The duo has released nine studio albums so far: Under Feet Like Ours (1999), This Business of Art (2000), If It Was You (2002), So Jealous (2004), The Con (2007), Sainthood (2009), Heartthrob (2013), Love You to Death (2016) and Hey, I'm Just Like You (2019). They also issued the live album/DVD Get Along in 2011 and their memoir High School in 2019.
Tegan and Sara initially played as Plunk in 1995, and lacked a drummer and bass player. In 1997, they used their school’s recording studio to record two demo albums: Who's in Your Band? and Play Day.
In 1998, they made an early breakthrough by winning Garage Warz Battle of the Bands, a local music competition in Calgary. Since then, the two have toured with Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, Kaki King, The Pretenders, Ben Folds, The Killers, Rachael Cantu, Vivek Shraya, Cake, Gogol Bordello, Hot Hot Heat, Ryan Adams, Veda Hille, Little Birdy, Iron On, Little Brazil, Bryan Adams, and Weezer, and they performed a show at Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair.
They are signed to Neil Young's Vapor Records in Canada, and to Sire in the United States as their previous label, Sanctuary Records, is no longer releasing new music in the United States.
When they were competing in Garage Warz, they were known as "Sara and Tegan" because that is how their mother registered them on the competition forms. Their first album, Under Feet Like Ours, was initially released under the name "Sara and Tegan". While both twins are similarly involved in vocals and playing instruments, the singing of the lead melody usually goes to whichever twin wrote the particular song. The two hardly sang together in the recordings of their early records, but they started to more on their later records and when live.
On their 2004 album, So Jealous, the two lend their unusual voices and simple guitar riffs to power pop ballads about love and emotional, haunting songs such as "Walking With a Ghost".
The fifth album, The Con, released July 24, 2007, showed a shift in style towards darker tunes compared to the relatively upbeat indie pop of So Jealous. The singles "Back in Your Head", "The Con" and "Call It Off" were issued to support the album. The twins toured the album for over a year and a half.
Their sixth studio album, entitled Sainthood, was released on October 27th, 2009, to generally positive reviews. The album included the singles "Hell", "Alligator", "On Directing" and "Northshore".
Tegan and Sara also collaborated with many other artists, including Tiësto for the single "Feel It in My Bones" (from the album Kaleidoscope, 2009), and Morgan Page for the single "Body Work" (from the album In the Air, 2012).
"Closer", the first single from their seventh album was produced by Californian pop producer Greg Kurstin. The song was made available for download September 25, 2012. On 29 January 2013, Tegan and Sara released their seventh studio album, Heartthrob.
The duo's eighth studio album, titled Love You To Death, was released on 3 June 2016. The lead single Boyfriend was released on 8 April. Greg Kurstin returned as the producer.
On October 20, 2017, the duo released a compilation album titled Tegan and Sara Present the Con X: Covers, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Con. The compilation contains covers of each song performed by various artists, as well as a previously unreleased demo “Miami Still”, performed by the duo. The proceeds of the record and subsequent tour benefitted the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which raises money for self-identified women and girls in the LGBTQ community.
The duo released their memoir, High School, on 27 September 2019. It recounts their childhood and adolescence growing up in Alberta in the 1990s as well as their musical beginnings. The book debuted at number fifteen on The New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction best-sellers list. Along with the book, Tegan and Sara's released their ninth studio album, Hey, I'm Just Like You, which contains re-recordings of unreleased demo songs that the duo recorded as teenagers. The record was produced by Alex Hope and is the first Tegan and Sara record produced, performed, engineered, mixed, and mastered by a team of all women. The band embarked on a US, Canada and UK tour to promote the book and album, playing mostly acoustically, reading excerpts from the book and incorporating old video footage from the band's teenage years.
The current live touring band members include Ted Gowans (guitar; 2004-present), Jasper Leak (bass; 2012-present), John Spence (keyboards; 2012-present), and Adam Christgau (drums; 2013-present). Former live touring band members include Johnny Andrews (drums; 2006-2010), Shaun Huberts (bass; 2007-2010), Dan Kelly (bass; 2007), Chris Carlson (bass; 2001-2005), Rob Chursinoff (drums; 2001-2005) and Jason McGerr (drums; 2012).
