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.
Another Day In Paradise
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Yeah)
Paradise, paradise
(Yeah)
You and me
(Yeah)
She calls out to the man on the street
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep
Is there somewhere you can tell me?", Yeah
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day for you, you and me in paradise
(Yeah)
Think about it, yeah
(Yeah, yeah)
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying, yeah
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you, you and me in paradise
(Yeah)
You and me in paradise, you and me
(Yeah)
Just think about it
(Yeah)
Yeah, just think about it, oh yeah
(Yeah)
Think about it
Oh Lord, is there nothing more
Anybody can do?
Oh Lord, there must be something
You can say
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there, yeah
She's probably even been moved on from every place
'Cause she didn't fit in there
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you, you and me in paradise
(Yeah)
Oh oh yeah, oh oh yeah
Just think about it
(Yeah)
Think about it, oh yeah
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise
(Yeah)
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise
(Yeah)
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise
Just think about it
Think about it
The song "Another Day In Paradise" by Various Artists was released in 1989 and is a song about the potential for everyday people to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. The lyrics recount a typical encounter between a homeless woman and a man walking by on the street. The woman asks the man for help, confessing that she has nowhere to sleep and is cold. However, the man ignores her, pretending he cannot hear her and walks on. The lyrics of the song go on to encourage the listener to do better, to think twice before walking past someone in need, and to be more aware of the plight of others around them. The song points out that while most people cannot solve the world's problems, they can make a difference in someone's day-to-day life.
The song was a hit when it was released, reaching number one in several countries, and was regarded as an anthem against homelessness. The song proves to be timeless because even after 30 years, the problem of homelessness continues to exist. Many people associate the song with a sense of nostalgia and still find its message poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah
Expression of agreement or approval
(Yeah) Paradise, paradise
Reference to a perfect place or state
(Yeah) You and me
Reference to the singer and the person addressed
She calls out to the man on the street
A woman attempts to get the attention of a passerby
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep
Is there somewhere you can tell me?", Yeah
The woman asks the man for assistance and tells him of her situation
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
The man ignores the woman and avoids any interaction with her, possibly due to feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice
'Cause it's another day for you, you and me in paradise
Advice to the audience to consider their actions and be grateful for what they have, as they have the privilege of living in a 'paradise' while others do not
(Yeah) Think about it, yeah
Encouragement to consider the message or situation described
He can see she's been crying, yeah
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's trying
The woman's physical state is described as an indication of her hardships and desperation
Oh Lord, is there nothing more
Anybody can do?
Oh Lord, there must be something
You can say
A plea to a higher power to provide assistance or guidance
You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there, yeah
She's probably even been moved on from every place
'Cause she didn't fit in there
The woman's appearance and situation imply that she has faced numerous struggles and rejections
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you and me in paradise
Oh think twice
'Cause it's another day for you, you and me in paradise
Reiteration of the song's main message and call to action
(Yeah) Oh oh yeah, oh oh yeah
Just think about it
(Yeah)
Think about it, oh yeah
Reiteration of the song's main call to action and message
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise
(Yeah)
Reiteration of the idea that the audience is living in a 'paradise' compared to the woman's struggles
Just think about it
Think about it
Final encouragement to consider the message and take action
Writer(s): Ahmad Balshe, Zulema Cusseaux, Collins Phil, Brian White, Phil Vassar, Craig Michael Wiseman, Danny Schofield
Contributed by Jayden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.