. However, the names behind Manville aren't so easily sorted out.

Right now I have Dale Dickey's menacing performance in Winter's Bone at #2 followed by Dianne Wiest (Rabbit Hole), Elle Fanning (Somewhere) and Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech). This is me just spit-balling at the moment as I am positive two or three of those names will not make the final ballot, but who will rise up is beyond me at the moment.

**************************

1-10 Country Music Review: Put You In A Song

The new tune from Keith Urban is a shamelessly catchy and inoffensive ditty if ever there was one. He doesn't try to reinvent the wheel on this track, but what he does he does well.

In "Put You In a Song," Keith takes on the role of a lovestruck man who crosses paths with a girl who's "lookin' so fine." He wishes he could put her in a song, or more specifically, 'put her in his car, and drive, and turn her up loud.' Make sense? Not a whole lot.

There may not be much lyrical furniture here, but what really makes this track is the energy and excitement in Keith's performance, not the mention the wildly hooky melody that just begs you to sing along. When Keith shouts "I love this girl!" to the whole wide world, he sounds like he means it. The upbeat musical arrangement, featuring catchy guitar hooks paired with the beat of a cowbell, is perfectly on par with the energy in Keith's vocals.

There's no storyline to speak of, and there are no profound life lessons. "Put You In a Song" doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is - three and a half minutes of rockin' fun. It's definitely not cut out to be a country classic, and it probably won't even be one of Keith's best-remembered tunes. Yes, it will probably get old after a while. By the time it's done shooting up the charts, I'll probably hate it, and need some time away from it. But for now, I'm just going to do what the song says - Put it in my car, and drive, and turn it up loud!

KEITH'S SCORE: 7
(Scores are given on a scale of 1 to 10)

**********************

Keith news from Australia's Channel 9

Keith Urban honoured by ACM

Keith Urban was among the stars honoured by the Academy of Country Music in Tennessee this week, winning praise for his long-running international career.

The big names of country music gathered at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on Monday night for the star-studded show which saw performances from acts including John Rich, Kenny Rogers and Martina McBride.

Urban was presented with the Jim Reeves International Award and he used his acceptance speech to relive the moment he was introduced to country music at a Johnny Cash concert when he was just a child.

He told the crowd, "I couldn't say it was life-changing - I was five years old. But it was impactful. This music is global. It crosses all language barriers."

Jeff Bridges' Oscar-winning movie Crazy Heart was also singled out for praise, winning the Tex Ritter Award for films which promote country music.

The event was hosted by singer Lee Ann Womack and other honours were dished out to a variety of songwriters, producers and musicians for the contributions to the genre.

Nicole Kidman Lies About Alpacas, Leipers Fork Garden, And Baptism? More Skeptic Myths Debunked

The alpacas have come home to roost readers! Reality keeps biting the E! Online and Urban Myths skeptics in the ass over and over again! You can trust Skewering The Skeptics will be here to document it all. So let's get started.


The skeptics have decided that everything Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban say about their personal life is a lie. Even if there's photographs, like the Urban and Kidman clans at an alpaca farm, it's all staged for publicity. They especially like to say Nicole is lying about the garden they have on their property in Tennessee.

Any of these old quotes look familiar?


nomorefan: Her fables of gardening in Nashville, the alpacas she purchased for someone else to take care of at the ranch she has been to once, and yearning to milk a goat.

Mimosa: Yeah...can't you just see Granny Baby BBQ Girl cultivating a roof top garden in her overalls and straw hat..and her scarves.....being all organic and everything.
She might even put a few goats on the elevator so she can make that cheese.

Mimosa: The idea of HagMaw having a vegetable garden in TN while she's filming in NY is really hilarious.

hoosierlady: I think this is PR for victim NK, other sites are recycling the alpaca story and the garden story, it is pretty late in the year to be planting a garden

maclen: Well, I voted for kidman winning first prize at the county fair for her zucchini lips...simply because it was the most hilarious choice.



Hilarious you say? Well we have one more person telling it like it really is. If you recall Laurel Edwards, an Australian DJ, is living temporarily in Nashville while her husband, and long-time friend of Keith's, Troy Cassar-Daley works on his music. She's been giving her listeners back home updates on what it's like living in America. Well this latest clip is one more nail in the skeptics' coffin!

Click HERE to listen to what she has to say about getting to know Nicole. Scroll down to the August 24th entry.


Now remember the "fake" trip to Italy the Urbans took?


Oh " so" Leery: We get pics of her crossing the street until we're ready to barf and no pics of four days in Italy??? Boy, now is that not a quandary??

Oh yes Father well it's true she wasn't born in Nash she was born in where ever. Oh no Father we are not really the parents we're the pretend parents. But does that really mean anything. Can't we just lie to everyone. I'm sure the Church wouldn't mind!! We're so wonderful!! You can just fill out the Baptismal Certificate as follows: Thank you so much!! ((giggles)))


innervoice: And I think it's reprehensible that she mentions the baptism of her daughter in Italy to garner attention for NINE. BTW, I don't believe that tale for a second.

Mimosa: It's also reprehensible that Itty Bitty allows her to do it. They both make me sick.

A440: And I remain suspicious of those reports of Sunday's Italian baptism - the one that occurred sans family while KUNK were on vacation.

nomorefan: nomorefan: More lies from Nine Lips. Remember the quick, little get-away - remember the one where Suro got baptized, and he literally got off the airport and onto the stage for his show because his plane arrived late?

Despite the fact there were tweets and at least one fan photo from Sienna, the skeptics kept denying everything. That trip is already over a year ago, but like we say here at STS...the truth always comes out.

Huge thanks to the writer of the article below. She uploaded her piece that ran recently in the Giornale di Reggio about some of Northern Italy's finest food and food service.

Click on thumbnails for full-size image


Notice anything about Page 2? Yes that's Nicole Kidman in two of the photos. Unfortunately the text, even enlarged, is very difficult to read. However that did not deter us at STS. Scanning the article we found the confirmation that the Urbans did in fact have a baptism (batessimo).



But there's more! The text in the photos above may be excruciatingly small. But a little detective work online gave us the website for chef Paola and sommelier Villiam, and their restaurant Ristorante alla Pieve. Yes, they are the same staff featured in the Reggio article.

Included is a page summarizing what they did for Nicole, her family, and her friends for the time they were there. Below is a photo of the program for the baptism that the skeptics say never happened.

News & Guests









From a January 2010 interview in UK Magazine SHE

Before the country crooner kicked off his tour last year, the trio — along with a few close friends — rented a villa in Italy for two weeks for a bit of rest and relaxation! “We ate, played music, swam, drove to nearby cities,” she recalls.


Oh and before nomorefan starts ranting and raving, the dates already confirm that Keith joined Nicole and their daughter in Italy, and then they left together with Keith bound for his Boston show.

All this debunking makes yours truly nostalgic. Want to take a peek at another blog where we ripped the skeptics to shreds?

From November 2009

Nomorefan Has No Clothes!

The more time passes readers, the more this blog can Skewer The Skeptics!

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Updates 08/03/10

Keith Urban Sells Out Big Valley Jamboree -
First Time In The Jamboree's 18 Years!

30,000 fans at Camrose, Alberta
















KeithUrban:The view from the air at Keith's Camrose, ALB show!




















ChrisScheetz: Back stage as the Keith Urban BVJ show starts. Sold out crowd,perfect weather and Keith "frikin" Urban! #YEG



















seanlibin: Keith Urban takes to the BVJ stage to the thrill of 30,000 fans.























Hosehead67: Fireworks over the main stage as Keith Urban wraps up his set at BVJ 2010.



*********************************
Keith Urban and "I'm In" now #3 on Mediabase Charts. Moving on up!




Just for nomorefan, "I'm In" has moved to #5 on Billboard!


