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.
Michelle
Various Artists Lyrics
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I hate to say it hasn't helped me yet
I thought my problems would just disappear
And all my pain would be in yesterday
I poured my booze all down the kitchen drain
And watch my bad habits get flushed away
I thought that would keep my head on straight
And all my pain would be in yesterday
But I finally know what to do
I must quit, I must quit you
I thought that if I didn't go and play
The sadness would get bored and go away
I thought that if I didn't go astray
That all my pain would be in yesterday
But it's true I'm still blue
But I finally know what to do
I must quit, I must quit you
I sold my guitar and my piano
I thought that it was these that kept me low
I thought if only I could try and change
That all my pain would be in yesterday
But it's true I'm still blue
But I finally know what to do
I must quit, I must quit you
I must quit, I must quit you
These lyrics explore the theme of addiction and the struggle to overcome it. The singer confesses to giving up coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, and even their beloved musical instruments in an attempt to "get their head on straight" and leave their pain in the past. But despite these efforts, the singer still feels blue and realizes that the only way to truly heal is to quit the person causing their addiction.
The lyrics capture a sense of desperation and frustration surrounding addiction, with the singer trying everything they can think of to break free from the cycle. There is a sense of hopelessness as the singer admits that their efforts haven't helped yet, but also a determination to finally take control and quit the person who has been holding them back.
Various artists have covered the song "Michelle" with different styles and interpretations, from folk to rock to blues. Some have emphasized the pain and desperation in the lyrics with slower, melancholic arrangements, while others have infused the song with a more upbeat energy. The lyrics lend themselves well to different genres and styles, allowing artists to make the song their own while still capturing the universal struggles of addiction and overcoming pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave up coffee and cigarettes
I stopped doing things that I thought were bad for me, hoping it would make me feel better.
I hate to say it hasn't helped me yet
Unfortunately, stopping those things didn't give me the results I hoped for.
I thought my problems would just disappear
I wished that all my issues would magically vanish once I got rid of those habits.
And all my pain would be in yesterday
I hoped I could leave all my troubles in the past if I gave up those things.
I poured my booze all down the kitchen drain
I got rid of all the alcohol in my house.
And watch my bad habits get flushed away
I believed that by getting rid of these habits, I would be able to start anew and make better choices.
I thought that would keep my head on straight
I hoped that becoming sober would help me think more clearly.
But it's true I'm still blue
Despite all my efforts, I am still feeling sad.
But I finally know what to do
But now, after going through these changes, I finally understand what I need to do to feel better.
I must quit, I must quit you
I need to let go of someone or something that is causing me pain in order to move on.
I thought that if I didn't go and play
I assumed that if I stopped doing the things I enjoyed, I would no longer feel sad.
The sadness would get bored and go away
If I didn't entertain the sadness or dwell on it, it would eventually fade away, or so I thought.
I thought that if I didn't go astray
I thought that if I stayed on the straight and narrow, I would be able to avoid feeling sad.
That all my pain would be in yesterday
I hoped that by avoiding situations that might bring sadness, I could leave those emotions behind me.
I sold my guitar and my piano
I got rid of things that brought me joy in an attempt to shake the sadness I was feeling.
I thought that it was these that kept me low
I believed that my attachment to certain possessions was the root of my sadness.
I thought if only I could try and change
I hoped that by changing certain things about myself, I could stop feeling sad.
That all my pain would be in yesterday
I hoped that by making changes, I could leave my sadness behind me.
I must quit, I must quit you
I need to break away from someone or something that is causing me pain in order to move on.
I must quit, I must quit you
Once again, I need to reiterate that I must let go of someone or something that is causing me pain.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michelle Featherstone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind