by Kaelyn Barron | 53 comments
How many times have you sat down to download a song you heard recently—perhaps while eating in a restaurant or while watching a movie—only to realize you have no idea how to find it?
You don’t know the name. You might remember a few lyrics, or maybe none at all. But you can’t get the melody out of your head!
Fortunately, there are several ways you can track down a song even without knowing the title or lyrics.
How to Find a Song Without Knowing the Lyrics
Knowing the lyrics certainly makes finding a song easier, since all you need to do is type a line or phrase into Google or a song lyric website (such as Genius), and in most cases you’ll find a match pretty easily.
But what if you don’t know the lyrics? Is all hope lost?
Thanks to recent developments in technology, you now have more options for finding that elusive song title.
1. Use Google to identify a song.
One of the easiest ways to identify a song comes from your source of answers to all of life’s other important questions: Google.
If you have a smart device, make sure you’ve downloaded the Google app. Open the app, and in the search bar, tap the microphone icon, and say “Search a song.”
Then you can play the song, or even hum, whistle, or sing the melody.
2. Check IMDB for songs from TV shows or movies.
As all dedicated film and TV buffs know, IMDB is a priceless resource when it comes to tracking down those key details about a movie or episode. The database can tell you all the locations where a production was filmed, who guest starred in any given episode, and of course, which songs were featured.
Let’s take, for example, the 2013 film American Hustle. Let’s say I want to know the name of a song that played about halfway through the film.
I’ll first start by entering the name in IMDB’s search bar.
Then, once I’ve clicked on the film’s page, I’ll scroll down to “Soundtracks,” which is right below “Connections” and above “User Reviews.”
After clicking on “Soundtracks,” I’ll be taken to a page with every song that’s featured in the film listed in order of its appearance.
3. Try one of these apps that can identify songs.
In addition to Google, there are several other apps you can use in your mission to hunt down a song.
Shazam
With Shazam, users simply hold their phone up to the source of music while a song is playing. Tap a button and Shazam will listen it to identify the song, and provide key information such as the title, artist, and album.
The app will also provide links to YouTube to where you can listen to or purchase the song in question. Shazam also stores a history of all the songs you’ve identified.
Shazamis available for iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.
SoundHound
Much like Google, SoundHound allows you to hum or sing a melody in case the song you’re looking for isn’t playing right now.
This app is available for Android and iOS.
Siri or Alexa
If you have an iPhone or an Amazon Echo, you can call on trusted Siri or Alexa to identify a song for you. Just say “[Siri / Alexa], what song is this?”
Identify Songs Without the Title
Next time you hear a song you like, or can’t remember the name of the tune from that movie you watched last night, remember that you have several options for finding answers.
Enlist the help of technology, or put your detective skills to the test by checking sites like IMDB or Genius. The good news is that these clever tricks aren’t just limited to songs—you can also find a book from vague descriptions or details about the cover!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Write Song Lyrics in 5 Simple Steps
- How to Write a Song: 6 Steps for Writing Your Next Hit
- How to Find a Book from Vague Description: Find Titles Based on Plot Details
- How to Find a Good Book: 10 Ways to Find Your Next Read
Kaelyn Barron
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Einon September 28, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Trying to find this sing for my brother. He said the singer was a White guys, wearing a white shirt, a hat and has blonde hair. This outfit her wore during a tour. He said it was NOT Eminem. Some lyrical words were “Mama”, “Cigarettes”, “it’s gonna be alright” I am hoping for an answer quickly!
NonstopMelon July 15, 2023 at 4:12 am
im trying to find a song but all i remember is the video. it was a young male singer between 2010 and 2016, and it had girls playing with dalls in all pink, and balancing books on their head, and then boys in all blue playing ball and stuff, and towards the end they collided
Eshaka Kanuon September 1, 2023 at 5:31 pm
I want to know the song but I don’t know it’s title. It goes like this ” Iyayo life is too short … Iya iya iya iyayo life is too short oooo”
Helenon June 17, 2023 at 3:20 pm
Hi Kaelyn I want to know the rest of the song lyrics but I don’t know the title. It goes like this One last then it goes “I
don’t know how in the world I stopped
Believing “Heleneon March 28, 2023 at 12:36 pm
im looking for a song where a girl is singing and then speaks in the middle of the song “speak no, hear no, see” then whispers “evil” and the song continues
Tomon June 24, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Could this be the song? RICKI-LEE – HEAR NO, SEE NO, SPEAK NO
Gearyon October 31, 2023 at 1:20 am
Looking for a song where the lead singer is wearing a duster coat. He is a big man, with a deep voice and he and the band are on train tracks. I believe the singer has died.
Timothy R. Headrickon March 16, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Looking for a name of a song a woman sings in the first part it says something like …simply gorgeous, you’ll be sad all the time. You’ll be dippel in the maya? I want to tell you want to see you tonight
leoon February 5, 2023 at 9:41 am
looking for a song about a girl changing from a guy’s perspective? it’s kinda dark, describes how she goes to a party and everyone’s attracted to her, she’s smoking and drinking, her mother’s d//d (though i’m not sure?) and she’s wearing her mot
Andria T. Newbaueron February 4, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Looking forward to naming a song that has a line in it that I cannot remember, “I heard you singing to somebody else a song that I thought was our melody, Sweet moon song that wasn’t meant for me” It might have been in the early mid 50s and was a choral arrangement.
Charismaon June 4, 2023 at 4:36 am
Looking for a song that sounds kinda gamey? It had a woman vocal. The cover album art was a woman in game type armor in purple.
Nesson November 17, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Song that say no don’t you say you have to go go away girl no because I love so
Cobrasc3on December 13, 2022 at 2:52 am
Hmm. First thing that comes to my mind is Led Zeppelin- Whole lotta love. There is a part that goes “woman, you need, yeah, love”
Noton October 23, 2022 at 3:26 pm
what is the song that lyrics is then a maybe us?
Juneyon July 31, 2022 at 9:25 pm
There is a song I heard once that I thought was really pretty but I can’t remember any of the lyrics except for a high-voice female singing something like “Hoping you’re the saaa-a-a-aaa-a-a-aaaame”. For the word “same”‘s note progression, it went one note long; down half step, up half step (back to original note), down half step again faster; then the same thing again, so “same” covered four half steps (two whole steps), I think, but I can’t find it anywhere online. I think I heard it at a fast food place or something.
Juneyon July 31, 2022 at 9:27 pm
Actually, clarification:
For the word “same”‘s note progression, it went one note long; down half step, up half step (back to original note), down half step again faster; but then, from there, a whole step down, whole step up, and whole step back down.
Greyton Hesson July 16, 2022 at 1:53 pm
I’m searching for a song. It was used for a love scene in To Be The Best 1993 martial arts film. It was sang by a woman. Any help please?!
Julie Krugeron May 17, 2022 at 3:03 am
Hi Kaelyn,
Wonder if you can help, a page I follow on Instagram used a song in a video, none of the apps recognises it and google does not find the lyrics either. I have reached out, but have not heard anything from them yet. Any suggestions?
Regards
JulieKaelyn Barronon May 20, 2022 at 7:34 pm
Hi Julie, thanks for your question! If searching the lyrics doesn’t work, you could try humming what you remember from the tune into Google (see tip #1). Hopefully they’ll get back to you too :)
Layla Murdockon November 20, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Hello! I need help because I really like this song on a grubhub ad. And I already searched it, but that wasn’t very helpful. It goes something like “bada ba badada. Bada ba badada ba” It plays like that over and over. It’s not the lyrics though it’s the actual instruments playing, It sounds like a wooden flute playing or maybe a piccolo. Can you help me? (Also If you reply to me in gmail I won’t get it because this is my school account I’m on.)
Callumon May 10, 2022 at 9:23 am
Didn’t help much really because the only lyric I remember is “I drove from” wich isn’t enough really but I think there still good ways if you know some lyrics but without knowing the lyrics or the tune it won’t be much help really.
Kaelyn Barronon May 20, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Hi Callum, I’m sorry the tips aren’t much help in this case. You could try searching “songs with “I drove from” in lyrics”. But I’m not sure what else to do if you don’t know the tune or other lyrics.
Carl Burgesson June 1, 2022 at 2:50 am
This song came out somewhere in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s. It starts out,. ” Oh why oh why do I love you, I love you. You make me live in misery. Misery”
Kaelyn Barronon June 7, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Hi Carl, I tried searching those lyrics but couldn’t find an exact match. But I found “Misery” by The Dynamics, sounds close?
jewelon March 17, 2022 at 6:26 am
Shazam and Google work the best for me! I have been using them for a long time and they help me a lot in finding a song that I don’t know the title. Then, I download the music with AtopShare MP3 Downloader Online to save them in MP3 format. I would like to try the other tools that you mentioned. thanks a lot!
Kaelyn Barronon March 25, 2022 at 10:07 pm
I totally agree about Shazam and Google! I also google the parts of lyrics I remember and that usually works for me :) I hope you find the other tips helpful!
Lekan Komoon January 28, 2022 at 9:47 am
I’m looking for a song. I don’t know the title nor the artist that did the song but the song was released in early 2000. The artist sounds like Sisqo, and like he uses some Spanish words in the song (though the song is in English). Few lines I can remember in my head (not sure if I’m right), “to my east coast, west coast, all my nigg*s…”. I’ve search for this line but I can’t find it. If you can help me please.
Thank you.Kaelyn Barronon February 5, 2022 at 10:10 pm
Hi Lekan, have you tried all the tricks from the post? I wish I could be of more help but I don’t know the song, so if those tricks don’t work I definitely wouldn’t be able to find it myself.
jorge zaballeroon April 16, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Mama i miss the day when you were here to guide me
Olanshileon February 1, 2023 at 7:33 pm
The song was sang by Matt houston and the title is R&B 2 rue
Joyceon December 23, 2021 at 4:35 am
I heard a song a couple of times and don’t know the artist or the name of the song. All I know this girl was talking about when they were together, he never wanted to go to the beach. Now that they are not together, she goes all the time. Can you help me?
Kaelyn Barronon December 27, 2021 at 9:15 pm
Hi Joyce, thanks for your comment! I would suggest typing those details, or any lyrics you can remember inside of quotation marks “”, into Google. That’s probably your best bet
Versaceon December 9, 2021 at 11:59 pm
I heard a classmate singing a song or rather a rap about a girl find her bfs car in front of a mother girls house. The song said the B word a lot. Their was a curse word every other line and that’s I can remember.
Oh also her bf had tinted windows if that helps anyone. Sounded kinda good just wanna listen to the whole thing. Any help appreciatedKaelyn Barronon December 11, 2021 at 2:48 am
Hi Versace, sorry I can’t really help you there. You can try googling those details (I just did a quick search and don’t think there was anything really relevant, but you can look more).
Jodeci Velezon November 16, 2021 at 6:22 pm
Hi, I’m looking for a song with the album or song cover art is of an Indian head with headdress gracing right, and the first word of the name of the song is “welcome”. I don’t know the rest of the name but if I see the name or the album cover art, I’ll know.
Jodeci Velezon November 16, 2021 at 6:23 pm
Facing*
Jodeci Velezon November 16, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Facing left* sorry I’m kinda dumb.
Kaelyn Barronon November 19, 2021 at 4:33 pm
Hi Jodeci, I’m not sure it’s Indian headdress and she’s not facing right, but would it be Beyonce’s Homecoming live album? the first song is called Welcome
Andrew Milleron November 7, 2021 at 1:52 am
Hi looking for a song about a guy flying to Bermuda to see his girl. Fast upbeat music pop/rock sounds like Glass Animals but inst. Words go: takin’ a jet ride to paradise , stars so bright, jamin all night in Bermuda time. Btw, its not Kokomo by the Beach Boys.
Thanks so much . I love this song and have tried 4 different sites that claim to find songs.Kaelyn Barronon November 12, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Hi Andrew, I tried searching the lyrics since that seemed like the best bet but couldn’t find anything :( Sorry I couldn’t be of more help! Have you tried using Google to hum the tune?
Dominicon October 25, 2022 at 2:16 pm
I’m looking for a song where the music video is set in a bar. There are people talking and laughing and playing pool while a couple sing on stage. The couple finish and a guy gets on stage with his guitar and starts singing, the people in the bar stop to listen to him but some carry on arguing. It’s sort of a country sound
Nilson October 6, 2021 at 11:35 am
Thanks for the advices. I’ve tried all that but it didn’t help me.
I heard a song with a very simple but also very catchy hook-line while I was shopping.
It was sung by a female vocalist with probably alto or mezzo-soprano range in a rather soft and breathy way. The hook-line was in an 80s – 90s fashion but from the sound and the arrangement of the song I’d say it was five, maybe ten years old. The sound was slightly electronic but in general it was a rather slick pop arrangement – nothing obtrusive and I didn’t recognise anything very extraordinary about the arrangement.
The tempo was something between 100 and 110 bpm.
The harmony of the hook-line was a descending fifth progression starting 6-2-5-1. I don’t hear pitch perfect but if it were in C major it would have been am | dm | G | C. I’m not sure if it was a repeating four bar or a full eight bar descending fifth progression.
I don’t remember the lyrics but it was something about love in a kind of five syllables per line rhyme. There was a somewhat disappointing part at the end of the song, where the vocalist sung the hook-line with just something like “da da da da da …”.
The rhythm of the hook-line melody was very simple. Each line starting at the 2nd beat with two eighth notes followed by 3 quarter notes (putting the rhyming syllable on the 1) and repeating so on:
2 & 3 4 1, 2 & 3 4 1, 2 & 3 4 1, …
The melody of the hook-line itself was kind of lyrical (lyrical melody = easy and “flowing” melody). In C major it would have been this or something very close:
a b c e f, f e d c b, g a b d e, e d c b a (g = g below the starting a). It was, as I mentioned before, a very simple melody.
With that chord progression and the simple melody where each phrase is leading to the 3rd of the next chord it very slightly reminds of some melodies by J. S. Bach.I wonder: How would I start a search based on this information?
Is there a database that you can filter by at least some of those features?Kaelyn Barronon October 9, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Hi Nils, that’s a lot of information! I’m really not sure if there’s a database where you could use all that info, but you might try some Google searches using combinations of those pieces
Nilson October 13, 2021 at 7:26 pm
Thank you very much for your reply Kaelyn! I’ve tried again but I didn’t get anything helpful. As a musician I can easily memorise the musical features of a song but as soon as I put even one of them in a google search query, I only get results about music theory. Google’s search by voice always says ‘no internet connection’. I think I have to give up on this one.
grghjuon October 18, 2022 at 9:37 pm
asome
Joeon June 26, 2021 at 2:50 am
I used the google app and just hummed and it worked instantly
Thanks!!Kaelyn Barronon July 2, 2021 at 4:48 pm
I’m so glad it helped you!
Taraon May 7, 2021 at 11:40 pm
I’ve tried everything. I cannot find a song in a movie. The movie is The Darker Shades of Elise and the song goes, We’re passing the streets full of neon light
Look into my eyes, yeah
We’re passing the streets full of neon light
Look into my eyes, yeah
I want to speed it up, baby
No limits, no limits, like we have no brakes on
Just relax and ride on, into the night
Full speed and lights
I’m blind in my eyes
Into the night
We took off into the night
Full speed, you and I
We’re not afraid, not afraid…Can you help me? It starts at…41:53
Kaelyn Barronon May 13, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Hi Tara, I tried looking on IMDB and also Googled the lyrics but can’t find anything :\ sorry I can’t be of more help!
Joyon July 15, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Cheney Weird-Neon Lights
Kaelyn Barronon July 19, 2021 at 9:39 pm
Thank you, Joy!