*****************************

Want an inside peek at how the gang at TIFF schedule the Toronto Film Fest?



cameron_tiff: Put 1000 of these in the right spots and you've got a Festival.

***************************************

Nicole now has a MySpace page along with her personal website and Facebook. If you're on MySpace check it out!

***************************************





************************************

Tweet Time!

















KeithUrban: Hello Sweet Home, OR! We are excited to spend some time with you tonight.


meganhillphoto: Just ate dinner at the table next to Nicole Kidman, Kimberly Williams Paisley and Sheryl Crow. It was like we were almost friends.

arienneholland: Nothing more adorable than Sunday Rose wearing the cardboard sleeve of her steamed milk cup as a bracelet. Then chewing on it.

@studionashvegas @paigepresley I was at The Perch, too. Did ya'll see Nicole Kidman?

kkupecky: Just saw Nicole Kidman at work. It seems like its a rite of passage for any new Nashvill-ian to bump into either Keith or Nicole

haydeneast: Martin and I just bumped into Nicole Kidman backstage. She said hi.

Hayden East is a musician from New Zealand playing with the band Lawrence Arabia. They were in Nashville last night opening for NZ's Crowded House at the Ryman.

Nicole Kidman's Goodwill Trip To Haiti Is No Family Vacation

Goodwill ambassador: Nicole Kidman meets with women's rights activists and earthquake survivors in Haiti as part of her UNIFEM duties. Photo by Catianne Tijerina, UNIFEM



By Donna Freydkin, USA Today



It's not easy parting Nicole Kidman from her 2-year-old daughter, Sunday Rose.

"I've spent two nights away from her in two years. I'm just so into her. I'm crazy about her. She's a good little traveler. She flies everywhere and she brings her little toys. It's not a big deal, traveling with them — but not to Haiti," says Kidman, calling Thursday from Port-au-Prince after spending a day touring a women's shelter. "Safetywise, I couldn't bring her (here), but otherwise, she goes everywhere with me. We were walking through the tent cities today, and it's just rubble and tents."

Kidman, 43, spends most of her time living a quiet, suburban life in Nashville with husband Keith Urban and their toddler.

But she's in the Haitian capital as part of her work with United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); she's been a goodwill ambassador since January 2006. Her focus? Women's rights around the world, with this particular outing spotlighting the plight of women in Haiti, which was devastated by a January earthquake.

"It's not what I get out of it. I feel like I can never put enough into it. The greatest thing my parents did was give me a social conscience," says Kidman of her UNIFEM work. "For someone like Sunday, for her to be able to be molded, I suppose, to have a very strong social conscience — I would be so proud. I would hope for that. Keith and I are both very committed to that."

In the Kidman-Urban household, charity is a family business. "Keith has done benefit concerts for us. He's been so supportive. I'm always like, 'Hey, I think I might be able to get hold of a musician.' He's so lovely," says his wife.

Kidman, who won an Oscar for 2002's The Hours, says philanthropy is a big part of her life. "I'm just constantly trying to give a voice to the women around the world, women everywhere, who are in need of help. If there's anything to be had from having worked for 23 to 25 years of my life, I'm so glad to now be able to do this. I don't mind being used like that," she says.

Next up, Kidman goes back to her day job. "I haven't done a movie for a while. I spent a couple of weeks on the Adam Sandler movie, but that was a tiny role," she says, referring to Just Go With It, out next year. Later this summer, she's starting production on Trespass, opposite Nicolas Cage, in nearby Shreveport, La.; she plays a mother protecting her daughter. "That speaks to me," she says. "I finish filming in September and then hang out with Keith and Sunday" — with a brief outing to promote the intimate drama Rabbit Hole at the Toronto Film Festival.

"It's a passion project about a grieving couple, and how you get through trauma and loss together and how it affects a marriage," says Kidman.

New Keith Urban Goodies!

Remember when you bought singles? Not an mp3 but a physical, tangible single? Those days are pretty much gone but that doesn't stop artists from coming up with creative packaging for their discs that go out to radio!

Sent in by a reader, here's the promo cover for "I'm In". So cute!












We've also got the promotional video for "I'm In". It's such a shame Keith's single is already a hit without a commercial music clip, isn't it!





Like we always say, Skewering The Skeptics wouldn't be anything without our readers. And again we've got another gem because of our fans.

Country music artist Felicity Urquhart was a guest on an Australian music game show called "Spicks and Specks", aptly titled from the early Bee Gee's hit. She talks about her career connections with Keith Urban and take a look at that special fan photo! You can visit her Myspace to find out more about her.






Not an exclusive but here's another interview with songwriter Radney Foster where he sings Keith Urban's praises. KU - such an embarrassment to the genre!

TheBoot.com


Radney Foster knows a thing or two about hit songs. In addition to his own artist career, both as a solo act and half of the duo Foster & Lloyd, the award-winning songwriter has penned dozens of songs for some of music's biggest acts, including Sara Evans, Gary Allan, the Dixie Chicks and Pat Green, among others. Yet instead of touting his own impressive credentials, he's more likely to point to another writer and platinum-selling artist he admires, namely Keith Urban.

"Keith's such a great guy," Radney tells The 9513. "I know he's not a traditionalist in the best sense of the word, he's doing what some people are calling contemporary country, or pop-country or modern country. But he really has a sense of honoring where the roots of country music came from. He can go toe-to-toe with you on every Glen Campbell or Merle Haggard song ever. And he really reminds me a lot of Glen Campbell. He has that high tenor voice, is a dynamic performer and is just an outstanding guitar player. He has some of that going on. That's what Glen did. He honored country music but pushed the envelope at the same time."

Part of Keith's talent, Radney adds, is Keith's ability to know when to step back. "He certainly doesn't need my help or anybody else's help to write a hit song," Radney admits. "But he's wise enough. The best singer-songwriters ever that have made it into the icon stratosphere always cut some of other people's songs. James Taylor cut some Carole King songs. Merle Haggard cut Harlan Howard songs. The list goes on and on. He's got sense enough to mine something that someone else did and then make that his own. If you look at his records, he still writes the majority of his songs, but he's not afraid to go find something that somebody else has written if it speaks to his heart."



And finally without any further ado, as promised, here is Keith on "Rise Up" with John Ritter from July 4, 2010. Big thanks to the reader who put in so much effort to get it to us! She even gave us a bonus....it's a special Keith Urban commercial bumper from a previous show! Enjoy!

Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 7/19/10

Country superstar lends hand to benefit school music programs

Country music artist Keith Urban is humming "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

He says it's a favorite song of Sunday Rose, his 2-year-old daughter with wife Nicole Kidman.

As the doting dad puts it, "She hits those intervals just right every time. I think that's a good sign that she's got a good ear."

Like father, like daughter.

From an early age, Urban quickly took to playing guitar and set his sights on one day making records in Nashville. Today the 42-year-old is one of the country music capital's superstars with nearly 15 million records sold, a string of hits and a mantel of trophies.

"Music has been and is such an incredible adventure for me," says the Australian transplant, who on Friday headlines the Starry Night benefit concert at the L.A. Tennis Center at UCLA with the Avett Brothers opening.

The concert is a joint fundraiser for the Southern California Tennis Association Foundation and the Grammy Foundation's Grammy in the Schools music education programs like Grammy Camp, for which the three-time Grammy winner is this year's honorary chair. And he's been sharing that "adventure" with the next generation of artists and music industry professionals during a the 10-day camp, which wraps up on Monday.

Other programs such as the Grammy Jazz Ensemble have already given rise to professional artists, including Carlos Henriquez, who plays bass with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and Blue Note recording artist Aaron Parks.
"Any superstar like Keith has had a road they've traveled, and those roads are often very different ... but each one presents a possibility to a youngster who aspires to follow in the footsteps of a celebrity," says Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy and its 20-year-old Grammy Foundation. "Because unlike so many professions where there are road maps, to be a recording artist ... a singer ... a recording engineer, a lot of these careers don't have a course of study. A lot of it is to fly by the seat of your pants, luck and what doors you can kick open."

For Urban, coming from New Zealand and growing up in neighboring Australia made breaking into the homegrown world of Nashville all the more challenging.

But it's where he made his biggest splash as an artist on the success of the 2002 hit "Somebody Like You," which skyrocketed him to celebrity.

And while tabloids love to talk about his now four-year marriage to Kidman and his battle with alcoholism, he gives them plenty of music to contemplate as well.

"I know for me, a lot of times in writing songs, I've looked at it and have been amazed," he says, offering up the hit "Kiss a Girl" from last year's "Defying Gravity" as one example. "On the surface, it might seem kind of light but it's about the courage of wanting to really love somebody, which I felt I'd never really done before meeting my wife. So it was really more of a metaphor for `I would really like to commit to somebody, I'm ready' but of course it comes out as `I want to kiss a girl."'

And just wait.

Right now, Urban is in the studio cutting his next album of songs between gigs here and there, including an upcoming recording of the old Roger Miller song "England Swings" with the Wiggles.

"Having a 2-year-old, I'm not going to turn down the Wiggles," he says of the musical group beloved by children worldwide and his music-loving daughter.

Walking through the door after a full day at the studio, Sunday Rose recently took her daddy by the hand and led him to a basket full of percussion instruments.

Rummaging through the small Indian drums and tambourines, she him gave a small drum to play.

"She was asking me to hit it, and so I started hitting it and she started spinning around and dancing," Urban says with a chuckle. "I just love watching her light up to music like that."

Sandra Barrera 818-713-3728 sandra.barrera@dailynews.com


**********************************

Talent shines through
Urban rocks Bluesfest country-style, while a charming Costner delights fans with soulful set

Kevin Costner.

Keith Urban.

For the massive and multi-generational female contingent in cowboy boots, jean skirts and straw hats, dreams don’t come much sweeter than that.

“You think you’re surprised,” Costner mused as he surveyed a large crowd. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but my heart feels really big to see y’all out here.”

The feeling was mutual and fans warmed up quickly, maybe not expecting Costner and his band, Modern West, to be as good as they were.

As an actor, there were few bigger than Costner at his prime.

As a director, he presided over some of the most spectaular disasters in Hollywood history.

This wasn’t one of them.

Costner turned on the charm early, blowing kisses and opening his arms wide to a welcoming crowd, dressed in blue jeans, checkered shirt and suede boots, sporting a grey soul patch.

He’s always had charisma to go with those chiselled, California-cool looks, but he proved his pleasant country charm works under the lights of any stage.

And while his weather-worn voice was far from perfect pitch, it carried a lot of mileage, and that counts for something.

He ramped up a soulful, throaty growl on the opener, a barn-burning Red River, followed by an equally hot Long, Hot Night, and showed a gruff tenderness on Nogales, a stark piece of of balladry bordering on brilliance.

By the halfway mark of his hour-long set, it was clear this was no fluke. His songwriting was more than capable, arrangements tight, his lyrics sincere, the delivery pure and impassioned.

And he can spin a good yarn, too, charming fans with well-spun between-song banter. The best was a story that served as the intro to 90 Miles, about his less-than-approving father who frowned upon his early career choices, first as a struggling actor and then as a hit-and-miss director.

“The ones that love you the most tend to worry, they can sometimes hold you back with their love,” he said. “But sometimes the things you want to do, you just go and do it, and by the time people catch up with you you’re already 90 miles down the road.”

That pretty much sums up the sharp left turn his career path has taken.

If the women at Bluesfest weren’t already in full swoon, they were at first sight of Keith Urban.

