I’m a country music fan, but even though I know that being crowned Entertainer of the Year at the ACMs and CMAs is the highest honor, the title has always seemed, well, kinda cheesy to me — until last night. After seeing Keith Urban live for the first time, at Madison Square Garden, I get why you’d want to honor the artists who go above and beyond.
It’s not necessarily that Urban does anything new, it’s more like he does everything right (beginning with the ginormous screen that runs the full width of the stage). The overview of correctness: He opens the show with "Once in a Lifetime," which ends with the first of many killer guitar solos and establishes that his voice won’t be the only thing rocking that evening. While most artists save the intimate sing-along ballad for the encore, it’s not long before he’s standing halfway down the catwalk, just him and his guitar, performing "Raining on Sunday." At the end of that catwalk, there’s a small circular stage where he and his buddies will do a few numbers to give the folks in the back sections something to cheer about, including "You’ll Think of Me" and "Memories of Us." Having worked every inch of his set, he’ll end up in the audience, with his guitar and mic stand in tow, during "You Look Good in My Shirt." And because playing one instrument isn’t enough, he’ll tickle the ivories for "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and "Got It Right This Time," the latter of which he routinely dedicates to his wife (last night, because it was already Valentine’s Day in Australia).
It could be the best concert I’ve seen. The only thing it was lacking was the duet he and opener Carrie Underwood have apparently been doing, a cover of Rihanna’s "Umbrella."
So, who else has had the pleasure of seeing Keith Urban live? And who can explain to me what Kenny Chesney does even better than Urban in order to win Entertainer of the Year, year after year? I’m seeing Chesney this summer. He better bring it.
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Yes, Keith is a guitar stud! He and Kenny each can rock it AND slow it down and be sensitive.
Keith has the looks. But Kenny is stronger at connecting with everybody in the crowd, including the folks in the last row of the upper deck.
Kenny has the Buffet-like beach image, he references classic rock songs in his lyrics and he works out a lot so he’s buff.
Both of these guys are solid A-listers and both give you your money’s worth!
I saw Keith Urban in concert in August and it was an amazing show! He played for HOURS and performed each and every one of his hit songs and many non-hit songs. He’s charasmatic, handsome and extremely talented. No lip synching or pyro-technic diversions here–just pure music entertainment. Along with seasoned vets Prince and Bon Jovi, Keith Urban is one of the best concerts I’ve ever witnessed.
i have seen kenny chesney once and
keith urban 18 times what
does that tell you i have been to
over 230 concerts in my life -keith
urban is just one plain word MAGICAL
and i am a 50 year old man
Mandi, I agree with practically everything you said. I was there last night and it was easily one of the best concerts I have ever been to. It’s pretty much Keith and Prince for me at this point. The only thing I would add to what you said, is that unlike other artists, who kind of posture, he was so giving to the audience, as if he were on the same level, which he clearly isn’t. I can’t do what he does. He was so joyful and was sharing with the audience. It was really a magical experience and I am a 36 year old man. The only thing that would have made it personally better for me, is to have been there with someone who was as big a fan of his and enjoyed him the same. There were a lot of couples there together and it seemed to be a really special experience for them.
I have no clue why Kenny Chesney keeps winning entertainer of the year…Keith Urban is BY FAR the better entertainer. Keith is perfectly on key with an awesome voice, plays 2 instruments, and is very engaging. He is one of the better concerts that I have attended. Even my husband, who does not like country music, really liked Keith’s concert. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, as well as Martina McBride (the most awesome voice ever), are better than Kenny.
Keith is my all time favorite. He does a great show…he’s talented and a great performer. The difference? Kenny has a lot more lights and bling going on. Keith doesn’t have the flashing lights everywhere, just the huge screen (which a lot of times shows him and his band). There’s more intimacy to Keith’s show and more frat party to Kenny’s. Both are a ton of fun and completely worth the tickets…
It is impossible to put into words how magical a Keith Urban concert truly is. I am going to see he and Carrie at the end of the month and I have not been this excited in a long time. The last time I saw him, it was the last stop on the tour and he didn’t want to stop singing…so he just kept going. He obviously loves what he does and it shows.
