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.
Shadowman
K's Choice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll say yes when I mean no
And any time tomorrow
The sun will cease to shine
There's a shadowman who told me so
Any time tomorrow the rain will play a part
Of a play I used to know
Used to know it all by heart
But a shadowman inside has let it go
Oh no, let go of my hand
Oh no, not now I'm down, my friend
You came to me anew
Or was it me who came to you
Shadowman (2x)
Any time tomorrow a part of me will die
And a new one will be born
Any time tomorrow
I'll get sick of asking why
Sick of all the darkness I have worn
Any time tomorrow
I will try to do what's right
Making sense of all I can
Any time tomorrow
I'll pretend to see the light
I just might,
Shadowman,
Oh here's the sun again
Isn't it appealing to recline
Get blinded and to go into the light again
Doesn't it make you sad
To see so much love denied
See nothing but a shadowman inside
Oh no, let go of my hand
Oh no, not now I'm down, my friend
You came to me anew
Or was it me who came to you
Shadowman
Oh, if you're coming down to rescue me
Now would be perfect
Please, if you're coming down to rescue me
Now would be perfect
(repeat several times)
The lyrics to K's Choice's song Shadowman describe a struggle with inner demons and a constant battle to keep them at bay. The singer of the song acknowledges that any time tomorrow, they will put on a front and pretend to be okay even when they are not. The shadowman is the inner voice that tells them the sun will cease to shine and that rain will play a part in a play they used to know. This suggests that the person is struggling to hold onto a sense of familiarity and routine, and that things feel unpredictable and uncertain because of their inner turmoil.
The chorus of the song repeatedly asks the shadowman to let go of the singer's hand, implying that they are ready to let go of the darkness that haunts them. The singer also acknowledges that any time tomorrow, a part of them will die, and a new one will be born. This suggests that they are aware of the need for change and growth, even though it may be painful.
The lyrics to K's Choice's Shadowman are rich with meaning and paint a vivid picture of the struggle to overcome inner demons. They remind us that it is okay to feel vulnerable and that we are capable of change and growth even when things seem dark.
Line by Line Meaning
Any time tomorrow I will lie and say I'm fine
In the future, I will pretend to be okay with my problems and keep them to myself.
I'll say yes when I mean no
I will give false answers to questions and avoid sharing my true feelings.
And any time tomorrow The sun will cease to shine
There will be tough times, when everything will look bleak like the sun is gone.
There's a shadowman who told me so
A sense of fear and negativity in my heart makes me feel like a shadowman has predicted the worst for me.
Any time tomorrow the rain will play a part Of a play I used to know Like no other
The future may have a familiar struggle but it will be distinct from the past in its way of affecting me.
Used to know it all by heart But a shadowman inside has let it go
Although I recall every detail of my problems, my fear has made me lose control over my emotions.
Oh no, let go of my hand
I am asking God or a higher power to let me go through my problems without any aid.
Oh no, not now I'm down, my friend
I am feeling low and can't rely on my instinct completely, so I want support.
You came to me anew Or was it me who came to you Shadowman (2x)
I am unsure whether my fears are real or if I am feeling this way because of my own conscience.
Any time tomorrow a part of me will die And a new one will be born
My hardships will make me lose a part of myself, but it will also help me grow as an individual.
Any time tomorrow I'll get sick of asking why Sick of all the darkness I have worn
I'll eventually get tired of searching for the reason behind my pain and agony and I'll abandon my hidden feelings.
I will try to do what's right Making sense of all I can
I want to do things correctly and tackle the difficult situation head-on to improve it.
Any time tomorrow I'll pretend to see the light
There will be some moments when I'll pretend to see hope and light even if there is none.
I just might, Shadowman, Oh here's the sun again
I may succeed and beat my fears to see the bright day tomorrow.
Isn't it appealing to recline Get blinded and go into the light again
The idea of ignoring my issues and forget everything in the world seems comforting.
Doesn't it make you sad To see so much love denied
The act of hiding your emotions can be quite disappointing when the ones you love don't understand your pain.
See nothing but a shadowman inside
I can only see the worst in myself when I choose to give in to my fears.
Oh, if you're coming down to rescue me Now would be perfect Please, if you're coming down to rescue me Now would be perfect (repeat several times)
I'm searching for a sign and keeping my hope alive that things might change and I'll get the inner strength to face my problems.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GERT BETTENS, SARAH BETTENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind