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.
You've Got a Friend
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing
Is going right
Take my rise she hear
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running
Oh yeah baby
To see you again
Winter, spring summer, or fall
Oh yeah baby
All you have to do is call
And I′ll be there
You've got a friend
Carole King's "You've Got A Friend," written in 1971, is a powerful ballad about being there for someone when they're feeling down. When the person you're singing to is in trouble or needs someone to lean on, you're always there. The song is full of imagery, with one of the most impactful lines being "Take my rise she hears." This line is a perfect example of King's powerful lyricism, creating a sense of comfort and security in the listener right from the get-go. The idea of a helping hand is universal, and the message of the song is especially powerful.
James Taylor's version of the song has a decidedly different feel to it. Taylor adds a more acoustic sound, which gives the song a more folksy feel. He sings with passion and conviction, and adds a more dramatic vocal delivery, making the song sound more personal to him. One of the most impactful changes he made was to add a different melody. Taylor’s song sounds loose and effortless, but its simple melodies and harmonies make it a perfect folk-pop anthem that is still relevant today.
One of the most powerful aspects of "You've Got A Friend" is the universal message of love and support. The song reminds us that we all have someone to lean on, whether it’s family, friends or loved ones. Through its simple, straightforward lyrics and powerful message, we realize that even when life gets tough, love and support are always within reach.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're down and troubled
In times of sadness and difficulty
And you need a helping hand
Requiring assistance
And nothing, whoa nothing
Even when there seems to be no hope or solution
Is going right
When everything seems to be going wrong
Take my rise she hear
Lean on me for support
Close your eyes and think of me
Visualize the presence of a trusted friend
And soon I will be there
The friend will arrive to provide comfort
To brighten up
To bring cheerfulness to
Even your darkest nights
In the most challenging moments
You just call out my name
Simply ask for help
And you know wherever I am
Assurance that the friend will be there, no matter where they are
I'll come running
The friend will come quickly
Oh yeah baby
Affirmation of the friend's willingness to help
To see you again
To be in the company of the one in need
Winter, spring summer, or fall
No matter the season, the friend will be there
Oh yeah baby
Reiteration of the friend's offer of help
All you have to do is call
Requesting help is all that is required
And I'll be there
The friend will come
You've got a friend
Assurance that one is not alone and has someone to rely on
Writer(s): Carole King, Thalma Alyagon Roz, Oded Assner
Contributed by Dylan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.