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.
air
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello, carbon monoxide
The air, the air is everywhere
Breath deep while you sleep, breath deep
Bless you alcohol bloodstream
Save me nicotine lung steam
Incense, incense is in the air
Cataclysmic ectoplasm, fall out atomic orgasm
Vapor and fume at the stone of my tomb
Breathing like a southern perfume
Eating at the stone of my tomb
Welcome, sulfur dioxide
Hello, carbon monoxide
The air, the air is everywhere
Breath deep while you sleep, breath deep
Deep, deep, deep, deep
The lyrics of Various Artists’ song ‘Air’ are an ironic and satirical commentary on the polluted air that we breathe in daily, and how it affects our bodies. The opening lines welcome sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are two of the most deadly air pollutants. The next line, “The air, the air is everywhere” is a reminder that these pollutants are omnipresent in the atmosphere, and we can’t escape them. The song urges us to breathe deeply while we sleep, emphasizing that this is when our bodies are most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
The next few lines ironically thank alcohol and nicotine, two highly addictive and detrimental substances, for their contribution to our bodies. The line “Incense, incense is in the air” adds another layer of irony, referencing how people burn incense to purify the air, but in reality, it only adds to the pollution. The repetition of “Breath deep while you sleep, breath deep” reminds us of the danger of pollution even when we’re not awake.
The final lines of the song are the most surreal and metaphorical. “Cataclysmic ectoplasm, fall out atomic orgasm, Vapor and fume at the stone of my tomb” paints a picture of a world filled with radioactive waste and pollution, where the very stone of our tombs is eroding. The line “Breathing like a southern perfume” is a poignant reminder that even the most beautiful things can be toxic in large quantities.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome, sulfur dioxide
The song welcomes the poisonous gas called sulfur dioxide that can cause respiratory problems.
Hello, carbon monoxide
The song greets the deadly gas carbon monoxide that can cause fatal poisoning in high concentrations.
The air, the air is everywhere
The song highlights the ubiquitous presence of air around us that connects us all and sustains life.
Breath deep while you sleep, breath deep
The song encourages us to take deep breaths even while we sleep as it helps in maximizing the oxygen intake.
Bless you alcohol bloodstream
The song invokes the presence of alcohol in our bloodstream that can provide temporary relief from stress and anxiety.
Save me nicotine lung steam
The song acknowledges the addictive nature of nicotine and how it can provide some respite to smokers.
Incense, incense is in the air
The song talks about the traditional practice of lighting incense that can purify the air and create an ambience of peace.
Breath deep while you sleep breath deep
The song reiterates the importance of taking deep breaths while sleeping to improve the overall respiratory health.
Cataclysmic ectoplasm, fall out atomic orgasm
The song uses surreal and obscure language to describe the disastrous impact of nuclear explosions and testing.
Vapor and fume at the stone of my tomb
The song refers to the harmful effects of toxic gases that can emanate from the burial sites and affect the environment.
Breathing like a southern perfume
The song compares the act of breathing with the experience of inhaling the fragrant smells of southern flowers and plants.
Eating at the stone of my tomb
The song talks about the slow and gradual erosion of the tombstone due to the corrosive effects of air pollution and acid rain.
Welcome, sulfur dioxide
The song ends on the same note as it started, welcoming the toxic gas sulfur dioxide that can pose a risk to human health.
Hello, carbon monoxide
The song concludes with a greeting to the poisonous gas carbon monoxide that can cause significant harm to human health.
The air, the air is everywhere
As before, the song emphasizes the omnipresence of air and how it is an essential component of human existence.
Breath deep while you sleep, breath deep
Finally, the song reinforces the message to take deep breaths while sleeping, which is a simple way to improve overall health and well-being.
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.