KT Tunstall: A Case Study

What happens when infectious pop music meets a scratchy, soulful voice wrapped inside the absolutely gorgeous frame of a sweet and feisty Scottish woman?

Why, you get KT Tunstall, of course.

But, I have to tell you -- I don't know if it's the sound of my Gaydar pinging or if it's entirely wishful thinking on my part, but..... well, don't you ever wonder about Ms. Tunstall?

Sure, I've heard she has a boyfriend which would suggest she's of the hetero persuasion. Alas, haven't we been there too often with a number of lovely ladies? But there's something else, some sort of energy around her that makes me think she might have cast a glance or two at the fairer, hotter of the sexes.

Please open your textbooks to page 10 and we'll start today's studies:

A) KT Tunstall's name: Check it -- "KT". It redefines the whole idea of Katies everywhere. And what gay gal doesn't enjoy to challenge the conventions and structures of hetero-normative society, especially when it comes to names? Look no further than Canadian songstress kd lang, and you'll see what I mean. I think it deserves a few Queer Points.

B) KT's Fashion: Hmm, bit of a toss-up here. For as many tough, rocker girl photo shoots there are featuring Ms. Tunstall, there's an equal number of high-femme, glam pictures to be found. However, I would argue Ms. Tunstall tends to fall in the sweet spot between the two -- most of you might know of the 'soft butch' or 'futch' image that has garnered quite a bit of public attention thanks to the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Rachel Maddow, and numerous others. If I'm not mistaken, I should think Ms. Tunstall has taken a few tips from the greats and charged it with some ample amounts of rock swagger:

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

C) KT's penchant to cover, and thereby 'queerify,' popular songs by male artists: Whoa, that was a mouthful. Or, maybe a fingerful, since I had to type out that sentence. Anyway, technicalities -- this was the main reason I even TOOK to writing this entry tonight.

I was cruising through YouTube and discovered that Ms. Tunstall, in all her wisdom and utter hotness, has chosen to take well-known songs by men and make them her own in concert. Now, this is nothing new to the music world. Covers are a way of life for some and a fun experiment for others. However, the main draw with KT Tunstall rests in the fact she opts to keep those gender pronouns in place. (E.g. When a song is written from a male perspective regarding his Lady Love, KT keeps the lyrics in tact instead of changing them to 'straighter' pronouns.) The end result is an enticing, queerer reading of popular songs that ladies EVERYWHERE can enjoy. And trust me, this gay gal right here enjoys it quite a bit.

Video 1: "Tangled Up In Blue" by: Bob Dylan 

(Note: Yes, those are suspenders she's wearing...)

Video 2: "I Want You Back" by: Jackson 5

Video 3: "My Sharona" by: The Knack

(Also featuring the lovely French singer, Keren Ann)

D) KT's Rainbow Suspenders: She wore them on the cover of her debut album. I mean, come on -- COME ON. That's some serious Queer Cred right there.

So please, PLEASE, KT -- say it IS so. Make us queer girls ecstatic. Though, even if the rumours (which, apparently I am now starting) aren't true, you know we'll support you any day of the week, just like those rainbow suspenders of yours.