I haven’t been to a Kenny concet, but he has quite the following so I am sure he must be good.
I’ve seen Keith twice and Kenny once, but to me there is no comparison…Keith’s show is great and he is about 10 times the musician that Kenny is.
He dedicates that song to Nicole every night. Awwww….
I’m going to completely disagree with Dave about Chesney connecting better with the crowd. Absolutely not. Chesney sings at them, Urban sings with them.
I think the sad reality is that people who vote for the Entertainer of the Year award just look at the amount of money made & think that if this particular person makes a lot of money, then they must be the best. Littel regard is given to the fact that Chesney always has award winning, multi-platinum “support acts” out there with him who are also big draws. I’ve read & heard countless reviews by people who have voted for these awards & they say they want to change their vote after actually seeing Urban’s show. Even when Urban was on tour with Chesney, Urban was getting the better reviews. But Chesney got all the credit & money because he was the top name on the bill.
Mandi, go check out Perez Hilton’s site – a fan was give Keith’s guitar and he signed it…she’s got pics of it all going down…what a cool dude!
I’ve never seen either of these singers, so I have no opinion..I just thought it was classy of Keith to give up his guitar, when other celebs can’t be bothered to sign a stupid piece of paper…
I have to agree. I recently saw Keith when he played here in Greenville, SC, and it was the best concert I had ever seen. So good in fact, that I got tickets for his concert in Charlotte with Carrie Underwood as soon as they went on sale. I had never been compelled to do that before.
I saw Keith this summer in Calgary, he was filming his concert DVD that night and it was the best show I’d ever been to. A close second is Brad Paisley who can also wail on the guitar!
I couldn’t agree more. Definitely one of the best shows I have seen. I think he sounds better live than on his albums! I saw him in Chicago and he brought a little 5 year old on stage who colored him a picture, it just made you fall in love with him more.
I have seen Kenny once and Keith three times including last night. I can’t wait to go again!!! All I can say is you have to be there to understand.
Brandi, KUDOS TO YOU!! YOU GOT IT!!
As a woman in her 40’s I have been going to concerts since I was in my early teens..and by far is KEITH URBAN THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN.. As of today I have seen Keith 20 times and I have tickets to 3 of his upcoming shows!! I still do not understand why Kenny (stand there and pose)Chesney keeps winning the EOTY award..Personally, I like some of Kenny’s music, but after attending Keith’s shows, then going to one of Kenny’s I ending up leaving Chesney’s show..Nothing there for me to see..
TRUE KEITH URBAN FANS KNOW IN OUR MINDS,HEARTS,AND SOULS THAT HE IS OUR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR..EVEN IF HE DOESNT HAVE THE “TROPHY” FOR HIS MANTLE..
I loved your article and could not agree with you more. I have been to both Keith and Kenny’s concert and I enjoyed both of them, but Keith by far always leaves you with wanting more, more more!!! The best way I can describe Keith’s concerts is “MAGICAL” he gives 150% and his involving his fans is always a plus, he just has God given talent. Not to put down Kenny but Keith is the better entertainer by far.
I can assure you that the best thing you will see at one of Kenny’s stadium shows this summer will be Keith Urban…He won’t be doing all the stadium dates, but the ones he’s not doing Brooks and Dunn are.
Keith Urban is 1000 times a better musician, singer, songwriter, ENTERTAINER, than anyone. Hands down, the best show I’ve ever seen.
Keith is definitely the more talented of the two.
However, Chesney follows the old school rule: tour, record, tour, record, tour, record…..
Chesney’s shows are a loud snore – but his fans don’t know any better and they think he’s great. Someday, country music fans will learn about real talent but until then they are satisfied with Big & Rich and Carrie Underwood and the rest of the vanilla milkshakes.
SARAH IN CALGARY
DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT DVD IS COMING OUT THANKS
SARAH IN CALGARY
DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT DVD IS COMING OUT THANKS
I was soooo shocked when Kenny won entertainer of the year this last show. I like Kenny’s music, but don’t think that he is an entertainer, not by KU standards anyway. Keith says that he loves and needs touring and I think that is very evident each and every time he performs. Have been to 2 concerts and am planning on 2 more. I haven’t been this big of a fan since Shawn Cassidy when I was very young. lol
I converted to Country in 2004 because of Keith Urban… travelled far and wide to see his concerts and, while I like smaller, more intimate venues with him, the big shows are great fun too. Kenny is going to get blown off the stage this summer and having Keith (or Brooks and Dunn) be the co-headliner(s) is the ONLY way Kenny can fill stadium venues. Hope Ms. Underwood learned to do something besides just standing and bouncing when she sings… great voice, no personality what-so-ever!
An ETOY must be an all around entertainer, not just some male or female singer who sings and stands still. Has to be someone who gives everything he or she has to the fans…gives them their money’s worth and more. That’s exactly what Keith Urban does for his fans. Kenny Chesney doesn’t play guitar well, doesn’t play any other instruments (Keith plays 7 easily, maybe more), his vocals are okay but not great, and he’s way too stiff on the stage. Remember Garth? Remember the way he entertained the crowd…that’s what Keith Urban does…he entertains and he genuinely enjoys what he’s doing. And….he’s a killer of a guitar picker, has an excellent voice and is a nice person too. He should have been ETOY in ‘07.
A lot of people seem to really like Kenny and I’ve tried, but just don’t get it! The difference in their shows to me is that Keith is a natural and does something different to mix up his shows and at times Kenny’s seems like he rehearsed it. I just don’t connect with Kenny like I do with Keith. I was at a Kenny concert the first time I saw Keith and I was leaving the show saying Kenny who!! Keith has this magical charisma that you can’t invent…it is God given! It’s like he was just born to entertain, sing, & play the fire out of that guitar. Instead of being born with a silver spoon, I think Keith was born playing the guitar!! WOW!
I am anything but a country music fan, but my wife is and she loves Keith Urban. We saw his show last year and I loved it. Whether you’re a fan of country or not, I think it’s hard to disagree that Urban puts on a hell of a show.
I have seen Keith 35 times in just under three years and not once have I been disappointed. I am definitely one of his faithful monkeys that travels far and wide to see him. I’ve met him four times and I can honestly say that he is incredibly humble and endearing. I am always amazed when Kenny takes home the EOTY when he’s up against Keith. I have nothing against Kenny, but when you put him next to Keith, he’s nowhere near as talented or as much fun to watch. I’m excited to say that I will be seeing Keith play with Kenny this summer in Nashville. I’m definitely curious to see the show, but the bottom line is I’m paying the money to see Keith, not Kenny. No one can beat Keith when it comes to pure magic on the stage!
Thanks for your article! It means a lot that Keith is finally getting the recognition he deserves!
i can honestly say as a young male that a few years ago keith urban brought me into country music. There’s stuff I love and still a lot of stuff I dislike about the genre, but keith’s stuff is always awesome.
I’m a Monkey, too, and have seen Keith in concert several times over the years. I first saw him before he was famous, when he played a small local county fair. My husband was impressed with his rockin’ guitar playing, I was in love with his voice/music/looks/performance, and the rest is history. Even our nine year-old is in love with him.
Last night was the second K.U. concert my hubby and I attended in six months. And we NEVER go to concert, but we both love his music, his performance, and him. Half hour into the concert we said to each other, “when do we go again?”. I’m so glad to read the reviews that agree with ours. By the way, the MSG crowd was not as lively as Continental Arena in August.
I was at the NYC concert last night, 9th row floor- and both keith and carrie were amazing! I was so impressed by Carrie Underwood. By the way– she is a coheadliner on the tour, not just an opener. Anyway- they would have done the duet Umbrella, but Carrie was pretty sick last night. Even so- she did a great job anyway– and I was extremely impressed with both of them. It was the best concert I have seen in a long time.