KEITH URBAN MATES.NET LIBRARY |
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Shaun Micallef set out to prove that variety isn't dead, with the return of a traditional
Tonight Show moulded with his own brand of subtle humour and non-traditional
celebrity guest interviews and musical acts. Lasting just 13 weeks on Australia's
highest rated TV network, Micallef proved to a loyal group of fans that
he is the king of late night wit and sarcasm, and picked up some new followers
who will, no doubt, await eagerly his return to Australian entertainment in
whatever form. |
MICALLEF TONIGHT SHOW AUGUST 4TH 2003 |
Micallef was the major late night show in Australia at this time, and many awaited
to see Keith on the show, Micallef definately had a unique interviewing method.
Many times Keith seemed lost with what Shawn was saying.. many times the audience was also lost. consequently..... KEITH WAS THE LAST ARTIST TO EVER BE INTERVIEWED ON THIS PROGRAM AS THE SHOW WAS AXED THE VERY NEXT DAY |
TRANSCRIPT Shaun Micallef's Online World Around Him Micallef Tonight, episode 13, part 4. (transcribed by Mouton) After third ad break: Music, MT logo with zooming night-time traffic thing, audience clap and we see Shaun and Dave O'Neil talking. Shaun: Thankyou very much and welcome back. My next guest has a surname that is the opposite of the music that he sings. Will you please welcome Mister Keith Urban! MT theme plays. Shaun gets up; Dave goes to swap seats then stops; Keith comes on and shakes hands with Shaun, then Dave; Keith, Dave and Shaun sit. Shaun: Welcome, Keith, welcome. Keith: Thankyou. Shaun: I'm sure that observation has been made many times before, has it? Keith: That's the first time, actually. Shaun: Is it really? Keith: Very skewed. Shaun: I feel quite honoured. Didn't get much of a laugh, but, I mean, it's accurate... Keith: It was great. Shaun: ... historically. Thankyou very much. Now, thankyou very much for coming on the show. Keith: My pleasure, very (something) Shaun: That's very good. Hard hitting question straight away... Keith: Alright. Shaun: ... okay, I'm just wondering what the difference is between Australian country music and American country music? Given that you've experienced both. Keith: I don't know. I grew up listening to a lot of American country, so mine is a little more like American country, I guess. Shaun: Did you have to adapt much when you did go to Nashville? 'Cause you've been in Nashville for ten years or so now. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: Longer, in fact. Keith: Yeah, a bit. You know, because it's a shock at first, an Ausie trying to do country in Nashville. Shaun: Yeah, 'cause I think I remember you describing (laughs) your assault on Nashville audiences. I mean, you sort of had a pub-rock background. Keith: Yeah, that's where I came from - playing in all the pubs throughout Sydney and Brisbane - and there's a certain aggression you have to play with to get people's attention, right, you know. Shaun: Mmm. Keith: And in pubs, they just don't care, so you go to Nashville and you play with that kind of intensity and it just freaks them out. Shaun: Well, is that because they're more laid-back or they more expect to... Keith: Yeah, exactly. Shaun: They're more music-friendly. Keith: It's a little more polite, (laughs) which is not where I come from. Shaun: Alright. Dave was in a band. He was in a band called Captain Cocoa. Dave: Yeah, we were originally called Wah Wah Me, but we had to change. (To Keith:) Yes, how are ya? Did you use to do the Beanly Tavern? Keith: (nods) I've done it many times. Dave: I've done stand-up there. I survived, which was good. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: That a hard pub, Dave? Dave: That's on the Gold Coast highway, isn't it? That's a rough kind of joint. Keith: It is a hard place. Dave: Mmm. Keith: Well, they sell Beenly rum, so, you know... Dave: Mmm. Keith: ... it's a ruggard joint. Shaun: Actually, we found out there was a... I mean, that's Dave's old band... You had an old band called Obscure Altenatives... Keith: Yeah... Shaun: Do you remember that? Keith: ... I did. Yeah. Shaun: And did you... Keith: I think we opened for Wah Wah Me at some point. Shaun: Did you? That's good. And you did Turning Japanese; you obviously did non-country music at one point, as well. Keith: That's right. Shaun: See, we got our research; we know everything. Keith: I know where you're getting this from though... Shaun: We actually had a cassette, but it's twenty years old and we didn't have a cassette-player here at Channel Nine... Keith: Right. Shaun: ... so we'll have to give it to you for later on. I was just wondering, though, your first album was called Keith Urban... Keith: Right. Shaun: ... and your second album was called Keith Urban... Keith: Yeah. Shaun: ... but your third album, you broke the trend there, you haven't called it Keith Urban... Keith: No, no. Shaun: ... I was wondering if that was a trend for your swag of albums. You not gonna call any more Keith Urban? Keith: No... well, maybe the fourth one. Shaun: Maybe the fourth one? Keith: Yeah. Shaun: Alright. That's good. But why was that? Why would you call two albums Keith Urban? Surely it can only confuse people? Keith: Well the first one came out only in Australia and so for America... Shaun: Alright, so only 'cause of the stupid people like me. Now, you've toured with Slim Dusty... Keith: Yeah. Shaun: ... in your past... Keith: Yeah. Shaun: ... and you're going to... in fact, have you toured with Leann Rimes, yet? Or are you going to tour with Leann Rimes? Keith: We're coming back to tour with her in October. Shaun: Alright, but you've not performed with her yet? Keith: Never even met her yet. Shaun: Oh alright. You think there'll be much difference between Slim Dusty and Leann Rimes in terms of... Keith: (laughs) No, no, it'll be the same thing. Shaun: Much the same? Keith: Absolutely. Shaun: Did you learn much from Slim Dusty when you did tour with him? Keith: I did and I want to say "G'day" to Slim too, 'cause he's probably at home watching tonight and enjoying... Shaun: He's in the audience... Keith: He's in the audience! Shaun: ... just up the back there. Dave: Would Slim be awake at... Keith: Absolutely... Dave: ... (checks watch) half-past ten? Keith: ... he's a trooper. Shaun: How old is Slim now? Keith: He's getting on. I'm not sure how old he is, but... Shaun: Hundred and three, I hear. Keith: But, no, I did. I learnt a lot from Slim - and we worked with him - about just being yourself and, get out there and, you know, when you play to people, just, you've gotta be yourself, 'cause they pick up when you're faking it. Shaun: Mmph, right. In terms of... I s'pose I've asked you about the difference between the music, the American country music and the Australian country music - I'm not sure you game me a satisfactory answer, but I'l let it go... What about the fans in America for country music versus the way audiences receive your music over here? Are they more fanatical - can I say that? - in America? Keith: It's pretty similar, I find. You know, you get a bunch of drunken people listening to a lot of rowdy music and it's all pretty much the same. Shaun: That's right. Dave relies on that for the... Dave: Yeah. Shaun: ... stand-up work as well. Keith: There you go. Shaun: Do you... Dave: Well, you do have to combat drunk audiences all the time as a stand-up comedian, so very similar. Keith: That's right. Dave: 'Cept we don't have the guitar to hide behind, so the bottles can hit you right here (hand impersonates a bottle flying towards Dave) Shaun: I'm picturing chicken-wire as well. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: Do you perform... I mean, have you performed there Keith? Keith: No, haven't done that. Shaun: Haven't performed behind chicken-wire? Keith: No, not yet. Shaun: We're thinking of doing the show, actually this whole show, behind chicken-wire... Keith: That'd be great, wouldn't it? Shaun: ... in a couple of weeks. The other thing, I suppose, is: You think of somebody like Slim Dusty or even Smokey Dawson - they probably wouldn't've ever done a nude centrespread in Playgirl. Keith: I think you're safe on that one. Shaun: You think? Keith: Yeah, that's a safe bet. Shaun: But, you know, you've done that in the States. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: Is that... I mean, how does that happen? I mean, how did... It's obviously not your... I assume that's something that's been put to you by this magazine. Keith: Yeah, somebody came and asked me if I would do... I didn't even know there was a Playgirl. Does anyone know there's... Shaun: Mmm, no, I've... Keith: ...a Playgirl magazine? Shaun: ... never heard of such a thing. Keith: I mean, I didn't know that. Shaun: No, no. Keith: And... Dave: Ricky Martin's tryin' to put a stop to that, actually. Yeah, he's... Shaun: Hey, Ricky's a friend of mine, alright, and I don't want to hear a bad word said against him. Dave: He's still here, that's right. I keep forgetting that. Shaun: Yeah, alright. Dave: Mmm, could be bashed. Anyway, don't worry... Sorry. Shaun: But, I mean, do you... Keith: I'm just watching! Shaun: That's alright. I mean, do you... Is this something where you have to tick the box and do this sort of thing, in the States? Do you think, you know, is that what the audience demands of you, a bit more than the music? Keith: I think, within reason, you do whatever opportunity comes - within reason - to try and get in the door and get people to listen to your music, 'cause in the end, it's about people getting to listen to your music. Shaun: Mm-hmm. And you'll be... What song are you gonna perform for us this evening? Keith: I'm actually not gonna; I'm not performing tonight. It's... Shaun: Oh, okay. Keith: It's... Shaun: Really? Keith: ... October when we come back. Shaun: October? Oh, October. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: Alright. Keith: Yeah, I'll play then, in October. Shaun: Okay. Well, I'm used to filling, but I don't know whether I can fill for October. (looks at watch) Will the Sop... Keith: Were you expecting me to play? Shaun: The Sopranos fans get tetchy if we're half an hour over, you know; I can't think they'll wait until Ocotber. (puts watch arm down) Keith: Yeah. Shaun: But that's alright; we'll work on something. Just a minute... Keith: Well... Shaun: Just hang on a sec. (Picks up phone. To phone:) Hi. Is Ricky still here? He hasn't been listening to Dave, has he? Dave laughs. Shaun: Alright, okay. (Covers receiver and speaks to Keith and Dave) Apparantly he's already down at the tram-stop. (To phone:) Will you pop down and ask him to come back, 'cause apparantly... (Covers mouth and speaks quietly:) Can't talk 'cause he's here. (Back to normal:) Keith's let us down, you know, he's as bad as Leann Rimes; he's not performing. Right, you ask him to come back. Alright, thanks. (Hangs up. To Keith and Dave:) We'll be fine. Keith: Are we covered? Shaun: I think he might cover for you. Look, but I'll show up the cover of your CD. Keith: Good on you, mate. Shaun: If that's alright. (Holds up CD) Okay, that's Keith's new CD. Cover has a picture of Keith, "Keith Urban" in big letters and a small "Golden Road" beneath it. Shaun: It's called... Well, it's sort of called Keith Urban, your name's pretty big there! It's the third album called Keith Urban, subtitled Golden Road. We should show the actual title. Golden Road. (Looks to other side of desk, picks up a CD and places it in front of Keith's) And there's Ricky's. (Puts it back) I won't show that. (Shuffles around and looks through more CDs) Actually, there's another on here, isn't ther? (Still looking) Oh, where is it? Just a minute. (Picks up a CD and flips it over to read it) Here we are. No, who's that one? No, that's not you. That's... I don't know who that is. We'll show that up anyway! (shows CD to camera) There's another one there. There's an album, by someone, I just found on the desk. (CD cover says "Ten tracks at a reasonable PRICE". Shaun puts it back and laughs as he keeps shuffling through a pile of things on his desk). Alright. No, I had another one here, Keith. Keith: What are you doing, mate? Shaun: I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know. (Slides on chair back to Keith, with another CD to go in front of the camera: Midnight to Dawn) Here's Dave Graney's, there! There's Dave Graney's new one. (Puts Dave G's CD back to reveal Keith's) No, but that's Keith. That's the one we're talkling about here. You're gonna be back in October and we very much look forward to that. Keith: We are. Looking forward to coming home too. Shaun: And can I ask you, are awards important to