Comprising vocalist Carol Van Dyk (vocals), Peter Visser (guitar), Herman Bunskoeke (bass) and Berend Dubbe (drums) they originally formed in 1986 as a side-project of De Artsen. After De Artsen split up in 1990, Bettie Serveert became a full-time project. Bettie Serveert released their debut album Palomine in 1992, which, fifteen years after its release, is still a modern indie rock classic, wonderfully blending together influences of Velvet Underground and Neil Young with melancholic lyrics, catchy tunes and a lo-fi-feel.
After releasing the full-length albums Lamprey (1995), Dust Bunnies (1997) and the Velvet Underground cover album Venus In Furs (1998), drummer Berend Dubbe decided to leave because of musical disagreements. He started his own samplepop-project: Bauer, receiving critical acclaim in Holland and Belgium. Various drummers took the place of Dubbe on the albums that followed (Private Suit, Log 22, Attagirl and Bare Stripped Naked). During most gigs, Gino Geudens of Belgian nineties power pop band Metal Molly, plays the drums.
For the 30th anniversary of Palomine, which is generally considered their best album, there was a re-release on Matador and a tour in 2023.
Storm
Bettie Serveert Lyrics
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We've been here before
Every other day a point of view
You look with weary eyes
Oh no, a new surprise
Don't act as if you didn't know
Feel the motions
Hard on me
And missed emotions
So in other words
How do you deal with all this hurt?
You fail to see
Hypocrisies
You feel the need
Feel the motions
Hard on me
And missed emotions
So in other words
How do you deal with all this hurt?
You fail to see
Hypocrisies
How do you deal?
How do you feel?
You feel the need
You feel in me
So hail the free
The lyrics to Bettie Serveert's "Storm" speak to the weariness and exhaustion that comes with navigating through the ups and downs of life. The opening lines, "We know the cracks of life/We've been here before," suggest that the singer has experienced hardship before and knows what to expect from it. The next line, "Every other day a point of view" implies that there are constantly new perspectives and challenges to consider, making it difficult to find stability and peace.
The second verse begins with the line, "You look with weary eyes," which suggests that the singer is addressing someone else who is also struggling. The following line, "Oh no, a new surprise/Don't act as if you didn't know" suggests that this person may not be fully acknowledging or preparing for the challenges that come their way. The repetition of the lines "You feel the need/Feel the motions/Hard on me/And missed emotions" emphasize the emotional toll that these challenges take on both the singer and the other person.
The chorus features the repeated question, "How do you deal with all this hurt?" which suggests that there is no clear answer or solution to the challenges of life. The phrase "You fail to see/Hypocrisies" implies that perhaps there are contradictions or double standards at play that make these challenges harder to manage. The final lines, "How do you deal?/How do you feel?/You feel the need/You feel in me/So hail the free" seem to acknowledge the enormity and difficulty of coping with life's challenges, while also perhaps invoking a sense of hope or freedom that may be found in acknowledging and facing these challenges head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
We know the cracks of life
We are familiar with the hardships in life and know how they can wear us down.
We've been here before
We have experienced similar situations in the past, and we are now dealing with them again.
Every other day a point of view
Every day brings a new perspective; we see things differently with each passing day.
You look with weary eyes
You appear tired and exhausted, and it's evident in the way you look at things.
Oh no, a new surprise
You are not expecting yet another challenge or complication in your life, but here it is.
Don't act as if you didn't know
Do not pretend that you are not aware of the issues and problems that we are facing together.
You feel the need
You have an urge or desire to do something, but you may not know what it is yet.
Feel the motions
You are moving forward, even though you may feel uncertain or uncomfortable.
Hard on me
This experience is challenging and difficult for me to handle emotionally.
And missed emotions
I may not be fully processing or acknowledging my emotions due to the stress of the situation.
So in other words
To put it another way, or to summarize what has already been said.
How do you deal with all this hurt?
What strategies or coping mechanisms are you using to manage the emotional pain you are experiencing?
You fail to see
You are not recognizing or acknowledging the contradictions or double standards in your behavior or beliefs.
Hypocrisies
Actions or beliefs that are inconsistent with one's professed values or beliefs.
How do you deal?
What actions or behaviors are you engaging in to manage or overcome this difficult situation?
How do you feel?
What emotions are you experiencing as a result of this challenging experience?
You feel the need
You still have that same urge or desire, but it may be more clear now what it is that you feel you need.
You feel in me
You recognize and understand my emotions, and how they are affecting me.
So hail the free
Celebrate those who are able to cope with hardships and remain resilient, despite the challenges they face.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VAN DYK, VISSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind