Drawing on his distinct falsetto voice, Ké can some times leave an androgynous vocal impression, but he was, and is, considered a 'heart-throb' in many parts of the world - from Italy to Korea to South America.
He is probably best known for his 1996 hit song, anti-war anthem "Strange World". The track came from his debut album, "I Am [ ]" which also featured the follow up single "Someday".
His popularity in Europe as a cult icon was cemented in part by the fact "Strange World" sold over 3 million copies, and topped radio charts in the UK, Italy and Germany as one of the most requested songs of 1996. A dance remix of the song, by Junior Vasquez, hit #1 on the Billboard dance chart.
Ké's second album was entitled "Shiny". He opted out of his multi-album contract with RCA after they refused to promote him and the record "Shiny" properly with one executive stating "he just seems too gay... ".
Rebounding on his own with a self released "Better Way of Living", which featured a duet with Macy Gray, Ke soon thereafter decided to return to his simple roots in Kansas, tending to his small farm there while being involved in Animal Welfare Issues.
Ké maintains a MySpace profile at www.myspace.com/kstrangeworld which features new tracks not found on any of his albums.
Holding On
Ké Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's no reprieve so I'll always run
Awakened from the dark, I hold it in my heart
The secrets that we keep, my aching soul must sleep
I know just how you feel, the way I'm fucked up here
But still I can't reveal the emptiness I fear
I cannot find a way, I think I'm past that day
I'm holding on... I'm holding on,
To a hope less broken
Let's watch the days go on, forget all that we've known
And as the sun goes down you'll laugh at all we've done
Just drink it all away, you'll forget every day
And as your life goes by, you'll laugh until you cry.
I'm holding on... I'm holding on,
To a life less broken...
The lyrics to Ké's "Holding On" portray a feeling of struggle and emotional turmoil. The first stanza talks about a time for oneself, where they confront what they've done and run away from it. It's like the secrets they want to keep, but they can't contain their aching soul. The second stanza is about how the singer feels like they know how the listener is feeling. They feel messed up, but they can't share with anyone the emptiness they feel. The singer has given up on finding solace and is past the point where they can't return. The chorus is about holding on to hope, keeping it alive, trying to make it work even though it feels like everything is broken.
The final stanza talks about a suggestion of letting go and drinking away the problems until one can forget them or laughing about them. The singer, in contrast, holding on to hope no matter how broken it may be. The song is a testimony of the singer's struggle with holding on to their fragile hope despite everything that's broken. It may echo the struggles of holding on to hope when it seems almost impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
A time that's for myself, I know just what I've done
I have a moment to myself and I am fully aware of my actions and their consequences.
And there's no reprieve so I'll always run
I cannot escape the results of my actions, so I am constantly on the move.
Awakened from the dark, I hold it in my heart
I have come to an understanding about something that was once hidden, and it now weighs heavy on my mind.
The secrets that we keep, my aching soul must sleep
The things we keep hidden take a toll on our souls and we try to ignore them as much as possible.
I know just how you feel, the way I'm fucked up here
I understand the pain you are in, because I am also struggling.
But still I can't reveal the emptiness I fear
Even though I understand, I cannot bring myself to admit my own emptiness.
I cannot find a way, I think I'm past that day
I don't know what to do and it seems like it might be too late.
Where there's no return, when will I ever learn?
I fear that I have reached a point of no return, and I wonder when I will finally learn from my mistakes.
I'm holding on... I'm holding on,
I am trying to hold on to something, to avoid completely falling apart.
To a hope less broken
I am holding on to a hope that is barely hanging on.
Let's watch the days go on, forget all that we've known
Let's distract ourselves from the past and live in the moment.
And as the sun goes down you'll laugh at all we've done
As we reflect on our lives, we may find ourselves laughing at some of the things we've done.
Just drink it all away, you'll forget every day
Let's drink to forget the pain and struggles of every day life.
And as your life goes by, you'll laugh until you cry.
As we age and look back on our lives, we might see the humor in some of our mistakes, but still feel sadness over lost time.
I'm holding on... I'm holding on,
I am still trying to hold on despite the pain and struggles.
To a life less broken...
I am trying to hold on to a life that is less broken than my current situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICK NEIGHER, KEVIN GRIVOIS, JOHN SHANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind