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.
Winter
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kernfest und auf die Dauer
Sein Fleisch fühlt sich wie Eisen an
Und scheut nicht süß noch sauer
Aus Blumen und aus Vogelsang
Weiß er sich nichts zu machen
Hasst warmen Trank und warmen Klang
Wenn Stein und Bein vor Frost zerbricht
Und Teich' und Seen krachen
Das klingt ihm gut, das hasst er nicht
Dann will er tot sich lachen
Sein Schloss von Eis liegt ganz hinaus
Beim Nordpol an dem Strande
Doch hat er auch ein Sommerhaus
Im lieben Schweizerlande
Da ist er denn bald dort, bald hier
Gut' Regiment zu führen
Und wenn er durchzieht, stehen wir
Und sehen ihn an und frieren
The song "Winter" by Various Artists, begins with the line "Der Winter ist ein rechter Mann," which translates to "Winter is a true man." The lyrics go on to describe winter as a strong and enduring force, whose flesh feels like iron and is not affected by anything sweet or sour. The next couple of lines describe how winter has no use for flowers, birdsong, warm drinks, or anything else that is warm. Winter is described as enjoying the sound of frost cracking and things freezing, and that makes him laugh as he lies in the icy castle he calls home in the North Pole. However, the lyrics also suggest that winter has a summer home in Switzerland, and that he moves between the two places to lead his regiment of cold temperatures and icy winds.
The song "Winter" is a beautiful ode to the season that is often associated with darkness and coldness. The lyrics, in a way, try to demonize winter as a force that is cold and unfeeling. However, they also acknowledge its strength and enduring nature, suggesting that winters are a true test of strength and resilience. One interpretation of the lyrics could be that, just as winter is a season of death and rebirth, human beings also have to go through seasons of darkness to come out on the other side. The song is, therefore, a beautiful reminder that winter, with all its coldness and darkness, is necessary for the renewal of life and the cycle of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Der Winter ist ein rechter Mann
The winter is a strong and enduring man
Kernfest und auf die Dauer
He is sturdy and long-lasting
Sein Fleisch fühlt sich wie Eisen an
His body feels like iron
Und scheut nicht süß noch sauer
He is not affected by anything sweet or sour
Aus Blumen und aus Vogelsang
He doesn't appreciate flowers or birdsong
Weiß er sich nichts zu machen
He doesn't know what to do with them
Hasst warmen Trank und warmen Klang
He hates warm drinks and warm sounds
Und alle warmen Sachen
And all warm things in general
Wenn Stein und Bein vor Frost zerbricht
When stone and bone break from the frost
Und Teich' und Seen krachen
And ponds and lakes crack
Das klingt ihm gut, das hasst er nicht
He enjoys that sound, he doesn't hate it
Dann will er tot sich lachen
He wants to laugh himself to death
Sein Schloss von Eis liegt ganz hinaus
His castle made of ice is far away
Beim Nordpol an dem Strande
Located by the shore at the North Pole
Doch hat er auch ein Sommerhaus
But he also has a summer house
Im lieben Schweizerlande
In the lovely land of Switzerland
Da ist er denn bald dort, bald hier
He goes back and forth between the two places
Gut' Regiment zu führen
To govern well
Und wenn er durchzieht, stehen wir
And when he comes through, we stand
Und sehen ihn an und frieren
And we look at him and freeze
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: Matthias Claudius, Johann Friedrich Reichardt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind