Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl/archive1

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• I'll take a look at this one when I have a bit more uniterrupted time. One thing that jumps out after a skim read is that "with an all-female five-member band and two background singers in a silver two-piece outfit" makes it sound like both singers (or possibly even all seven people) had somehow been crammed into a single two-piece outfit, so this could do with rewording....... -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 09:39, 30 May 2025 (UTC)

• Done. Nice catch, lol.--NØ 17:14, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

Source review (pass)

My comments apply to this version of the article.

• The sources are high-quality and appropriate for a potential FA and are fitting for a music topic. The citation method is consistent and the citations themselves are structured well. I have some minor comments on the citations below:
• For Citation 18 (this one), shouldn't Olivia Rodrigo be linked?
• The link for Citation 26 (here) goes directly to the entry on "Get Him Back!" rather than to the entry on the song that this article is actually about.
• I am uncertain that the ISSN number for Citation 30 (linked here) is really necessary or particularly useful. None of the other citations include ISSN numbers.
• Citation 41 (here) should clarify that a subscription is required to view the full article. I have a similar comment for Citation 42 (this one) and Citation 49 (this one) . I think that these are the only ones that would need this added, but if I notice anything else similar to this in the my spot-check, I will let you know.

I will do spot-checks (to make sure that the information cited in the article is supported in the citations) once my above comments have been addressed. Hopefully, getting the source review out of the way near the start of the FAC will help the process go more smoothly. Best of luck with the FAC! Aoba47 (talk) 23:08, 31 May 2025 (UTC)

Thanks a lot, Aoba47. I think I have addressed all of your above comments. I agree that getting the source reviews done early in the process is beneficial, so I really appreciate this.--NØ 17:14, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

Thank you for addressing everything so far. I have done a spot-check of random citations to see if the information is supported in the sources. Mostly everything matches up, but I do have some comments below:

• Citation 33 (MusicOMH) requires a subscription to view the full article. I would clarify that in the citation. Apologies for missing this one.
• I believe that this part, (less of a well-calculated political critique and more resembled a "stream-of-consciousness journal entry"), reads a bit too closely to the source (less like a well-thought-out political critique and more like the stream-of-consciousness journal entry). For reference, this is sourced from Citation 34 (The Line of Best Fit). I believe that revising it further would be beneficial. Maybe something like: (thought the song more so resembled a "stream-of-consciousness journal entry" rather than a well-calculated political critique)?
• I have a similar concern to this part, (and Clash's Alex Berry believed the lyrics offer wisdom and comfort while maintaining the relatable and confused voice of a young person navigating the world), which is sourced through Citation 44 (Clash). The source uses "confused voice of a young person trying to navigate the world", which is very close to "confused voice of a young person navigating the world". I would either use the quote from the source or paraphrase it more in your own wording.
• I am uncertain about this part, (it showcased Rodrigo's skill of bringing a ballad's emotionality to a song without that type of production). It is being sourced through Citation 36 (Beats Per Minute), but I read the source a bit different than what is represented in the prose. The source says that the song is a "tour-de-force of the artist’s ability to bring the aching vulnerability of a ballad to a pop-rock sound". I interpret it as saying that "it showcased Rodrigo's skill of bringing a ballad's emotionality to a pop-rock production". The article's current wording makes it sound like the source is saying that Rodrigo can bring the emotion of a ballad to a song that does not have a ballad production, but I think the source is focusing more on the pop-rock sound. That is just my interpretation though.
• Are three citations necessary for this sentence: (On October 24, she reprised the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!)? I understand if they are needed, but it just seems like a lot to say this.

• As a rule of thumb, I consider four or more citations for a sentence overkill and anything lesser a matter of editorial preference.

• I agree. My concern was not about citation overkill, but I was just curious on why three citations would be needed to say that she performed a song on a talk show at a certain date. I would think that could be covered in just one, unless the information is scattered in parts and could not be sourced to a singular citation. It is not a major issue so it would not hold up my review in any way. Aoba47 (talk) 20:42, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

• I think some additional context could be added for this part, (Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier believed they constituted a set which harkened back to Rodrigo's teenage years). I believe that Citation 74 (Rolling Stone) specifies that this harkening back to Rodrigo's teenage years was done through "some yearbook-esque imagery that referenced her past", rather than just through the songs themselves.
• This is admittedly outside of the parameters of a source review, but do you think that linking guacamole for "guac" would be helpful? I think that it would be obvious to a lot of people, but I would be curious if non-English speakers for instance may be familiar with this shortened form of the word? For that reason, a link may be helpful here.

I hope that this is helpful. Once everything has been addressed, this should pass my review. Aoba47 (talk) 23:23, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

This is indeed helpful. I hope the changes are satisfactory, Aoba47.--NØ 20:10, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

Thank you for addressing everything. I am glad that I am able to help with this FAC. I left a response to clarify my point regarding the Jimmy Kimmel Live! citations, but it is nothing major and would not hold up my review. I did make a small copy-edit to the article, but feel free to revert this if you disagree with it. Everything looks good to me, and I have marked this source review as a pass. Best of luck with the FAC! Aoba47 (talk) 20:42, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

Comments

• "Rodrigo was homeschooled as a teenager and missed out on a regular high school experience. The song draws inspiration from this"- this could be compressed to "The song drew inspiration from the fact that Rodrigo was homeschooled as a teenager and missed out on a regular high school experience.
• "He plays guitar, percussion, and drum programming" - I don't think you really "play" drum programming. I would suggest "and programmed drums"
• "In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 20 on the Official Audio Streaming Chart and Billboard." - this doesn't seem to make sense. How did it debut "on Billboard" (a US publication) in the UK?

• Billboard also has a "U.K. Songs" chart, which we are apparently allowed to include when a song didn't crack the Official Charts Company's main singles chart.
  • I didn't realise that. In that case I would change it to "It debuted at number 20 on the United Kingdom's Official Audio Streaming Chart and on Billboard's UK Songs chart". I don't think saying that it charted on a Billboard chart "in" the UK is totally accurate as, while it's (apparently) based on UK data, the chart is published in the United States.... -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 07:31, 4 June 2025 (UTC)
    • Yes, your suggestion is better imo. Revised.--NØ 07:58, 4 June 2025 (UTC)

• "also reached national record charts at number 17 in Ireland" => "also charted at number 17 in Ireland"
• "Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier believed they constituted a set"- "they" is a bit vague, maybe say "Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier believed that the three songs constituted a set"
• that's all I got :-) -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 17:39, 1 June 2025 (UTC)

• I think everything should be addressed now, ChrisTheDude. Sorry about the slight delay and thanks a lot for the review as always!--NØ 20:10, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

• Support -- ChrisTheDude (talk) 09:38, 4 June 2025 (UTC)

Comments from Arconning

Article seems to be in good shape, just some comments for now that I can see from a cursory glance. Arconning (talk) 05:42, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

• "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst", from a look at your other FAs the quote credits Rodrigo as well. Would it be relevant to include that she said this to avoid confusion?
• "Chipotle Mexican Grill", "chain restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill"
• Could lilts be wikilinked to readers who're unfamiliar?
• Same with one-liners.
• The song was included in the concert film, would it be redundant to put information regarding that here?

• Arconning, I think I have completed addressing everything in this list of comments. Highly appreciate you taking the time to review this.--NØ 09:30, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

Support, wishing you luck. :) Arconning (talk) 15:56, 15 June 2025 (UTC)

Ippantekina

• "Sour's producer, Dan Nigro, returned to produce every track on it." do we need 3 refs for this one? Seems like ref overkill to me...
• Same concern with: "The song drew inspiration from the fact that Rodrigo was homeschooled as a teenager and missed out on a regular high school experience"

• More than three would be overkill. Three is an adequate amount for the claim made here.

• Also I would use the params |last= and |first= in {{Cite AV media notes}} for the album liner notes ref, instead of putting Rodrigo in the |others= param

• I mean, is there any reason the practice around this would have changed...? Articles like Shake It Off were promoted with the artist in the Other parameter.

• At the template guideline: "Note that specifying this parameter (|others=) without an author-related parameter will place the article in Category:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes))". Thx for pointing out that in "Shake It Off", fixing that duly (I also fixed that for other Swift songs like Blank Space or Style..). Ippantekina (talk) 04:03, 25 June 2025 (UTC)

One workaround I've found, at Nebraska (album), is to put "Anon." in authors and leave the artist's name in |Others= to avoid the CS1 error. Ippantekina (talk) 06:47, 28 June 2025 (UTC)

Thanks, used the workaround. I would feel awkward putting Rodrigo's name in the author parameter as if she typed the booklet text herself... and that would raise the question of whether Dan Nigro should be included there too.--NØ 13:53, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

• "The song became available for digital download on the album, which was released on September 8, 2023" assuming this was released by Geffen Records; I'd also suggest adding a third-party ref for the label

• Just added the label name. This is verified by the ref already present. Turning to Shake It Off as a reference point again, you used 7digital which is a similar service to Apple Music which is cited here

• Okay. Ippantekina (talk) 04:03, 25 June 2025 (UTC)

• Not sure if the dig at Bassett would qualify as WP:GOSSIP...

• Stating that Rodrigo took a "dig at Bassett" would, but stating that some people had that interpretation is not. Some having that interpretation is a verifiable fact and not speculation.

• Do we have the studio for mastering?

• Unfortunately not.

• "According to John Murphy of MusicOMH, it begins like a Weezer song,[33] incorporating grungy guitars and quiet-loud dynamics.[10][32]" pretty sure [10] and [32] are not attributed to Murphy and thus this is SYNTH...
• "vocalizing in a "bratty" way" I think we need an attribution for "bratty"?
• I think there's a missing comma before "according to Billboard's Jason Lipshutz"
• Does "AH-ah" follow the right capitalization..? Shouldn't it be "ah-ah" instead?

• Not sure we should alter capitalization from the original print source, considering it is a direct quote.

• I think even if it's a direct quote it still need to comply with caps MOS, otherwise I'd put {{sic}} to it. Ippantekina (talk) 04:03, 25 June 2025 (UTC)

• Right, I just changed the capitalization. It feels okay in this case imo.--NØ 13:53, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

• Inconsistent tense use: "The Line of Best Fit's Matthew Kim thought the song more resembled [...], and Clash's Alex Berry believed the lyrics offer wisdom"
• This also recurs elsewhere in the Critical reception section.. pls brush through it
• Link Amanda Petrusich
• I think "impeccable" should be in quote marks because this is not exactly NPOV...
• That Sheffield placed this song at the bottom of his list should be somewhere else, as its current position as the first sentence to a paragraph that details its accolades makes for a jarring transition. Maybe at the end of the paragraph that discusses its production choices (esp. the "let-down" of a chorus?)
• Same concern with ref overkill for the Grammy nom and the Kimmel live

• Three is really fine.

• If you insist, I'm fine with that. I just really think one ref (or maybe two) is sufficient for a claim like: "Among Rodrigo's six nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Rock Song, marking her first appearance in a rock category" Ippantekina (talk) 04:03, 25 June 2025 (UTC)

• Appreciate your flexibility on this.--NØ 13:53, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

• Has there been any scholarly analysis of this song?

• No, the scholar sources just turn up Grammy nomination listings, Ippantekina--NØ 18:02, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

Ippantekina (talk) 10:10, 17 June 2025 (UTC)

Let me know if all looks good, Ippantekina.--NØ 13:53, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

Yes, all looks good. Support on prose-- Ippantekina (talk) 14:09, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

Image review

File:Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl by Olivia Rodrigo (music sample).ogg probably doesn't need multiple non-free use rationales. It should however say why this particular segment of the song. ALT text is fine. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 12:34, 2 July 2025 (UTC)

It does need two rationale boxes, or else a bot will remove it from whichever one of the two articles it is used on that doesn't have one. The box for this article is quite descriptive about why this particular segment of the song was chosen. Hope everything looks good after the explanation. Jo-Jo Eumerus.--NØ 16:33, 2 July 2025 (UTC)

Somehow I missed it's used for two articles and not just one... Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 12:47, 3 July 2025 (UTC)

I don't think it says why this particular song segment? Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 12:47, 3 July 2025 (UTC)

