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.
Finale
Various Artists Lyrics
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Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
How Time Flies
When Compassion Dies
No Stocking
No Gingerbread
No Safety Net
No Loose Change
No Change No
[ONE HOMELESS MAN]
"Santy Claus is Coming"
[ALL]
Cause Santy Claus Ain't Coming
No Room At The Holiday Inn-Again
Well, Maybe Next Year--
Or--When
[MARK]
December 24th, Ten PM Eastern
Standard Time
I Can't Believe A Year Went By So Fast
Time To See-What We Have Time To See
Turn The Projector On
First Shot Roger
With The Fender Guitar He Just Got Out
Of Hock
When He Sold The Car
That Took Him Away And Back
[ROGER]
I Found My Song
[MARK]
He Found His Song
If He Could Just Find Mimi
[ROGER]
I Tried - You Know I Tried
[MARK]
Fade In On Mark
Who's Still In The Dark
[ROGER]
But He's Got Great Footage
[MARK]
Which He's Cut Together
[ROGER]
To Screen Tonight
[MARK]
In Honor Of Benny's Wife
[ROGER]
Muffy
[MARK]
Alison
Pulling Benny Out Of The East Village
Location
[The power blows]
[ROGER]
Then again. Maybe we won't screen it tonight.
[MARK]
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?
[ROGER]
Maybe a bird told her.
[COLLINS]
Or an angel.
I Had A little Hunch You Coudl Use
A Little 'Flow
[ROGER]
Tutoring Again?
[COLLINS]
Negative
[MARK]
Back At NYU?
[COLLINS]
No, No, No
I Rewired The ATM At The Food
Emporium
To Provide An Honorarium To Anyone
With The Code
[ROGER & MARK]
The Code-
Well...?
[COLLINS]
A-N-G-E-L
Yet Robin Hooding Isn't The Solution
The Powers That Be Must Be Undermined
Where They Dwell In A Small Exclusive
Gourmet Institution
Where We Overcharge The Wealthy
Clientele
[ALL THREE]
Let's Open Up A Restaurant In Santa Fe
With A Private Corner Banquette In
The Back
[COLLINS]
We'll Make It Yet, We'll Somehow Get To
Santa Fe
[ROGER]
But You'd Miss New York Before You
Could Unpack
[ALL]
OHH--
[MAUREEN]
Mark! Roger! Anyone - Help!
[MARK]
Maureen?
[MAUREEN]
It's Mimi - I Can't Get Her Up The Stairs
[ROGER]
No!
[MAUREEN]
She Was Huddled In The Park In
The Dark
And She Was Freezing
And Begged To Come Here
[ROGER]
Over Here
Oh, God--
[MIMI]
"Got A Light - I Know You - You're Shivering..."
[JOANNE]
She's Been Living On The Street
[ROGER]
We Need Some Heat
[MIMI]
I'm Shivering
[MARK]
We Can Buy Some Wood And Something To Eat
[COLLINS]
I'm Afraid She Needs More Than Heat
[MIMI]
I Heard That
[MAUREEN]
Collins Will Call For A Doctor, Honey
[MIMI]
Don't Waste Your Money On Mimi, Me, Me
[COLLINS]
Hello-911?
I'm On Hold
[MIMI]
Cold...Cold...Would You Light My Candle
[ROGER]
Yes-We'll Oh God-Find A Candle
[MIMI]
I Should Tell You
I Should Tell You
[ROGER]
I Should Tell You
I Should Tell You
[MIMI]
I Should Tell You
Benny Wasn't Any--
[ROGER]
SHHH-I Know
I Should Tell You Why I Left
It Wasn't Cause I Didn't--
[MIMI]
I Know
I Should Tell You
[ROGER]
I Should Tell You
[MIMI]
I Should Tell You
I Love You--
[ROGER]
Who Do You Think You Are?
Leaving Me Alone With My Guitar
Hold On There's Something You
Should Here
It Isn't Much But It Took All Year
The lyrics of “Finale” from Various Artists’ musical, Rent, describe the situation of the seven homeless people, who do not have stockings, candy canes, or a safety net. They mention how, time flies when compassion dies. One of the homeless people thinks that Santa Claus is coming, but everyone agrees that he will not come. Then, the song shifts to Mark, who is reflecting on the year that has gone by so fast. He decides that it is time to see things as they are, and he turns the projector on. The screen shows Roger with his Fender guitar. He says that he found his song but would like to find Mimi. Mark is still in the dark, but he has some great footage, which he cuts together to screen tonight in honor of Benny’s wife.
Suddenly, the power blows, and everyone starts discussing how Alison found out about Mimi. Collins suggests that they should open a restaurant in Santa Fe with a private corner banquette in the back. Maureen calls out for help, and it turns out that Mimi is freezing and cannot make it up the stairs. Everyone tries to help her, and she asks Roger to light her candle, to which Roger agrees. Mimi then tells Roger that she loves him, and he reacts by questioning her leaving him alone with his guitar. The song ends with a beautiful chorus where all characters stand together and sing OHH.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Christmas is here
How Time Flies
Time goes by quickly
When Compassion Dies
When people stop caring about one another
No Stocking
No socks for presents
No Candy Canes
No sweet candy cane treats
No Gingerbread
No gingerbread houses or cookies
No Safety Net
No support or help in difficult situations
No Loose Change
No money to spare
No Change No
No possibility of improvement
Cause Santy Claus Ain't Coming
Santa Claus is not able or willing to help
No Room At The Holiday Inn-Again
There is no space for people in need during the holidays
Maybe Next Year-- Or--When
Hopefully, things will be better next year or someday in the future
I Can't Believe A Year Went By So Fast
Time goes by quickly
Time To See-What We Have Time To See
We should make the most of our time by seeing and experiencing what we can
First Shot Roger With The Fender Guitar He Just Got OutOf Hock When He Sold The Car That Took Him Away And Back
We see Roger with his guitar, recently released from pawn after selling his car, which was his only means of transportation
I Found My Song
Roger has finally found inspiration for his music
He Found His Song
Mark is happy that Roger has found his inspiration
I Tried - You Know I Tried
Roger has been searching for Mimi, but to no avail
Fade In On Mark Who's Still In The Dark
We now see Mark, still in the dark about what to do with his life
But He's Got Great Footage
Despite his uncertainty, Mark has footage that he is proud of
Which He's Cut Together To Screen Tonight
He has edited his footage and plans to show it to everyone tonight
In Honor Of Benny's Wife Muffy Alison Pulling Benny Out Of The East Village Location
The footage is dedicated to Benny's wife, Muffy, and shows them moving out of the East Village location
Then again. Maybe we won't screen it tonight.
Mark is unsure if they should screen the footage tonight or not after the power outage
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?
Mark is curious how Alison knew about Mimi's situation
Maybe a bird told her.
Roger suggests that perhaps a bird informed Alison about Mimi
Or an angel.
Collins thinks that maybe an angel told Alison
I Had A little Hunch You Coudl Use A Little 'Flow
Collins thinks Mark and Roger could use some help and brings up an idea
Tutoring Again?
Roger thinks Collins means tutoring
Negative
Collins says that's not what he meant
Back At NYU?
Mark thinks Collins means NYU
No, No, No I Rewired The ATM At The Food Emporium To Provide An Honorarium To Anyone With The Code
Collins reveals he rewired an ATM at the Food Emporium and created a code that would provide an honorarium to anyone who uses it
The Code- Well...?
Mark and Roger are curious about the code
A-N-G-E-L
Collins reveals the code is 'Angel'
Let's Open Up A Restaurant In Santa Fe With A Private Corner Banquette In The Back
Mark, Roger, and Collins have a dream of opening a restaurant in Santa Fe with a private corner in the back
We'll Make It Yet, We'll Somehow Get To Santa Fe
They are determined to make their dream come true and go to Santa Fe
But You'd Miss New York Before You Could Unpack
Roger thinks they would miss New York too much to leave
Maureen? It's Mimi - I Can't Get Her Up The Stairs
Maureen calls for help because Mimi needs assistance
She Was Huddled In The Park In The Dark And She Was Freezing And Begged To Come Here
Mimi was found cold and alone in the park and had nowhere else to go
Over Here Oh, God-- "Got A Light - I Know You - You're Shivering..."
Mimi is in terrible condition and is asking for help
She's Been Living On The Street
Mimi has been homeless and living on the streets
We Need Some Heat
Mimi is shivering and needs some warmth
We Can Buy Some Wood And Something To Eat
Mark suggests buying wood and food to help Mimi
I'm Afraid She Needs More Than Heat
Collins is worried that Mimi needs more assistance than just warmth
I Heard That
Mimi heard Collins' comment
Collins Will Call For A Doctor, Honey
Collins says he'll call a doctor for Mimi
Don't Waste Your Money On Mimi, Me, Me
Mimi doesn't want Collins to waste money on her medical expenses
Hello-911? I'm On Hold
Collins is calling 911 but is put on hold
Cold...Cold...Would You Light My Candle
Mimi is very cold and asks if someone would light her candle
Yes-We'll Oh God-Find A Candle
Roger assures Mimi that they will find a candle
I Should Tell You I Should Tell You
Mimi wants to confess something important to Roger
SHHH-I Know
Roger already knows Mimi's secret
I Should Tell You Why I Left It Wasn't Cause I Didn't--
Mimi wants to explain why she left Roger
I Should Tell You I Should Tell You
Mimi wants to tell Roger how she feels about him
I Know
Roger already knows how she feels
I Love You--
Mimi confesses her love for Roger
Who Do You Think You Are? Leaving Me Alone With My Guitar...
Roger is angry that Mimi left him alone
Hold On There's Something You Should Hear It Isn't Much But It Took All Year
Roger has something he wants to show Mimi that he has been working on all year
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEN LORIN DARBY, ALFRED NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind