Editing Encyclopedia:WikiProject Songs (section)

==Article content==
===Main body===
Write a description of the song. Write the basics first (this is often the information contained in the infobox). Then write about the music and lyrics, its influences and its effect on culture (with citations, of course). Because the entire article is about the song, it is recommended that there be no section headers with titles such as "Song information" or "About the song".

Stick to factual material. Do not include "original research" such as opinions about a song, or interpretations of the lyrics or even statements about what the song is "about", unless they can be provided in the form of quotes that can be cited from sources with some authoritative insight (such as the songwriter or a notable performer). Other websites are available for people who want to give subjective interpretations of songs.

===Guides===
Articles about [[line dancing]] songs such as "[[Cha Cha Slide]]" or "[[Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)]]" should not include instructions on how to dance to the song because [[WP:NotGuide|Wikipedia is not a guide book]].

===Single track listings===
A separate section for listing the tracks of various single releases should not be added to articles as a standard practice. Instead, they should only be added when they are the subject of extensive commentary in the article. For example, a separate track listing section is unnecessary to list a B-side that is only briefly mentioned in the article. However, in more complex situations, such as when multiple formats/tracks/remixes are discussed in the article, they may be justified.

==={{Anchor|LYRICS}} Lyrics and music videos ===
{{shortcut|WP:SONG#LYRICS|WP:SONG#Lyrics and music videos}}
Do not include the song's entire lyrics or embed the song's music video in the article unless you are certain they are in the [[public domain]]. [[Quotation]]s of the work within the analytical framework can fall into the [[fair use]] provisions within [[US copyright law]] (and to a lesser extent [[fair dealing]] and related concepts within other jurisdictions). However, how much of a song you can quote is open to interpretation, but you should [[Wikipedia:Avoid copyright paranoia|avoid copyright paranoia]]. Examples of works still under copyright can be found at [[:Category:FA-Class song articles]] and should be used as guidelines. Lyrics and music videos that are in the public domain may be entered at [[Wikisource]]. Links to external websites that provide lyrics belong in the "External links" section.

Per Wikipedia policy, please do not link to websites that are in violation of the artist's own copyright. See [[Wikipedia:Copyrights#Linking to copyrighted works]]. If there is a question regarding the licensing or accuracy of the information, including songwriter credits, please do not add a link. See [[Wikipedia:External links#Links normally to be avoided]].

When linking to a music video on YouTube use only the videos that have been uploaded by the musician(s), the record companies, or [[Vevo]]. The official Billboard.com YouTube channel can also be used. Links can be incorporated into the infobox (via {{para|misc}} using {{tl|External music video}}) or the external links of the article using {{tl|YouTube}}. Though the list of musician channels varies, a list of the acceptable record labels and distributors is presented below:

*[http://www.youtube.com/user/billboardmagazine Billboard Magazine]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/interscopegeffenam Interscope Records]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/islandrecords Island Records]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/mercuryrecordsuk Mercury Records]
*Ministry of Sound ([http://www.youtube.com/user/ministryofsounduk UK], [http://www.youtube.com/user/ministryofsoundde Germany], [http://www.youtube.com/user/ministryofsoundclub Club])
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/parlophone Parlophone Records]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/warnerbrosrecords Reprise Records]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/universalmusicgroup Universal Music Group]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/vevo Vevo]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/warnerbrosrecords Warner Bros. Records]

===Chart performance and charts===
Songs that are popular enough to appear on prominent record charts should have a "Chart performance" section. This section describes the song's history on the record charts and usually includes a table showing the song's peak chart positions. For help researching a song's chart history see the [[#Chart listings|chart listings]] section below. For more information about displaying chart information in [[Wikipedia:How to use tables|table format]], see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Music/Tables for charts|the Music Project's guidelines for chart tables]].

===Additional information to include===
Articles about songs should contain information on important musical characteristics such as:
*structure (chorus/verse/bridge)
*key. For traditional tunes if there is a reliable source indicating that there is a settled key or keys include this information. 
*time signature or signatures for tunes which have alternative versions in this respect, particularly those which may be in 3/4 vs 6/8 and those which have cut time variants which are verifiable.
* Of lesser importance but possibly notable are recording techniques used, if there is a major recording or an original release for non-traditional songs.

==={{Anchor|COVER}}Cover versions/multiple renditions===
{{shortcut|WP:COVERSONG|WP:SONGCOVER}}
Only cover versions/renditions important enough to have gained attention in their own right should be added to song articles. When a song has been recorded or performed by more than one artist, a particular artist's rendition should be included in the song's article (or perhaps in a separate article; see below), but only if at least one of the following applies:
*the rendition is discussed by a reliable source, showing that it is noteworthy in its own right. Merely appearing in an album track listing, a discography, etc., is not sufficient to show that a cover version is noteworthy; cover songs with only these types of sources should not be added to song articles, either as prose or in a list.
*the rendition itself meets the notability requirement at [[WP:NSONGS]].

Per [[WP:NSONG]], cover songs can be addressed in separate articles, provided that the article on the cover can be reasonably detailed based on facts independent of the original. However, cover versions/renditions that are important enough to have gained attention in their own right should also be addressed in the article about the original, even if it is not significant enough for a standalone article. For lists of recordings by date, use an instance of {{Tl|Timeline-event}} for each entry; see [[WP:DATELIST]].

===Popular culture, trivia and use in other media===
{{shortcut|WP:SONGTRIVIA}}
Songs are heard and referenced in movies, TV shows, commercials, during political campaigns and at sporting events; songs are widely adopted in popular culture but not every instance is [[WP:NOTEWORTHY|noteworthy]]. The use of a song is only worthy of noting in its respective article when it:
* <em>has</em> gained its own critical attention; e.g. a movie reviewer may critique a director's use of a song, or a newspaper may report on the reentry of an old song into the charts after its use in a TV commercial (similar to advice in [[WP:NSONG]] and [[#Cover versions/multiple renditions|WP:SONGCOVER]])
* <em>is</em> discussed by a [[WP:VERIFY|reliable source]]; i.e. the critical attention is featured prominently in [[WP:SOURCE|meritorious publications]]
* <em>is not</em> merely listed or mentioned in passing; e.g. a movie review in a quality source simply lists the songs in the movie, without discussing the importance or merits of the songs' use
Taking care to not [[WP:SYNTH|synthesize]] or infer that sources are discussing <em>the use of the song</em>; if the above criteria are met, next consider [[WP:FANCRUFT|the value of the information]] for the readers' knowledge and understanding of the subject, and if the article about a song could be [[WP:FACRITERIA#1B|considered incomplete without]] the addition. If the use of the song is noteworthy and informative:
* its use should be [[WP:PROSE|integrated in the article]], preferably with some context as described by reliable sources, rather than e.g. "It was in Episode 15 of ''The Example TV Show''"
* a separate section or [[:WP:embedded list|embedded list]] is [[WP:TRIVIA|rarely justified]], but for lists of uses by date, use an instance of {{tl|Timeline-event}} for each entry; see [[WP:DATELIST]]
In any event, the uses of the song should not be given [[WP:DUE|undue weight]], and verifiability and notability [[WP:VNOTSUFF|do not dictate]] that the details [[WP:CONSENSUS|should be]] included.

<em>A fair example</em> of the noteworthy use of a song in other media is of [[Lou Reed]]'s song "[[Perfect Day (Lou Reed song)|Perfect Day]]" being used in an episode of ''[[Fear the Walking Dead]]''.
* Matthew Chernov for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' discusses the qualities and content of the song and its use in relation to the tone of the episode.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Matthew Chernov |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/fear-the-walking-dead-episode-4-recap-not-fade-away-1201598104/ |title='Fear The Walking Dead' Episode 4 Recap: Boots on the Ground |magazine=Variety |date=September 20, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922032244/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/fear-the-walking-dead-episode-4-recap-not-fade-away-1201598104/ |archive-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref>
<em>A tragic example</em> of what happens when these guidelines are not respected can be seen in [[Special:Permalink/906313419#In popular culture|the "In popular culture" section of the article about "Happy Together"]] by [[the Turtles]].

===External links===
Follow the guidelines at [[WP:External links]]

Material that [[WP:ELYES|can be linked]] include:
*a musical score, chords, or tabs/sheet music, provided the source is hosting them with a license and does not violate copyright;
*non-copyrightable materials, such as scores/sheet music for public domain arrangements of public domain works, or guitar chords that closely match known public domain works;
*officially licensed lyrics that follow [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|the copyright policy]]. Sites frequently change providers and methodologies, so it is important to make sure that the most current is copyright compliant. When in doubt, do not link.
*interviews with performers, writers, producers, etc., talking about the song, provided the source does not violate copyright.

As per [[WP:MUSICSTREAM]] songs streamed on a licensed website (such as [[Radio3Net]]) or hosted on an official website, such as an official [[Myspace]] page or a band's or record company's own website, may have a link placed in the External links section according to [[WP:ELYES|Wikipedia guidelines]]. There should be a note regarding the media used ("[[Adobe Flash]]"), and that it may not be available in all regions ("streamed copy where licensed"). Care should be taken that the site is hosting the music legally; that it does not meet any of the [[WP:ELNO|criteria for links to be avoided]]; that, as a minimum, the site is accessible by the main English regions North America, UK and Australia; and that the link is formatted [[Wikipedia:External links#Rich_media|appropriately]]. Suggested formats are:
* [link "Title"] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Radio3Net]] (streamed copy where licensed)
* [link "Title"] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Myspace]] (streamed copy where licensed)

It is recommended that "<code>&lt;!-- This is a licensed stream for the song, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices --&gt;</code>" is placed beside the link, and that a comment is made in the edit summary such as "<nowiki>External links: [[WP:ELYES]]#2; [[WP:MUSICSTREAM]]</nowiki>"