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.
Fireflies
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
Cuz they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You think me rude, but I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cuz everything is never as it seems
Cuz I get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they try to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sockhop beneath my bed
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cuz everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
Cuz I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far to tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird cuz I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell (said farewell)
But I know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
Cuz I saved a few and I keep 'em in a jar
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cuz everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cuz everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams.
The song "Fireflies" by Various Artists explores the concept of viewing the world from a unique perspective. The opening lines evoke a sense of wonder and disbelief at the sight of ten million fireflies lighting up the world: "You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep." The singer of the song is struck by the beauty of these creatures as they fill the open air.
The lyrics also express the sense of ambiguity and uncertainty that often accompanies our daily experiences. The singer remarks that "everything is never as it seems" and struggles to make sense of the world around him. The chorus repeats the desire to "make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly," suggesting that finding meaning in life requires a certain degree of belief in a larger framework.
The song also touches on the theme of escapism, as the singer longs to be taken away from his current situation. He describes feeling like an insomniac and being too tired to fall asleep, suggesting that he is looking for a break from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
You would not believe your eyes
I am witnessing something so extraordinary that it's beyond belief
If ten million fireflies
An unimaginable amount of these glowing insects are surrounding me
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
Their collective glow filled the entire atmosphere around me as I fell asleep
Cuz they fill the open air
These fireflies are so abundant that they occupy every inch of breathable air
And leave teardrops everywhere
The luminescence of these insects and their flickering movement cause a tear-like effect that feels as though I'm surrounded by glowing drops of rain
You think me rude, but I would just stand and stare
I'm so captivated by this sight I cannot even attempt to look away
I'd like to make myself believe
I wish to create a fanciful belief in my mind
That planet earth turns slowly
A dreamlike perspective that the earth rotates slowly, and time appears to stretch longer than reality
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
It becomes confusing to know if one would prefer to be awake or asleep in a reality that seems so twisted
Cuz everything is never as it seems
Things that are visible to me appear surreal and far from the norm
Cuz I get a thousand hugs
I'm being surrounded by an immense number of fireflies, each feeling like a warm embrace
From ten thousand lightning bugs
The number of lightning bugs seems impossibly high
As they try to teach me how to dance
I feel immersed in a dreamlike tutorial as the fireflies move around me in a rhythmic way
A foxtrot above my head
The movement of fireflies forms a dynamic pattern above me like a dance that is known as a foxtrot
A sockhop beneath my bed
The fireflies race around my feet, resembling the movements of dancers in a sockhop
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
The environment around me feels like a disco hall, but the setup seems fragile and unlikely to last
Leave my door open just a crack
I keep my door open, but only slightly
(Please take me away from here)
I have a strong desire to escape and be taken away from the current situation
Cuz I feel like such an insomniac
At this moment, I feel as though I am unable to sleep
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
I question why the traditional method for restful sleep isn't working for me
When I'm far to tired to fall asleep
Despite feeling exhausted, I'm still unable to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I mull over the memory of the fireflies, now feeling distant
I'm weird cuz I hate goodbyes
I know that the memory of the fireflies will soon come to an end, and dislike having to say goodbye to them
I got misty eyes as they said farewell (said farewell)
As the fireflies fade, I feel teary-eyed and melancholic
But I know where several are
Although the majority of the fireflies have disappeared from view, I know where some remain
If my dreams get real bizarre
I wonder if my dreams will continue to be as surreal
Cuz I saved a few and I keep 'em in a jar
I collected some fireflies and keep them in a jar to remember this moment
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams.
I am overwhelmed by the vivid and surreal nature of my dreams
Writer(s): ADAM R. YOUNG
Contributed by Daniel J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.