Formed: 1982 (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) - Disbanded: 1987
Initially f… Read Full Bio ↴Formed: 1982 (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) - Disbanded: 1987
Initially formed as "Pleasant Time Trio" to the occasion of raising the curtain for a performance of jazz artist "George Adams And The Don Pullen Quartet".
"K.I.E.M." is an abbreviation of "Klank Improvisatie Elektronische Muziek" (Sound Improvisation Electronic Music). Their immediate success led to performances on jazz, rock and experimental stages and festivals (Tegentonen, North Sea Jazz, Pandora's Music Box) and modest dance-hits in the Netherlands.
Most remarkable about Kiem is Cees Meurs' metal drum-kit consisting of oil-drums, garbage bin, anvil, anchor-chains and other remains from the wrecked tow-boat "Corrie". This drum-kit –played like normal drums– accompanied by a squeaking saxophone (Ger Van Voorden), a synthetic keyboard and proclaiming vocals (Huub Kentie) result a sound that might be type-casted as industrial, but also has jazz and experimental charactarisics.
Ger Van Voorden leaves the band in 1986 to play with poet/drummer Jules Deelder. He is replaced by Jos Valster.
Growing into a more popular sound, bigger succes followed in Southern Europe (The Moneyman, 1987).

Official KIEM website: www.kiemrotterdam.nl

Don't Stop
Kiem Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you have that lonesome feeling, that lonesome feeling inside
If you have that lonesome feeling, that lonesome feeling tonight
Don't stop being human
Don't stop being human
Don't stop being human tonight
Don't stop being human
Don't stop being human
Don't stop being human tonight

Don't stop being human
Don't stop being human tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kiem's song 'Don't stop' talk about feeling lonely and urging the listeners not to stop being human, even when experiencing negative emotions. The repetition of the phrase "if you have that lonesome feeling," emphasizes the universality of this feeling and lets the listeners know that they are not alone. Kiem suggests that it is perfectly natural to feel lonesome and that we shouldn't suppress our emotions by trying to be anything other than human.

The phrase "don't stop being human" can be interpreted in two different ways. On the one hand, it can mean that we should keep being ourselves, keep showing our true humanity, even when we feel vulnerable. On the other hand, it could also mean that we shouldn't forget our humanity, that our emotions and feelings are what make us human.

The repetition of the lyrics of the song, especially the refrain "don't stop being human tonight" emphasizes that the message of the song is essential and needs to be repeated. Kiem's song is a call for self-acceptance and authenticity, perhaps suggesting that it is only when we acknowledge our emotions, even when they are uncomfortable, that we can move past them.

Line by Line Meaning

If you have that lonesome feeling, that lonesome feeling inside
If you feel lonely and isolated inside

If you have that lonesome feeling, that lonesome feeling tonight
If you feel lonely and isolated tonight

Don't stop being human
Don't lose your humanity

Don't stop being human tonight
Don't lose your humanity tonight

Don't stop being human
Don't lose your humanity

Don't stop being human tonight
Don't lose your humanity tonight

Don't stop being human
Don't lose your humanity

Don't stop being human tonight
Don't lose your humanity tonight

Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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