Other Side of the World
Encyclopedia
"Other Side of the World" is a song by Scottish
singer-songwriter
KT Tunstall
and is the opening track on her debut album, Eye to the Telescope
. It was released 9 May 2005 as the second single
from that album and became her first UK Top 20, charting at #13 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 2005 in British music
). By mid-September 2006
, it was released in the United States
and Canada
as the third and final single from the album, and the Music Video was in rotation on MuchMoreMusic in Canada. It is reportedly one of KT Tunstall's favourite songs.
The song is about long distance relationships and the problems they have and how they seldom work out. It is based on a true story of two friends Tunstall had who were a couple but one lived in Scotland
the other in America
.
As an April Fool's Day joke her manager told her that another artist was about to release a song almost identical to "Other Side of the World", so they would have to shelve Tunstall's release. As she was proud of her song and fell for the prank, Tunstall joked that she would have to do something major to get him back next year.
In April and May 2007 it began to receive airplay on US radio. By early May 2007 the video played on MTV in the morning hours, and by the end of the month it played on VH1 as well.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
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...
and is the opening track on her debut album, Eye to the Telescope
Eye to the Telescope
Reviews for Eye to the Telescope were positive. Mark A. Price of PopMatters gave the album a score of 7 out of 10, noting that it manages to sound "both new and familiar", mixing influences from artists like Melissa Etheridge and Fiona Apple while adding some originality of her own...
. It was released 9 May 2005 as the second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from that album and became her first UK Top 20, charting at #13 in 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 ...
(see 2005 in British music
2005 in British music
This is a summary of 2005 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts. Average sales for a number one were 80,437 per week.-Summary:...
). By mid-September 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, it was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as the third and final single from the album, and the Music Video was in rotation on MuchMoreMusic in Canada. It is reportedly one of KT Tunstall's favourite songs.
The song is about long distance relationships and the problems they have and how they seldom work out. It is based on a true story of two friends Tunstall had who were a couple but one lived in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the other in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
As an April Fool's Day joke her manager told her that another artist was about to release a song almost identical to "Other Side of the World", so they would have to shelve Tunstall's release. As she was proud of her song and fell for the prank, Tunstall joked that she would have to do something major to get him back next year.
In April and May 2007 it began to receive airplay on US radio. By early May 2007 the video played on MTV in the morning hours, and by the end of the month it played on VH1 as well.
Critical reception
"Other Side of the World" received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard.com praised the song's "handsome, relaxed acoustic performance" and "imminently singable chorus".Track listings
- 7" REL18
- "Other Side Of The World" - 3:34
- "Morning Stars" - 2:57
- CD RELCD18
- "Other Side Of The World" - 3:34
- "Boo Hoo" - 5:09
- DVD RELDVD18
- "Other Side Of The World" (video)
- "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree" (video)
- "Throw Me A Rope" (audio)
- EU CD
- "Other Side Of The World" - 3:34
- "Throw Me A Rope"
- "Boo Hoo" - 5:09
- "Morning Stars" - 2:57
- iTunes Single
- "Other Side Of The World (Radio Version)" - 3:36
- Promo CD
- "Other Side Of The World" (Radio Version)
- "Other Side Of The World" (Instrumental)
Other appearances
- The Acoustic AlbumThe Acoustic Album (compilation)The Acoustic Album is a 2-disc compilation album released by EMI/Virgin Records in July 2006 to showcase songs heard on Virgin Radio.-Track listing:Disc 1:#Jack Johnson - "Breakdown"#Corinne Bailey Rae - "Put Your Records On"...
(2006, VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
)
Chart positions
| Chart (2005/2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 21 |
| 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 ... |
13 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
25 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 18 |