(Still a) Weirdo
Encyclopedia
" Weirdo" is a song by Scottish recording artist KT Tunstall
. It was released as the UK lead single from her third studio album Tiger Suit
(2010), on 26 September 2010. Written by Tunstall herself and Greg Kurstin
, and produced by Kurstin, the song is an acoustic rock ballad and talks about still the same (weird) person after many years. It received critical acclaim, with the majority of the critics complimented Tunstall for the ability to make an intelligent, simple and song. It charted inside the top-forty on the UK Singles Chart
and charted also on the Belgian charts. In the music video, Tunstall travels back in time to the 1960s.
gave a positive review and rated the song with 4 stars out of 5. He says that "in the decidedly less jazzy hands of KT Tunstall
, it becomes a sweetly self-deprecating and quietly optimistic little ditty about accepting your faults and making the best of it. 'I don't always get it right, but a thousand different ways and I just might,' she sings over an off-kilter and subtly inventive mix of piano, vocal loops and beatbox beats that has a wee hint of The X Files theme to it. The overall effect is not unlike getting a bear hug and being told you're OK really by your best mate the morning after you disgraced yourself down the local in front of your ex - in short, just lovely." Matthew Horton from BBC Music
said that: "More surprising is (Still A) Weirdo, a quirky slice of Beatlesy clever-pop that recalls Elliott Smith
". Greg Kot from Entertainment Weekly
said,:"Tunstall keeps enough off-kilter grit in her voice to make the claim in (Still a) Weirdo stick". Victoria Dillingham from musicOMH
gave a extremely positive review for the song, saying: "The pre-released single (Still A) Weirdo is a light playful track which prompts comparisons with the likes of Feist, Allie Moss
and electronica/folk favourites Peter Bjorn And John
. As infectious as it is original, this is easily the standout track of the album and exemplifies best the Brit Award winner's ability to marry disparate styles as well as her desire to experiment with her sound, aided and abetted by a revised band and Arctic Monkeys
producer Jim Abbiss
". Charlotte Andrews from The Guardian
said: "The sweetly reflective first single (Still a) Weirdo – affirm Tunstall's skill at penning catchy yet credible pop hits".
, on 20 September, 2010.
. It was directed by Paul Minor and was shot in Columbia, Tennessee
, and shows Tunstall in the 1960s, walking around a town with her guitar.
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
. It was released as the UK lead single from her third studio album Tiger Suit
Tiger Suit
Tiger Suit is the third studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. It was released by Relentless Records in Ireland on 24 September 2010, in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2010 and in the United States and Canada on 5 October 2010...
(2010), on 26 September 2010. Written by Tunstall herself and Greg Kurstin
Greg Kurstin
Gregory Allen "Greg" Kurstin is an award-winning American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 Kurstin received a Grammy Award nomination for Producer of the Year. That same year he won three Ivor Novello awards for his work with Lily Allen, including Songwriters of the Year for "The Fear"...
, and produced by Kurstin, the song is an acoustic rock ballad and talks about still the same (weird) person after many years. It received critical acclaim, with the majority of the critics complimented Tunstall for the ability to make an intelligent, simple and song. It charted inside the top-forty on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and charted also on the Belgian charts. In the music video, Tunstall travels back in time to the 1960s.
Background
The song was described as a "heartfelt piece of self-assessment". Tunstall explained to MusicRemedy.com that the lyrics of this song are some of her most personal. "It's one of those rare moments where you can see yourself objectively and look into your own emotional machinery and realize what you are."Reception
Nick Levine from Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
gave a positive review and rated the song with 4 stars out of 5. He says that "in the decidedly less jazzy hands of KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, it becomes a sweetly self-deprecating and quietly optimistic little ditty about accepting your faults and making the best of it. 'I don't always get it right, but a thousand different ways and I just might,' she sings over an off-kilter and subtly inventive mix of piano, vocal loops and beatbox beats that has a wee hint of The X Files theme to it. The overall effect is not unlike getting a bear hug and being told you're OK really by your best mate the morning after you disgraced yourself down the local in front of your ex - in short, just lovely." Matthew Horton from BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
said that: "More surprising is (Still A) Weirdo, a quirky slice of Beatlesy clever-pop that recalls Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
". Greg Kot from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
said,:"Tunstall keeps enough off-kilter grit in her voice to make the claim in (Still a) Weirdo stick". Victoria Dillingham from musicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
gave a extremely positive review for the song, saying: "The pre-released single (Still A) Weirdo is a light playful track which prompts comparisons with the likes of Feist, Allie Moss
Allie Moss
Allie Moss is a New Jersey singer, vocal coach and guitarist. She released her own EP Passerby in 2009. In 2011, Moss released her debut album "Late Bloomer". She regularly performs as lead guitarist for singer/songwriter and friend Ingrid Michaelson...
and electronica/folk favourites Peter Bjorn And John
Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John are a Swedish indie rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1999 and named after the first names of the band's members: Peter Morén , Björn Yttling and John Eriksson .They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks", which...
. As infectious as it is original, this is easily the standout track of the album and exemplifies best the Brit Award winner's ability to marry disparate styles as well as her desire to experiment with her sound, aided and abetted by a revised band and Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
producer Jim Abbiss
Jim Abbiss
Jim Abbiss is a British music producer, best known for his work on records including Arctic Monkeys' Mercury Music Prize winning debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Ladytron's Witching Hour, Sneaker Pimps' debut Becoming X, Editors' debut The Back Room, Kasabian's...
". Charlotte Andrews from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said: "The sweetly reflective first single (Still a) Weirdo – affirm Tunstall's skill at penning catchy yet credible pop hits".
Promotion
Tunstall performed the song on This MorningThis Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
, on 20 September, 2010.
Music video
The music video premiered on 17 August 2010, on Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. It was directed by Paul Minor and was shot in Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
, and shows Tunstall in the 1960s, walking around a town with her guitar.
Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|