By Matt Zajechowski
Music has an incredible power to unite people, transcending language barriers. Whether moving along to the beat or belting out the chorus, there are countless ways to enjoy a song without knowing all the lyrics.
Fortunately, you don’t have to wonder about the lyrics for long in today’s digital age. You can find the lyrics to any song you want with a few simple clicks.
This allows anyone to master words from popular hits, foreign tunes, and even fast rap lyrics. But what lyrics are people most curious about? We researched this question to discover the songs Americans are trying to learn in each U.S. state.
- “Hallelujah,” “Blinded by the Light,” and “Unholy” are the most unusually popular searches for lyrics across the nation.
- “Unholy” lyrics and “Anti-hero” lyrics are the most commonly searched terms for song lyrics of songs released between 2021 and 2023.
- Olivia Rodrigo has the most songs that Americans are trying to learn of songs released between 2021 and 2023.
At the top of the list of songs that Americans are eager to learn is “Hallelujah,” a timeless masterpiece initially released in 1984 by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen. Over the years, this song has been covered by an array of talented artists, cementing its place in the hearts of many generations.
Following closely behind in the rankings is “Blinded by the Light,” originally performed by the British rock band Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in 1976. This catchy tune continues to draw in audiences with its electrifying energy.
The top state-specific searches revealed a fascinating correlation between the songs Americans are trying to learn and the characteristics of each state. In Alabama, it’s not surprising to find out that the top search revolves around their beloved song, “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Similarly, New York’s residents show their pride with the top search “Empire State of Mind,” a look into their deep connection to the state. Meanwhile, states with significant Hispanic populations, such as Arizona, Florida, and Texas, most commonly looked up the lyrics to Latin artist Bad Bunny’s hit song “Titi Me Pregunto.”
The recent songs each state wants to learn
To get a better picture of which new songs Americans are trying to learn, we analyzed lyric searches from 2021 to 2023 for all genres.
The most sought-after song lyric in 18 states was “Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. The 2022 collaboration by the British and German artists secured the top spot on our list and spent some time as number one on the music charts.
Taking the second spot is “Anti-hero” by Taylor Swift, an upbeat track featured in her tenth studio album, Midnights. Given Swift’s record of embedding clues to future songs and albums in her lyrics, it’s unsurprising that one of her songs attracted significant attention and analysis from