"It illustrates the pop-punk sound of "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl", specifically the repetition of "It's social suicide, it's social suicide," followed by "AH-ah's" in the post-chorus, which recalls bands like Everclear and Third Eye Blind and proves Rodrigo's affinity for '90s alt-rock according to Billboard's Jason Lipshutz." - This wouldn't be accomplished by any other segment, no?--NØ 19:20, 3 July 2025 (UTC)

Might want to add some explanation for the particular segment because that doesn't shine through for me. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 12:35, 4 July 2025 (UTC)

I pasted the rationale for the usage of this segment into the album article's rationale box too. I don't have any other ideas to fix the concern you seem to be having. Maybe someone else with image reviewing experience can help us out. Amy opinion, Nikkimaria?--NØ 18:36, 4 July 2025 (UTC)

What specifically does Lipshutz say about this clip? (Can a link be provided to the source being referred to?) Nikkimaria (talk) 23:51, 4 July 2025 (UTC)

Lipshutz said "Rodrigo’s affinity for ‘90s alt-rock can be heard most clearly on the post-chorus of “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl” — that repetition of “It’s social suicide, it’s social suicide,” followed by the lilting “AH-ah’s,” immediately recalls bands like Everclear and Third Eye Blind." - source. This can only refer to the sampled segment and I just more clearly emphasized this in the sample caption as well.--NØ 02:41, 6 July 2025 (UTC)

• @Jo-Jo Eumerus and Nikkimaria: I think I have done everything that was possible here. Does the image review pass or shall I delete the sample?--NØ 17:19, 8 July 2025 (UTC)

  Eh, I don't think we need to be very strict on which bit of a sampled song we are using, so as long as there is a reason given for the song to be sampled in general, and why the particular sampled bit. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 08:43, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

  Okay. Thanks a lot for the update. @FAC coordinators: I would appreciate a status update on this nomination whenever possible. Thanks a lot.--NØ 15:39, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

  @FAC coordinators: nudge.--NØ 01:45, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

  Marano, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned previously that pinging the coordinators when you don't have anything beyond "status" is less than helpful and actively makes me not want to check on things. There are older nominations that I'm evaluating, and I'm sure the other coordinators are too. If a nomination is in danger of being archived due to inactivity or no chance of consensus towards promotion, we leave coordinator notes on the nomination. What are you asking for, exactly? Der Wohltemperierte Fuchs ^talk 12:27, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

  David Fuchs I think it is more than clear that I am asking for this nomination to be promoted. Throughout your now lengthy time as an FAC coordinator, you have almost always ignored this type of ping from me and have barely processed any of my nominations. I genuinely have no idea why didn't just ignore this one too and go about your day. Kindly leave it to other coordinators who might have more time on their hands and get a grip!--NØ 15:32, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

  You might consider there's a reason that no one else responded to you, either. I think the only one who needs 'a grip' is the person who takes umbrage that repeatedly pinging someone causes them to respond. Der Wohltemperierte Fuchs ^talk 21:10, 11 July 2025 (UTC)

Extremely polite request to coord team

@FrB.TG, Gog the Mild, and Ian Rose: Hi angels. We are coming up on two months now. As I can see, this FAC was opened four days after Tim McGraw. I love you and appreciate each individual one of you individually. You are way more competent than me as an FTC coordinator. Can I have an update whenever you have the time? This can be a few days from now or even months. Either way, I will respect your decision.--NØ 02:10, 18 July 2025 (UTC)

Drive-by comment: "...insensitive and possibly referencing her ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett". Why did fans believe it referenced Bassett? Did he come out after they dated? FrB.TG (talk) 18:43, 18 July 2025 (UTC)

@FrB.TG: I can see SNUGGUMS and Ippantekina also took issue with the bit so I have kept the former's removal of the bit. I think there was some confusion about whether Bassett actually came out or not, and it is not fully confirmed.--NØ 01:31, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

• Closing note: This candidate has been promoted, but there may be a delay in bot processing of the close. Please see WP:FAC/ar, and leave the {{featured article candidates}} template in place on the talk page until the bot goes through. FrB.TG (talk) 16:28, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.