(no subject)

[botherd]

Quick question for Glee fans: what's your opinion on mentioning specific songs in fics? Is it acceptable, or is it kind of hokey? I can't decide.

On the one hand, characters singing specific songs to illustrate their feelings is part of the fabric of the universe and it seems weird to me to ignore that. But on the other hand, as soon as you start to write that down in fanfiction it starts veering perilously close to becoming songfic, and no one wants that.

So what do you think? I'm really only using them incidentally, so does that make it okay? One is referenced, but not actually sung by anyone, and kind of has to be mentioned by name. Another is sung by someone (not one of the main characters) to express their feelings, and I'm not sure whether to pick a particular song or just describe the general vibe. IDK. Am I overthinking this? YES, PROBABLY. But I'm interested to know what people think, whether you've seen it work really well in fics or whether it pulls you out of them. Or whether you don't care and think I should just get on and write.

Comments

[youreyesaregems.livejournal.com]

I think mentioning songs is okay. And if someone has to sing a song, then singing a line or two of it in speech marks would still be fine with me. I think you have to put it in a separate section for it to be songfic.

*

do you know
what it feels like for a girl

*

Like that. Ugh. So yeah, incidental use sounds totally acceptable.

(Btw, not exactly a Glee fan, but I do read Glee fic.)

[botherd.livejournal.com]

That was sort of what I was thinking, so I'm glad you agree! I think you're right in that quoting sections like that is the tipping point that turns it into songfic. I don't think I'll end up quoting any lines at all so it should be okay.

[fivewhatfive.livejournal.com]

I think mentioning songs is okay. And if someone has to sing a song, then singing a line or two of it in speech marks would still be fine with me. I think you have to put it in a separate section for it to be songfic.

Pretty much what I was gonna say. Unless you randomly put a chunk of lyrics in the middle of the story and/or it makes no sense for that particular character to ~burst into song, it shouldn't really be a problem.

[botherd.livejournal.com]

Good to know! I should be able to avoid falling into the realms of songfic in that case.