Earlier this year, Keith Urban released a single called "Blue Ain't Your Color," and it's a slow ballad with meaningful words and lyrics. Why would it be so much more than just another slow country song? It is more than just that because Keith addresses how a toxic relationship can change a person in more ways than one. In the first verse, there is a woman sitting quietly all alone in a bar. Some of the lyrics are:
"And chances are you're sittin' here in this bar ‘cause he ain't gonna treat you right. Well, it's probably not my place but I'm gonna say it anyway, cause you look like you haven't felt the fire, had a little fun, hadn't had a smile in a little while, baby."
We all know relationships can become hard and sometimes, even toxic. We can take our self-worth for granted because our significant other starts to see it as unimportant. We let things slide because we once loved this person so much, and they would never do anything to dull our spark. This is one of the few country songs out there that don't over sexualize women and their "painted on blue jeans." This song touches on how exhausting an unhealthy relationship can be, and how it can suck all the joy out of someone.
"Blue looks good on the sky.. looks good on that neon buzzin' on the wall. But darling, it don't match your eyes, I'm tellin' you, you don't need that guy. It's so black and white.. He's stealin' your thunder. Baby, blue ain't your color. Blue looks good on the sky. Looks good on that neon buzzin' on the wall, but darling, it don't match your eyes."
For anyone going through a difficult time in a relationship, you know how difficult it can be to end it. It is so hard to leave that person that you thought might be your forever. So, you sit around and become blue thinking if you are strong enough to leave that person. Guess what, you don't need a song to tell you that you're strong enough to leave them. You're strong enough to be strong for yourself, and Keith Urban says this in between the lines.
The guy that you spent so long with and you have so many memories with isn't spending his time nurturing you. Like I stated above, country music has become so generalized with the way the lyrics all say the same thing, but in different ways. This song stands out from the rest because of the honesty and emotions that aren't usually highlighted in country music.
Keith Urban and his writers are so different than everyday country writers, and they have set themselves apart from the rest. They are unafraid to speak up about the repercussions of toxic relationships, and how a woman should be treated right and with respect. Keith Urban has always had a spot in my heart as a country music lover, but this song and the meaning behind it has bumped him up to another level.
