How To Cite Songs In Mla

Citing songs in MLA format can seem daunting, but it's a crucial step in acknowledging your sources and avoiding plagiarism. Whether you're analyzing lyrics, discussing musical elements, or simply referencing a song in your research, accurate citation is key to maintaining academic integrity. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, providing clear instructions and examples for various scenarios you might encounter.

Understanding the Basics of MLA Citation

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a widely used format for academic writing, particularly in the humanities. It emphasizes clarity and consistency in presenting sources. When citing songs, you'll typically need to include information about the artist, song title, album, record label, and year of release. This information helps your readers locate the original source and understand the context of your reference.

Core Elements of an MLA Song Citation

Before diving into specific examples, let's break down the core elements that make up a complete MLA song citation:

• Artist: The primary performer or band responsible for the song.
• "Song Title": The title of the specific song you are referencing, enclosed in quotation marks.
• Album Title: The title of the album on which the song appears, italicized.
• Record Label: The company that produced and distributed the album.
• Year of Release: The year the album was originally released.

These elements form the foundation of your citation and should be included whenever possible.

Citing a Song from an Album

The most common scenario is citing a song that appears on a physical or digital album. Here's the basic format:

Artist. "Song Title." Album Title, Record Label, Year of Release.

Example:

Beyoncé. "Halo." I Am... Sasha Fierce, Columbia Records, 2008.

Explanation:

• Beyoncé is the artist.
• "Halo" is the song title.
• I Am... Sasha Fierce is the album title.
• Columbia Records is the record label.
• 2008 is the year the album was released.

This citation provides all the necessary information for your reader to locate the song on the album.

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

With the rise of streaming services, you might need to cite a song accessed online. While the core elements remain the same, you'll need to add information about the streaming service and the date you accessed the song. Here's the format:

Artist. "Song Title." Album Title, Record Label, Year of Release. Streaming Service, URL. Accessed Date.

Example:

Taylor Swift. "Love Story." Fearless, Big Machine Records, 2008. Spotify, open.spotify.com/track/1czBTu8NoJUe5tYe4j4mR6. Accessed 15 July 2024.

Explanation:

• Taylor Swift is the artist.
• "Love Story" is the song title.
• Fearless is the album title.
• Big Machine Records is the record label.
• 2008 is the year the album was released.
• Spotify is the streaming service.
• open.spotify.com/track/1czBTu8NoJUe5tYe4j4mR6 is the URL.
• Accessed 15 July 2024 is the date you accessed the song.

Including the URL and access date is crucial for online sources, as content can change or be removed.

Citing a Song from YouTube

Citing a song from YouTube requires a slightly different approach, as YouTube is primarily a video-sharing platform. You'll need to focus on the uploader and the video title. Here's the format:

Artist. "Song Title." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader Name, Date of Publication, URL.

Example:

Adele. "Rolling in the Deep." YouTube, uploaded by Adele, 11 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw.

Explanation:

• Adele is the artist.
• "Rolling in the Deep" is the song title.
• YouTube is the platform.
• uploaded by Adele indicates the uploader's name (if different from the artist, use the uploader's username).
• 11 Mar. 2011 is the date of publication.
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw is the URL.

It's important to note that if the artist didn't upload the video themselves, you should use the uploader's name instead.

Citing Lyrics from a Song

When quoting lyrics directly, you'll need to include an in-text citation to indicate the source. The format for in-text citations in MLA style is typically the author's last name and the page number (if available) or a shortened version of the title. In the case of songs, you can use the artist's name or a shortened version of the song title.

Example:

"I'm walking on sunshine, whoa / And don't it feel good!" (Katrina & The Waves).

Explanation:

• The lyrics are enclosed in quotation marks.
• (Katrina & The Waves) is the in-text citation, indicating the artist.

If you are citing multiple lines of lyrics, you can use a block quotation format:

Example:

In "Imagine," John Lennon paints a picture of a world without division:

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today (Lennon).

Explanation:

• The block quotation is indented half an inch from the left margin.
• The lyrics are presented as they appear in the song.
• The in-text citation (Lennon) is placed after the final line.

Citing a Song from a Soundtrack

If the song appears on a soundtrack album, you'll need to include the phrase "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" after the album title. Here's the format:

Artist. "Song Title." Album Title: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Record Label, Year of Release.

Example:

Celine Dion. "My Heart Will Go On." Titanic: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Sony Music, 1997.

Explanation:

• Celine Dion is the artist.
• "My Heart Will Go On" is the song title.
• Titanic: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the album title.
• Sony Music is the record label.
• 1997 is the year the album was released.

Citing a Song with Multiple Artists

When a song features multiple artists, you'll need to include all of them in the citation. If there are more than three artists, you can use the first artist's name followed by "et al."

Example (Two Artists):

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. "Empire State of Mind." The Blueprint 3, Roc Nation, 2009.

Example (More Than Three Artists):

Lil Wayne et al. "Forever." More Than a Game, Young Money, 2009.

Explanation:

• In the first example, both Jay-Z and Alicia Keys are listed.
• In the second example, Lil Wayne et al. is used to indicate multiple artists.

Citing a Cover Song

When citing a cover song, it's important to credit both the original artist and the artist performing the cover. Here's one way to approach it:

Original Artist. "Song Title." Performed by Cover Artist, Album Title, Record Label, Year of Release.

Example:

Leonard Cohen. "Hallelujah." Performed by Jeff Buckley, Grace, Columbia Records, 1994.

Explanation:

• Leonard Cohen is the original artist.
• "Hallelujah" is the song title.
• Performed by Jeff Buckley indicates the cover artist.
• Grace is the album title of the cover version.
• Columbia Records is the record label of the cover version.
• 1994 is the year the cover version was released.

Alternatively, you can cite the cover version as you would any other song and mention the original artist in your text.

Handling Missing Information

Sometimes, you might not have all the information needed for a complete citation. In these cases, try to find the missing details through reliable sources like music databases or official artist websites. If you can't find a specific piece of information, simply omit it from the citation. However, strive to be as complete as possible to ensure accuracy.

• No Record Label: If you can't find the record label, omit it from the citation.
• No Year of Release: Use "n.d." (no date) if you can't determine the year of release.
• No Album Title: If the song is a single and doesn't appear on an album, you can omit the album title.

Formatting Your Works Cited Page

All your song citations should be compiled on a separate "Works Cited" page at the end of your paper. Here are some formatting guidelines:

• Alphabetical Order: Arrange your citations alphabetically by the artist's last name.
• Hanging Indent: Use a hanging indent for each citation (the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented half an inch).
• Double-Spacing: Double-space the entire Works Cited page.

Examples of Complete Works Cited Entries

Here are a few examples of complete Works Cited entries for different types of song citations:

• Song from an Album:

  Beyoncé. "Halo." I Am... Sasha Fierce, Columbia Records, 2008.

• Song from a Streaming Service:

  Taylor Swift. "Love Story." Fearless, Big Machine Records, 2008. Spotify, open.spotify.com/track/1czBTu8NoJUe5tYe4j4mR6. Accessed 15 July 2024.

• Song from YouTube:

  Adele. "Rolling in the Deep." YouTube, uploaded by Adele, 11 Mar. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw.

• Song from a Soundtrack:

  Celine Dion. "My Heart Will Go On." Titanic: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Sony Music, 1997.

• Song with Multiple Artists:

  Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. "Empire State of Mind." The Blueprint 3, Roc Nation, 2009.

Why Accurate Citation Matters

Accurate citation is not just a formality; it's an essential part of academic integrity. By properly citing your sources, you:

• Give credit to the original artists: Acknowledge their creative work and avoid plagiarism.
• Enhance your credibility: Demonstrate that you have conducted thorough research and are engaging with relevant sources.
• Allow readers to verify your claims: Enable them to locate the original sources and assess the validity of your arguments.
• Participate in scholarly conversation: Contribute to the ongoing dialogue within your field by building upon existing knowledge.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incomplete Information: Missing key elements like the record label or year of release.
• Incorrect Formatting: Using the wrong punctuation, capitalization, or indentation.
• Inconsistent Style: Switching between different citation styles within the same paper.
• Failing to Cite Lyrics: Neglecting to provide in-text citations for quoted lyrics.
• Misrepresenting Sources: Claiming someone else's work as your own.

Tips for Streamlining the Citation Process

• Use a Citation Management Tool: Consider using software like Zotero or Mendeley to organize your sources and generate citations automatically.
• Create a Template: Develop a template for each type of song citation to ensure consistency.
• Double-Check Your Work: Review your citations carefully before submitting your paper to catch any errors.
• Consult the MLA Handbook: Refer to the official MLA Handbook for the most up-to-date guidelines and examples.

Conclusion

Citing songs in MLA format may seem complex at first, but by understanding the core elements and following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can confidently and accurately acknowledge your sources. Remember to pay attention to detail, be consistent in your formatting, and always give credit where credit is due. By doing so, you'll not only avoid plagiarism but also enhance the credibility and impact of your academic work. Accurate citation demonstrates your commitment to scholarly integrity and allows you to engage meaningfully with the rich world of music.