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 Time Warp
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time is fleeting
Madness takes it's toll...
(Magenta) Ahh...
(Riff Raff) But listen closely...
(Riff Raff) I've got to keep control.
I remember doing the Time Warp.
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me.
(Riff Raff & Magenta) And the void would be calling.
(Guests) Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Narrator) It's just a jump to the left.
(Guests) And then a step to the right.
(Narrator) With your hand on your hips.
(Guests) You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust.
They really drive you insane.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Magenta) It's so dreamy
Oh, fantasy free me
So you can't see me
No not at all.
In another dimension
With voyeuristic intention.
Well secluded I see all...
(Riff Raff) With a bit of a mind flip...
(Magenta) You're into a time slip...
(Riff Raff) And nothing can ever be the same.
(Magenta) You're spaced out on sensation.
(Riff Raff) Like you're under sedation.
(Guests) Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Columbia) Well, I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy
Gave me an evil wink.
Well it shook me up
It took me by surprise
He had a pick-up truck
And the devil's eyes
He stared at me
And I felt a change
Time meant nothing
Never would again.
(Guests) Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Narrator) It's just a jump to the left.
(Guests) And then a step to the right.
(Narrator) With your hands on your hips.
(Guests) You bring you knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust...
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again
(Columbia) Ah! Oh! Oh! Yeoooww...
Ahhhh.
(Guests) Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Narrator) It's just a jump to the left.
(Guests) And then a step to the right.
(Narrator) With your hands on your hips.
(Guests) You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
They really drive you insane.
"The Time Warp" is a song from the 1973 British musical stage production of The Rocky Horror Show, later turned movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The song is an upbeat dance number featuring Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), the two bizarre and creepy servants of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). The song is about doing the "time warp," a dance that takes you through time and space to another dimension. Riff Raff and Magenta encourage everyone to join in the dance despite the madness and uncertainty that come with it.
The song starts with Riff Raff discussing the fleeting nature of time and how madness takes its toll. He remembers doing the "time warp" before, and how it made him feel when the darkness would hit him, and the void would be calling. Magenta joins in and sings about being in another dimension and seeing everything from a secluded perspective. She encourages the listeners to do the "time warp" again and again, even if they are spaced out on sensation or under sedation. The guests and Columbia join in, narrating their experiences of the "time warp" and how it took them by surprise, changing their perception of time and space.
The song's chorus is a call and response between the singer and the guests, instructing them to do a "jump to the left" and a "step to the right," accompanied by pelvic thrusts. It’s said that the song was considered a flop at first, but as it's nature and structure of a song perfectly for an audience participation, the song became a huge cult hit. It's now a popular dance at parties, clubs, and events worldwide. The song is also a symbol of sexual liberation and free expression.
Line by Line Meaning
It's astounding
The situation is amazing and breathtaking.
Time is fleeting
Time passes quickly and can't be regained.
Madness takes it's toll...
Losing touch with reality can have consequences.
But listen closely...
Pay attention to what I'm about to say.
Not for very much longer...
The present situation is coming to an end soon.
I've got to keep control.
I need to maintain emotional stability.
I remember doing the Time Warp.
I have a memory of dancing this particular dance.
Drinking those moments when
Enjoying and relishing the experience.
The blackness would hit me.
Suddenly feeling disoriented and disassociated from reality.
And the void would be calling.
Being drawn away from reality and into a different realm.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's repeat the dance we enjoy so much.
It's just a jump to the left.
Move slightly to the left as part of the dance.
And then a step to the right.
Followed by a step to the right.
With your hand on your hips.
Position your hands on your hips to continue the dance.
You bring your knees in tight.
Tuck your knees inward.
But it's the pelvic thrust.
The pelvic motion of the dance is significant.
They really drive you insane.
The energy and excitement can be overwhelming.
It's so dreamy.
The feeling is surreal and otherworldly.
Oh, fantasy free me.
Allowing oneself to daydream and escape from reality.
So you can't see me, no not at all.
Attempting to disappear and become invisible.
In another dimension.
Being transported to a different plane of existence.
With voyeuristic intention.
Pleasure in observing what's happening.
Well secluded I see all...
In a private, hidden place, not visible to others.
With a bit of a mind flip...
A significant change of mental state.
You're into a time slip...
Transported into another time or place.
And nothing can ever be the same.
The experience will be life-changing and irreplaceable.
You're spaced out on sensation.
The intense feelings are overwhelming and disorienting.
Like you're under sedation.
A sensation of being medicated and non-responsive.
Well, I was walking down the street
Recalling a past experience.
Just having a think
Engaging in deep thought and reflection.
When a snake of a guy
Encountered a deceitful and dishonest person.
Gave me an evil wink.
A subtle gesture that implied malicious intent.
Well it shook me up
The experience was distressing and unsettling.
It took me by surprise
The event was unexpected and sudden.
He had a pick-up truck
He owned a certain type of vehicle.
And the devil's eyes
The man had a sinister and evil look in his eyes.
He stared at me
The man looked at me for an extended period of time.
And I felt a change
My mood and mindset shifted.
Time meant nothing
The concept of time lost its significance.
Never would again.
The experience had a profound and lasting impact.
Ah! Oh! Oh! Yeoooww...
Expressing intense emotions and excitement.
Writer(s): Richard Charles di Fonzo, Bill Meyers, Scott Schreer
Contributed by Alaina T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.