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.
Collide
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
I somehow find
You and I collide
I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
Well, I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide
Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
In "Collide" by Various Artists, the singer is describing their feelings towards someone they are entangled with. The song begins with the dawn breaking, symbolizing a new beginning, a fresh start that brings hope and light. As the singer sees the person they are entangled with, they realize that they are barely waking up, and they are unable to get away from them. Although the singer is open, the person they are with is closed off, and they worry about not being able to see their face light up again.
Throughout the song, the singer describes how even the best people fall down at times and how even the wrong words can often seem to rhyme. There is doubt that fills both their minds, but somehow they have found each other and are entwined. The singer reveals that they are scared to know the other person's thoughts and that they always seem to be on their mind.
As the song progresses, the singer reminds the person they are with not to stop, that they are close behind, and they finally find each other. The song ends with the singer repeating “You and I collide” multiple times, implying that they are right where they are meant to be, entangled with one another.
Overall, "Collide" is a song about two people who have found each other despite their doubts and fears, and the lyrics reflect the complex emotions and uncertainties that come with falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
The dawn is breaking
It's the start of a new day.
A light shining through
The sun is starting to rise.
You're barely waking
You're still sleepy and just starting to wake up.
And I'm tangled up in you
I'm physically intertwined with you, maybe in bed.
But I'm open, you're closed
I'm vulnerable and open with my feelings, but you're guarded and closed off.
Where I follow, you'll go
You'll go along with whatever I want to do.
I worry I won't see your face light up again
I'm afraid that I won't be able to make you happy again or see you happy.
Even the best fall down sometimes
Everyone makes mistakes or has difficult times, even those who are typically successful.
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Even when things don't fit together perfectly or don't seem to make sense, sometimes they end up working out anyway.
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
Despite any feelings of uncertainty or insecurity I have.
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
Despite any feelings of uncertainty or insecurity you have.
I somehow find you and I collide.
Despite any obstacles, we end up together.
I'm quiet, you know
I tend to be a reserved, introverted person.
You make a first impression
You come across as a memorable, striking person.
Well, I've found I'm scared to know
I'm nervous to really get to know you and potentially become more emotionally invested in you.
I'm always on your mind
You think about me a lot.
Even the stars refuse to shine
Even when things seem hopeless, there is still potential for light and hope to shine through.
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
Even when I'm feeling uncertain or scared.
You finally find you and I collide
Despite any obstacles or difficulties, we end up together in the end.
Writer(s): Rachael Amanda Yamagata
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.