Song Italics or Quotes: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need (With 150+ Examples)

Song titles go in quotation marks, not italics. That’s the standard rule in MLA, APA, and Chicago style. Italics are saved for larger works — albums, films, and books. So when you write about a track, put it in “quotes.” When you mention the album it lives on, italicize it. Knowing the difference between song italics or quotes keeps your writing clean, correct, and professional.

Song Italics or Quotes — The Basic Rule Explained

• It’s a song that’s one of the most-streamed ever, “Blinding Lights.”
• All morning she was playing “Shape of You” in her head.
• Most people don’t get the meaning of “Hotel California.
• Have you heard Harry Styles’ new song “As It Was”?
• My Playlist begins every day with “Levitating”.
• “Uptown Funk” remains a party staple.
• In his speech, he referenced lyrics from “Someone Like You.
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” is six minutes of pure story telling.
• The set ended with “Halo” and the audience fell in respectful silence.
• “Anti-Hero” had been the chart-topper for several weeks in a row.
• They love to exercise to the song “Eye of the Tiger.
• She wrote an English paper about “Fast Car”.
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the rock anthem that transformed rock music.
• The song they danced at the wedding was “Can’t Help Falling in Love.
• His essay was an analysis of the lyrics from “Lose Yourself.

Song Italics or Quotes in MLA Format

• Please quote “Rolling in the Deep”.
• In your works cited, write “Shake It Off” not Shake It Off.
• In MLA “Dreams” from Fleetwood Mac is used in quotes.
• According to the MLA handbook, “Purple Rain” is in quotation marks.
• In MLA always use “Watermelon Sugar” and never “Watermelon Sugar”.
• Your in-text citation: “Happier” (Marshmello) uses quotes.
• For “Royals” by Lorde, the quotation marks must be used.
• However, you would not italicize it in an MLA essay.
• For “Shallow” the citation format is in double quotes.
• In MLA papers, the quotation marks are used in “Gold Digger” by Kanye West.
• Unlike the brackets in the example above, MLA does not use the brackets for individual tracks (Midnight Rain).
• This is the way an MLA bibliography entry would look for Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.
• Coldplay’s ‘Clocks,’ by following the MLA rule of quotes only, is no exception.
• In MLA, you will include the title of “Come As You Are” in quotation marks.
• The MLA standard for “Hallelujah” is the same: ALWAYS in QUOTES.

Song Italics or Quotes in APA Format

• In the reference section, “Thriller” is formatted in APA style using quotation marks.
• The song “Let It Be” is written in quotes and APA style.
• APA requires you to put “Clair de Lune” in quotation marks.
• APA style should have quotes for the song “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder.
• In APA references, “We Will Rock You” is quoted.
• When referencing “Despacito” in an APA paper, the writer should use quotes.
• On ‘Stairway to Heaven’? APA uses quotes.
• In the APA style, the phrase “Perfect” is quoted in Ed Sheeran’s song “Perfect”.
• The Killers, (2012), Mr. Brightside. Always cited.
• In APA, Toto’s AFA is quoted.
• The information from “Riptide” is quoted in APA format.
• APA style quotes ” Hey Jude” as you would any other song title.
• The following is an analysis of “Numb” by Linkin Park, using APA quotes.
• A quote within a quote should be in italic, and the first quote should not be.If there is a quote within a quote, the inner quote is in italic, and the outer one is not.
• “Dancing Queen” is the name that will be seen in the APA.

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Song Italics or Quotes in Chicago Style

• Chicago style places “Yesterday” by the Beatles in quotation marks.
• A footnote in Chicago format would quote “Imagine” correctly.
• In Chicago notes, “Jolene” appears inside double quote marks.
• Chicago bibliography style writes “Piano Man” in quotes.
• Writing a history paper? Cite “We Shall Overcome” with quotes.
• “Strange Fruit” appears in quotes in Chicago format citations.
• Chicago style for music journalism keeps “Born This Way” quoted.
• A Chicago footnote cites “The Sound of Silence” in quotes.
• “God Only Knows” gets quotation marks in Chicago bibliography.
• Chicago puts “Riders on the Storm” in quotes, not italics.
• In Chicago author-date format, “Vienna” uses quotation marks.
• The song “Tiny Dancer” is formatted with quotes in Chicago style.
• Chicago notes for a documentary about music would quote “Stayin’ Alive.”
• “I Am the Walrus” is a quoted title in Chicago bibliography.
• Chicago style keeps “Like a Rolling Stone” in double quotes.

When to Use Italics Instead of Quotes for Music

• The album Abbey Road is one of the most studied records ever.
• She wrote her thesis on Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.
• Lemonade by Beyoncé changed how visual albums were made.
• The soundtrack Purple Rain won an Academy Award.
• Kind of Blue by Miles Davis is a jazz landmark.
• He reviewed Nevermind for his music history class.
• The Dark Side of the Moon is over 50 years old and still sells.
• Born in the USA defined an era of American rock.
• She grew up listening to Tapestry by Carole King.
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of Elton John’s best records.
• Random Access Memories won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
• His favorite album is still OK Computer by Radiohead.
• 1989 by Taylor Swift was re-recorded and re-released.
• The score Inception is cited in italics in film papers.
• Motown 25 is italicized when referenced as a TV special.

