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.
Say A Prayer
K's Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody won
And everything broken
Before it even begun
Is this what your dreams held
when you first held me?
Did somebody tell you
But somebody say a prayer for me
Wish I'd do better than anyone here
Wish I'd make something out of life
Wish I'd make somebody proud
Why can't I go now
And never look back?
Do you suddenly need me
To keep your life on track?
you've done nothing, nothing,
nothing worth anything right
Holding me down in your shadow,
keeping me away from the light
And someone who'd say a prayer for me
Someone who knows how to get out of here
Someone who'd gladly step aside
to let me have some kind of life
Is this what you wanted,
Oh, mother of mine?
Did you ever listen
When your little baby cried?
Somebody say a prayer for me
Wish I'd do better than anyone here
Wish I'd make something out of life
Wish I'd make somebody proud
Is this what you wanted,
Oh, mother of mine?
Did you ever listen
when your little baby cried?
The song "Say a Prayer" by K's Choice is a poignant reflection on a difficult childhood and the search for validation and acceptance. The lyrics indicate a deep sense of disappointment and frustration with the singer's life, and a longing for something better. The verse "Is this what your dreams held, when you first held me? Did somebody tell you what a little child needs?" suggests that the singer feels as if their mother failed them in some way, and that their childhood was lacking in the love and support they needed in order to flourish.
The chorus, with its repeated plea for someone to say a prayer for the singer, underscores this sense of longing and desperation. The singer wants to be able to do better, to make something of their life and to be proud of themselves, but they feel trapped and held back by their circumstances. The line "Holding me down in your shadow, keeping me away from the light" is particularly striking, suggesting that the singer feels as if their mother's expectations and demands have prevented them from being able to shine and succeed.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the pain of unmet needs and the search for validation and acceptance - themes that will resonate with many listeners. The yearning for something better, coupled with the sense of being held back by circumstance, make for an emotionally charged and compelling piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this what you wanted?
Asking if the situation they're in is what was intended.
Nobody won
No one benefited from what happened.
And everything broken
Everything is in ruins.
Before it even begun
It all fell apart before it even started.
Is this what your dreams held
when you first held me?
Asking if the person's expectations for their child were similar to the current situation.
Did somebody tell you
what a little child needs?
Questioning if the person who raised them had proper guidance to care for them.
But somebody say a prayer for me
Wish I'd do better than anyone here
Wish I'd make something out of life
Wish I'd make somebody proud
Asking for support and guidance to be able to succeed in life.
Why can't I go now
And never look back?
Questioning why they can't leave their current situation behind.
Do you suddenly need me
To keep your life on track?
Questioning if the person who raised them is relying on them for their own stability.
you've done nothing, nothing,
nothing worth anything right
Holding me down in your shadow,
keeping me away from the light
Expressing frustration with feeling held back by someone who isn't doing anything worthwhile themselves.
And someone who'd say a prayer for me
Someone who knows how to get out of here
Someone who'd gladly step aside
to let me have some kind of life
Still hoping for someone to provide support and guidance to help them escape their current situation and live a better life.
Is this what you wanted,
Oh, mother of mine?
Did you ever listen
When your little baby cried?
Asking if the person who raised them truly cared about them and listened to their needs.
Somebody say a prayer for me
Wish I'd do better than anyone here
Wish I'd make something out of life
Wish I'd make somebody proud
Reiterating the desire for support and guidance to achieve success and make someone proud.
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.