Single Review – Without You – Keith Urban

14 years ago Liv Carter 10

We all come across songs of which we think ‘that could have been written about my life.’ For Keith Urban, one of those songs is ‘Without You’ which this week became the second single taken off current album Get Closer.

Penned by prolific writers duo Dave Pahanish and Joe West, ‘Without You’ describes a true love; one that recognizes that life’s successes are even greater when shared. The point made is that achieving the top in your chosen field feels good but the value added by a loyal, loving partner is what gives it all meaning. The lyrics are a natural fit for Keith who makes the words his own by way of a emotional yet never overwrought performance. The simple production gives the vocal a lot more space and allows for lovely nuances such as the smile in Keith’s voice in the final pass of the chorus.

The uncomplicated arrangement is perhaps the song’s biggest strength. The banjo meanders serenely through muted acoustic guitar. Stuart Duncan’s floaty fiddle playing brings a subtle sweetness (and sweet subtlety) and lifts up the entire track when it crescendos. Unassuming bass and a light-touch percussion round out the production. Producer Dann Huff has a tendency to try to do too much; here he stepped back just enough to give the song just what it needed: simplicity.

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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