Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

15 Keith Urban Songs That Helped Him Become The Country That He Is Today

15 Keith Urban Songs
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Keith Urban songs are definitely one of the biggest and most successful hits in country music. 

With a career spanning a little over thirty years, the singer-songwriter has been writing and recording some of the best tracks in recent Nashville history, entertaining fans with his crystal-clear voice through songs that range from upbeat summer tunes to heartbreaking ballads.

Here are some of our favorites! 

1. “Somebody Like You” 

From: Golden Road (2002)

Being awful at relationships, Keith Urban has said he wrote “Somebody Like You” because he was making the effort of loving himself like the others around him loved him.

The superstar revealed the fruition of the country ballad. He said that while he was writing songs about love and relationships, he played one to his girlfriend at that time. However, she told him he was a hypocrite. It was then that Urban realized he’s been writing “from all these places of the kind of person I wished I could be.” He wasn’t that person, but it’s who he wanted to be.

2. “You’ll Think of Me” 

From: Golden Road (2002)

“You’ll Think of Me” sings about a failed relationship and all the misery that goes along with it.

With rhymes and images falling seamlessly into place – bleeding emotional pain and honesty –it reached No. 1 with a two-week stay on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The heartbreaking ballad was also among Urban’s first crossover hits, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.

3. “Days Go By”

From: Be Here (2004)

The country superstar kicked off his 2004 album Be Here with another iconic hit, “Days Go By.”

Co-written by Urban, it reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart – enjoying a four-week stay at that position. The song that started with an acoustic guitar phrase delivers a message of making the most of the present time – as played off its title phrase.

4. “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

From: Ripcord (2016)

The smooth, bluesy song about a man watching a lonely woman at a bar quickly became a hit – cruising all the way to the No. 1 spot of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. 

But more than its chart success, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was also critically acclaimed. It earned two Grammy nominations while taking home both the CMA Award for Single of the Year and the American Music Award for Favorite Country Song.

5. “Til Summer Comes Around”

From: Defying Gravity (2009)

Urban found himself remembering the times when he and his lover would enjoy those carnival rides whenever the boardwalk was open during the summertime. As the song went on, it was revealed that he has stayed in the town for many years, waiting for her to come back.

6. “You Look Good In My Shirt”

From: Greatest Hits: 18 Kids (2007)

The lighthearted song about hooking up with an old flame has been a crowd favorite at Urban’s concerts for several years. It was planned to be released as the final single from the country singer’s 2002 album Golden Road; however, it had been withdrawn before it could have been promoted as a single.

Urban re-recorded the song six years later, and it became his first No. 1 country hit after three years.

7. “Making Memories Of Us”

From: Be Here (2004)

Although Urban wasn’t the first artist to record this song, his rendition is among the more moving and romantic versions that it quickly reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts. “Making Memories of Us” held the No. 1 position for five weeks.

8. “Sweet Thing”

From: Defying Gravity (2009)

This catchy song about first dates and young summer love helped the country superstar win his third Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. 

When Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban tied the knot in 2006, the groom sang this song during the ceremony.

9. “Raise ‘Em Up”

From: Fuse (2013)

When Urban joined forces with Eric Church, it was nothing but goodness. The two country superstars sing about the different things being “raised up” – including a lighter during a concert, one’s voice, and finally, a family.

10. “The Fighter” 

From: Ripcord (2016)

Blowing fans away with another all-star collaboration, the uptempo song, “The Fighter,” features Carrie Underwood wherein they both sing about a man putting his woman at ease by telling her that he’s it in for the long haul.

11. “Tonight I Wanna Cry” 

From: Be Here (2004)

While most of Urban’s songs were based around his excellent guitar playing, this heart-wrenching song features an incredibly effective piano figure as he turned the track “Tonight I Wanna Cry” into one of the darkest sorrowful ballads in his career.

12. “But for the Grace of God” 

From: Keith Urban (1999)

Released from Urban’s self-titled debut album, “But For The Grace of God” became his first No. 1 country hit.

13. “Put You in a Song” 

From: Get Closer (2010)

Co-written by Urban, the song tells the tale of a poor man who is in love with an unreachable girl, and the only way to get closer to her is to put her in a song – in such a manner, he’d be able to take her with him wherever he goes.

14. “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” 

From: Golden Road (2003)

The song represents the whole lot fans have grown to love about Urban’s signature sound. So, this list will never be complete without this upbeat country rocker.

15. “Cop Car”

From: Fuse (2013)

Although Urban did not write the song, it perfectly matches his deep feelings as an artist, so it might as well have been. The song tells the tale of two young lovers who were arrested after trespassing together – they ended up falling in love with each other at the back of a cop car. 

How about you? Which among Keith Urban songs are your favorites?

Latest Stories

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton's "Does He Love You" Is the Collaboration We've Been Waiting For

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton’s “Does He Love You” Is the Collaboration We’ve Been Waiting For

When Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton team up, it feels like the stars have aligned over Nashville. These two queens of country music, with careers that have shaped the genre ...

Ben Haggard's "As Haggard as They Come" Honors His Father While Defining His Own Path

Ben Haggard’s “As Haggard as They Come” Honors His Father While Defining His Own Path

In 2019, Ben Haggard delivered a performance at the Grand Ole Opry that felt like a love letter to his roots and a bold step toward his future. His song, ...

Mo Pitney's "Borrowed Angel" Is a Love Letter to Traditional Country

Mo Pitney’s “Borrowed Angel” Is a Love Letter to Traditional Country

In a time when country-pop dominates the charts, Mo Pitney stands out as a refreshing reminder of what makes traditional country music timeless. In an episode of Country Road TV ...

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful "Coal Miner's Daughter" Performance

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Performance

In a world where country music continually evolves, some voices remind us of its timeless roots. In 2019, then-18-year-old Texas singer Hannah Kay did just that with her moving rendition ...

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top didn’t just stumble into country music fame; he built his way there from the ground up, starting on a modest farm in Sunnyside, Washington. Far removed from Nashville’s ...

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s new single, “Love Somebody,” has arrived, and it’s not just another love song—it’s an honest look at the complicated, often bumpy road to finding real connection. After years ...

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen’s career continues to reach impressive heights with his latest achievement. This historic milestone solidifies his place among country music’s most celebrated figures. His new single, “Love Somebody,” has ...

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Country music star Jelly Roll recently shared an emotional video on social media, revealing his purchase of a sprawling 500-acre plot of land. The video, filled with raw emotion and ...

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Country music superstar Morgan Wallen isn’t just wowing crowds on his One Night at a Time tour; he’s also rocking the world of music education. Through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, ...

Luke Combs and Eric Church's Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Luke Combs and Eric Church’s Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Country music superstars Luke Combs and Eric Church united for a powerful cause, headlining the “Concert for Carolina” to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene. The star-studded event, held at Bank ...