Song Italics or Quotes on Social Media and Casual Writing

• Just added “Golden Hour” to my morning playlist.
• Anyone else obsessed with “As It Was” right now?
• “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus is on repeat today.
• My mood today: “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
• Can’t sleep — “Comptine d’un autre été” is all I hear.
• “Bluebird” just made me cry in a coffee shop.
• POV: you discover “Lover” for the first time.
• “Redbone” in the car with the windows down — perfect.
• This week’s vibe is “Midnight City.”
• Putting “Right Here Waiting” on for nostalgia.
• The gym playlist starts with “Till I Collapse” — no excuses.
• “July” by Noah Cyrus for rainy afternoon feelings.
• Nothing beats “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• “Dog Days Are Over” is giving summer energy.
• Just performed “Gravity” and the crowd felt it.

Song Italics or Quotes in Academic Essays and Research Papers

• The essay examined how “Strange Fruit” reflects American history.
• A musicology paper cited “La Vie en Rose” with quotation marks.
• “Ode to Joy” was analyzed in the composer’s historical context.
• The student correctly placed “Four Minutes” in quotation marks.
• Academic writing about “Lose Yourself” uses quotes throughout.
• In her thesis, she cited “Concerto in D Minor” in quotes.
• The paper discussed “When Doves Cry” as cultural commentary.
• “A Change Is Gonna Come” appeared in quotes in the civil rights essay.
• The research paper quoted “What’s Going On” as a primary source.
• “Respect” by Aretha Franklin was cited in double quotes.
• Academic analysis of “The Raven” as a song uses quotation marks.
• “Symphony No. 5” appears in quotes when cited as a track.
• The professor marked the essay wrong for italicizing “Bittersweet Symphony.”
• “Hello” by Adele was correctly formatted in the student’s paper.
• Citing “Good as Hell” in a media studies paper requires quotation marks.

Song Italics or Quotes — Common Mistakes People Make

• Blinding Lights ✅ “Blinding Lights”
• Bohemian Rhapsody ✅ “Bohemian Rhapsody”
• Shape of You ✅ “Shape of You”
• Hotel California (no formatting) ✅ “Hotel California”
• Anti-Hero ✅ “Anti-Hero”
• Uptown Funk ✅ “Uptown Funk”
• Levitating ✅ “Levitating”
• Someone Like You ✅ “Someone Like You”
• Rolling in the Deep (no quotes) ✅ “Rolling in the Deep”
• Halo ✅ “Halo”
• Eye of the Tiger (plain text) ✅ “Eye of the Tiger”
• Can’t Help Falling in Love ✅ “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
• Dreams ✅ “Dreams”
• Royals (no formatting) ✅ “Royals”
• Watermelon Sugar ✅ “Watermelon Sugar”

Song Italics or Quotes for Classical and Instrumental Music

• “Symphony No. 9 in D Minor” is quoted when cited as a track.
• “Moonlight Sonata” goes in quotes in most academic papers.
• The piece “Air on the G String” uses quotation marks.
• “Clair de Lune” is formatted with quotes in music analysis essays.
• In an essay, “Nocturne in E-flat Major” gets quotation marks.
• The track “Canon in D” uses quotes — not italics.
• The Marriage of Figaro (the full opera) is italicized.
• “Für Elise” is a quoted title in music theory papers.
• “Ave Maria” gets double quotes when listed as a song track.
• The concerto movement “Adagio” is in quotes in academic writing.
• La Traviata (full opera) uses italics; individual arias use quotes.
• “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons uses quotes for the movement.
• “Gymnopedie No. 1” is written in quotes in a music catalog.
• The piece “Hallelujah Chorus” is quoted in most citations.
• Messiah (the oratorio) is italicized; individual choruses use quotes.

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Song Italics or Quotes — Fast Reference for Writers

• “Lose Yourself” — always in quotes.
• “All of Me” by John Legend — quoted, not italicized.
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” — quotes, not italics.
• “Despacito” — quotation marks in every style guide.
• “Hey Jude” — quotes when cited as a song.
• “We Are the Champions” — quoted title.
• “Purple Rain” — quotes for the song; Purple Rain for the film.
• “Comfortably Numb” — quotes only.
• “Mr. Brightside” — quoted in writing, always.
• “Like a Prayer” — quotation marks every time.
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — quoted in papers, posts, essays.
• “Sweet Home Alabama” — never italicized as a song.
• “I Want to Hold Your Hand” — song title in quotes.
• “Dancing in the Dark” — quotes in all writing contexts.
• “Johnny B. Goode” — quotation marks, not italics.