Official site: http://www.teganandsara.com
Clever Meals
Tegan and Sara Lyrics
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They're desperate for you
And as they sit out there all sly and sure
Does anyone feel as they do
I'm quite sure we'll find one another
In a place better than this
A time filled with us
And we'll send up our shooting stars and comets
We'll make our little comments
This song is my anthem and it makes up my ideals
And who I am
Has benefited from
All my cleverly planned meals
I'm stripped and vital
And I see rules that almost fit
And if I voice my opinion
Will you stay and sit
And as I stand here screaming in despair
I say yes this is my life
And yes you should care
This song is my anthem and it makes up my ideals
And who I am has benefited from
All my cleverly planned meals
Hardly happy at all
And I'm ready to take the fall
We pay for the stupid things
We've done where I come from
Can you sit through this
Or is it gonna be too deep
Will you ever use common sense
I hear it comes pretty cheap
And if I speak more clearly
If I make more sense
Will you shut your mouth
You won't come across so dense
Close your eyes and then you free your mind
You're free to fly
The lyrics of Tegan and Sara's song Clever Meals seem to explore themes of desperation, love and self-identity. The first stanza suggests that the subject of the lyrics is sought after but not necessarily for their love and affection, rather for their presence. The following lines express a sense of longing for connection and understanding, as the subject questions if anyone else feels as they do. The chorus introduces the concept of an idealized version of oneself, developed through what the subject describes as their cleverly planned meals. The next verse references a feeling of being stripped down to a vulnerable state and the difficulty of finding a place where one truly fits.
The bridge seems to capture feelings of frustration and desperation, as the subject screams in despair about the importance of caring for their life. The final lines encourage the listener to close their eyes and free their mind, embracing the idea of self-reflection and potential for growth.
Overall, the song appears to be a reflection on the complex journey of self-discovery, and the ways in which we construct and break down our identities in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
They aren't desperate for love and affection
Tegan and Sara don't crave romantic love, but they are longing for someone specific.
They're desperate for you
The twins desire to be with a particular person who they can't have.
And as they sit out there all sly and sure
Observing from afar, Tegan and Sara have confidence, but there's uncertainty in their love life.
Does anyone feel as they do
They wonder if someone else can understand their feelings.
I'm quite sure we'll find one another
Tegan and Sara are confident that they'll eventually end up with the person they desire.
In a place better than this
Tegan and Sara anticipate finding happiness beyond their current circumstances.
A time filled with us
They look forward to sharing a romantic relationship with the person they want to be with.
And we'll send up our shooting stars and comets
They will be celebrating and expressing their love if their desire comes true.
And we'll make our little gestures
Tegan and Sara plan to take small actions to show their love.
We'll make our little comments
They will speak quietly to show their affection.
This song is my anthem and it makes up my ideals
The song embodies Tegan and Sara's principles.
And who I am
The lyrics represent the artist's personality and character.
Has benefited from
The content of the song has positively impacted the singer's life.
All my cleverly planned meals
The things the singer has done and the choices they've made have contributed to their growth and self-discovery.
I'm stripped and vital
The singer has been humbled and feels alive.
And I see rules that almost fit
The artist is constrained by societal expectations, but they don't quite align.
And if I voice my opinion
If the artist expresses their thoughts and feelings,
Will you stay and sit
Will the listener stick around to listen and understand?
And as I stand here screaming in despair
The singer feels helpless and is in great emotional pain.
I say yes this is my life
The artist is forced to accept their current reality.
And yes you should care
The listener should sympathize and empathize with the artist because their pain is real.
Hardly happy at all
Overall, the artist is not very cheerful.
And I'm ready to take the fall
The singer is prepared to accept the consequences of their actions or decisions.
We pay for the stupid things
We must face the results of our poor choices.
We've done where I come from
The singer could be a cautionary tale for someone who comes from the same place.
Can you sit through this
The singer challenges the listener to handle the truth.
Or is it gonna be too deep
Will the listener be overwhelmed by the intensity of the singer's emotions?
Will you ever use common sense
The artist asks if the listener can think logically and critically.
I hear it comes pretty cheap
It's easy to think critically, so there's no excuse not to try.
And if I speak more clearly
The singer will try to convey their message more effectively.
If I make more sense
If the singer's message is more coherent and logical,
Will you shut your mouth
Will the listener stop interrupting and start listening?
You won't come across so dense
The artist implies that the listener would not seem so foolish if they stopped interrupting and started practicing active listening.
Close your eyes and then you free your mind
The artist suggests that if the listener stops thinking and allowing their imagination to roam free, they can have greater insights.
You're free to fly
By being open-minded, the listener can explore different ideas and possibilities.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sara Keirsten Quin, Tegan Rain Quin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind