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.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in they dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning starts together
Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth
The song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a Christmas carol that was first sung on December 27, 1868, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The lyrics were written by Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal priest, in 1867, after he visited the town of Bethlehem in Palestine, where Jesus Christ was born, two years prior. The melody was composed by Lewis Redner, a church organist who worked with Brooks.
The first verse of the song describes the quiet and peaceful town of Bethlehem, where everything is still and the stars shine silently above. However, the second verse introduces the everlasting light that shines in the dark streets, symbolizing the birth of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "hopes and fears of all the years" that are met in Bethlehem that night. The third verse talks about the angels watching over the holy birth, while the fourth verse calls on the morning stars to proclaim the birth of Christ, and for everyone to sing praises to God for bringing peace on earth.
This song has been covered by various artists throughout the years, including Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey, and Sarah McLachlan, among others. It has also been translated into several languages, such as French, German, and Spanish. Moreover, it has been featured in various films and television shows, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, and Friends.
Line by Line Meaning
O little town of Bethlehem
Addressing the town of Bethlehem, known for being the birthplace of Christ.
How still we see thee lie
The peaceful and quiet view of the town is observed.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The town is asleep and unaware of the miraculous events unfolding.
The silent stars go by
The stars are quiet as they shine above the sleeping town.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
Despite the darkness of the streets, there is a shining light present in Bethlehem.
The everlasting light
The light symbolizes the eternal hope that Christ brings.
The hopes and fears of all the years
All the accumulated hopes and fears of mankind are held in this tiny town on this special night.
Are met in thee tonight
All these hopes and fears find fulfillment in the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
For Christ is born of Mary
The birth of Jesus, the Son of God, is made possible through the humble Mary.
And gathered all above
He is surrounded by the heavenly hosts who come to celebrate this miracle.
While mortals sleep the angels keep
While humans are unaware or sleeping, the angels remain vigilant and watchful.
Their watch of wondering love
The angels gaze upon this miracle with awe and love.
O morning stars together
The stars that shine above the town are called to announce the birth of Christ.
Proclaim thy holy birth
The stars are called to announce the miraculous birth of the Holy Child.
And praises sing to God the King
A call to sing praises to God the King, who has brought forth salvation through the birth of Christ.
And peace to men on earth
The birth of Christ brings the promise of peace and goodwill to all mankind.
Contributed by Dominic C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.