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.
Saving My Face
KT Tunstall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From staying too long in one place
And everytime I try to leave
I find I keep on stalling
Feel like a big old stone
Standing by a strength of my own
But everytime the morning breaks
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of fatih
I would give everything just for one taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
I'm saving my face
I'm listening to what you say
Even though I look the other way
But you could never understand
The feeling of what I'm needing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Saving my face
Saving my face
Ooh yeah yeah etc etc
Saving my face
Give it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Leave it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Give it all to em
I will do the right thing
I will do the right thing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Losing the best of me
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give everything just for a taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory and saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
The song "Saving My Face" by KT Tunstall is about feeling stuck in life and being unsure of what to do next. The lyrics convey the frustration and anxiety of being in a situation where you feel trapped and unable to move forward. Tunstall describes herself as feeling like a "big old stone" and being weighed down by her own strength. At the same time, she is aware that she is losing her memory and losing the best of herself. She is stuck between wanting to leave and wanting to stay because leaving means facing uncertainty and the possibility of failure.
The chorus "I'm all out of luck, I'm all out of faith" expresses the feeling of being at a dead end and not having any hope left. She would give everything just for a taste of something different, but everything feels out of place. Despite feeling lost and unsure, she is determined to keep going and save face. The repetition of "saving my face" at the end of each stanza emphasizes her commitment to maintaining a sense of composure and dignity.
Overall, "Saving My Face" is a powerful song about the struggles of being human, and Tunstall's raw and honest lyrics capture the emotions of feeling stuck and unsure.
Line by Line Meaning
See the look on my face,
I'm showing the signs of being stuck in one place for too long.
From staying too long in one place
I've been stationary for too long and it's written all over my face.
And everytime I try to leave
I attempt to move on, but I can't seem to.
I find I keep on stalling
I continuously come up against obstacles.
Feel like a big old stone
I'm weighed down and unable to move forward.
Standing by a strength of my own
I'm relying solely on my own resources to get by.
But everytime the morning breaks
Each day brings new challenges.
I know I'm closer to falling
It's getting more difficult to keep going.
I'm all out of luck
I've run out of good fortune.
I'm all out of fatih
My trust in myself and the world has been depleted.
I would give everything just for one taste
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find some success.
But everything's here all out of place
No matter how hard I try, nothing seems to fit.
Losing my memory
I'm struggling to remember who I am and what I want.
Saving my face
I'm attempting to maintain my dignity despite my struggles.
I'm listening to what you say
I'm trying to be receptive to outside advice.
Even though I look the other way
I may seem disinterested or aloof, but I'm still listening.
But you could never understand
It's impossible for you to truly comprehend my situation.
The feeling of what I'm needing
I'm searching for something that cannot be described in words.
Losing the best of me
I'm losing the positive aspects of myself to my struggles.
Give it all to me
I'm willing to take on the challenges.
I will do the right thing
I'm determined to make good choices.
Baby I'll be everything I need
I'm embracing self-sufficiency.
Leave it all to me
I'm capable of handling the situation.
I will do the right thing
I'm committed to making good choices.
Saving my face
I'm maintaining my dignity despite my struggles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KATIE TUNSTALL, KT TUNSTALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fortnitemare
Lyrics
See the look on my face,
From staying too long in one place
And everytime I try to leave
I find I keep on stalling
Feel like a big old stone
Standing by a strength of my own
But everytime the morning breaks
I know I'm closer to falling
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of fatih
I would give everything just for one taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
I'm saving my face
I'm listening to what you say
Even though I look the other way
But you could never understand
The feeling of what I'm needing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Saving my face
Saving my face
Ooh yeah yeah etc etc
Saving my face
Give it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Leave it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Give it all to em
I will do the right thing
I will do the right thing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Losing the best of me
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give everything just for a taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory and saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Antigoneila
See the look on my face,
From staying too long in one place
And everytime I try to leave
I find I keep on stalling
Feel like a big old stone
Standing by a strength of my own
But everytime the morning breaks
I know I'm closer to falling
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of fatih
I would give everything just for one taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
I'm saving my face
I'm listening to what you say
Even though I look the other way
But you could never understand
The feeling of what I'm needing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Saving my face
Saving my face
Ooh yeah yeah etc etc
Saving my face
Give it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Leave it all to me
I will do the right thing
Baby I'll be everything I need
Give it all to em
I will do the right thing
I will do the right thing
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give anything just for a taste
But everythings's here all out of place
Losing my memory and
Losing the best of me
I'm all out of luck
I'm all out of faith
I would give everything just for a taste
But everything's here all out of place
Losing my memory and saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Saving my face
Sam Valladares
The nostalgia is hitting me real hard this week. Going back to to my favorite artists. KT is one of the most underrated of all time.
Daryn Wiseman
"Drastic Fantastic" was just as good as "Eye to the Telescope." It achieved chart success upon it's release in the US & the UK, and it was generally well received among critics. It's an extremely underrated album in my opinion.
hapcimano
so if it was well received by both the critics and the general public, how was it underrated?
CharlieTheChelactivMiracleFink
@Khiron Arts Indeed: it was
Khiron Arts
A totally perfect album for the times,
kirk arnold
she was underrated then, now no one remembers how good she was.
evil alien
Saw her live a couple of weeks ago, she's incredible
stephen vernor
She was and still is fantastic
66stormbreaker
Purtroppo, e stato vero
RR CC
Jokes on you this played today on the biggest radio station in my country half an ocean away. She is timeless