Musical Monday: KT Tunstall – Tiger Suit – Inside.Gamer
Written by Luck Wilson on November 5, 2022
I have a somewhat selfish streak when it comes to music. As long as an artist or band is well known there is no problem, but as soon as I discover something that is not known to the general public, I like to keep it to myself. Hopefully, through this column, I’ll manage to let that selfishness dwindle, even if it’s just a tiny bit. But… how does that work with unknown artists that almost everyone knows?
Have you ever seen such a video on YouTube, in which one or more Americans hear Dutch music? They only get really fun when one particular song comes along, namely…
2 Unlimited – Get Ready For This
IE-DE-RE American knows that number, because it is a regular fixture at sporting events. That moment when you see that instant recognition on someone’s face, I always find it very funny to see. I kind of know what that looks like, because I see it often when I start talking about my favorite singer, KT Tunstall.
Ok, before I start on the music itself, a few facts. She recently released her seventh album. The first was released waaaaaay back in 2004. It was quite a success. You can even hear two of the singles regularly on Dutch radio. Everything that came after is almost completely unknown here. So much so that the artist’s name has been forgotten by almost everyone. But still, it happens regularly that when I play the first notes of her most famous song, people respond with “Ooooooh, yes of course I know that one.” That number?
KT Tunstall – Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
I am not going to claim that it is 100% guaranteed that you will recognize the number and that you will MUST know, but the opportunity is always there. Even then I thought it was a very nice song. It had a nice rhythm and sounded a little different from the rest you heard on the radio.
The other song you might know is Suddenly I See. You can still hear this one quite often on the radio. It’s a nice upbeat song, in which her way of singing comes to the fore later on.
KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See
This series is more or less about my favorite albums. In principle, that is only partially true. They are albums that I can keep listening to. Mrs Tunstall puts me in a difficult position. Each of the first four albums has some great songs on it. The first two in particular could have been eligible for this section. Still, I opted for the third album. Strangely enough, an album that goes a bit more in the direction of pop music if you compare it with the previous one. But like I said, in this case it’s about albums that I can keep listening to, so sound very good to me. And that brings me back to my very first piece of Musical Monday, the one on Snow Patrol’s A Hundred Million Suns. I mentioned it as one of two albums that gave me the idea for this section. Yup, KT Tunstall’s third album, Tiger Suit, is the other.
The album starts off right right away. I think this song has a very nice rhythm. Only… in all the years I’ve been listening to this song I’ve never Googled the name. Uummannaq turns out to be a place in Greenland. Well… place? Place! The village I live in is almost five times bigger.
KT Tunstall – Uummannaq Song
Glamor Puss is something I always enjoy whistling with. On the one hand, it’s not a very special song, but it’s just easy to listen to.
KT Tunstall – Glamor Puss
Push That Knot Away is one of the best songs on the album. It starts off really fast, gets dressed up a bit sooner, but just when it takes a step back it gets a bit rockier. Definitely one of my favourites.
KT Tunstall – Push That Knot Away
When you hear the beginning of Difficulty, you first think you are dealing with a very bad contemporary pop song. That confused me at first too. But when it gets going (if you can call it that) it still remains a fairly quiet song. Different, but tasty.
KT Tunstall – Difficulty
Fade Like A Shadow is just a really catchy song. That doesn’t mean it’s corny right away, because KT’s (I may say KT) vocals are just good. This will never bore me.
KT Tunstall – Fade Like A Shadow
Lost is one of those songs that starts off ‘bare’, but gradually gets expanded. I always like that. Don’t immediately show all your cards, but slowly but surely surprise the listener.
KT Tunstall – Lost
Easily the most KT Tunstall-esque song on the entire record. Compared to her previous work, at least. Nicely funky, upbeat and wonderful to drum on the steering wheel of the car. Just make sure you stay within the lines and keep an eye on the other traffic.
KT Tunstall – Come On, Get In
Very special song, although the title was already a bit of a giveaway of course. Apart from that it is very quiet and nice to listen to.
KT Tunstall – (Still A) Weirdo
Next week we’re going to have a good laugh!
From this point on, I’ll just happily link all my favorite songs by Ms. Tunstall. There are just too many that I really like. Starting with my favorite song, which is still on her first album. I think this is a great song. Music good, vocals good, pretty relaxed. Up to this point I was listening without headphones. I’m going to change that.
Well, that’s better. Enjoy slumped down.
KT Tunstall – Other Side Of The World
In March 2019 she performed in Paradiso, Amsterdam. It was the second time I saw her live. I then recorded a short part of this song as a memory. I sometimes see people with their phone up all the time. Personally, I prefer to enjoy the music in the moment.
Kingoftherain – Short clip of KT Tunstall’s Other Side Of The World
February 17, 2023 she is back in the Netherlands. You bet I’ll be there again!
She sometimes has a bit of a special way of singing. Another Place To Fall is a good example of this. I always think it’s something to have and unfortunately I miss it a bit on her last few albums.
KT Tunstall – Another Place To Fall
It’s time for some rest again. I always enjoy this. And then the chorus suddenly starts and it kind of picks up. Not that it immediately goes wild or anything, that is not the case, but she still gets a few good times.
KT Tunstall – Universe & U
I hope you don’t mind, but that moment of rest will be extended for a while. This time more in the blues-like direction. The first time I heard it, I thought the beginning was a bit like the beginning of A Bad Memory by Herman Finkers. So when Through The Dark starts, I can never resist reciting the first few sentences of A Bad Memory, ghehehe. “Every man…”
KT Tunstall – Through The Dark
Herman Finkers – A Bad Memory
Years ago when I burned a best of CD with my favorite songs of hers, it had to open with this song. I think this is one of her better songs. Smooth, dressed and with a bit of power. It was only because of the title that I realized that she probably had to come from England or something. It turned out to be Scotland. In America they write ‘favour’ without ‘u’, hence.
KT Tunstall – Little Favors
I think this song is pretty good, but it always has to get going for me. Once I’m in it, it runs just fine and unfortunately it’s over too early. Too bad.
KT Tunstall – Funnyman
Hold On is somewhat similar to Come On, Get In and that is not a punishment at all. Nice and catchy and smooth with that typical Tunstall sound and vocals. I’d love to hear more of her songs like this in the future, but I’m afraid that won’t be happening anytime soon.
KT Tunstall – Hold On
Saving My Face reminds me a bit more of Fade Like A Shadow. More of a nice pop song that you can sing along to and drum along to. Sorry, send.
KT Tunstall – Saving My Face
Lately I’ve suddenly really enjoyed playing this song first on my way home to work. Somehow I think this is a perfect song to clear your head. When I hear the first notes, I also see myself driving away from the parking lot. Completely zen.
KT Tunstall – Invisible Empire
No Better Shoulder climbs up slowly. It starts off quietly and gradually gets new instruments and sounds. In principle, it will not be faster, but it will be busier. At the end it is even quite wild for her.
KT Tunstall – No Better Shoulder
One of my favorite songs to listen to in the car on the highway in the summer is Don Henley’s The Boys Of Summer. So I was a bit hesitant when I found out she had covered it. In retrospect I didn’t have to worry at all, because with her own twist I also really like it.
KT Tunstall – The Boys Of Summer
Don Henley – The Boys Of Summer
From KIN, her fifth album, her music became a bit rockier. Fortunately there were still a few nice songs here and there, but they started to get a bit rarer. Anyway, this is one of them.
KT Tunstall – It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am
To be honest, I only really discovered Run On Home this year. The vocals right before the chorus remind me a bit of The Beatles. They sometimes sang like that.
KT Tunstall – Run On Home
Was it possible? Had she made another song with that special singing style of hers? That was really nice to hear again. I think this is a beautiful song. Funnily enough, I still think the chorus is the weakest link, hahaha.
KT Tunstall – Love Is An Ocean
Do you hear this? Sounds quite different, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, I’m a little less impressed with it. Maybe that’s because I’m quite dependent on the older work, but I still think this song has something. And unlike Love Is An Ocean, In This Body has a wonderful chorus and that takes the song to greater heights.
KT Tunstall – In This Body
I feel it. We need a moment to cool down. Don’t worry, Tiny Love will take care of that. After about three minutes it seems as if the song has ended, but it continues for another minute and a half with a slightly different sound.
KT Tunstall – Tiny Love
I know, I’ve put you through quite a few KT Tunstall songs. But what does KT actually stand for? Really very simple. Katie, just written differently. Her first name is also just Kate. The reason? By the time she broke through, Katy Perry and Katie Melua were already quite popular and she didn’t want to be just another Katie/Katy, so she adapted it so that it at least differed in writing and stood out. It doesn’t always have to be difficult.
Ok, one more then, but not necessarily one that I really like. More because I find it somehow different and funny. Come on, the chorus is catchy. Anyone happen to be familiar with the corona crisis? Yes? Great, I don’t have to explain anything.
KT Tunstall Ft. Grace Savage and The Freelance Hellraiser – Was Ya Hands
