Recording and performing career
She started her career in 2000. Throughout her twenties, she played in indie bands including Elia Drew and Tomoko, and focused on songwriting, as well as performing with members of the fledgling Fence Collective including work in the Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra with King Creosote, who recently supported her UK tour. She also lived with Gordon Anderson (The Beta Band and The Aliens), whom the song Funnyman, on the album Drastic Fantastic, is about. She toured with the Klezmer band Oi Va Voi, and guested on their album, Laughter Through Tears.
Music career
Eye to the Telescope (2004–2006)
Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, was released in late 2004. Tunstall's style of music varies from folk to pop. In Edinburgh and St Andrews, she played in a band called Red Light Stylus, which was regarded as one of the better bands to emerge from the limited Fife scene.
Tunstall's first appearance of note was a solo performance of her famed blues song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland.[10] The performance was notable as she had only 24 hours to prepare after scheduled performer Nas cancelled. Her performance caught the eye of many viewers, although she had previously performed it on French television only some weeks before, upstaging more established acts such as The Cure, Embrace, and The Futureheads; she then went on to top the post-show poll on the website for that episode.
Shortly after the "Later" appearance, Eye to the Telescope was re-released and shot up the UK charts, eventually peaking at #3 (on its first release it had entered at #73); it was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. It was released in the U.S. on 7 February 2006.
Tunstall's North American break came when American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee contacted her asking to use "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" as her choice for a Billboard-themed week. At the time, the song was #79 on the Billboard charts. Tunstall had not been shy with her opinions regarding shows like Idol saying "The major problem I have is that it's completely controlled... they're told what to say. They're told how to sing." She chose to license the song as she felt that "no one on that show told Katharine McPhee to sing my song because no one knew it" Tunstall's belief was correct—the song was suggested to McPhee by Billboard columnist and author Fred Bronson. The song immediately jumped to #23 on the Billboard charts the week following McPhee's performance. She has later said "My status as a musician in America is pretty much cemented by Katharine McPhee, which is really interesting and funny for me because I've never been polite about how I feel about shows like that."
KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza (2006–2007)
Tunstall released a new acoustic album in May 2006, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza, which was first only available via mail order from her website. The album was re-released in stores worldwide in October 2006.
Tunstall sang with Scottish band Travis on their 2007 album "The Boy With No Name", on the track "Under The Moonlight", a song written by Susie Hug (late of Katydids).
Drastic Fantastic (2007–2008)
Tunstall's third album, Drastic Fantastic, premiered on 3 September 2007 in Scotland, followed a week later on 10 September 2007 with the London release for the UK and 18 September 2007, in the US. In its first week, Drastic Fantastic reached #1 on the Scottish Album Charts, #3 on the UK Charts, and #9 on the U.S. Charts. The album's lead single "Hold On" was released in August 2007, debuting at #34 in the UK, before peaking at #21 in the United Kingdom. The song was also very successful in certain European nations peaking at #19 in Italy, #19 in Norway, #26 in Switzerland and #39 in Ireland. The album's second single "Saving My Face" was released in December 2007. The song did not make the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, but however did managed to peak at #50 on the UK Singles Charts, managing 3 weeks on the UK Charts. Despite missing the UK Top 40, the song made the Top 40 in Italy, making #23 and in Switzerland peaking at #93. The album's third single, and final worldwide single, "If Only" was released in March 2008, becoming the second single from the album not to make the UK Top 40, it managed #45 in audition.
On 5 October 2007 the U.S. discount department store chain Target, in association with NBC, released a special KT Tunstall Christmas EP on CD. Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection contains six exclusive tracks:
* "2000 Miles"
* "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
* "Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas In Hawaii)"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "Fairytale of New York"
* "Lonely This Christmas"
On 10 December 2007 it was released in Europe through Relentless Records as a digital download only, under the title Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas.
In 2008 KT Tunstall recorded a song for the album Songs for Survival, in support of the indigenous rights organization Survival International. In a video for Survival International, she speaks of music as being a force for good, and about what she has learned about tribal people on this project. She also discusses various issues concerning our culture of consumption and greed, our relation to the earth and the importance of indigenous rights in the world today.
Tunstall also worked with Suzanne Vega on her 2007 album Beauty & Crime, singing backup on songs "Zephyr and I" and "Frank and Ava". It was revealed in the booklet by Vega that the two had never met during the process of making the album.
Tiger Suit (2009-present)
On February 11, 2010 The Daily Record reported that, " 'KT TUNSTALL has recorded her new album in Berlin's famous Hansa studio. The studio, beside the site of the Berlin Wall, was used to make legendary albums including David Bowie's Heroes and U2's Achtung Baby. Kt said: "I had an amazing three weeks recording in Hansa in Berlin in January and am finishing it all off in London." The Scots singer, who has been quiet of late, reassured fans she has been busy. She added: "I am still very much alive and have every music-making limb and muscle working in my laboratory of fierce-new-album-ness." Before her album comes out, KT will be playing a stripped-down set at the Haiti fundraising gig at the Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday February 25. She hopes to jump up with her old pal Seasick Steve for a song or two. Kt added: "My shizzle will feature some new faces and definitely some new songs, so come and have a listen and chuck some dough at a good cause." '
According to her website, Tunstall has finished recording her third studio album. The album has been titled Tiger Suit.
