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.
Sweet Sugar Blues
Various Artists Lyrics
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Hobo songs and railroad gin
Alcohol evaporates through skin
One gift
Sugar blue
I feel his kiss in your angry eyes
One gift
Sugar blue
Holding darkness up to the light
The other side shows through
The raven's song it breaks the night
And I rise from me through broken hues
Sugar blue
Going nowhere's somewhere's song
Finding right in what went wrong
One gift, sugar blue
One gift, sugar blue
Holding darkness up to the light
The other side shows through
The raven's song it breaks the night
And I rise from me through broken hues
Sugar blue
The lyrics of "Sugar Blue" by Jeff Finlin explore the complexities of life and relationships. The song references "hobo songs and railroad gin," painting a picture of a troubled, transient existence. The line "alcohol evaporates through skin" suggests a sense of desperation and emptiness. However, amidst this bleak landscape, there is still a glimmer of hope – a "gift" represented by the phrase "Sugar blue."
The concept of "sugar blue" is repeated throughout the song, and seems to represent a brighter, more positive aspect of life. The lyrics suggest that even amidst hardship and pain, there is still beauty to be found. The singer even feels "his kiss in your angry eyes" – perhaps a reference to a past or absent lover – indicating that love and connection are still possible even in difficult times.
The final lines of the song emphasize this idea, suggesting that even when things seem to be going nowhere ("going nowhere's somewhere's song"), there can still be hope and redemption. The music underscores the bittersweet nature of the lyrics, with a mournful melody that nevertheless has an uplifting quality.
Line by Line Meaning
Hobo songs and railroad gin
Songs sung by homeless travelers and cheap alcoholic drinks found near railway tracks
Alcohol evaporates through skin
Drinking alcohol causes it to evaporate through the skin
One gift
Sugar blue
The one positive thing is the blue color of sugar
I feel his kiss in your angry eyes
I can sense the anger and pain behind your eyes that is caused by someone's actions
To find hello when you say goodbye
Looking for positivity and hope even when leaving someone or something behind
Holding darkness up to the light
Bringing negative thoughts and emotions into the light to be acknowledged
The other side shows through
Once acknowledged, the more positive side of the issue becomes apparent
The raven's song it breaks the night
The bird's call can symbolize a call to action or awakening
And I rise from me through broken hues
Finding strength and resilience despite feeling broken or damaged
Going nowhere's somewhere's song
Even in the midst of uncertainty or confusion, there is still something to hold onto or gain from the situation
Finding right in what went wrong
Learning from past mistakes and finding the good or positive aspects of a negative situation
One gift, sugar blue
The blue color of sugar being seen as a small, positive gift
One gift, sugar blue
Reiterating the idea that amidst negative situations, there is still something positive to hold onto
Holding darkness up to the light
Continuing to bring negativity to the light in order to confront and overcome it
The other side shows through
Continued acknowledgment of both the negative and positive aspects of a situation
The raven's song it breaks the night
The symbolism of the bird's call as a recurring theme throughout the song
And I rise from me through broken hues
Reaffirming the idea of finding strength and overcoming negativity
Sugar blue
A reminder of the small, positive gift amidst all the negativity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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