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 Prƶfrock, 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.
Dust In The Wind
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I close my eyes only for a mement
And the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind
Some old song
Just a drop of wather in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the groud
Though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Don't hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
All you money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
The song "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas is a melancholic reflection on the fleeting nature of life, with lyrics that speak to the transience of dreams, memories, and material possessions. The opening lines express a sense of loss and detachment, as if the singer is looking back on a vanished moment with regret. The phrase "dust in the wind" is a recurring motif throughout the song, underscoring the idea that everything is impermanent and ultimately insignificant.
The second verse introduces a more existential perspective, portraying human life as a drop of water in an endless sea. The imagery of things crumbling to the ground suggests a sense of futility and helplessness in the face of mortality. The refrain "all we are is dust in the wind" takes on a more ominous tone, suggesting that even our most cherished aspirations and achievements will eventually fade away.
The final verse is a reminder to let go of attachment to material things, since they cannot provide lasting fulfillment. The line "nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky" implies a certain humility in the face of the natural world, and a recognition of our place within it. The song ends on a somber note, with the repeated refrain emphasizing the song's message of universal impermanence and fragility.
Line by Line Meaning
I close my eyes only for a moment
Life is fleeting and can be gone in the blink of an eye.
And the moment's gone
Time is passing constantly and cannot be regained.
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Our desires and ambitions may remain unfulfilled since life is unpredictable.
Dust in the wind
Life is temporary and everything turns to dust eventually.
All they are is dust in the wind
Everything we value may eventually lose its relevance and be forgotten.
Some old song
The beauty of thoughts and emotions can be fleeting like a passing melody.
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
We are just a tiny part of a vast universe and our existence is of little overall significance.
All we do, crumbles to the ground
Our actions may be forgotten upon our departure from this world.
Though we refuse to see
Despite this truth, people often cling to illusion of permanence in hope that their achievements will outlast them.
Don't hang on
Do not get attached to material possessions, people or accomplishments as they can all be taken away.
Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
The ultimate reality is that everything apart from nature is transient.
It slips away
The more we try to hold onto something, the faster it seems to fade away.
All you money won't another minute buy
Wealth cannot buy time, therefore it does not bring true happiness.
Everything is dust in the wind
This phrase captures the essence of the song, which is that life is ultimately fleeting and all things come to an end eventually.
Contributed by Anna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.