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.
The Bilbao Song
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was the most fantastic place I've ever known.
For just a dollar you'd get all you wanted,
All you wanted, all you wanted
Of whatever kind of joy you called your own.
But if you had been around to see the sun
Well I don't know you might not like for you to see
The stools at the bar were damp with rye
Through the roof the moon was shining green
And the music really gave you some return on what you paid
Hey Joe, play that old song they always played.
That ol' Bilbao
Down were we used to go
Da da da da da ...
I can't remember the words ...
Da da da da da da
It's so long ago.
I don't know if it would have brought you joy or grief but
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
Beyhond belief.
Bill's be all in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao,
Came a day the end of May in '98
Four guys from Bristol came with sacks of coal dust,
Sacks of coal dust, sacks of coal dust
And the time they showed us all was really great.
But if you had been around to see the sun
Well I don't know you might not like what you'd've seen.
The brandy bottles smashing through the air
And the chairs flying everywhere
Through the roof the moon's still shining green
And those fog eyes all went going crazy with their pistols blazing
high,
"Think you can stop 'em ? Well, go ahead and try!"
That ol' Bilbao
Down were we used to go
Da da da da da da...
Who remembers the words ?
Da da da da da da
Something with love in it.
I don't know if it would have brought you joy or grief but
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
Beyond belief.
Bill's be all in, Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao,
Now they've cleaned it up and made it middle class
With potted palms and aspree
Very bourgeois, very bourgeois
Just another place to put your ass,
But if you could come around to see the fun
Well, I don't know, you might not find it such a strain,
They've cleaned up all the pools of broken glass,
On parquet floors you can't grow grass,
They've shut the green moon out because of rain
And the music makes you cringe now when you think of what you paid
Hey Joe, play that ol' song they always played;
That ol' Bilbao
Down where we used to go
That ol' Bilbao
Casting its golden glow
That ol' Bilbao moon
Love never laid me low
That ol' Bilbao
Why does it hurt me so ?
I don't know if it would have brought you joy or grief but
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
It was fantastic
Beyond belief.
The lyrics of "The Bilbao Song" describe a place called Bilbao, which the singer nostalgically recalls as being a fantastic and unforgettable place. The verses convey a sense of enchantment and excitement associated with this location. The first verse reminisces about the joy and abundance one could find in Bilbao for just a dollar, regardless of the kind of happiness sought. The atmosphere is depicted as eccentric, with damp bar stools, tall grass growing on the dancefloor, and a moon shining green through the roof. The music played was exceptional and worth the price. The chorus expresses the desire for the musician, Joe, to play the old song that was always played in Bilbao.
In the second verse, the date of the end of May in '98 is mentioned, and four individuals from Bristol arrive with sacks of coal dust. It is implied that they brought chaos and excitement to Bilbao. The scene becomes more intense, with brandy bottles flying through the air and chairs being thrown, while the green moon continues to shine. The fog-eyed individuals flaunt their pistols, daring anyone to try to stop them. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the longing to relive the memories of Bilbao.
The final verse highlights the change Bilbao has undergone, becoming a middle-class, sanitized place with potted palms and an atmosphere that is seen as bourgeois. The return of the green moon is now prevented due to rain, and the music that used to be thrilling now makes one cringe. The song concludes with a plea to Joe to play the old song once more, as the memories and longing for the old Bilbao persist.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Bilbao Song" evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place full of excitement, eccentricity, and enchantment. The song captures the contrast between the wild and intriguing past of Bilbao and its current sanitized existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Bill's be all in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao,
Bill was fully immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of Bilbao.
Was the most fantastic place I've ever known.
Bilbao was an incredibly amazing place.
For just a dollar you'd get all you wanted,
With a mere dollar, you could have all the pleasures you desired.
All you wanted, all you wanted
Unlimited access to any kind of joy you desired.
Of whatever kind of joy you called your own.
You could freely indulge in any form of joy that resonated with you.
But if you had been around to see the sun
If you had witnessed the true reality.
Well I don't know you might not like for you to see
It's uncertain if you would appreciate what you would have seen.
The stools at the bar were damp with rye
The bar stools were moist from spilled rye whiskey.
On the dancefloor the grass grew high,
The dancefloor was so neglected that grass started growing on it.
Through the roof the moon was shining green
The moon's eerie green glow penetrated through the roof.
And the music really gave you some return on what you paid
The music exceeded expectations and provided great value for money.
Hey Joe, play that old song they always played.
Requesting the familiar tune that always resonated with the crowd.
Came a day the end of May in '98
On a specific day in May 1998.
Four guys from Bristol came with sacks of coal dust,
A group of individuals from Bristol arrived carrying bags of coal dust.
Sacks of coal dust, sacks of coal dust
Multiple sacks filled with coal dust.
And the time they showed us all was really great.
Their performance was truly impressive for everyone in attendance.
The brandy bottles smashing through the air
Brandy bottles were thrown and shattered in the air.
And the chairs flying everywhere
Chairs were flying in all directions.
And those fog eyes all went going crazy with their pistols blazing high,
The intoxicated individuals went wild, firing their guns recklessly.
"Think you can stop 'em ? Well, go ahead and try!"
Challenging anyone to attempt to stop their wild behavior.
Now they've cleaned it up and made it middle class
The place has been sanitized and transformed into a middle-class establishment.
With potted palms and aspree
Featuring decorative potted plants and an artificial sense of sophistication.
Very bourgeois, very bourgeois
Exuding an air of middle-class conformity and pretentiousness.
Just another place to put your ass,
A generic location for mindless relaxation.
They've cleaned up all the pools of broken glass,
Any traces of the previous chaos, such as shattered glass, have been meticulously removed.
On parquet floors you can't grow grass,
The polished wooden floors prevent any growth of grass.
They've shut the green moon out because of rain
The unique and mystical atmosphere has been dampened due to rain.
And the music makes you cringe now when you think of what you paid
The music now disappoints and makes one regret the cost incurred.
That ol' Bilbao
Referring to the nostalgic memories of Bilbao.
Down where we used to go
To the place where we often visited.
Casting its golden glow
Exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Love never laid me low
Love never brought me down.
Why does it hurt me so ?
Questioning the source of the emotional pain experienced.
It was fantastic
It was truly extraordinary.
Beyond belief.
Surpassing what can be comprehended.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind