Kenny Chesney Reflects on Latest Top 10 Single

Posted by Sarah Norton on 10/20/2009
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Country superstar Kenny Chesney has provided a soundtrack for summer for many years, but he’s never been afraid to release songs of depth, too. The CMA Entertainer of the Year said he tries to remember to not always reach for the obvious as a singer/songwriter; “I’m Alive,” the second single from his Greatest Hits II album, is an example of that.

“This was one of those songs that came out of real life… literally, but also the way that I think we don't look at life often enough,” Chesney said of the song that was originally recorded by Willie Nelson on the legend's critically-acclaimed Moment of Forever. “It all started after a long night out in the islands - and the idea that we survived. You know, my boat captain said, 'I'm alive…' almost in disbelief,' but really how often do we make things harder than we need to?

“It was a good message for me, to me about priorities,” Chesney continued. “You know, remembering what matters…keeping perspective…trying not to get so lost in running after whatever, that you forget what it is you're chasing. And that's really reinforced for me by having my friend Dave Matthews on this record. He's someone I respect…and I never get enough time to visit with…and that's not the way we all oughta live. Every time I hear his voice, I smile and remember.”

Dave Matthews joined Chesney onstage in Atlanta in 2006 and has been a friend and fellow traveler of the road for years. In addition to a shared love of the natural world between the two artists, Matthews is a board member for Farm Aid, where Chesney has appeared on several occasions.

The pair will also perform the pensive ballad on the CMA Awards this year. The awards will air live on ABC on Nov. 11.

“The idea of reaching out to someone who's not obvious, who isn't the logical choice really made sense to me,” said Chesney, who's not only nominated for CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, but also Vocal Event with another old friend Mac McAnally for their duet “Down The Road.” “I think you get going and you start just doing whatever's in front of you - and that's where your life can become less than what it could be.

“It's like the idea of the song… When Willie Nelson at 70 sings it, it's one thing: a witness to how one survives and grows along the way. When Dave and I do it, I think it's more about being grateful for where you are, not taking things for granted as you live and learn. And it's great to see something a little less typical for me finding its way into the Top 10.”

The Country singer just finished up his Sun City Carnival tour in Indianapolis, which is his eighth summer of rocking more than one million fans. Chesney is continuing to dig a little deeper as he works on his next studio album.