Songfic
Encyclopedia
A songfic, also known as a song fic or a song-fic, is a work of fiction interspersed with the lyrics of a relevant song. The term is a portmanteau of "song" and "fiction"; as such, one might also see the genre referred to as "songfiction". Songfics are a genre of artwork related to fanfiction in that both involve the poaching of text. The interplay of commercial art and folk art make songfics also similar in some ways to filk music
, much of which uses commercial science fiction
or fantasy
as inspiration.
has made a career out of humorous parody.
By contrast, songfics leave the lyrics of the source song alone; the song's lyrics are incorporated into a more-or-less separate story. It is similar in concept to a music video, where the music and the story are designed to complement each other. As a general rule, instrumental songs cannot easily be incorporated into songfics, due to the lack of lyrics to go by.
, whether songfics are a violation of that copyright law is a relevant topic. FanFiction.Net
has barred authors from posting songfics with lyrics outside public domain
.
Filk music
Filk is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s. The term predates 1955.-Definitions:As the Interfilk What Is Filk page demonstrates, there is...
, much of which uses commercial science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
or fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
as inspiration.
Comparison to parodies
Parodies, by definition, contain rewritten lyrics to a well-known song; this is usually, but not always, meant to be humorous. "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
has made a career out of humorous parody.
By contrast, songfics leave the lyrics of the source song alone; the song's lyrics are incorporated into a more-or-less separate story. It is similar in concept to a music video, where the music and the story are designed to complement each other. As a general rule, instrumental songs cannot easily be incorporated into songfics, due to the lack of lyrics to go by.
Legality
As many lyrics are under copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
, whether songfics are a violation of that copyright law is a relevant topic. FanFiction.Net
FanFiction.Net
FanFiction.Net is an automated fan fiction archive site. It was founded in late 1998 by Los Angeles computer programmer Xing Li, who also runs the site. The first fics to be posted were a few stories about Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
has barred authors from posting songfics with lyrics outside public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
.