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.
Alfie
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My little brother's in his bedroom smoking weed,
I tell him he should get up cos it's nearly half past three
He can't be bothered cos he's high on THC
I ask him very nicely if he'd like a cup of tea,
I can't even see you cos the room is so smokey,
Don't understand how one can watch so much TV,
My baby brother Alfie how I wish that you could see
Oh I only say it cos I care,
So please can you stop pulling my hair
Now, now there's no need to swear,
Please don't despair my dear Mon frere
Ooooo Alfie get up it's a brand new day,
I just can't sit back and watch you waste your life away
You need to get a job because the bills need to get paid
Get off your lazy arse,
Alfie please use your brain
Surely there's some walls out there that you can go spray,
I'm feeling guilty for leading you astray,
Now how the hell do you ever expect that you'll get laid,
When all you do is stay and play on your computer games?
Oh I only say it cos I care,
So please can you stop pulling my hair
Now, now there's no need to swear,
Please don't despair my dear Mon frere
Oh little brother please refrain from doing that,
I'm trying to help you out so can you stop being a twat
It's time that you and I sat down and had a little chat,
Just look me in the eyes take off that stupid fitted cap
Oh I only say it cos I care,
So please can you stop pulling my hair
Now, now there's no need to swear,
Please don't despair
Please don't despair
Mon frere
The lyrics of Alfie by Various Artists depict the story of a concerned brother who wants his younger sibling, Alfie, to get his life together. The song begins with the singer finding his brother smoking weed in his bedroom at half past three in the afternoon. The singer tries to persuade him to get up and do something productive, but Alfie is too high to care. In the second verse, the singer tells Alfie that he needs to get a job to pay the bills instead of wasting his life away. He also points out that Alfie's obsession with computer games is not helping his chances of finding a girlfriend. The song ends with the singer asking Alfie to listen to him and take off his "stupid fitted cap."
The lyrics of Alfie are an example of a tough love approach where the singer is being firm yet caring towards his brother. He wants Alfie to understand the importance of being responsible and making something of his life. The use of French in the lyrics (Mon frere means "my brother") adds a personal touch and highlights the close relationship between the two brothers. The song is a warning to anyone who takes life for granted and a reminder that time waits for no one.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh deary me,
Expressing disappointment or concern
My little brother's in his bedroom smoking weed,
Informing about little brother's drug addiction
I tell him he should get up cos it's nearly half past three
Encouraging little brother to be productive
He can't be bothered cos he's high on THC
Explaining why little brother is uninterested
I ask him very nicely if he'd like a cup of tea,
Making a friendly offer despite the unfavorable situation
I can't even see you cos the room is so smokey,
Noting the effects of little brother's drug use
Don't understand how one can watch so much TV,
Wondering about little brother's lifestyle
My baby brother Alfie how I wish that you could see
Expressing concern and disappointment for little brother
Ooooo Alfie get up it's a brand new day,
Encouraging little brother to start fresh
I just can't sit back and watch you waste your life away
Not willing to tolerate little brother's unhealthy habits
You need to get a job because the bills need to get paid
Emphasizing the importance of being responsible
Get off your lazy arse,
Motivating little brother to act
Alfie please use your brain
Encouraging little brother to be sensible
Surely there's some walls out there that you can go spray,
Suggesting alternative activities that may be productive
I'm feeling guilty for leading you astray,
Expressing remorse for being a bad influence
Now how the hell do you ever expect that you'll get laid,
Highlighting how little brother's habits may hinder his success
When all you do is stay and play on your computer games?
Critiquing little brother's recreational habits
Oh little brother please refrain from doing that,
Politely asking little brother to stop his behavior
I'm trying to help you out so can you stop being a twat
Reprimanding little brother for his rudeness
It's time that you and I sat down and had a little chat,
Suggesting a productive conversation
Just look me in the eyes take off that stupid fitted cap
Asking for little brother's respect
Please don't despair
Offering reassurance
Mon frere
French for 'my brother'
Writer(s): Lily Rose Allen, Greg Kurstin
Contributed by Madelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.