Weirdo
KT Tunstall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That things would always go the way I wanted, oh
I was going to be a treetop
A sea, a boat, a rock of ages
I don't always get it right
I'd see it in a different kind of light
Keep it eloquent
Optimistic but
Never quite elegant
Still a weirdo
Still a weirdo, after all these years
I'd always thought it's automatic
To grow into a soul less static
But here I am upon the same spot
Attempting to lift off into space
I don't always get it right
But a thousand different ways
And I just might
Pay my lip service
Keep it eloquent
Optimistic but
Never quite elegant
Still a weirdo
Still a weirdo, after all these years
Still a weirdo
Still a weirdo, after all these years
Pay my lip service
Keep it eloquent
Optimistic but
Never quite elegant
Still a weirdo
Still a weirdo, after all these years
Still a weirdo
Still a weirdo, after all these years
After all these years
The song "Weirdo" by KT Tunstall encapsulates the feeling of being an outsider and struggling to fit in despite trying to conform. The lyrics reflect on the idea of growing up and realizing that life does not always go according to plan. The opening verse speaks of taking things for granted, assuming that everything will turn out the way we want it to. The singer expresses a desire to be more like nature, to exist as something more permanent and grounded such as a "treetop" or "rock of ages."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of being a "weirdo" even after trying to change yourself. The singer recognizes that they don't always get things right, and they still see things from a different point of view. The lines "pay my lip service, keep it eloquent, optimistic but never quite elegant" highlight the idea that even when trying to fit in, there is still a sense of discomfort and feeling like an imposter. This is something many people can relate to, and the song becomes somewhat of an anthem for those who feel like they don't quite fit in.
The second verse continues the theme of struggling to change despite feeling stuck in the same place. The lines "I'd always thought it's automatic to grow into a soul less static but here I am upon the same spot" acknowledge the idea that we expect life to move forward, yet we often find ourselves in the same place we started. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that despite everything, the singer is still a "weirdo" and always will be.
Overall, the lyrics of "Weirdo" capture the feeling of struggling to fit in and be accepted while feeling like an outsider. The song acknowledges the difficulty of changing to meet societal expectations while still trying to maintain a sense of individualism.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I know, I took for granted
I'm aware that I didn't fully appreciate what I had
That things would always go the way I wanted, oh
I had unrealistic expectations that life would always be easy
I was going to be a treetop
I once had grand ambitions for myself
A sea, a boat, a rock of ages
I wanted to be someone strong, steady, and enduring
I don't always get it right
I make mistakes sometimes
I'd see it in a different kind of light
I wish I sometimes had a different perspective
Pay my lip service
I sometimes say things just to sound good
Keep it eloquent
I want to come across as intelligent and articulate
Optimistic but
I tend to look on the bright side of things
Never quite elegant
I don't always handle situations gracefully
Still a weirdo
I'm an oddball and that's okay
Still a weirdo, after all these years
I haven't changed and I'm still proud of who I am
I'd always thought it's automatic
I used to think personal growth happens without conscious effort
To grow into a soul less static
I wanted to become a more dynamic and evolving person
But here I am upon the same spot
I feel like I'm stuck in the same place
Attempting to lift off into space
I'm trying to push myself beyond my limitations
But a thousand different ways
There are countless paths to take in life
Pay my lip service
I still sometimes say things I don't fully believe
Keep it eloquent
I still put effort into how I express myself
Optimistic but
My positivity hasn't waned
Never quite elegant
I still have moments of awkwardness
Still a weirdo
I still embrace my quirks
Still a weirdo, after all these years
I'm happy with who I am and wouldn't want to be anyone else
After all these years
Despite my failures and shortcomings, I'm proud of my journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGORY KURSTIN, KT TUNSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arch-Cheriea Strachan
Man I love this song, didn't know she was the one that sang it. It's totally my theme song. She is amazing.
April Hawkins
mine too! lol
GailMacFarlane
Love this song so much...love how she uses titles like this and makes it a slow song. Who would suspect that "Still a Weirdo" would be the title of such a sweet song. I love the freshness of that. Hard to explain. Keeps her audience surprised, yet we expect to be surprised by KT...no one out there like her! One of a kind
Vedy
I didn't know that KT is such great songwriter and artist. I knew only 3 songs and now i'm in love with her last album
Flo Sung
love her songs from before, love her songs now! i was so excited that she finally released a new album! *didn't disappoint*
Natalie Newton: E book Writer: Amazon Kindle Store
Love this song, she really conveys how we all feel at times.!
Kate May
Celebrating 10 years of Tiger Suit and many more of the wonderful KT Tunstall. After all this years I'm also still a weirdo...💜
singularitiny
i love this song, it's kind of a happy song but it has a sad edge to it, beautiful!
MrMushroomMan
all her songs are so soothing
NHUUUUUU
Thanks for sharing this, KT! The song is so sweet, I really like it! Can't wait for your new album! x)~