“Blue Ain’t Your Color” is a song by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released in May 2016 as the lead single from his eighth studio album Ripcord. The song became Urban’s 24th #1 single on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, making him the artist with the most #1s on that chart in the 2010s decade.
The meaning behind “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is about telling an ex-lover that even though you may still care about them, you know the relationship is over and you both need to move on. Urban uses the color blue as a metaphor to say that sadness, loneliness and heartache do not suit his ex-girlfriend anymore because they are no longer together.
Exploring the Lyrics
In the opening verse, Urban observes his ex and how she is still feeling down about their breakup:
“Girl, you’re looking kinda lonely now
Standing there all dressed up with nowhere to go”
He implies she is trying to put on a brave face but the sadness in her eyes gives her true feelings away:
“You’re smiles are fast as they turn down
I’ve seen that color blue before it’s over you”
Urban goes on to assure her that she deserves to be happy and that their relationship ending is for the best:
“Girl, you need to come on with it now
Let your red light off and baby just go”
The chorus is the main message of Urban telling his ex to embrace the future and stop dwelling on the past:
“Blue ain’t your color, darling
Like a fool here I go, making you blush
Looking so lovely but blue ain’t your color”
He admits he still finds her attractive but knows those feelings are not helpful anymore so she needs to move on.
Use of Color Symbolism
The color blue often symbolizes sadness, loneliness and heartache. Urban uses it cleverly here to describe his ex-lover’s state after their painful breakup. She is clearly still down and depressed about the relationship ending.
Meanwhile, he urges her to let her “red light off” meaning to stop holding back and go find happiness and passion again. Red symbolizes confidence, energy and new beginnings.
So essentially Urban is saying blue represents the past coldness and melancholy of their breakup, while red represents the warm, exciting future she could have if she allows herself to heal and be open to new relationships.
Empowering Message for Moving On
At its core, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” contains an empowering message about emotional strength. Instead of begging his ex to take him back, Urban acknowledges their romance is over. He is mature enough to tell her that she deserves better and needs to move on.
Urban could have written a bitter or melancholic song about heartbreak. But he chose to take the high road and compose an uplifting tune about the necessity of letting go after a relationship ends.
There is wisdom in recognizing when something is over and when it is healthiest for both parties to seek closure and start new chapters in their lives. This sentiment makes the song emotionally powerful and universal.
Personal Meaning for Keith Urban
It is interesting to note that Urban wrote “Blue Ain’t Your Color” after being married to Nicole Kidman for over 10 years. So it is not actually about a real recent breakup for him.
Instead, Urban has explained the song is about an amalgamation of past failed relationships and a symbolic message:
“It’s really just a song about seeing somebody that you’ve moved on from and you don’t want them to be sad. I think it’s as simple as that really – letting somebody go so they can move on.” (PBS NewsHour, 2016).
So while the lyrics tell a specific story, the overall meaning was shaped by Urban reflecting back on various heartaches and losses in his younger days prior to finding stable love. This adds a layer of maturity and insight to the song’s composition.
Commercial Performance
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” became a major commercial hit for Keith Urban upon its release in May 2016. It reached #1 on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs chart as well as #1 on the Country Airplay chart.
The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA with over 1 million units sold. It also reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 mainstream singles chart, becoming Urban’s first Top 40 pop hit since “You’ll Think of Me” in 2004.
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs | #1 |
| US Country Airplay | #1 |
| US Hot 100 | #24 |
This commercial success demonstrated Urban’s widespread popularity and appeal at country and pop radio. It also showed that lyrically emotional songs can still thrive in the mainstream music landscape.
Critical Reception
Music critics responded very positively to “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” They praised Urban’s vocal performance and the song’s production. Many also felt it was one of the stronger tracks on Ripcord and a standout in Urban’s catalog:
– Rolling Stone – “Urban’s voice is capable of conveying remarkable intimacy…the ominous, looping guitar riff that runs throughout “Blue Ain’t Your Color” makes it clear that this is one of his very best songs.”
– Billboard – “A detour into poignant balladry, Country-pop superstar Keith Urban finds exquisite heartache in the moody “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Simultaneously brooding and sexy, it’s an intriguing new look for Urban.”
– Newsday – “Anchored by a simple, repeating piano figure and artful lyrics, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” stands a notch above anything else on the album. When Urban scales things down, the songs feel most authentic.”
Overall, critics viewed the song as an impactful and authentic standout track in Urban’s discography that showed his skills as a vocalist and storyteller.
Accolades
On the strength of its commercial success and critical acclaim, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” received numerous awards and nominations for Keith Urban:
– 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance (winner)
– 2016 CMA Award for Single of the Year (winner)
– 2016 CMA Award for Song of the Year (nominated)
– 2016 American Country Countdown Award for Song of the Year (winner)
– 2016 Teen Choice Award for Choice Country Song (winner)
These awards solidified “Blue Ain’t Your Color” as one of the most decorated country songs of 2016 and among the highlights of Urban’s career. The song helped cement his status as a leading male vocalist in contemporary country music.
Impact on Pop Culture
Beyond just country music circles, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” penetrated pop culture with its widespread airplay and popularity:
– The song was featured in the 2016 Netflix original film XOXO starring Sarah Hyland.
– Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara posted a (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_t95WViXKk) in September 2016, garnering over 2.5 million views.
– The American sitcom The Ranch used “Blue Ain’t Your Color” in a 2018 episode titled “One Step Forward” (Season 3, Episode 5).
– In 2017, contestant TSoul performed the track on season 12 of the NBC singing competition The Voice.
– The song appears in the music video game Just Dance 2018.
These examples demonstrate how Urban’s lyrical ballad reached beyond just country fans and left a wider mark on mainstream pop culture. The song clearly resonated with music audiences across different genres.
Live Performances
As one of his most popular recent singles, Keith Urban has performed “Blue Ain’t Your Color” many times on television and at live concerts:
– 2016 ACM Awards – Urban gave an emotive acoustic performance seated with just a guitar.
– 2016 CMA Awards – He sang it as he walked through the audience, serenading fans.
– 2018 Grammys – Urban played a piano-driven rendition alongside several female backup singers.
– RipCORD World Tour – It was a setlist staple during his 2016-2017 arena concerts.
– 2018 Graffiti U World Tour – He continued performing it with a full band in a high energy arrangement.
The song has become a compelling moment in Urban’s live shows, often with him taking a stripped down acoustic approach to connect more intimately with audiences. Fans have strongly embraced “Blue Ain’t Your Color” as a live favorite.
Cover Versions
Many other artists have recorded or performed cover versions of Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color”:
– Kelly Clarkson added an R&B influenced cover version to her setlist for the 2017 Meaning of Life Tour.
– Kacey Musgraves performed a countrified roots rendition at the 2019 Grammys tribute concert for Dolly Parton.
– English singer Will Young released a pop cover version on his 2018 album Lexicon.
– The Voice contestant [Alisan Porter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFH-kxdh5To) sang the song during the 10th season in 2016.
– YouTube country singer Taryn Papa recorded a popular cover that has earned over 300k views.
These covers demonstrate how “Blue Ain’t Your Color” had lyrical and vocal melodies with wide, cross-genre appeal. It inspired many artists to record their own renditions and interpretations of the song.
Conclusion
In summary, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” connects as a powerful country ballad due to Keith Urban’s nuanced vocal delivery and the song’s vivid lyrical depiction of heartbreak and moving on. While inspired by Urban’s past relationships, the empowering themes resonated universally with listeners across multiple genres.
The crossover appeal resulted in widespread chart success, critical acclaim and pop culture impact. With its memorable live performances and numerous cover versions, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” has become a definitive ballad in Urban’s decorated catalog as both a songwriter and vocalist.