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.
Pandemonium
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that words so moronic
I could cry
I want words as lame
Simplify
I feel supersonic
That is why
I despise this game
Life is pandemonium
...
That's the reason we despair
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
Life is Pandemonium
Life is Pandemonium!
I knew that word
I knew that word
I knew that word
God dammit!
It is such a calamity
Where should we begin?
The best spellers
Dont necessarily (win)
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
Set your sights
I am on a mission
We have rights!
(We have rights!)
That's why we complain
Damn, life bites
But I like competition
In these lies
Can you feel our pain?
Life is random and unfair
Life is pandemonium
...
That's the reason we despair
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
(Life is pandemonium)
I knew that word
I knew that word
I knew that word
God dammit!
It is such a calamity
Where should we begin?
The best spellers
Don't necessarily win
(Life is pandemonium)
They don't win
(Life is pandemonium)
They don't win
They dont win
No they don't!
Life is random and unfair
(Life is pandemonium)
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
(Yes is it!)
Life is pandemonium
Life is pandemonium
(Oh yes, it is!)
Life is pandemonium
Yes it is!
Yeah!
The song "Pandemonium" by Various Artists is a commentary on the unpredictability of life and the frustration that comes along with it. The lyrics express the singer's disdain for the game of life, where the rules seem to be constantly changing and winning is never guaranteed. The repetitive chanting of "Life is pandemonium" drives home the idea that chaos and disorder are inherent features of existence.
The song also touches on the idea of competition and the pressure to succeed. The lines "The best spellers don't necessarily win" and "Damn, life bites, but I like competition" highlight the inherent injustice of a system where success is often determined by factors beyond an individual's control. The chorus repeats the phrase "I knew that word" as a nod to the competitive nature of spelling bees, which serve as a metaphor for the cutthroat nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
My oh my
Expressing surprise or disappointment about something
that words so moronic
Referring to the use of unintelligent or imbecilic language
I could cry
Exaggerating their distress on hearing the aforementioned language
I want words as lame
Preferring use of very basic or commonplace words to express ideas
Simplify
Reduce the complexity of things
I feel supersonic
Feeling extremely fast or efficient for having simplified their language
That is why
Introducing an explanation for why they despise the current state of things
I despise this game
Hating the way things are currently done
Life is random and unfair
Acknowledging the bleak and arbitrary nature of existence
Life is pandemonium
Life is chaotic and unpredictable
...
That's the reason we despair
The previous two lines sum up why people feel pessimistic
I knew that word
Expressing annoyance that they've encountered a word they're familiar with
God dammit!
Exasperated response to their situation
It is such a calamity
Making light of the situation
Where should we begin?
Rhetorical question in response to their predicament
The best spellers
People who are talented at spelling difficult words
Dont necessarily (win)
Implying that the best spellers don't always succeed in life
Set your sights
Encouragement to aim for desired goals
I am on a mission
Determined to achieve their goals
We have rights!
Asserting their entitlement and privileges
(We have rights!)
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
That's why we complain
Explaining why they speak up
Damn, life bites
Acknowledging that life can be difficult
But I like competition
Finding pleasure in competitive challenges
In these lies
Within these ideas or concepts
Can you feel our pain?
Questioning if others understand their struggles
They don't necessarily (win)
Reiterating that successful spelling doesn't equate to overall success
(Life is pandemonium)
Repeating the song's main idea
No they don't!
Asserting the truth of the previous statement
(Yes is it!)
Affirming the song's main idea again
(Oh yes, it is!)
Repeating the affirmation with heightened excitement
Yes it is!
Final confirmation of the song's main idea
Yeah!
Exclamation of satisfaction or agreement
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.