Is it a medley when a song is sung in more than 2 languages?

Recently, while I've been busy, this error report is closed. Error report #70871.

Now we see the 2 same entries China Nights is at versions tab at 支那の夜 , and the entry has medley tag, technically it might be correct.

As long as comment "First verse is sung in Japanese, second is in English" exists, I don't mind it, but I feel it strange to call it medley (or pot-pourri in French).

I have many unprocessed submissions of such song, especially in Japanese.

One of them is Submission #348039

Unfortnatlly YouTube link is gone, but there is a Jacket image in discogs where we find the lyrics, sung in both Japanese and Chinese. I submitted it multilingual currently.

The question is when it would be proper to use multilingual. Should I change this submission?

In this case, Japanese adaptations (original) is already in SHS but this specific Chinese lyrics is new.

Yes, "Multiple Languages" is correct. And it would also be a medley, which yes, might be a bit strange. Set up properly, the performance will show that way in the system.

For China Nights both lyrics are not new.

So this one is registered in English and Japanese blocks separately, and tagged 'medley'.

In case of Submission #348039 Japanese lyrics is not new, but Chinese lyrics is a new one. So when this one will be processed, would go to Japanese and new Chinese blocks (even though there is only 1 Chinese verse exists) and it no longer stays at multilingual block?

Suppose there is a original song written in 2 languages by a single author.

As long as there is 1 performance, it is located in multilingual block and not a medley.

When someone covers it as it is, it would be in SHS, but still not a medley.

But when another one cover this one using only one language, the original becomes medley?

I feel it too complex...

I think this one is related. Medley of previously-released recording with previously-unreleased recording

If it has a full verse in Chinese, then it would be a Japanese/Chinese medley. If it were just one or two words, I would just set the work as Japanese, and make a note in the comments about the Chinese words.

In this case, it will be set as multilingual. It should still be a medley, since a Japanese, and a Chinese work will be attached to the performance.

In a case where a song has been performed in Japanese, then a Chinese performance of it shows up, for instance, it will not be listed as a medley, since the entire song is in Chinese. The underlying work for that performance will show as being an adaptation of the Japanese version.

It is kind of confusing. It took me some time to get my head around it. But I had to learn fast, since these kind of adaptations are my specialty here at SecondHandSongs.

Last edit: 2025-04-04 02:21:04 UTC by David King

I meant work, not performance, in the first paragraph of my last comment.

In SHS, all performances that are based on multiple works are, via an automated process, either tagged medley or mash-up. Whether the underlying compositions differ or not is not taken into account.

I believe that @htozaki's argument is the following: When the two work parts share the same musical composition, medley is not an intuitive description. And he has a point.

Differentiating for these cases is an enhancement we could consider. But first, what would be the TAG of these cases?

Quote from Bastien

But first, what would be the TAG of these cases?

Bilingual - or multilingual for three or more languages.

As for the name, I also have no idea other than multilingual.

Today I encountered this case which needs a discussion:

Une nuit à Monte-Carlo

Currently, medley tag are attached and has 2 parts (works):

• Eine Nacht in Monte Carlo
• Une nuit à Monte-Carlo

How do you think of it? Canary

I understand your logic in this setup; Original is German and this French one is performed by the same Marek Weber Orchestra (that is common part). However no German lyrics is French version... Obviously this is not a medley and even though after multilingual tag were introduced, I think this one would be better as just a separate adaptation.

Quote from sebcat

Quote from Bastien

But first, what would be the TAG of these cases?

Bilingual - or multilingual for three or more languages.

I think multilingual would work best, since it encompasses bilingual.

sebcat

Bilingual - or multilingual for three or more languages.

Does bilingual exist?

Does it matter? Like David King wrote, multilingual encompasses bilingual. It's more simple to set up also.

Does it matter?

I would prefer a bi-lingual option with the ability to say, for example, French/English or Chinese/Vietnamese.

Multi-lingual is, I think, relatively rare.

Dave

I don't recall ever seeing a song with more than two languages, but I'm sure there is one out there.

And it would be good to be able to put both or more languages with a performance, especially when it has a title in one language or the other. I don't know how difficult that would be for Mathieu .

I don't recall ever seeing a song with more than two languages

Willkommen

Interesting

Quote from David King

And it would be good to be able to put both or more languages with a performance, especially when it has a title in one language or the other. I don't know how difficult that would be for Mathieu .

That shouldn't be too hard, but not trivial either. There's no enhancement request for it yet.

I think many of you agreed with the name is multilingual.

I still have one questions about the current usage of 'medley' or 'mash-up'.

As far as I saw, there is a 'part' entry for those that have 'medley' or 'mash-up' tags.

Are those part entries are required?

I think the entry song with 'multilingual' sometimes does not have original songs, the songs might be multilingual from the first.

So 'part' should not be mandatory for this new 'multilingual' tag (unlike 'medley').

Quote from htozaki

I think the entry song with 'multilingual' sometimes does not have original songs, the songs might be multilingual from the first.

Indeed. We have this option already

Quote from sebcat

Quote from htozaki

I think the entry song with 'multilingual' sometimes does not have original songs, the songs might be multilingual from the first.

Indeed. We have this option already

Yes, but it is implemented as a language, not as a tag. (Well, It's difficult to decide which to be used when we create an song entry...)

One thing is we cannot find a performance China Nights with that work search. I think It is convenient to search a performance sung in 2 or more languages, that's why I requested the multilingual tag that does not require parts entries.