Ever found yourself wondering, "What song is playing on my screen?" while watching a movie, TV show, or even a YouTube video? You're not alone. With the vast array of music in our entertainment, it's natural to want to identify and add that catchy tune to your playlist. This guide will walk you through several methods to find out what song is playing on your screen, using both manual and automated approaches.
Understanding Audio Recognition Services
Before we dive into the methods, let's understand audio recognition services. These are online platforms and apps that use advanced algorithms to identify songs based on a short audio clip. The most popular among these is Shazam, which has been integrated into many music apps and even some smart TVs. Other notable services include SoundHound and ACRCloud.
Manual Methods: Identifying Songs from Scratch
Using Lyrics or Part of the Song Title
If you can recall even a few lyrics or part of the song title, you can use search engines to find the full song. Here's how:
- Open your preferred search engine (e.g., Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo).
- Type in the lyrics or partial song title you remember, encasing them in quotation marks (e.g., "lyrics I can't remember").
- Browse through the results, and you might find the full song title or the lyrics website that can help you identify the song.
Checking Movie or TV Show Soundtracks
If you're watching a movie or TV show, the soundtrack might be listed online. Here's how to check:
- Find the movie or TV show's official website, IMDb page, or a dedicated fansite.
- Look for a section dedicated to the soundtrack, which might list all the songs played in the movie or show.
- If the soundtrack is not listed, try searching for "movie/TV show name soundtrack" to find unofficial lists created by fans.
Automated Methods: Using Audio Recognition Services
Using Shazam or Other Audio Recognition Apps
Shazam and other audio recognition apps make it easy to identify songs playing around you. Here's how to use them:
- Download and install the app on your smartphone or use the web version.
- Open the app and tap the logo to start listening. The app will try to match the audio with its database.
- Once identified, the song's title, artist, and album will be displayed. You can also save the result to your device or share it.
Using Google's "What's This Song?" Feature
Google has a built-in feature that allows you to identify songs using your smartphone's microphone. Here's how:
- Open the Google app on your smartphone.
- Tap on the microphone icon and say, "What's this song?" or "What song is playing?"
- Google will listen to the audio and display the song's title, artist, and album once identified.
Identifying Songs from Videos
If you're trying to identify a song from a video, you can use the following methods:
Using YouTube's "Identify Song" Feature
YouTube has a feature that allows you to identify songs playing in a video. Here's how:
- Open YouTube and play the video containing the song you want to identify.
- Right-click on the video and select "Show video actions" or "Open video info."
- Click on "More" and then "Identify song." YouTube will use Shazam to identify the song and display the result.
Using Video Identification Websites
There are websites dedicated to identifying songs from videos. One such website is Midomi. Here's how to use it:
- Open the Midomi website and click on "Identify Music."
- Click on "Record" to start recording the audio from the video. Alternatively, you can upload an audio file.
- Once the recording is complete, Midomi will try to identify the song and display the result.
In today's entertainment landscape, it's easy to come across captivating music that you want to add to your playlist. With the methods outlined above, you can quickly identify songs playing on your screen, whether it's from a movie, TV show, or a video online. So the next time you ask, "What song is playing on my screen?" you'll know exactly how to find the answer.