But this wasn’t your typical new country, and Urban breaks out of the Nashville mold of manicured cowboys.

There were no mullets, moustaches or Stetson hats on stage, and sporting short sleeves and shaggy long hair, Urban and his band took on the look, and at times the sound, of a classic rock combo.

Opening with Kiss a Girl, the chart-topping single from his latest Defying Gravity, Urban’s set list read like a hot country hit marathon, with the roar of recognition growing louder with each smash single, including Days Go By, Stupid Boy and You’ll Think of Me.

But Urban showed he’s more than a hitmaker, and more than another pretty face.

He let loose a few ripping guitar solos, striking a rock star pose with elevated knee, hunched over his Fender Telecaster flailing his locks in rhythm.

The set took a humorous detour when Urban acknowledged the perpetual pot-smoking contingent at Bluesfest, with a surprisingly faithful rendition of Bob Marley’s classic Is This Love, with bass and drums locked in a genuine reggae one-drop.

But he was at his best churning out the hits, which came fast and furious with Somebody Like You, Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me and I’m In, his honey dripping voice peaking on the pretty Till Summer Comes Around.

aedan.helmer@sunmedia.ca


****************************************

A good dose of Urban
Australian country superstar, Costner add a touch of country


Australia’s country superstar Keith Urban used his time on the main stage of Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest to prove he can rock as hard as anyone, although he also revealed his tender side with a string of love songs.

His sleek brown hair unfettered by a cowboy hat, Urban and his band jumped into the festivities, kicking off the night in fine style with the rocker Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Me, fire images flickering on the screen behind the stage.

When the country hunk paused to greet the audience, he confessed that he had inadvertently said “Hello Ottawa” to the crowd in Sarnia, Ont. It was proof, he said, of how excited he was to get back to the nation’s capital.

“What a perfect, beautiful night to be playing outside,” he added, indulging the partiers up front with some Bob Marley.

Judging by the fun-loving crowd, Urban’s fan base is predominantly female, with a wardrobe that consists of short shorts, cowboy boots and straw cowboy hats. They hooted, hollered and sang along to every word uttered by their favourite hottie.

Even when Urban attempted to bring the pace down with a string of acoustic love songs, they refused to let their spirits sag. Urban switched to acoustic guitar and sat on a stool for the romantic Making Memories of Us and Only You Can Love Me This Way, which he dedicated to his wife, Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman. Instead of wandering away, which is often the case when an artist plays a slow song at Bluesfest, they sang even louder.

Urban soaked up the love, revelled in the warm evening and admired the half moon hanging over the plaza. The upbeat Kiss a Girl served as a transition to the high point of the show, an extended version of You Look Good in My Shirt.

Still playing his light-up electric guitar and singing the hit song, Urban took a run down the trough from stage to sound tent, where he rocked out on a secondary platform that looked out over the back half of the huge crowd.

The home stretch included the lost-love song, You’ll Think of Me, the singalong Better Life and the set-closer, Somebody Like Me. Urban thanked everyone profusely, and expressed his delight at playing in Canada.

“I don’t know what’s in the water or the ground or the air, but it’s working so we appreciate that,” he said.

“It was unbelievable to play for you. Special thanks to anybody who had to go to the bathroom two hours ago and is still stuck.”

Earlier in the evening, Hollywood actor Kevin Costner kicked off a summer tour with his band, Modern West, on the Claridge stage, an enjoyable performance for all concerned, although he probably shouldn’t give up his day job.

In a blue check shirt and nicely faded jeans, the green-eyed Costner appeared perfectly comfortable on stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and backed by a top-notch, six-piece band.

Although doesn’t have a tuneful singing voice, he made up for it by directing a family-friendly, feel-good concert.

Most of the songs were mid-tempo country-rock numbers written by Costner and his band members. The most memorable were those that carried a positive message, and were introduced with Costner’s earnest affirmations on following your dreams and surviving tough times.

