Keith Urban Says He “Made A Deal With The Devil” When Recording Song For Romantic Comedy

Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Keith Urban is sharing a story from his early days in the music industry, admitting to a time when he regrets not saying no.

Keith Urban Regrets Using His Song In “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”

In a recent interview on SiriusXM’s “Highway Mornings” show, Keith Urban discussed the inclusion of his hit track “Somebody Like You” in the 2003 romcom “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Surprisingly, the experience didn’t turn out to be the breakthrough moment one might expect for Keith.

“That’s a great example of learning early on the price of — I wouldn’t say selling out — but pretty darn close to it,” Keith shares.

Initially excited about the opportunity, Keith became uneasy when asked by movie executives to alter his singing style for the film.

“Cause we get asked to put that song in the movie, and then there was like, ‘By the way, you sing it kind of country-ish,’” Keith reveals. “And I’m like, ‘I just sing it the way I sing.’ And they’re like, ‘Yeah, we just wonder if you could re-do the vocal.'”

Despite feeling hesitant, Keith went along with the requests due to the film’s anticipated success. However, during the recording process, he found himself receiving directions from executives through his headphones.

“There’s all these executives from the film, talking in my headphones while I’m at the microphone doing this vocal, almost coaching me of how to sing this song.”

He recounted how executives urged him to adopt a more Bob Seger-esque vocal style, leading him to fully question his decisions.

“And I’m just like, ‘Oh, what am I doing?’”

Despite his discomfort, Urban went along with the requests. However, he admitted that the end result wasn’t satisfactory, saying, “I think the end result was not that great.”

Reflecting on the experience, Keith emphasized the importance of authenticity in the face of industry pressures.

“Rule No. 1: Stay true to who you are,” he asserted.

Listen to Keith Urban’s version of “Somebody Like You” for the film “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” below.