The term Various Artists is used in the record industry when numerous singers and musicians collaborate on a song or collection of songs. Most often on Last.fm, compilation album tracks appear under the name of Various Artists erroneously because the individual artist is not listed in the album's ID3 information.
Compilation albums, for example.
Sometimes, single releases may be credited to Various Artists when their profits are going to charity and, usually in high-profile cases, are sometimes known by a group name. Examples include Band Aid with their releases of Do They Know It's Christmas? and USA for Africa with We Are The World.
Various Artists is also an actual performance name for Torsten Pröfrock, who runs the German DIN label. Torsten performs also as Dynamo, Erosion, Resilent, Traktor besides some others. He's a good friend of Robert Henke and since the Fall of 2004, he is a member of Monolake.
Various Artists was also a short-lived Bristol punk band formed by brothers Jonjo and Robin Key (originally from Birmingham). Other members were also simultaneously in Art Objects who went on to become The Blue Aeroplanes, the latter the Key brothers also co-wrote some songs and were involved in. When Various Artists imploded, the Key brothers went on to form Either / Or.
Various Artists also appear on tracks from musical theater soundtracks, due to the nature of having many cast members on one song, as well as an ensemble in some cases.
Àfrica
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in twelve-thirty flight
Her moonlit wings reflect the stars
That guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
"Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside
Frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The lyrics to "Africa" by Toto are about a person who hears the drums of Africa echoing in the night and feels drawn to the continent. The singer of the song is on a journey to seek some kind of salvation or cure for a deep internal fear, and is led by the moonlit wings of someone who is coming to join him on this adventure. Along the way, he stops to talk to an old man, hoping to find some ancient wisdom to guide his path. The old man tells him to hurry, because what he is seeking is waiting for him. As they travel further into Africa, the singer feels increasingly connected to the land and its wild animals.
Despite the singer's deep longing for Africa and his quest for self-discovery, he also struggles with the fear of what he has become. This tension is reflected in the line "I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become." Ultimately, the singer realizes that he needs to take his time to do the things he's never done before, and that the journey itself is just as important as reaching his destination.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the drums echoing tonight
The singer hears the sound of drums in the distance, possibly from traditional African music, that remind them of the journey to come.
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
The person with the singer only hears the hushed voices of passersby, oblivious to the powerful sounds that the singer hears.
She's coming in twelve-thirty flight
The person the singer is waiting for is arriving at the airport at half past midnight.
Her moonlit wings reflect the stars
The moonlight shining on the wings of the incoming plane creates a beautiful reflection of the stars in the sky.
That guide me towards salvation
This moment feels like the beginning of salvation, like the person they have been waiting for is the answer to all their problems.
I stopped an old man along the way
The singer met an old man on their journey and hoped to learn some ancient wisdom or advice from him.
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
The singer was seeking inspiration from the past to help them on their journey.
He turned to me as if to say
The old man responded to the artist's request with a knowing look, as if he already knew what they were searching for.
"Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
The old man urged the artist to hurry, letting them know that what they were searching for was already within reach.
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
The artist is deeply committed to someone or something and it would take a great force to make them leave or change their mind.
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
Not even an army of people could convince the singer to abandon what they hold dear.
I bless the rains down in Africa
The artist expresses their gratitude or reverence towards the natural wonders of Africa, specifically rainfall.
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The singer acknowledges that it will take time to fulfill their dreams and aspirations, but they are committed to doing so.
The wild dogs cry out in the night
The singer observes the sounds of wild dogs howling, highlighting the natural world and the contrast with human society.
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
The singer understands the longing that animals have for companionship, something that humans also crave and seek in their own way.
I know that I must do what's right
The artist feels a strong sense of duty and responsibility, and knows that the choices they make carry great weight.
Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
Kilimanjaro is used as a symbol of Africa's majesty and grandeur, similar to Olympus in Greek mythology.
I seek to cure what's deep inside
The singer is on a personal mission to heal their inner turmoil or pain, regardless of whether it is visible to others or not.
Frightened of this thing that I've become
The singer is afraid of their own transformation, questioning the person they have become and the choices that have led them to where they are now.
Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you
The urgency of the message from earlier is repeated, but now with a specific target, urging the artist to take action and not waste time.
I bless the rains down in Africa
The artist repeats their earlier expression of reverence for the natural world, particularly the life-giving rain.
I bless the rains down in Africa
The repetition of this line emphasizes the artist's deep appreciation for and connection to Africa and its natural treasures.
I bless the rains down in Africa
The third repetition of this line underscores the importance of this message throughout the entire song.
I bless the rains down in Africa
The fourth repetition of this line reinforces the central message and theme of the song, bringing it to a satisfying conclusion.