One highlight was a duet with a lovely singer named Sarah Beck, partly because it took some of the attention off the limits of Costner’s voice. The pair sang Let Me Be The One, the first single from Costner’s latest album, Turn It On.

The good-natured 55-year-old worked hard to engage the crowd, throwing in a few playful jokes along the way. “I’d like to thank the women for dragging their men here,” he said at one point, later excusing the men from having to sing along.

Toward the end, the rockier tunes came out, including Saturday Night, a singalong anthem appropriate for the night, a pair of rousing numbers, Cleo At the Wheel and Hey Man What About You, and the uplifting Superman.

In cutoff shorts, tank top and bare feet, surfer-blond singer-songwriter-guitarist Scott Stanton looked like he had just come from a campfire jam on the beach. If so, no doubt he was the star. Stanton’s quicksilver vocal style was drenched in funky rhythms that were underscored by the energy of his band, which included a terrific bassist and a trombone player who sported a Mohawk hairstyle. By the end of the set, the entire audience was on their feet dancing, a rare occurrence in the cozy soft-seater.


****************************************








********************************************

Keith in the studio!


















Working hard in the studio this week, off to shows in Sarnia tonight, then Ottawa. Hope to see you there.

Twitpic

*****************************************

Keeping up with all the tweets on our favorite family!


heidi2477: At Charlie's weekly music class-Nicole Kidman came with Sundance. Charlie crawled right over to her and sat on her lap 11:17 AM Jul 15th via txt

[Gotta laugh at "Sundance"!]


eh_em_why: keith urban and nicole kidman at whole foods. nashville celeb citings never get less weird for me. 12:53 PM Jul 16th via txt

kiokkobebe: Thrilled 2 be a part of Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban's gift basket! Happy KIOKKO can celebrate Sunday Rose's 2nd bday w some of our goodies! 1:08 PM Jul 16th via Twitterrific

considerthelily: Holy cow! Just had lunch next to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at Whole Foods cafe!!! 1:39 PM Jul 16th via txt

tommy_bolger: Just saw Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at whole foods 2:14 PM Jul 16th via Twitter for iPhone

emmielou: As cute as Keith Urban is he may be geographically (is that a word) challenged..he just said "it's great 2 b in Ottawa"..we're in Sarnia..oh well..lucky he's cute Friday 16th July 2010

travisbatista: I'm late for work because i'm waiting on a crepe. On the random note, I'm sitting 3 ft from Nicole Kidman and her daughter. 10:05 AM Jul 17th

kiokkobebe: Thrilled 2 be a part of Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban's gift basket! ;) about 18 hours ago via Twitterrific

tylerglaser: nicole kidman just told me to keep her twenty dollars change not at the bar... at the box office. 3:10 PM Jul 17th via web

jennitackett: So Nicole Kidman is at the same movie as I am. Yay Nashville. 6:59 PM Jul 17th via Twitter for iPhone

willmason: Hey Will what did you do today? Not much just saw Inception with Nicole Kidman. 7:01 PM Jul 17th via Twitter
for iPhone

pinklove190: saw nicole kidman at yoga! heck yeess
about 17 hours ago via web

CaitlinCaulkins: Saw nicole kidman and kieth urban at church this morning....she is incredible. about 20 hours ago via HTC Peep

McSuck: Just ran into Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at brunch today and the most profound thing I could think of saying was "Uh...nice car." about 18 hours ago via web

HeidiRocksIt: So my mom was in church this morning with Nicole Kiddman, Keith Urban, and their little girl... I was in songwriting class. about 15 hours ago via Twitterrific

shy_cube: Just had my picture taken with Nicole Kidman!! Heheheh :) about 3 hours ago via mobile web

[The tweet is most likely referring to an Omega ad featuring Nicole. The writer is visiting Hong Kong]

A Couple Of History Lessons For Tara And The Skeptics

Urban Myths Tara also known as hit n run on E! is spinning another tall tale, trying to sell a myth that isn't worth the corn field she heard it in....


