For You

Album: Act Of Valor Soundtrack (2012)
Charted: 55
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Australian country star Keith Urban and Nashville songwriter Monty Powell penned this song for the end credits of the action movie Act Of Valor. It was the first time that Urban has penned a tune specifically for a motion picture.
  • The movie shows Navy Seals combating terrorists and is inspired by true events. "After seeing Act Of Valor, my co-writer [Monty Powell] and I wanted to capture the essence of not only what these men and women do so extraordinarily, but how that relates to all of us," said Urban. "'Valor' shows us what they are willing to give their all for, which made me wonder, 'What am I willing to give my life for?' 'For You' is intended to allow the listener to define who that is for them."
  • After being shown the movie, Urban really wanted to write for it, despite imminent surgery to remove polyps on his vocal cords. "I'd never written for a particular thing before and I was really nervous about doing that," he told The Boot. "Also it was right before my surgery last November, and I felt like I was on too much of a deadline to get it done. Then after I saw the film, I really wanted to do it but I couldn't think of an angle for the song."

    It was Urban's wife, actress Nicole Kidman, who encouraged him to try to write it. "She said to me, 'You should do this, you really should. I think you'll be able to do this if you commit to it.' She gently suggested that I do it and I'm glad she did."
  • Urban called in his buddy Monty Powell to help him pen the song, Because of the time pressure he was under, for the first time ever Urban booked the studio before he had the song. "I thought to myself, 'Well if ever there was any pressure to get a song written it's now because the studio is booked and we have to have a song by next Wednesday,'" he said to The Boot. "Monty and I got together on Friday and did most of it, then got back together on Monday and finished it. Then I went into the studio on Wednesday and cut it."
  • Urban donated all of his artist and publishing royalties from this song's single release to the Navy SEAL Foundation, whose mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.