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.
Disco Lady
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move it in, move it round, disco lady
Move it in, move it out
Move it in round about, disco lady
Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it around, disco lady
Well, hey s*** lady
Lord have mercy girl
You dance so fine and you're right on time
Girl you ought to be on T. V., on Soul Train
When you get the groove there ain't no stoppin'
Just can't help it, but I'm finger poppin'
Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it round, disco lady
Move it in, move it round
Move it in, round about, disco lady
Shake it baby shake it
Baby shake your thang
Shake it baby shake it
Baby shake your thang
You've got me groovin', I feel like movin'
You've got me movin', can't sit still I'm groovin'
I like that funky stuff
Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it around, disco lady
Move it in, move it out
Shove it in round about, disco lady
Hey, s*** lady
Girl, you drive me crazy
You dance so fine and you're right on time
Girl, you driving me out of my mind, yeah
If it wasn't for the girl, sittin' next to me
I'd jump right up and outta my seat you see
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
Girl, you're movin' me, girl you're groovin' me
Shake it up, shake it
Shake it on down
Move it out, move it to the ground
Shake it up, shake it down
Move it in, move it round, disco lady, yeah
Move it in, move it out
Shove it in round about, disco lady
Hey, you got me so set here in this disco tech
Girl, you're movin' me, girl you're groovin' me
Shake it baby, shake it baby
Shake your thang
Shake it baby, shake it baby
The lyrics of "Disco Lady" by Various Artists are about admiring a woman's dance moves in a disco setting. The song is narrated by a man who is impressed by the woman's dancing and openly expresses his admiration for her. He praises her movements as mesmerizing and says that she is driving him crazy. He even goes on to suggest that she should be featured on a popular TV show, Soul Train. The lyrics focus mainly on the dance aspects of disco, with plenty of repetition of "shake it up, shake it down" and "move it in, move it out".
One interpretation of the song could be that the woman in question is a symbol of freedom and individuality through her dancing. She is able to express herself freely through movement and is admired for it. The song's repetitive and upbeat nature also contributes to the idea of letting go and enjoying oneself on the dancefloor. Essentially, the song celebrates the freedom and joy that disco music brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Shake it up, shake it down
Let's dance and move our bodies up and down
Move it in, move it round, disco lady
Let's bring our grooves closer and dance around each other, oh Disco Lady
Move it in, move it out
Let's move our bodies closer to and away from each other
Move it in round about, disco lady
Moving closer, then farther away again, dancing around each other, oh Disco Lady
Well, hey s*** lady
Well hello there, attractive lady
Said I like the way you do your thang
I like the way you dance, it's amazing
Lord have mercy girl
Wow, you are so good, it's spiritual
You dance so fine and you're right on time
You dance beautifully and always in sync with the music
Girl you ought to be on T. V., on Soul Train
You should be on TV, on a popular music show called Soul Train
When you get the groove there ain't no stoppin'
Once you start dancing to the rhythm, you don't want to stop
Just can't help it, but I'm finger poppin'
I am so into your dancing, I can't stop moving my fingers
Shake it baby shake it
Keep shaking it, baby
Baby shake your thang
Baby, keep shaking your body
You've got me groovin', I feel like movin'
You make me want to dance all night, moving to the beat
You've got me movin', can't sit still I'm groovin'
I can't stop moving because you make the music feel so good
I like that funky stuff
I enjoy the funky rhythms and beats
Move it in, move it out
Let's move closer, then farther away from each other
Shove it in round about, disco lady
Push and pull, moving around each other, oh Disco Lady
Girl, you drive me crazy
You make me crazy with your amazing dance moves
Girl, you driving me out of my mind, yeah
You are driving me crazy, I can't stop thinking about your dancing
If it wasn't for the girl, sittin' next to me
If there wasn't a girl sitting next to me
I'd jump right up and outta my seat you see
I would jump right up and start dancing if it wasn't for her
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
You make me unable to look away, so entranced
Girl, you're movin' me, girl you're groovin' me
You are making me move to the music, you are my groove
Move it out, move it to the ground
Let's move our bodies out, then lower them to the ground
Hey, you got me so set here in this disco tech
Hey, you have me so distracted here at this disco
Girl, you're movin' me, girl you're groovin' me
You are making me move to the music, you are my groove
Shake it baby, shake it baby
Keep shaking it, baby
Shake your thang
Keep shaking your body
Contributed by Sophia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michele Desart
EXCELLENT!!! I LOVE IT !!!!!
Sandra Jones
From 16 to 60, and Iโm still dancing to this!
Bettyann Wilson
๐ถ๐๐ป๐บ๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐ฅ๐คฉ๐คฉ
I eat Lightning
Same
Danny Nelmes
me too xx
nkotbsouth
The bass line? Yes, it is dangerous! ๐๐บ
Not Me But You
It's none other than William "Bootsy" Collins!!!
Not Me But You
It's none other than William "Bootsy" Collins!!! ๐
Gustav Farley
It can not get any better than this awesome song by the late Johnnie Taylor. Rest in peace Mr. Taylor.
Sharen Robinson
I wasn't born when this came out but I sure did wake up many mornings to funk, jazz, blues, reggae, classical and sometimes rock. I've known this song my whole life.