you? Because you've received awards: (checks something on desk) most recent one.. Oh, it's not the most recent one, I s'pose... it's the US Country Music Association "Horizon Award" for best new talent. Keith: Yeah. Shaun: You can only get that once. Keith: That's right. Yeah, absolutely. Shaun: Are they important to you? Do you have that in a position of honour in your home? Keith: My mum's actually got it. Shaun: Mm-hmm. Keith: The Horizon Award that I won - we were touring at the time and it was in Los Angeles where they had the awards show - and they gave me the award without the plaque on the front, right, 'cause they send them out later... Shaun: Okay, right. Keith: ... so I got this big trophy on my bus and it was driving me insane, so I got out a pocket-knife and carved "ME" (mimes doing this) into the front of it so I knew whose it was. Shaun: Oh right. Yes. Keith: So they send me the plaque, later on, to stick on it and I put it on there, I take my time (mimes carefully straightening plaque) and I put it on there really carefully and I'm marvelling at it, and my mum's visiting me and she say, "The year's wrong," 'cause it's got two-thousand and I won it in two-thousand and one. Shaun: Right. Keith: So I'm trying to peel it off quickly before it sticks. And I'm ripping it off and it gets all mangled and bits of wood are chipping off and everything. And I take the plaque back into the award place and I said, "This has got the wrong year." They said, "No actually, that is, because you win it from the previous year's body of work. So that is correct, so you need to put that back on your trophy." Shaun: So they just gave it back to you? Keith mimes trying to stick plaque back on to mangeld trophy. Shaun: Well. Keith: It was hopeless. But Mum has that right now. Shaun: Well ... no Logie for you! Now, we've got your tour dates here and you'll be touring in October... Up comes: "KEITH URBAN (WITH LEANN RIMES)" and tour dates for Brissie, Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide (22nd - 29th Oct.) "TICKETS ON SALE NOW" Shaun: ... as you said there, with Leann Rimes. And we'd love to have you on the show with Leann. We've often wanted Leann on the show, but we keep forgetting to book her. Keith: Right. That's... Shaun: It'd be nice if we know that she's in town, that'd be superb. Keith: (says something) Shaun: Now, I just want you to do me a favour, if you could, 'cause I have a segment called High Horse... Keith: Mm-hmm. Shaun: ... and my knee's a bit bad - I dunno if anyone told you - ... Keith: I've heard. Shaun: ... and I just wondered if you'd help me out on the high-horse? Keith: I can, actually. Shaun: Just as I gingerly mount that stair, if you could help me, that would be... 'cause you're a country and western guy, you're a cowboy kind of guy and I'm a bit country myself... Keith: Right. Shaun: ... as you can see. (Points to high-horse) I've got a hat up there. It's a pretty impressive hat. Keith: So do you want me to... Well, I'm leaving for Nashville, like, on Wednesday. Do you want me to come back to do it? Shaun: Yeah, well we're actually running over, so, yeah, if you could come back next week... Keith: Next week. Shaun: ... that'd be good. Keith: You want me to come back from Nashville to do that. Shaun: Would you mind doing that? Keith: Alright. Shaun: I don't think that's an unreasonable request. Keith: No, I'll do it. Shaun: Okay, that's good. Alright. Phone rings. Shaun: 'Scuse me. Just talk amongst yourself. (Picks up phone) While Shaun talks on the phone: Dave: Hello. How are you, Keith? Keith: Pretty good, mate. Dave and Keith continue talking. Meanwhile: Shaun: (to phone:) Hello? Oh, fantastic. Alright. Okay. (laughs) Okay. (still laughing) Okay, see you later. Okay, that's good. (hangs up) Prick. Okay, apparantly, Ricky is here. Keith: Right. Shaun: He's gonna cover for you, which is good. You'll come back next week to help me on the high-horse. Keith: I'll do it. Shaun: Dave, I'll never see you again. Dave: (Shrugs extravagantly) No. Shaun: Ladies and gentlemen, it's my great pleasure now to introduce... he's appeared on more TV sets than a VCR last week, but tonight he's ours... Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mister Ricky Martin! |