How To Cite A Song In Apa Format

Let's navigate the intricacies of citing a song in APA format, ensuring clarity and accuracy in your academic work. Correctly citing music, just like any other source, gives credit to the artist and allows your readers to locate the original material.

Understanding the Basics of APA Citation

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used format for academic writing, particularly in the social sciences. It provides guidelines for everything from manuscript formatting to citing sources. When citing a song, the information you’ll need includes the songwriter(s), artist, song title, album title, year of publication, and record label.

Citing a Song from an Album in APA Format

This is the most common scenario. Here's the template:

Songwriter, A. A. (Copyright Year). Song title. On Album title by Artist, A. A. Record Label.

Let's break it down with an example:

Example:

McCartney, P., & Lennon, J. (1967). All you need is love. On Magical mystery tour by The Beatles. Parlophone.

Explanation:

• Songwriter, A. A.: List the songwriter(s) last name first, followed by their initials. If there are multiple songwriters, separate them with commas and use an ampersand (&) before the last name.
• (Copyright Year): This is the copyright year of the song, usually found on the album or online.
• Song title: Capitalize only the first word of the title and any proper nouns.
• On Album title: Italicize the album title. Capitalize the first word and any proper nouns.
• by Artist, A. A.: If the artist is different from the songwriter, include the artist's name here. If they are the same, you can omit this part.
• Record Label: The name of the record label that released the album.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: McCartney and Lennon (1967) penned the timeless anthem, "All You Need Is Love"...
• Parenthetical: ...as highlighted in the iconic song "All You Need Is Love" (McCartney & Lennon, 1967).

Citing a Song from a Streaming Service (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music)

The core elements remain the same, but you'll add information about the streaming service and a URL.

Template:

Songwriter, A. A. (Copyright Year). Song title. On Album title by Artist, A. A. Record Label. Streaming Service Name. URL

Example:

Swift, T. (2020). Cardigan. On Folklore by Taylor Swift. Republic Records. Spotify.

Explanation:

• Everything is the same as citing from an album, but you'll add:
• Streaming Service Name: The name of the platform where you accessed the song (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music).
• URL: A direct link to the song on the streaming service.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: Swift (2020) explores themes of nostalgia and lost love in "Cardigan"...
• Parenthetical: ...the introspective lyrics of "Cardigan" resonate with many listeners (Swift, 2020).

Citing a Single

Sometimes a song is released as a single and not part of a larger album. In this case, you'll adjust the format slightly. If the single appears only as a single and not on a subsequent album, you can consider the song title as the "album" title for citation purposes.

Template:

Songwriter, A. A. (Copyright Year). Song title. Record Label. URL (if applicable, especially for online sources)

Example (Online Single):

Eilish, B., & O'Connell, F. (2023). What was I made for? Atlantic Records.

Example (Physical Single):

Wonder, S. (1984). I just called to say I love you. Motown.

Explanation:

• If the single is available online (e.g., YouTube, a specific website), include the URL.
• If it's a physical single, the record label is sufficient.
• If the single later appears on an album, cite it as a song from that album, as described in the first scenario.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: Eilish and O'Connell (2023) crafted a hauntingly beautiful melody in "What Was I Made For?"...
• Parenthetical: ...the emotional depth of "What Was I Made For?" is undeniable (Eilish & O'Connell, 2023).

Citing a Song from a Soundtrack

When citing a song from a movie or television soundtrack, treat the soundtrack as the album.

Template:

Songwriter, A. A. (Copyright Year). Song title. On Soundtrack Title by Various Artists or Composer, A. A. Record Label.

Example:

Simon, P. (1968). Mrs. Robinson. On The Graduate: Original Sound Track. Columbia Records.

Explanation:

• Various Artists: Use "Various Artists" if the soundtrack features songs by multiple artists.
• Composer, A. A.: If the soundtrack is primarily composed by one person, list their name.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: Simon (1968)'s "Mrs. Robinson" became an iconic part of The Graduate soundtrack...
• Parenthetical: ...the melancholic tone of "Mrs. Robinson" perfectly complements the film's themes (Simon, 1968).

Citing Live Performances

Citing a live performance requires adapting the APA format. Since live performances are not typically "published" in the same way as recorded music, the citation focuses on the event itself.

Template:

Performer, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Song title [Live performance]. Venue, Location.

Example:

Beyoncé. (2018, April 14). Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) [Live performance]. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, CA.

Explanation:

• Performer, A. A.: The name of the artist performing the song.
• (Year, Month Day): The date of the performance. Be as specific as possible.
• Song title: The title of the song performed. Italicize.
• [Live performance]: A brief description of the source in square brackets.
• Venue, Location: The name of the venue and the city/state where the performance took place.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: Beyoncé (2018) delivered a powerful rendition of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" at Coachella...
• Parenthetical: ...the energy of the live performance of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" was palpable (Beyoncé, 2018).

Citing Sheet Music

If you are analyzing the written musical score, cite the sheet music.

Template:

Composer, A. A. (Copyright Year). Song title [Sheet music]. Publisher.

Example:

Debussy, C. (1918). Clair de lune [Sheet music]. Durand.

Explanation:

• Composer, A. A.: The composer of the music.
• (Copyright Year): The copyright year of the sheet music edition.
• Song title: The title of the song. Italicize.
• [Sheet music]: A description of the source in square brackets.
• Publisher: The publisher of the sheet music.

In-Text Citation:

• Narrative: Debussy (1918)'s Clair de lune, as indicated in the sheet music, showcases his impressionistic style...
• Parenthetical: ...the delicate harmonies of Clair de lune are evident in the sheet music (Debussy, 1918).

Important Considerations and Common Mistakes

• Copyright Year vs. Release Year: The copyright year is the year the song was copyrighted, which may differ from the album's release year. Always use the copyright year if available.
• Missing Information: Do your best to find all the required information. If some details are unavailable, omit them, but be as complete as possible.
• Accuracy: Double-check all information for accuracy. Typos and incorrect details can undermine your credibility.
• Consistency: Maintain consistency in your citations throughout your paper. Use the same format for all songs.
• Alphabetical Order: In your reference list, arrange all citations alphabetically by the first author's last name (or by the songwriter's last name when citing a song).
• Capitalization: Be mindful of capitalization rules. Capitalize the first word of song and album titles, as well as any proper nouns.
• Italics: Remember to italicize album titles and sheet music titles. Song titles are not italicized.
• "Various Artists": When a compilation album or soundtrack features multiple artists, use "Various Artists" in the citation.
• Edition Information: If you are using a specific edition of sheet music, include the edition information in the citation (e.g., Revised Edition).
• Online Sources and DOIs: If the song or sheet music is accessed online, include a stable URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available.
• Personal Communication: If you are citing a song based on a personal communication (e.g., an interview with the songwriter), follow the APA guidelines for personal communications. This typically involves including the person's name, the phrase "personal communication," and the date of the communication in the text, but not in the reference list. For example: (J. Smith, personal communication, January 15, 2024).

Examples Across Different Scenarios:

Let's solidify your understanding with further examples:

1. Citing a Classic Rock Song from an Album:

• Citation: Jagger, M., & Richards, K. (1969). Gimme shelter. On Let it bleed by The Rolling Stones. Decca Records.
• In-Text (Narrative): Jagger and Richards (1969)'s "Gimme Shelter" captured the anxieties of a generation...
• In-Text (Parenthetical): ...the apocalyptic themes in "Gimme Shelter" are particularly striking (Jagger & Richards, 1969).

2. Citing a Pop Song from Spotify:

• Citation: Grande, A., Savan Kotecha, I., Martin, M., & Sandberg, I. (2019). Thank u, next. On Thank u, next by Ariana Grande. Republic Records. Spotify.
• In-Text (Narrative): Grande et al. (2019) created a powerful anthem of self-love with "Thank U, Next"...
• In-Text (Parenthetical): ...the empowering message of "Thank U, Next" resonated with listeners worldwide (Grande et al., 2019). Note: "et al." is used because there are more than two authors.

3. Citing a Song from a Film Soundtrack:

• Citation: Sheeran, E. (2014). All of the stars. On The Fault in Our Stars: Motion Picture Soundtrack. Atlantic Records.
• In-Text (Narrative): Sheeran (2014)'s "All of the Stars" poignantly underscores the emotional depth of The Fault in Our Stars...
• In-Text (Parenthetical): ...the heartbreaking lyrics of "All of the Stars" amplify the film's themes of love and loss (Sheeran, 2014).

4. Citing a Live Performance (Hypothetical):

• Citation: Gaga, L. (2017, February 5). Bad Romance [Live performance]. Super Bowl LI Halftime Show, Houston, TX.
• In-Text (Narrative): Gaga (2017) delivered a spectacular performance of "Bad Romance" at the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show...
• In-Text (Parenthetical): ...the energy and choreography of Gaga's "Bad Romance" performance were unforgettable (Gaga, 2017).

5. Citing a Classical Piece (Sheet Music):

• Citation: Bach, J.S. (n.d.). Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 [Sheet music]. G. Schirmer. Note: "n.d." means "no date" and is used if the copyright year is unknown.
• In-Text (Narrative): Bach's (n.d.) Toccata and Fugue in D minor, as seen in the sheet music, is a cornerstone of the organ repertoire...
• In-Text (Parenthetical): ...the dramatic opening of Toccata and Fugue in D minor is clearly evident in the score (Bach, n.d.).

Addressing Complex Scenarios

• Multiple Artists with the Same Last Name: If you have multiple artists with the same last name, include their initials in all citations (both in-text and in the reference list) to avoid confusion. For example, if you are citing both John Lennon and Julian Lennon, use (J. Lennon, 1967) and (Ju. Lennon, 1984) respectively.
• Songs with Long Titles: If a song has a very long title, you can shorten it in the in-text citation, but be sure the shortened title is recognizable and clear. For example, if the song is "This Is a Really, Really, Really Long Song Title," you could shorten it to "This Is a Really..." in the in-text citation. The full title should still be used in the reference list.
• Translated Song Titles: If you are citing a song with a translated title, provide both the original title and the translated title in the reference list, with the original title in italics. For example:
  • Piaf, E. (1945). La vie en rose (Life in pink).
• Songs within Songs (Medleys or Samples): If you are discussing a song that incorporates elements of another song (e.g., a sample or a medley), cite both songs if relevant to your analysis. Focus your citation on the song that is the primary subject of your discussion. You can explain the relationship between the songs in the text.
• Unofficial or Fan-Made Recordings: Avoid citing unofficial or fan-made recordings unless there is a very specific and compelling reason to do so. These recordings may not be reliable or accurate. If you must cite an unofficial recording, provide as much information as possible about the source and clearly indicate that it is an unofficial recording.

Conclusion

Mastering APA citation for songs is crucial for academic integrity and clear communication. By understanding the templates and adapting them to different scenarios, you can accurately credit the artists and songwriters whose work you are analyzing. Remember to pay close attention to detail, double-check your information, and maintain consistency throughout your work. With practice, citing songs in APA format will become second nature.