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.
Ol' 55
K's Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy, God knows, I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up, I'm riding with Lady Luck,
Stars beginning to fade,
and I leave the parade
Just a wishing I'd stayed a little longer,
Oh, don't you know, the feeling's getting stronger
It's six in the morning, you gave me no warning;
I had to be on my way
Trucks are all passing, and the lights are all flashing,
I'm on my way home from your place.
And now the sun's coming up, I'm riding with Lady Luck,
on a freeway, cars and trucks,
Stars beginning to fade,
and I leave the parade
Just a wishing I'd stayed a little longer,
Oh, don't you know, the feeling's getting stronger
On my mind all went so quickly, I went licketly splickly, out to my old '55
I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy, God knows, I was feeling alive
And now the sun's coming up, I'm riding with Lady Luck,
on a freeway, cars and trucks,
Stars beginning to fade,
and I leave the parade
Just a wishing I'd stayed a little longer,
Oh, don't you know, the feeling's getting stronger
The song "Ol' 55" by K's Choice is a cover of a Tom Waits song, first released on his album "Closing Time" in 1973. The lyrics of the song describe a late-night drive taken by the singer in his old '55 car. He is feeling alive and free as he drives away from a lover's house, but also regrets leaving and wishes he could have stayed a little longer. The reference to "licketly splickly" in the first verse is likely an onomatopoeic description of the sound of the car engine starting up and revving.
The chorus of the song describes the singer's drive on the freeway as dawn approaches. He feels like he is riding with Lady Luck and is surrounded by cars and trucks. The stars are beginning to fade and he feels like he is leaving a parade behind him. However, at the same time, the feeling of regret for leaving his lover is becoming stronger.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ol' 55" paint a picture of a bittersweet moment of freedom and regret. The singer is enjoying the thrill of driving in his old car, but also wishes he could turn back time and stay with the person he left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
On my mind all went so quickly, I went licketly splickly, out to my old '55
My thoughts moved rapidly and impulsively, so I swiftly went out to go for a drive in my classic car.
I pulled away slowly, feeling so holy, God knows, I was feeling alive
I left at a leisurely pace, feeling a sense of purity and life as I began my ride.
And now the sun's coming up, I'm riding with Lady Luck, on a freeway, cars and trucks, Stars beginning to fade, and I leave the parade
As the sun rises, I feel like I have good fortune on my side cruising on the highway amidst other vehicles, observing the disappearing stars; I sense the time to move on from the current situation has come.
Just a wishing I'd stayed a little longer, Oh, don't you know, the feeling's getting stronger
I regret not staying longer, and the desire to remain is becoming more intense.
It's six in the morning, you gave me no warning; I had to be on my way
I had to leave because you didn't give me any notice, and it's already six in the morning.
Trucks are all passing, and the lights are all flashing, I'm on my way home from your place.
Trucks are all driving past me, lights glaring, and now I'm returning home from where I was previously.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
oitoouoitenta
one of the few times a cover hits perfection and is quite better than the original (though the cd image on the video has nothing to do with the music:)) thanks for posting
parisol78
Sarah is the ONLY human alive that could even contemplate singing an Eagles tune.
James Gilmer
@parisol78 It's actually a Tom Waits' song that the Eagles covered.
Ben Pittoors
the eagles even stole the chord progression for Hotel California from Jethro Tulls "We used to know".
Charles Bonds
Brodie Lee R.I.P.