Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Songs

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Hi WikiProject Songs editors,

I’m looking for some neutral feedback about an authorship dispute over at Talk:Sanson Ki Mala Pe.

Basically, the problem is how to present the lyrics’ authorship. Archival sources and release-era credits name Tufail Hoshiarpuri as the lyricist. But some more recent media keep repeating devotional or cultural attributions, even though there aren’t any old manuscripts, primary sources, or academic studies backing them up.

I’d really appreciate advice from music editors on how to handle this—specifically, how Wikipedia policy (WP:V, WP:RS, WP:NPOV) weighs reliable literary sources against these later media claims.

I just want us to reach a consensus and stop the edit-warring.

Thanks for any help.

CiteArchitect (talk) 09:57, 1 March 2026 (UTC)

As a new page patrol reviewer, I first WP:BLAR'd this song article, then when it was reverted, submitted an AfD. I am still learning the ropes, so hoping someone with more experience on song notability can weigh-in on whether I'm way off here.

Does the mention of a song in an article (1-3 sentences) count as WP:SIGCOV for the purpose of establishing WP:NSONG? Or would it be a WP:TRIVIALMENTION? I gave my take on the sources at the AfD here. Thanks! WidgetKid ^Converse 21:35, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

How I personally determine SIGCOV for songs is:

• Does the source devote several paragraphs (or just a couple, depending on depth) to the song? Several is obviously preferred, but fewer or even just one could be acceptable, depth pending.
• Does the source state things about the song that go beyond surface level info and could be used for important article material? (Composition, genre, reception, production, etc.)
• Is the source not one from album reviews or from around the time of release? And, if it is, does it say enough to where common opinions on album coverage not counting for songs, or what we call "routine coverage" of release, are no longer relevant points?
• Above all: if you were writing about the song, do you think the source would be useful? Does it contain valuable material that wouldn't be due for an album page?

I don't know about this specific song (haven't checked), but that's how I personally determine whether something is SIGCOV or not for establishing song notability. λ NegativeMP1 22:09, 5 March 2026 (UTC)

@Newtatoryd222:, @Oaktree b:, @Iljhgtn:, @MidnightMayhem:, @Svartner:, @Nil NZ:, @RedShellMomentum:, @Lorraine Crane:, @ScottyNolan:, @Bearian:, @Kelob2678:, @Royiswariii:, @Trumpetrep:, @Tioaeu8943:, @4meter4:, @Mika1h:, @Agnieszka653:, @Doomsdayer520:, @Geschichte:, @Nighfidelity:, @Thilio:, @Gommeh::
As active contributors to song-related AfD discussions, I invite your input on this topic. WidgetKid ^Converse 06:40, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

I just wanna say, I primarily edit/create older rock song articles and singles that came out before the 2000s, so I don't know a lot about Aaron Carter. Newtatoryd222 (talk) 06:44, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

Or compilation albums and new albums and songs from older artists and bands if I find them interesting or notable. Newtatoryd222 (talk) 06:46, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

In my opinion, compilation albums tend not to be notable, with a few exceptions where they helped re-start the bands' careers. Even one sentence ("Their new ballad Chicken Tenders is a lively song about loving and hating someone at the same time, and is sure to be a hit.") can be enough to contribute to significant coverage. Bearian (talk) 10:20, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

Don't discount a bad review. Sometimes a bad critique ("But I despise their song Malagayang Pasko, a treacley mix of sentimental feelings.") shows that other people like the song but the reviewer doesn't. Bearian (talk) 10:23, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

• I'd use the same guidelines we see in AfD, has it charted, does it have critical reviews (beyond simple mentions), any cultural impact (in a movie, TV show, stage play/rock opera). One random song on an album generally won't be notable; the "hit singles" tend to be. We usually end up redirecting the song articles to the album itself, if it's notable of course. Oaktree b (talk) 15:01, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

  Charting doesn't include streaming services, as those numbers are built in to the Billboard charts for example. A high stream number on Apple Music alone isn't enough for notability, as an example. Oaktree b (talk) 15:03, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

• A general rule of thumb beyond the NSONGS guidance - our coverage of a song on Wikipedia should generally mirror the sort of coverage a song gets in other sourcing. If you can only find sources that discuss the song in the context of its respect album, keep the songs content in the album article. If you're finding sources that dedicate entire articles to the song, it could be worth splitting out into its own stand-alone song article. (I went through a phase where I created a lot of song articles in the late 2010s and this generally worked for me in that era.) Sergecross73 msg me 15:08, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

  User:Sergecross73 perfectly summed it up. That might as well be a guideline. In this case, the song generated enough press to merit its own article, but barely.

  Is Wikipedia better for having this article? No. Does it harm Wikipedia? Not at all, certainly not as much as a song article with no sources and no reason to exist other than an editor's enthusiasm for it. Trumpetrep (talk) 16:16, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

  I like this as guidance, too. I proposed adding it to WP:SONG at the policy village pump. I've never proposed a guideline change before, so curious to see where it goes. WidgetKid ^Converse 05:14, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

I actually do know a bit about Aaron Carter (embarrassingly) and I can tell you this song by him is not one of his more notable songs. I'd say anything that came out at the height of his career when he was still a teen/tween probably meets SigCov standards as does (arguably) anything that was created close to his death--mostly because of that single event though. So having page for something that came out in 2017 probably doesn't meet notability standards I would probably advocate for either a Merge or Redirect. Agnieszka653 (talk) 19:06, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

Agnieszka653, If I told you my first concert was Debbie Gibson, would that make you feel better? WidgetKid ^Converse 05:16, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

@Widgetkid haha yes it does. Agnieszka653 (talk) 14:04, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

I doubt I contribute to song related AFDs enough to participate in this discussion, sorry. Gommeh ^{(talk! sign!)} 14:35, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

I created a tool (User:Widgetkid/RecordingCover) for easily adding covers to albums and songs. If anyone would like to use it or kick the tires on this 'beta', I'd appreciate any feedback. WidgetKid ^Converse 01:11, 8 March 2026 (UTC)

@Widgetkid: I went ahead and installed it. Whenever I make an article for a single or album, or have to reupload cover art, I'll be sure to use it and deliver feedback. λ NegativeMP1 20:21, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

Just notifying members of this project that there is a Conflict of Interest edit request relevant to this WikiProject at the Psychotic Reaction article. DrThneed (talk) 20:08, 9 March 2026 (UTC)

An editor has requested that Practice What You Preach (Barry White song) be moved to Practice What You Preach (song), which may be of interest to this WikiProject. You are invited to participate in the move discussion. Mika1h (talk) 23:29, 11 March 2026 (UTC)

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Guitar Boogie (song)#Requested move 9 March 2026 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. TarnishedPath^talk 21:10, 16 March 2026 (UTC)