Talk:Pop Song 89

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OR[edit]

User:Fantailfan asked in an edit summary: "what is OR speculation?" OR is Original Research, a Wikipedia no-no as outlined in WP:OR. Part of the text in question is: "The title "Pop Song 89" indicates that it is the 89th track R.E.M. recorded, including B-sides and Chronic Town." I've never heard of this being the reason for the song's title and it sounds like someone's speculation to me. Either way, this is an unsourced claim and needs some proof that this is really what the band intended the song's title to indicate. wikipediatrix 21:39, 29 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's an unverifiable claim.--Fantailfan 01:56, 30 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Exactly my point. Unverifiable claims cannot be made in Wikipedia articles. This is the whole point of WP:OR. wikipediatrix 02:24, 30 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Genre, again[edit]

Dpm12: This edit removes "bubblegum pop" (leaving the source for it) and adds "pop rock", citing a source (with a supporting quote).

The source left behind clearly supports "bubblegum pop".

The phrase "pop rock" is not in any of the sources.

The quote provided with the source is not in the source cited. - SummerPhD^v2.0 08:01, 20 January 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Genre Discussion[edit]

Is 'alternative rock' appropriate to add to the genres if there is a good source? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimwagoner (talk • contribs) 00:46, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

What's the source? - SummerPhD^v2.0 02:26, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Pop%20Song%2089/en-en/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimwagoner (talk • contribs) 02:42, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

That's a mirror of an earlier version of this article, it is clearly not a reliable source. - SummerPhD^v2.0 02:54, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

A source stating that a song charted on the "alternative songs" chart is not the source saying the song is "alternative rock". - SummerPhD^v2.0 12:46, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

SummerPhDv2.0, I disagree: Billboard is clearly a reputable source and their Alternative Songs chart is for alternative rock. ―Justin (koavf)❤T☮C☺M☯ 13:20, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, Billboard is generally a reliable source. However, a song charting on a particular chart is not Billboard saying -- with editorial oversight -- that a song is a particular genre. A song charting on the alternative rock chart means the song was one of the most heavily played songs on radio stations that Billlboard has listed as "modern rock" or "alternative rock".

Decades ago, I worked at a radio station that was classified as "modern rock" (then the title of this chart). We played a wide variety of songs. Some of those songs were by bands you probably consider "alternative rock" today -- though I would invite you to consider whether every song by an artist fits the genre generally assigned to that artist. We also played Jimi Hendrix, Glenn Miller, Metalica, Pink Floyd, "We Are the World" and "Hands Across America", the Bangles, Miles Davis and some rap. If those are "modern rock", I'm the pope.

I'm reminded that Jethro Tull's Grammy win prompted many to quip that the flute was now a "heavy metal" instrument.

Radio stations sell a product to their customers. That their customers (listeners) are mostly described as "alternative rock" fans does not mean that is all the station plays. Stations will often bend or ignore their "genre" in the name of playing what their listeners want. If your listeners are really into R.E.M. (and many "alternative rock" fans certainly were), the station likely played more than a few songs that most people wouldn't consider "rock", let alone "alternative rock". - SummerPhD^v2.0 13:37, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Per a sensible suggestion by Koavf suggestion, I have started a discussion at WikiProject Songs so we aren't discussing this same idea in multiple places. - SummerPhD^v2.0 14:05, 20 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]