Music and learning appear to be a match made in heaven. Studies show that music education in childhood can enable kids to better distinguish between word sounds. Simply listening to music while studying can help college students improve memory, enhance focus, and reduce stress. For non-native speakers of all ages, songs make a fun way to learn new vocabulary and practice pronunciation in a relaxed atmosphere.
And what better time to kick back and learn a new song than summer? With the help of a Preply article on the top songs Americans are trying to learn, we’ve uncovered the most searched lyrics in the country. Here we highlight the hottest recent song lyrics, from Beyonce’s “Cuff It” to Bad Bunny’s “Titi Me Pregunto.”
Top Songs of the Summer
While the most popular song lyrics depend a bit on where you live, some clear winners emerge. The song “Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras had the most searched lyrics in 18 states, from Alabama to Wisconsin. Next on the list was Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” which led the pack in eight states. Of other songs released from 2021 to 2023, Americans were also trying to learn the lyrics to the following:
- Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
- Harry Styles “As it Was”
- Burna Boy “Last Last”
- Bad Bunny “Titi Me Pregunto”
- Lizzo “About Damn Time”
While all these artists are having their moment in the sun, one shines brighter than all others: Olivia Rodrigo. Four of the singer’s songs made the list of top nationally searched song lyrics:
- Good 4 U
- Deja Vu
- Drivers License
- Traitor
In fact, more Americans are trying to learn the words to Olivia Rodrigo’s songs than those of any other artist in the last two years.
Learning Songs Helps Us Learn Language
While singalongs are no substitute for formal language lessons, they make a valuable addition to your learning repertoire. For starters, singing is great for absorbing the rhythm of a language. It helps us understand how words are linked together in connected speech. When we say the lyrics out loud, mimicking the speech of the singer, it can enhance pronunciation skills.
Singing is also a great way to practice making the same sounds over and over again. How else can we achieve the necessary repetition without getting bored? Finally, songs represent natural language at its best. Perhaps more than textbooks or audio designed specifically for language learners, songs show us how different people speak in the real world.
Want to Learn a Language Through Song? Do This!
When it comes to learning languages through music, some songs are more useful than others. Cambridge English highlights four important factors to consider when choosing the best song to learn a foreign language:
- It shouldn’t be too long. Around one to three verses seems to work best for younger learners, but you can adjust for age and comfort level.
- It shouldn’t be too fast. You want to be able to follow along without tripping over the words (at least after a little practice).
- It should use everyday English. You don’t want the lyrics to have too many new or difficult words, unless vocabulary improvement is your main goal.
- It should be clear. You’ll want to be able to easily hear and distinguish most of the words. For a little extra help, you can download the lyrics to read while you sing, or turn on closed captioning for videos.
While these are some general guidelines, the best song for you is whichever one motivates you to practice your new language!
Methodology: Preply analyzed more than 150 Google search terms related to song lyrics, both on the state level as well as national data. “Recent songs” included all songs released between 2021 to 2023.