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.
Fool
Various Artists Lyrics
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and run towards disaster
your head is filled with drugs
rid of all realizations
It slows time to a dimension
you're flying through your brainspace
you've created a land of milk and honey
You forget drugs' danger
your life lost every kind of value
you fall into a hole
but no one is there to help you
Why do you play with fire
and run towards disaster
your head is filled with drugs
rid of all realizations
You're a fucking fool
with drugs you are a tool
you're lying with your stinking breath
sorry you are near to death
Why do you play with fire
and run towards disaster
your head is filled with drugs
rid of all realizations
It slows time to a dimension
you're flying through your brainspace
you've created a land of milk and honey
where everything seems to be funny
You forget drugs' danger
your life lost every kind of value
you fall into a hole
but no one is there to help you
Why do you play with fire
and run towards disaster
your head is filled with drugs
rid of all realizations
The lyrics from Various Artists' song "Fool" are a warning against the dangers of drug abuse. The singer questions the reasons why some people choose to engage in this destructive behavior, risking their own lives and well-being. The song starts by pointing out the recklessness of playing with fire and running towards disaster, alluding to the dangers that drugs bring to the users' lives. The reference to the "head...filled with drugs" highlights the powerful and devastating effects of drug addiction, causing the user to be "rid of all realizations."
The second part of the song describes the temporary escape that drugs provide, as the user enters an alternate reality, slowing down time and flying through a "brainspace" they created. This land of "milk and honey" presents a distorted reality in which everything seems to be funny, but this façade masks the grave danger of falling into a hole and losing any sense of values or purpose in life. The singer laments the fact that, even in this state of peril, no one seems to be there to help the user.
The repeated question "why do you play with fire and run towards disaster?" asserts the refrain's warning against drug abuse, augmented by calling the user a "fucking fool" who is "near to death". This emphatic language conveys the seriousness and urgency of the message, reminding the listener of the destructive cycle of drug addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you play with fire
Why do you continuously engage in dangerous behavior?
and run towards disaster
Why do you actively pursue negative outcomes?
your head is filled with drugs
You have consumed drugs to the point where it has affected your cognitive functioning.
rid of all realizations
You are unable to recognize or be aware of the consequences of your actions.
It slows time to a dimension
Drugs have created a distortion of time perception.
you're flying through your brainspace
Your mind is disoriented, causing you to feel like you are floating or flying.
you've created a land of milk and honey
Through drug use, you have created a euphoric and delusional reality.
where everything seems to be funny
You find everything humorous in your distorted reality, even dangerous situations.
You forget drugs' danger
You are oblivious to the harmful and potentially lethal effects of drugs.
your life lost every kind of value
Drug use has taken away the significance and importance of your life.
you fall into a hole
You have become trapped in the cycle of drug use and addiction.
but no one is there to help you
No one is available or willing to assist you in getting out of your current situation.
You're a fucking fool
You are irrational and making foolish choices.
with drugs you are a tool
You are being used and manipulated by the effects of drugs.
you're lying with your stinking breath
Your breath is foul due to drug use, signifying the unhealthy state of your body.
sorry you are near to death
You are apologetic, recognizing the danger and proximity of death caused by drug use.
Contributed by Lila V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.