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.
Against All Odds
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just let you leave without a trace?
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all
How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave?
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against all odds
And that's what I've got to face
I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do
And that's all I've got to face
Take a good look at me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
That's the chance I've got to take
Take a good look at me now
The lyrics of "Against All Odds" express the heartbreak and desperation a person feels after a significant other has left them. The singer is wondering how they can simply let their lover go without leaving a trace. They are consumed by thoughts of them and can't help but take every breath with them. However, the pain is compounded by the fact that only this person truly knew them, and they've now gone. The singer is left to reflect on the emptiness they feel, and their inability to overcome the memory of their love's face.
The anguish is palpable when the singer wishes they could make their partner turn around and see them cry. There are so many things they want to say and express to this person. However, they can only wait, hoping that they will come back for them. The lyrics show that the singer knows the odds are against them, but that's the chance they're willing to take. The song's title, "Against All Odds," encapsulates the sense of hopelessness, but the lyrics illustrate the powerful hold that love can have on people, making them willing to take a chance no matter how slim.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I just let you walk away
I'm finding it hard to let you go
Just let you leave without a trace?
You're leaving without leaving any trace behind
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh
I love spending every moment with you
You're the only one who really knew me at all
You're the only one who understands me completely
How can you just walk away from me
I can't believe you're leaving me like this
When all I can do is watch you leave?
I'm helpless as you leave me behind
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
We've been through the good times and bad times together
So take a look at me now
See how I'm doing without you
'Cause there's just an empty space
I feel empty inside without you
And there's nothing left here to remind me
There's nothing left of us
Just the memory of your face
All I have left is the memory of your face
I wish I could just make you turn around
I hope you'll change your mind and come back to me
Turn around and see me cry
I'm devastated without you
There's so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why
I have a lot to tell you and a lot of reasons to convince you
But to wait for you is all I can do
All I can do is wait for you to come back
And that's all I've got to face
It's hard to accept, but waiting is my only option
Take a good look at me now
See how strong I am after all this time
'Cause I'll still be standing here
I'm still here, waiting for you
And you coming back to me is against all odds
I know it's unlikely that you'll come back to me
That's the chance I've got to take
But I'm willing to take that chance
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.