K's Choice
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K's Choice is the name of Belgian rock band from Antwerp, Belgium. The band centers around siblings Sarah (lead vocals, guitar) and Gert Bettens (guitar, keyboard, vocals). They are joined by Eric Grossman (Bass), Jan van Sichem Jr. (guitar) and Koen Liekens (Drums).
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Band history
In the beginning of the nineties Sarah and Gert played in an amateur band, the Basement Plugs. This lead to the discovery of Sarah, who was offered a chance by a label; mainly because of her smokey, enigmatic voice. Under a more English name, Sarah Beth, she appeared on several movie soundtracks with covers including I'm so lonesome I could cry (originally by Hank Williams) for the movie Vrouwen Willen Trouwen (Women Want To Marry) and a duet with Frankie Miller Why don't you try me, (originally by Ry Cooder) for the movie Ad Fundum. She was offered a contract and formed a band with her brother Gert. The band was named The Choice and in 1993 they recorded their debut album The Great Subconscious Club.
In 1994 the band has five more or less permanent members: Sarah and Gert, Jan van Sichem Jr (guitar), Koen Liekens (drums) and Erik Verheyden (Bass). These five toured Germany and the US, supporting the Indigo Girls, an American Folk-Rock band. When they came to the US another group with the name The Choice, forced the band to change their name; they decided that K's Choice would capture the spirit of the band. K refers to Joseph K. from Kafka's the Trial. In the book Joseph K. has no choices, so the name is meant ironically, as a strange, incomprehensible impossibility, like many of their songs.
In 1995 they record Paradise in Me. Not an Addict, a single taken from this album was very successful and brings international fame. At that point Bart van der Zeeuw has replaced Koen Liekens on drums and bass players continually change. For the next year (1996-1997) they tour supporting Alanis Morissette, who heard the band playing on European festivals. In 1998 Cocoon Crash, their third album is finished. Meanwhile American Eric Grosman has become the permanent bass player. In 2000 their last studio-album Almost Happy is finished. Koen Liekens has returned as drummer. In 2001 Live (a 2-CD collection of live recordings) is in stores, and in 2003 Ten (a collection of ten years of singles and songs that didn't appear on their albums) is too, it is accompanied by a DVD with the same name.
In 2003 the band decides to take a year off. Gert and Sarah both want to try out some solo work. Gert produces an album (for a Belgian band, Venus in Flames) and Sarah records a solo mini-CD Go and appears on several movie soundtracks now with songs of her own (All of This Past for Underworld and Someone to say Hi to for the Zus and Zo). Except for four full albums, a live album and a best of they also produced four limited edition and fan club CDs: Extra Cocoon, 2000 Seconds Live, Home and Running Backwards.
Music
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. Sarah's smokey, enigmatic voice is the bands 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. Sarah and Gert write most of the music and lyrics. Most of it is written separately. Sarah mainly tries to express ideas in her songs and has a hand in writing silly and tongue-in-cheeks 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 Sarah 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".
Discography
- The Great Subconscious Club (1993)
- Paradise in Me (1995)
- Cocoon Crash (1998)
- Almost Happy (2000)
- Live (2001)
- 10 (2003)
- Extra Cocoon (1998)
- 2000 Seconds Live (1998)
- Home (2001)
- Running Backwards (2003)
External links
- A fan site (http://thechoice.online.fr/)
- The official site (http://www.kschoice.com/)
- Sarah's solo site (http://www.sarahbettens.com/)