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 Loco-Motion
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance, now
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learning your ABC's
So come on, come on, do the loco-motion with me
You gotta swing your hips now
Come on, baby, jump up, jump back
Well, I think you got the knack, whoa, whoa
Now that you can do it let's make a chain, now
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
A chuga, chuga motion like a railway train, now
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
Do it nice and easy, now, don't lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lotta soul
So come on, come on, do the loco-motion with me
(Sax Solo)
Yea, yea, yea, yeah move around the floor in a loco-motion
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
Do it holding hands if you get the notion
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue
So come on, come on do the loco-motion with me
(Come on) You gotta swing your hips, now
(Come on) That's right, (do the loco-motion) you're doin' fine
(Come on, do the loco-motion)
Come on, baby, (come on, do the loco-motion) hmm, hmm, hmm, jump back
(Come on, do the loco-motion)
Jump back, (come on) you're lookin' good, (Come on, do the loco-motion)
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Jump back, (come on) jump back (do the loco-motion)...
"The Loco-Motion" is a joyful and upbeat song about a new dance craze that everyone is doing. The singer invites the listener to join in, promising that they will enjoy it if they give it a chance. The song describes the dance steps, which involve swinging your hips and jumping forward and back. The lyrics suggest that the dance is easy to learn, even easier than the alphabet, and that it can even lift your mood when you're feeling blue.
The song's chorus invites the listener to "do the loco-motion" and to join in a chain that moves like a railway train. The saxophone solo adds to the rhythmic energy of the song, inspiring the listener to move around the dance floor. The song's final lines encourage the listener to hold hands and continue doing the dance together.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's doing a brand new dance, now
People are enthusiastically performing a fresh dance craze.
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
The song is inviting the listener to join in the Loco-Motion dance.
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance, now
The singer is confident that the listener will enjoy the dance if they try it.
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
The song is again asking the listener to participate in the dance.
My little baby sister can do it with ease
Even young children can easily perform this dance.
It's easier than learning your ABC's
The Loco-Motion is simpler to do than mastering the alphabet.
So come on, come on, do the loco-motion with me
The song is encouraging the listener to dance with the singer.
You gotta swing your hips now
To do the Loco-Motion, one must move their hips.
Come on, baby, jump up, jump back
In the dance, one must rhythmically jump forward and back.
Well, I think you got the knack, whoa, whoa
The singer believes the listener has caught on to the steps.
Now that you can do it let's make a chain, now
Now that the listener has learned the dance, it's time to try it in a group.
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
Again, the song is encouraging the listener to participate.
A chuga, chuga motion like a railway train, now
The Loco-Motion involves a rhythmic motion similar to a train.
Do it nice and easy, now, don't lose control
While doing the dance, it's important to maintain control and do it at a comfortable pace.
A little bit of rhythm and a lotta soul
The Loco-Motion requires rhythm and energy.
So come on, come on, do the loco-motion with me
Once again, the song is urging the listener to dance with the singer.
(Sax Solo)
The instrumental break in the song featuring a saxophone.
Yea, yea, yea, yeah move around the floor in a loco-motion
The dance involves moving around the dancefloor.
(Come on baby do the loco-motion)
The song is reminding the listener to participate in the dance.
Do it holding hands if you get the notion
The Loco-Motion can also be done while holding someone's hand.
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
According to the song, the Loco-Motion is a very easy dance to learn and do.
It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue
The Loco-Motion can have a positive effect on one's mood and spirits.
So come on, come on do the loco-motion with me
One final time, the song is calling for the listener to dance with the singer.
(Come on) You gotta swing your hips, now
The song is reminding the listener to move their hips while doing the dance.
(Come on) That's right, (do the loco-motion) you're doin' fine
The singer is reassuring the listener that they are doing well in the dance.
(Come on, do the loco-motion)
The song is once again urging the listener to continue dancing.
Come on, baby, (come on, do the loco-motion) hmm, hmm, hmm, jump back
The song is calling for the listener to jump back in the dance.
(Come on, do the loco-motion)
The song is still encouraging the listener to participate in the dance.
Jump back, (come on) you're lookin' good, (Come on, do the loco-motion)
The singer approves of the listener's performance in the dance.
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Vocal ad-lib with no particular meaning.
Jump back, (come on) jump back (do the loco-motion)...
The song ends with a final call for the listener to jump back and continue doing the Loco-Motion dance.
Writer(s): Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Contributed by Chase G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.