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.
Orpheus
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind blows hard
Pulls these clothes around
I harbour all the same worries as most
The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost
I wrestle with an outlook on life
That shifts between darkness and shadowy light
I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear
Sunlight falls, my wings open wide
There's a beauty here I cannot deny
And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs
Are just so many people I knew never cared
Down below on the wreck of the ship
Are a stronghold of pleasures I couldn't regret
But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide
As Orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing
Sleepers sleep as we row the boat
Just you the weather and I gave up hope
But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps
Were fuel for the fire and straw for our backs
Still the voices have stories to tell
Of the power struggles in heaven and hell
But we feel secure against such mighty dreams
As Orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
Understand, these fires never stop
Please believe, when this joke is tired of laughing
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing
The song "Orpheus" by Various Artists explores the struggles and complexities of life, while also drawing inspiration from the mythology of Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet. The lyrics begin with the singer standing firm on stony ground, feeling the strong winds blowing around them. They express that they share the same worries as others, which include the temptation to leave or give up. The singer also acknowledges their struggle with balancing optimism and pessimism, as they navigate through the darkness and light of life. However, they feel comforted by the image of Orpheus sleeping, still dead to the world. The second verse reveals a moment of beauty, as the singer's wings open wide in the sunlight. The noise of bottles tumbling and crashing on the stairs represent people who didn't care about them. The lyrics describe the wreck of a ship below, where the singer has some regrets but chooses to stay true to their promise to Orpheus. In the third verse, the singer and their companion row the boat while the others sleep. They acknowledge the difficulties they faced along the way, which only added fuel to their fire. Despite stories of power struggles in heaven and hell, they feel secure with the promise of tomorrow that Orpheus sings. The song ends with a promise to keep learning and persevering, believing that the fires of life never stop, and that they will always hear Orpheus's song.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing firm on this stony ground
I am rooted in my beliefs and values and am unwilling to be swayed.
The wind blows hard
Life can be turbulent and unpredictable.
Pulls these clothes around
The challenges I face can leave me feeling vulnerable.
I harbour all the same worries as most
I share common concerns and fears with people.
The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost
I struggle with the urge to quit or give in when the going gets tough.
I wrestle with an outlook on life
I have conflicting views on what life means or should be.
That shifts between darkness and shadowy light
My perspective oscillates between hope and despair.
I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear
I find it hard to express myself for fear of being judged or misunderstood.
But Orpheus sleeps on his back still dead to the world
Despite the turmoil I face, there is a sense of peace and detachment within me.
Sunlight falls, my wings open wide
There are moments of beauty and grace that fill me with hope and joy.
There's a beauty here I cannot deny
I cannot help but recognize the wonder and awe of the world around me.
And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs
The mistakes and misfortunes of others do not define me.
Are just so many people I knew never cared
The people who have let me down or hurt me are insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Down below on the wreck of the ship
There are moments of chaos and destruction that threaten to consume me.
Are a stronghold of pleasures I couldn't regret
There are experiences that have brought me joy and fulfillment, despite the challenges I faced.
But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide
I am able to let go of my past and move forward with my life.
As Orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side
There is a sense of calm and security in the knowledge that I am not alone.
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn
I acknowledge that there is always room for personal growth and development.
Understand, these fires never stop
I recognize that life will always have its challenges and obstacles to overcome.
Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing
I have faith that even in the toughest of times, hope and joy can be found.
I will hear the promise of my Orpheus sing
I will find peace and guidance in the promises and assurances of something greater than myself.
Sleepers sleep as we row the boat
Others may sleep in the face of adversity, but I am determined to keep going.
Just you the weather and I gave up hope
I feel alone, abandoned, and hopeless in the face of overwhelming challenges.
But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps
The obstacles and setbacks I have faced have made me stronger and more resilient.
Were fuel for the fire and straw for our backs
The challenges I have overcome have given me the strength and determination to persevere.
Still the voices have stories to tell
There are always new experiences and people to encounter.
Of the power struggles in heaven and hell
The world can be a place of conflict, both internally and externally.
But we feel secure against such mighty dreams
Despite the uncertainty and turmoil, there is a sense of safety and assurance within me.
As Orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring
I find hope and inspiration in the promise of a better future.
Writer(s): David Sylvian
Contributed by Matthew E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.