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 Prรถfrock, 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.
Beautiful Ones
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
psycho for drum machine
shaking their bits to the hits
Drag acts, drug acts, suicides
in your dad's suits you hide
staining his name again
Cracked up, stacked up, 22
psycho for sex and glue
Shaved heads, rave heads, on the pill
got too much time to kill
get into bands and gangs
Oh, here they come,
the beautiful ones
the beautiful ones
La la la la Oh, here they come,
the beautiful ones
the beautiful ones
La la la la Loved up, doved up, hung around
stoned in a lonely town
shaking their meat to the beat
High on diesel and gasoline
psycho for drum machine
shaking their bits to the hits
Oh, here they come,
the beautiful ones
the beautiful ones
La la la la Oh, here they come,
the beautiful ones
the beautiful ones
La la la la You don't think about it
You don't do without it
because you're beautiful
And if your baby's going crazy
that's how you made me
la, la, la, la...
The lyrics of "Beautiful Ones" showcase the decadence and rebellion of youth culture. The opening lines describe a scene of excess, with people high on drugs and dancing to electronic music, seemingly without a care in the world. The verse then turns to the more destructive aspects of youth culture, with references to drag acts, drug use, and suicide. The lyrics suggest that these young people are engaged in a form of self-destructive behavior that stains their families' reputations.
The second verse continues the depiction of youthful hedonism, with references to shaving heads, raves, and pill use. The repetition of the phrase "the beautiful ones" suggests that these young people see themselves as special and exceptional, but also that their beauty is a kind of armor that protects them from the consequences of their actions. The chorus reinforces this idea, with the repeated refrain of "la la la la" emphasizing the song's emphasis on superficiality and pleasure over deeper emotional connections.
Overall, "Beautiful Ones" is a song that captures the spirit of youth culture in its most decadent and reckless form. The lyrics are a condemnation of this lifestyle, but at the same time they convey a sense of admiration for the beauty and wildness of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
High on diesel and gasoline
Intoxicated by the fumes of diesel and gasoline
psycho for drum machine
Obsessed with electronic music and drum machines
shaking their bits to the hits
Dancing provocatively to popular music
Drag acts, drug acts, suicides
Performing drag shows, using drugs, and committing suicide
in your dad's suits you hide
Wearing your father's clothes to hide your identity
staining his name again
Bringing shame to your family name once more
Cracked up, stacked up, 22
Hyperactive, high on drugs, and just 22 years old
psycho for sex and glue
Obsessed with sex and sniffing glue
lost it to Bostik, yeah
Became addicted to Bostik, a brand of adhesive
Shaved heads, rave heads, on the pill
Having shaved heads, frequenting raves, and taking pills
got too much time to kill
Having too much free time and nothing to do
get into bands and gangs
Joining musical bands and groups to belong somewhere
Oh, here they come, the beautiful ones, the beautiful ones, La la la la
Here come the attractive people who live recklessly with their lives
Loved up, doved up, hung around, stoned in a lonely town
High on love and drugs, staying in a remote town
shaking their meat to the beat
Dancing seductively to the rhythm
You don't think about it
Not caring about consequences
You don't do without
Cannot live without it
because you're beautiful
Being reckless is a byproduct of being attractive
And if your baby's going crazy
If your lover is going insane
that's how you made me
Their behavior is a result of your influence
la, la, la, la...
A nonchalant tune to show disinterest in the consequences
Contributed by Bailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.