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
This final line serves as a reminder that achieving one's goals and dreams requires patience, time, and effort.
Writer(s): David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@imagineFabian
* Lionel Richie 0:25
* Stevie Wonder 0:32
* Paul Simon 0:42
* Kenny Rogers 0:54
* James Ingram 0:59
* Tina Turner 1:05
* Billy Joel 1:12
* Michael Jackson 1:18
* Diana Ross 1:32
* Dionne Warwick 1:48
* Willie Nelson 2:02
* Al Jarreau 2:08
* Bruce Springsteen 2:14
* Kenny Loggins 2:21
* Steve Perry 2:27
* Daryl Hall 2:35
* Michael Jackson 2:41
* Huey Lewis 2:48
* Cyndi Lauper 2:53
* Kim Carnes 3:01
* Bob Dylan 3:48
* Ray Charles 4:41
* Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen 4:53
* Bruce Springsteen 5:31
* James Ingram 6:13
* Ray Charles 6:27
@user-oh3ux8de1k
After watching the Netflix doc ,I have so much Respect for Lionel Richie.
This man had to host the American Music awards.
Performed 3 times at the awards .
Won 4 awards
Then race to the studio, help Michael and Quincy arrange.
Then help all the other singers with their problems.
Then keep Al Jarreau from getting drunk.
He made sure people had food .
Stayed til it was completely finished which was damn near 7:00 am .
Lionel was running on Empty.
@andrewguzman2964
(EDIT ONE YEAR LATER: TY GUYS SO MUCH FOR 10K (ITS UNBELIEVEABLE). LONG LIVE MICHAEL!
0:25 Lionel Richie
0:37 Stevie Wonder
0:41 Paul Simon
0:51 Kenny Rogers
0:58 James Ingram
1:05 Tina Turner
1:10 Billy Joel
1:17 Michael Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:30 Diana Ross
1:47 Dionne Warwick
2:00 Willie Nelson
2:07 Al Jarreau
2:13 Bruce Springsteen
2:19 Kenny Loggins
2:26 Steve Perry
2:33 Daryl Hall
2:40 Michael Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2:47 Huey Lewis
2:52 Cyndi Lauper
3:00 Kim Carnes
3:05 Cyndi Lauper
3:06 Everyone
3:46 Bob Dylan
4:21 (Bob Dylan)
4:27 4:37 (Ray Charles)
4:40 Ray Charles
4:52 5:20 Stevie Wonder
Bruce Springsteen
5:05 Stevie Wonder
5:30 Bruce Springsteen
6:12 James Ingram
(Ray Charles)
6:26 Ray Charles
6:53 (Ray Charles)
@ShiroTube1206
0:26 There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
0:32 When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
0:41 And its time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon & Kenny Rogers)
0:48 We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
0:59 That someone, somewhere will soon make a change (James Ingram)
1:06 We are all a part of Gods great big family (Tina Turner)
1:12 And the truth, you know, (Billy Joel)
Love is all we need (Billy Joel & Tina Turner)
1:18 We are the world. We are the children.
We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
1:31 There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Diana Ross & Michael Jackson)
1:48 Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
1:55 And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick & Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread (Willie Nelson)
2:08 So we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jarreau)
2:14 We are the world, We are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
2:21 We are the ones who make a brighter day So lets start giving (Kenny Loggins)
2:27 There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
2:35 It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)
2:41 When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
2:48 But if you just believe, there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
2:52 Let us realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
3:01 When we stand together as one (Kim Carnes & Huey Lewis)
3:08 We are the world, We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (All)
3:47 It's true we'll make a brighter day just you and me (Bob Dylan)
4:27 We are the world, we are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day just you and me (Ray Charles)
4:53 We are the world, we are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving ( Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen )
5:06 There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a brighter day just you and me (Stevie Wonder)
@luckyme98
There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)
We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)
( CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)
Well, send'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau)
( REPEAT CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Logins)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)
When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)
(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )
(additional ad-lib vox by Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, James Ingram)
Sent by Chris Sammond
@jeffreylardizabal3964
and a great chorus of songs: Little did most people know across this world; but -
On April 11, Saturday, in the year of our Lord, 2020,
A very quiet revolution occurred.
We here at #LYLSAN appreciate all those who took
the task before them, and drove it home as if their
their own lives depended on it.
It was a very simple task:
LET YOUR LIGHTS
SHINE ALL NIGHT
#LYLSAN
They did.
Some.
But.
Not everyone knew about this, as we only had one billboard. We only had one city-wide radio spot. Neither the billboard nor the radio spot ran for more than a week. Everything else was sent out on Facebook and Twitter, as far as I know; at least, that’s how I was operating. I didn’t even ask the 199 initial people who signed up for this event - how they were spreading the word.
While we were doing this for 9 days (I started to reach out to people on April 2, 2020), some others came along.
Some of the groups they belonged to on Facebook ranged in size, anywhere from a few people, to some groups with sizes in the hundreds of thousands.
Remember, the task was simple:
Here’s the link to the billboard push I put out a few days before the event kicked off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oZ5s3Ak_yU
When the event kicked off last Saturday night, April 11, and went from 7pm EST, to 7am EST, we prayed all night for those on the front lines of this war with this virus, and played this Easter Vigil Music Roll, which is continuing
to grow with songs of praise and inspiration, and clips which acted as prompts for deep thoughts, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch…
LET YOUR LIGHTS, SHINE ALL NIGHT
I have no idea how many people turned their lights on in America on April 11,
Saturday night.
But if you are on FACEBOOK and did so, and were one of those who might have taken a picture of it, I’d love to collect them for a collage, in order to make a digital APPRECIATION for those still working, and post it at some later date, in order that those who are still working would know, we really do APPRECIATE them!
And I’d like to do a lot more, as well, to help bring this “ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,” together.
Together we can.
Apart?
No.
Please post a picture (authentically taken that evening, not an archived from some other event), and tell us at #LYLSAN how you came to know of the event.
It would be of great interest to us at #LYLSAN to know, just how many people heard of it, as well, but may have not taken a picture of it. So post that as well, and use the hashtag #LYLSAN in the posting in order to bring it to our attention.
From tremendous feedback I received that night, this is probably not going to be our only rodeo.
I don’t know. But I’m not worried about it.
God’s got this!
And that was the bottom line up front message of the entire evening.
And we hope America started to get the message…
Looking forward to those postings. I’m working at home now, keeping my golfing skills in development (without breaking Quarantine of course:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4a0ywp5tHg ), as one day, I’d really love to be teaching golf full-time in retirement.
I’m already retired from 20 years of service in the Army, but life goes on, and God gave us life that we might have life, “more abundantly.” John 10:10 King James Version (KJV):
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
These times are extraordinary, however you want to slice the bread; and such times require extraordinary - ordinary.
A simple task multiplied times 332 million Americans, would truly be:
EXTRAORDINARY! Wouldn’t it?
Peace and God’s Blessings on America.
May we, together, as “ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,”
“...humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, that God would hear us from Heaven, and forgive our sins and heal this land.” - from 2 Chronicles 7:14
Thank you if you got the word, acted on it, and - especially if you videotaped it, like I did here, we would really love to see those posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Ok, back to the front yard, and golf...
Keep the faith. Things are going to get better.
@Mikeyrocksslots
We lost a lot of talented singers since that historic day and will be missed forever...
-Michael Jackson
-Harry Belafonte
-Tina Turner
-Ray Charles
-James Ingram
-Al Jarreau
-Waylon Jennings
-Anita Pointer
-June Pointer
-Kenny Rogers
Thank you for bringing the wold together.
@awh4272
Who is here after the Netflix documentary!?! What a great show!
Edit: For those asking, the documentary was 'The Greatest Night in Pop' and it's available on Netflix!
@lisafields3403
I came straight here after watching the documentary what a time
@xiaozhongjin4036
So did I. Michael ... oh.. He was the greatest.
@rainemitchell398
Just finished watching it. Brilliant!
@bethdavis7413
I started watching it this morning before work. I remember the chills this song brought to me when I first heard it. So here I am just jamming to this song otw to work on repeat! Great way to start a morning
@shawnwoods7621
Me!!! I grew up during that time...missed those days...the 80s were it!
@imagineFabian
* Lionel Richie 0:25
* Stevie Wonder 0:32
* Paul Simon 0:42
* Kenny Rogers 0:54
* James Ingram 0:59
* Tina Turner 1:05
* Billy Joel 1:12
* Michael Jackson 1:18
* Diana Ross 1:32
* Dionne Warwick 1:48
* Willie Nelson 2:02
* Al Jarreau 2:08
* Bruce Springsteen 2:14
* Kenny Loggins 2:21
* Steve Perry 2:27
* Daryl Hall 2:35
* Michael Jackson 2:41
* Huey Lewis 2:48
* Cyndi Lauper 2:53
* Kim Carnes 3:01
* Bob Dylan 3:48
* Ray Charles 4:41
* Stevie Wonder & Bruce Springsteen 4:53
* Bruce Springsteen 5:31
* James Ingram 6:13
* Ray Charles 6:27
@elizabethbaumgardt2577
Thank you for this!
@hellobye7697
Thank u so much
@JoeLink56
Legend!!