Song

A Song is a vocal composition that provides a complete musical experience (through a self-contained structure of musical elements).

• AKA: Musical Song, Vocal Composition, Song Piece, Musical Number.
• Context:
  • It can typically contain Musical Structures through verse-chorus format.
  • It can typically combine Melodic Lines with harmonic progression.
  • It can typically express Emotional Content through musical arrangement.
  • It can typically convey Artistic Message through sonic organization.
  • It can typically maintain Temporal Flow through rhythmic structure.
  • ...
  • It can often include Repeated Sections through structural patterns.
  • It can often integrate Vocal Parts with instrumental backing.
  • It can often establish Thematic Elements through musical motifs.
  • It can often incorporate Cultural References through lyrical content.
  • It can often reflect Social Context through artistic expression.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Short Song to being a Long Song, depending on its temporal duration.
  • It can range from being an Instrumental Song to being a Lyrical Song, depending on its compositional approach.
  • It can range from being a Simple Melody to being a Complex Arrangement, depending on its musical sophistication.
  • It can range from being a Traditional Form to being an Experimental Piece, depending on its stylistic innovation.
  • It can range from being a Gentle Praise to being a Harsh Diss, depending on its lyrical intent.
  • It can range from being a Solo Performance to being a Group Production, depending on its performance scope.
  • It can range from being a Local Creation to being a Global Phenomenon, depending on its cultural reach.
  • It can range from being a Spectating Song to being a Participating Song (such as carol songs and dance songs).
  • ...
  • It can demonstrate Cultural Identity through regional style.
  • It can establish Historical Context through period characteristics.
  • It can represent Artistic Evolution through genre development.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Genre-Specific Songs, such as:
    • Rock Songs, such as:
      • Classic Rock Songs, such as:
        • Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (United Kingdom, 1971) for progressive rock anthem.
        • Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple (United Kingdom, 1972) for heavy rock riff.
        • Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (United States, 1975) for heartland rock.
      • Art Rock Songs, such as:
        • Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (United Kingdom, 1975) for operatic rock suite.
        • Hotel California by Eagles (United States, 1977) for narrative rock.
        • Close to the Edge by Yes (United Kingdom, 1972) for progressive rock epic.
      • Fusion Rock Songs, such as:
        • Oye Como Va by Santana (Mexico/United States, 1970) for latin rock fusion.
        • Kashmir by Led Zeppelin (United Kingdom, 1975) for eastern rock fusion.
        • Black Magic Woman by Santana (Mexico/United States, 1970) for blues rock fusion.
      • Hard Rock Songs, such as:
        • T.N.T. by AC/DC (Australia, 1975) for aggressive rock anthem.
        • Back in Black by AC/DC (Australia, 1980) for power rock anthem.
        • Sweet Child o' Mine by Guns N' Roses (United States, 1987) for melodic hard rock.
    • Pop Songs, such as:
      • Disco Pop Songs, such as:
        • Dancing Queen by ABBA (Sweden, 1976) for disco dance pop.
        • Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees (United Kingdom/Australia, 1977) for disco groove.
        • I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (United States, 1978) for disco anthem.
      • Latin Pop Songs, such as:
        • La Bamba by Ritchie Valens (United States/Mexico, 1958) for rock and roll latin.
        • Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (Puerto Rico, 2017) for reggaeton pop.
        • Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony (United States/Puerto Rico, 2013) for salsa pop.
      • Global Pop Songs, such as:
        • Gangnam Style by Psy (South Korea, 2012) for viral k-pop.
        • Shape of You by Ed Sheeran (United Kingdom, 2017) for contemporary pop.
        • Waka Waka by Shakira (Colombia, 2010) for world cup anthem.
  • Classical Songs, such as:
    • Baroque Period Songs, such as:
      • Sacred Baroque Songs, such as:
        • Ave Maria by Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany, 1722) for sacred aria.
        • Messiah (Hallelujah) by George Frideric Handel (United Kingdom, 1741) for oratorio chorus.
