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See also birdsong

If you are looking for the Chinese Song dynasty, see Song Dynasty (420-479) or Song Dynasty (960-1279) instead.

Song is also a Chinese family name represented by the character 宋.

A song is a relatively short musical composition for the human voice (possibly accompanied by other musical instruments), which features words (lyrics). The words are typically of a poetic, rhyming nature, although they may be religious verses or free prose. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on the criteria used. A common division is between "art songs" and "folk songs", the latter being of anonymous origin and culturally associated. Other common methods of classification are by purpose (sacred vs secular), by style (dance, ballad, lieder, etc.) or by time of origin (Renaissance, Contemporary, etc). The performer of a song is called a "singer" or "vocalist", the act is called singing.

Art songs are songs created for performance in their own right, usually with piano accompaniment, although they can also have other types of accompaniment such as an orchestra or string quartet. Generally they are defined as having an identified author(s) and require serious voice training. The German word for song, "Lied" (plural: "Lieder"), is used in French and English-speaking communities to refer to the serious art song, whereas in German-speaking communities the word "Kunstlied" (plural: "Kunstlieder") is used to distinguish art song from folk song ("Volkslied").

Art songs feature in many cultures, including but not limited to: Russian (romansy), Dutch (lied), Italian (canzoni), French (mélodies), Scandinavian (sånger), Spanish (canciones).

Folk songs are songs of anonymous origin that are transmitted orally. They are frequently a major aspect of national or cultural identity. Art songs often become folk songs when people forget who the author was. Folk songs are also frequently transmitted non-orally (that is, as sheet music), especially in the modern era.

Commercium songs are songs are traditional academic songs, that are usually being sung during commerciums, see Commercium songs.

For a list of influential songs, see:

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll
The Grammy Hall of Fame Award (also includes many albums)
The annual Eurovision Song Contest includes a list of winners

Song forms

Aria and recitative (Opera)
Chanson
Ballad
Hymn
Mass
Oratorio
Spiritual
Carol
Lied (plural: Lieder)
Pibroch
Gregorian chant and plainsong
Rock and Pop songs
Cantata
Madrigal
Lullaby
Ethnic or indigenous songs (a horrible term to use but I couldn't think of an alternative just yet. Perhaps Aboriginal song?)

External Link

At http://www.lieder.net/ you can find thousands of texts to classical art songs in many languages, with translations to English.

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 ''Song is also a [[Chinese family name]] represented by the character &#23435;.''</font>
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-A '''song''' is a relatively short [[music]]al [[composition]] for the human [[voice]] (possibly accompanied by other [[musical instrument]]s), which features [[word]]s ([[lyrics]]). The words are typically of a [[poetry|poetic]], [[rhyme|rhyming]] nature, although they may be [[religion|religious]] [[verse]]s or free [[prose]]. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on the criteria used. A common division is between "[[art]] songs" and "[[folk music|folk songs]]", the latter being of [[anonymous]] origin and [[culture|culturally]] associated. Other common methods of [[classification]] are by purpose (sacred vs secular), by [[style]] ([[dance]], [[ballad]], lieder, etc.) or by time of origin ([[Renaissance]], [[Contemporary]], etc). The performer of a song is called a "[[singer]]" or "vocalist", the act is called [[singing]].
+A '''song''' is a relatively short [[music]]al [[composition]] for the human [[voice]] (possibly accompanied by other [[musical instrument]]s), which features [[word]]s ([[lyrics]]). The words are typically of a [[poetry|poetic]], [[rhyme|rhyming]] nature, although they may be [[religion|religious]] [[verse]]s or free [[prose]]. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on the criteria used. A common division is between "[[art]] songs" and "[[folk music|folk songs]]", the latter being of [[anonymous]] origin and [[culture|culturally]] associated. Other common methods of [[classification]] are by purpose ([[sacred]] vs [[secular]]), by [[style]] ([[dance]], [[ballad]], lieder, etc.) or by time of origin ([[Renaissance]], [[Contemporary]], etc). The performer of a song is called a "[[singer]]" or "vocalist", the act is called [[singing]].
 '''Art songs''' are songs created for performance in their own right, usually with [[piano]] accompaniment, although they can also have other types of accompaniment such as an [[orchestra]] or [[string quartet]]. Generally they are defined as having an identified [[author]](s) and require serious voice [[training]]. The [[German language|German]] word for song, "[[Lied]]" (plural: "Lieder"), is used in [[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]]-speaking [[community|communities]] to refer to the serious art song, whereas in German-speaking communities the word "Kunstlied" (plural: "Kunstlieder") is used to distinguish art song from folk song ("Volkslied").