Tara: there were all these sightings of them all over the place
even in Conn and I know for a fact that Keith was in Nashville but thats how the myths got started..

No that's how Tara / hit n run starts a myth, miles away from Music City.

Here's the lowdown for those that don't know, or those that are in denial.

The sightings in Connecticut were real. They ate at a restaurant called La Luna in guess what skeptics...Connecticut.

Here's a translated quote from Pedro Brando, the Brazilian designer of the Urbans' wedding bands

"She saw a few jewels I made and invited me to call on her apartment. I went there and she suddenly ordered the rings. I was inspired by the moon and then after I made them, Keith told me their first date was in a restaurant called 'La Luna'. I was enchanted by her simplicity."


Oh and here's a photo of the couple with Brando




















We'd wouldn't be surprised if one of Keith's logos seen here















and more recently here (Thanks rutkmi!)



























was inspired by that date. Either way we'd bet on Kris Kristofferson over the corn fields every time!


Now, kudos to US Weekly. After Keith and Nicole's daughter was born the E! online skeptics tried to spin the many myths about the name, the naming, who named her, the lies go on and on. But the mag, who recently did a feature on celebrity baby names, actually got the story behind the name right. It's a miracle!

What's In A Name

Happy second birthday, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban!

Parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban stunned the world by choosing the unusual day name for their daughter, born July 7, 2008. Though Kidman's father suggested the name Sunday, inspired by Australian patron of the arts Sunday Reed, Kidman and Urban settled on the name because they love the day of the week.

"That's our favorite day because if you're happy and you've got your family and the things around you, then Sunday's a beautiful day," Kidman told Oprah Winfrey three months after the child's birth. "So our baby's called Sunday."


Will nomorefan ban the magazine like the skeptics have with so many other products and organizations due to a positive Kidman connection? Not likely but the thought of her anger over facts being published instead of lies gives us a chuckle!

Keith Urban Nicole Kidman Updates 06/22/10

Click HERE to listen to Keith's 06/22 interview with KYGO's Paul Donovan.


iCarly star and labelmate Jennette McCurdy talks about Keith Urban and a cute ACM after party story.




Click HERE top see a short clip of Keith Nicole and Sunday leaving LAX, courtesy of People Magazine

And thanks to The Boot.com for letting us know that Keith along with many of your other favorite country artists have contributed songs to benefit our military

Reba, Lady A + More Make 'Smash Hits' for Military Heroes


Many country artists are known for their strong patriotism and generosity. So it should come as no surprise that several of Nashville's biggest stars are joining together to raise money for a worthwhile cause for the military.

Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Randy Houser, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley are just a few of the artists who contributed songs for a new CD titled 'My Country: Smash Hits.' With a new compilation released every year, all proceeds benefit the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free housing for servicemen and women and their families who are receiving treatment at a military medical center. In addition to the country superstars, the album also includes an audio message by former President George Bush, as well as artwork by famed cartoon artist Gary Trudeau.

Other country superstars who support the worthwhile cause include Kenny Rogers, and Wynonna and John Rich, who donated some of their proceeds from a joint concert earlier this year to the foundation.

The compilation will be released on August 24. For more information on The Fisher House Foundation, click HERE.

According to the CD's website, Keith's contribution will be "Better Life". Click HERE to preview all the tracks.

Keith Nicole & Sunday In LA

The family is back together in LA just in time for Nicole's birthday and Father's Day. Photos from The Daily Mail, Zimbio, and Hollyscoop. Enjoy!

Nicole Kidman and Sunday Visit The Grandparents

For more click HERE!

Nicole Kidman And Sunday Arrive In Sydney

Nicole and daughter Sunday have arrived in Sydney! Per her last major interview, Nicole said the family would be traveling to Australia for sister Antonia's marriage celebration. We're sure to see Keith following soon. Enjoy the new pics of Sunday. She's growing up so fast!