      • Secular Baroque Songs, such as:
        • Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel (Germany, 1680) for baroque counterpoint.
        • Four Seasons (Spring) by Antonio Vivaldi (Italy, 1723) for baroque program music.
    • Classical Period Songs, such as:
      • Symphony Songs, such as:
        • Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy) by Ludwig van Beethoven (Germany, 1824) for choral symphony.
        • Symphony No. 40 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austria, 1788) for classical symphony.
      • Opera Songs, such as:
        • The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night Aria) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austria, 1791) for classical opera.
        • Don Giovanni (La ci darem la mano) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austria, 1787) for opera duet.
  • Folk Songs, such as:
    • European Folk Songs, such as:
      • British Folk Songs, such as:
        • Scarborough Fair by Traditional (United Kingdom) for english ballad.
        • Greensleeves by Traditional (United Kingdom) for tudor ballad.
      • French Folk Songs, such as:
        • La Vie en Rose by Édith Piaf (France, 1945) for french chanson.
        • Sur le Pont d'Avignon by Traditional (France) for provence folk.
    • Asian Folk Songs, such as:
      • East Asian Folk Songs, such as:
        • Molihua by Traditional (China) for chinese folk melody.
        • Sakura by Traditional (Japan) for japanese folk song.
      • South Asian Folk Songs, such as:
        • Dama Dam Mast Qalandar by Traditional (Pakistan/India) for sufi qawwali.
        • Baul Songs by Traditional (India/Bangladesh) for mystic folk.
  • Contemporary Songs, such as:
    • Electronic Dance Songs, such as:
      • House Music Songs, such as:
        • One More Time by Daft Punk (France, 2000) for french house.
        • Don't You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia (Sweden, 2012) for progressive house.
      • Techno Songs, such as:
        • Sandstorm by Darude (Finland, 1999) for trance techno.
        • Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65 (Italy, 1998) for euro-dance.
    • Hip Hop Songs, such as:
      • Old School Hip Hop Songs, such as:
        • Rapper's Delight by The Sugarhill Gang (United States, 1979) for early hip hop.
        • The Message by Grandmaster Flash (United States, 1982) for conscious rap.
      • Modern Hip Hop Songs, such as:
        • Alright by Kendrick Lamar (United States, 2015) for conscious hip hop.
        • God's Plan by Drake (Canada, 2018) for trap rap.
  • World Music Songs, such as:
    • African Songs, such as:
      • West African Songs, such as:
        • Sweet Mother by Prince Nico Mbarga (Nigeria, 1976) for highlife music.
        • Ye Ye De Smell by Fela Kuti (Nigeria, 1971) for afrobeat.
      • South African Songs, such as:
        • The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Solomon Linda (South Africa, 1939) for zulu melody.
        • Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba (South Africa, 1967) for african pop.
    • Caribbean Songs, such as:
      • Reggae Songs, such as:
        • No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley (Jamaica, 1974) for roots reggae anthem.
        • Red Red Wine by UB40 (United Kingdom, 1983) for pop reggae crossover.
      • Calypso Songs, such as:
        • Day-O (Banana Boat Song) by Harry Belafonte (Jamaica/United States, 1956) for traditional calypso.
        • Hot Hot Hot by Arrow (Montserrat, 1982) for modern calypso.
  • Experimental Songs, such as:
    • Avant-Garde Songs, such as:
      • Classical Avant-Garde Songs, such as:
        • Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg (Austria, 1912) for atonal expressionism.
        • 4'33" by John Cage (United States, 1952) for conceptual composition.
      • Rock Avant-Garde Songs, such as:
        • Revolution 9 by The Beatles (United Kingdom, 1968) for experimental rock.
        • Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed (United States, 1975) for noise music.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Choral Compositions, which ...
  • Operas, which require multiple songs and dramatic elements.
  • Symphonys, which require multiple movements and orchestral arrangements.
  • Lyrical Poems, which lack musical elements.
  • Sound Effects, which lack musical structure.
• See: Song Lyric, Poem, Story, Composition Task, Musical Form, Songwriting, Musical Genre, Cultural Music, Performance Practice, Musical Arrangement.

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