Their music can be described as guitar-based singer-songwriter rock or folk-rock. It ranges from very delicate and intimate singer-songwriter songs to songs that are stronger, more active and louder. Sam’s smoky, enigmatic voice is the band's best known characteristic. In the seven years between The Great Subconscious Club and Almost Happy the music changed from raw and guitar-based to a more subtle and delicate sound. Sam and Gert write most of the music and lyrics. Most of it is written separately.
Sam mainly tries to express ideas in his songs, and has a hand in writing silly and tongue-in-cheek songs. Gert has one big theme: losing the one you love. While most of the songs are easily accessible and open, some others are strange and incomprehensible. This led Sam to comment: "Listening to the lyrics in the first time, you may find it hard to understand their meaning. When you listen to them a second time you may sense a basic truth in these cryptic words. If you do so, please let me know."
This band appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Doppelgangland) with the song Virgin State of Mind, leading to a boost in popularity.Their most popular song 'Not an addict' can be heard in the movie 'Wild things'.
K's Choice fifth studio album, "Echo Mountain" (after the studios where it was recorded - Echo Mountain Studios in North Carolina) was released on 26 March 2010, with singles "When I Lay Beside You" and "Come Live The Life" being released from the album.
2016 marked the band's first US tour in over 10 years, which the band releasing an accompanying sessions album - The Backpack Sessions later in the year.
In January 2017, the band released a stripped-back re-recording of "Not an Addict." It featured Skin of Skunk Anansie as a guest vocalist, who had previously performed the song live with the group on several occasions.
On 16 March 2018, the band released a live album entitled "Live at the Ancienne Belgique", recorded at a concert (in Dec 2017) in Brussels during the 25th Anniversary tour.
In May 2019, Sam Bettens came out as a trans man.
Everything for Free
K's Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you seem very nice
So will you talk to me
Shall I tell you a story
Shall I tell you a dream
They think I'm crazy
They don't know that I like it here
It's nice in here
Have you been here before
Shall I show you around
It's really pretty
Have you come here to stay
Well you sure picked a day
My name is Billy
It's my birthday, you're invited
To my party down the hall
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
I'm not troubled or sad
I'm just ready for bed
It's been a long day
Before they switch off the lights
That truly was a delight
They think I'm crazy
They don't know that I like it here
It's nice in here
I get everything for free
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
everything for free
I don't know who you are
But you seem very nice
So will you talk to me
Have you been here before
Well you sure picked a day
they think I'm crazy
The lyrics of K's Choice's "Everything for Free" evoke a sense of loneliness tinged with a hint of insanity. The singer appears to be in a mental institution and strikes up a conversation with a new person, someone who "seems very nice." The singer invites this person to their room and offers to tell them a story or a dream. But the line "They think I'm crazy" suggests that the singer's state of mind is unstable, and it's unclear whether their perceptions of reality can be trusted.
However, the singer does seem to find comfort in their environment, claiming that they "like it here," and that "it's nice in here." They live in a place where everything is provided for them, and they don't have to worry about anything. The offer to show the new person around suggests that the singer is lonely and craving some interaction with the outside world.
The song's last lines are particularly poignant. The singer acknowledges that they don't know where they're going or who they'll become, but they're sure of one thing: they'll get everything for free. This could be interpreted in a few different ways — maybe the singer is delusional and believes they'll always be taken care of, or maybe they believe that they'll always have access to their basic needs. Either way, it's a powerful statement about how much control we have over our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know who you are
The singer is addressing an unknown person and expressing their lack of knowledge about them.
But you seem very nice
Despite not knowing the person, the singer finds them to be pleasant.
So will you talk to me
The singer is requesting conversation from the person.
Shall I tell you a story
The artist is offering to share a story with the person.
Shall I tell you a dream
The artist is offering to share a dream with the person.
They think I'm crazy
The singer acknowledges that others perceive them as abnormal.
They don't know that I like it here
Despite others thinking the singer is crazy, they actually enjoy their current situation.
It's nice in here
The artist finds their current environment to be pleasant.
I get everything for free
The artist is taking advantage of the resources provided to them without cost.
Have you been here before
The artist is asking the person if they have visited the current location previously.
Shall I show you around
The singer offers to provide a tour of the location.
It's really pretty
The artist finds the location to be aesthetically pleasing.
Have you come here to stay
The singer is asking the person if they plan to remain in the location for an extended period.
Well you sure picked a day
The singer is expressing that the current day is a good one for the person to visit, possibly due to a special event like a birthday party.
My name is Billy
The singer introduces themselves as Billy.
It's my birthday, you're invited
The artist informs the person that it is their birthday and invites them to a party.
To my party down the hall
The artist informs the person that the party is located nearby down the hall.
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
The singer admits to uncertainty about their future path and identity.
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
Despite uncertainty about their future, the singer is confident in their ability to obtain resources without cost.
I'm not troubled or sad
The artist assures the person that they are not distressed or upset.
I'm just ready for bed
The artist is indicating that they are tired and ready to sleep.
It's been a long day
The artist is reflecting on the length of their day.
Before they switch off the lights
The singer is referring to a specific event, possibly the end of the day or the closing of a facility, when lights will be turned off.
That truly was a delight
The artist found something enjoyable or pleasing that they reflect on positively.
everything for free
A repetition of the phrase that emphasizes the singer's ability to obtain resources without cost.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GERT BETTENS, SARAH BETTENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bagaya
I don't know who you are
But you seem very nice
So will you talk to me
Shall I tell you a story
Shall I tell you a dream
They think I'm crazy
They don't know that I like it here
It's nice in here
I get everything for free
Have you been here before
Shall I show you around
It's really pretty
Have you come here to stay
Well you sure picked a day
My name is Billy
It's my birthday, you're invited
To my party down the hall
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
I'm not troubled or sad
I'm just ready for bed
It's been a long day
Before they switch off the lights
That truly was a delight
They think I'm crazy
They don't know that I like it here
It's nice in here
I get everything for free
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
Where I'll go, what I'll become or who I am or what I'll be I'll never know
But I am sure that I'll get everything for free
everything for free
I don't know who you are
But you seem very nice
So will you talk to me
Have you been here before
Well you sure picked a day
they think I'm crazy
WarmothGuitarist
My wife and I actually had the incredible privilege of seeing K'S Choice live back in 2003. The venue changed at the last minute, so there only ended up being about 30 people there. After the show, while everyone else was leaving, my wife and I were still having drinks. Sarah and Gert came over to our table and struck up a conversation with us. We ended up chatting with them for about thirty minutes, just shooting the proverbial shit, telling stories, and having laughs. We told them we were sorry that more people couldn't make it because of the venue change, and Sarah said "we've traveled all over the world playing to large crowds at festivals, and we actually prefer playing to small groups these days. Better interaction with the fans that way". After their crew finished loading their stuff, they autographed a few things, gave us hugs, and out the door they went. Kind of cool to get to hang out with a band in a small venue after seeing them six years earlier at a large festival where I couldn't get within 200 feet of them.
Eric
That is flippin amazing, man!!! Thank you for sharing such an awesome-ass story!!
Luey Sixty-six
Sick
Eugenia Ferreira
I met them over 20 years ago. So easy to talk to. We were such a small group so i totally agree with you with small venues. 😊
Rosa Lieckens
@branscombe chave haha same, I know them in person from when I was little, but haven’t seen them in a while. Hi, from Belgium
branscombe chave
@Rosa Lieckens ah OK.. i'd love to jam one day with Sam and gert.. hi from tahiti
Jason Davis
Man, I miss the days when stuff like this was played on the radio in America. Alternative/Modern Rock on the radio... I miss you!
SolidBerSerKer2
@denmasxe so true I am From France and I feel the same although I must confess I discovered this bland cause they were in several episodes of Buffy the vampire slayer …. Ahhh good times ahah
Dylan Thibert
I've always loved this song and video so brilliant i do not not believe the bands name is random and meaningless K is a reference to Kafka's main protagtanist in most of his work, unless anyone else has another theory
denmasxe
In Europe too. All mainstream songs seem the same and trash today