The consumption of music videos, especially on platforms such as YouTube, grows exponentially. One option you have when producing music content is creating a lyric video.

Even though they aren’t as commonly used as you may think, they can be great for your content marketing strategy. 

In this article, you will learn about the lyric video concept, see examples of how this type of content is used, and learn how to create them to apply them in your own productions. Check it out!

What are lyric videos?

A lyric video is basically audiovisual content in which a song plays in the background and the lyrics appear simultaneously on the screen.

It seems simple, but there’s a huge demand for this type of content. At the same time, lyric videos help give more visibility to various artist on online platforms.

This type of video isn’t new and goes backs to the early days of YouTube. The idea of being able to listen to a song we like and have simultaneous access to its lyrics in a dynamic manner has always seemed interesting and still pleases audiences.

Why do increasingly more bands invest in lyric videos?

If we went back a few decades, this term wouldn’t even make sense to many people.

At a time when most people only had the possibility of consuming content from network TV channels, certain channels dedicated to broadcasting video clips for practically their entire programming grid.

This meant that the only way to listen to music was by buying physical media (CDs, vinyl albums, etc.), on radio stations, or these specific programs.

However, with the advances in internet content consumption, and more specifically, on platforms such as YouTube, the democratization of dissemination created opportunities for independent artists with modest budgets to show their work.

Taking into account the wide range of unsponsored artists that have entered the market, it’s not surprising that lyric videos have become so prevalent.

This is because video clip production costs are exorbitant, with an endless list of details, such as the payment of the technical staff, location, transport to the location and many other factors.

Then, many bands had the initiative of releasing their songs with simple videos or even an elaborate animation, which made the song more dynamic.

Nowadays, many artists use lyric videos to release a preview of their work, i.e., before the official video clip.

And the opposite is also common. The band releases the clip with lyrics sometime later, in order to generate more content, reaching the audience that usually consumes these types of videos, thus staying longer in evidence.

Creating a lyric video

Several programs can help you create lyric videos. Many of them offer a truly amazing quality of features in the production of lyric videos, besides allowing other types of content editing.

Below, we have selected two programs on different platforms, so you can really use your creativity in your lyric video.

iMovie

iMovie is Apple’s video editor, which allows users, in addition to creating several video edits with a lot of quality, to turn a “boring” video into an amazing lyric video.

The editing tools provided by the program allow you to turn the content of a simple video into high-quality movie productions.

The program also allows video output in HD and 4K formats, also lending more quality to the content. It’s only compatible with iOS and MacOS systems, being free and native for devices using these systems.

Check out further details about the program at the Apple website.

Lyric.tv

For those who don’t use Apple equipment and operating systems, Lyric.tv is a great option.

The program has the best of the video editing world and gives an air of professionalism to productions. It’s the program of choice of international artists, due to its ease of use and the number of professional tools available.

With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, it is possible to customize the background, add colors and images to make the video even more attractive. Besides, it also features posting tools for video sharing platforms.

However, the software has prices starting at US$ 19 for monthly plans, and is compatible with Windows and MacOS.

To see details, go to the software’s official webpage.

8 examples of successful lyric videos

Certain lyric videos become a segment benchmark, due to the creativity employed in them.

Something that is also quite common is the use of lyric videos together with the production of video clips. Check out below, 8 examples of the successful use of this type of video.

1. Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake

With a minimalist proposal, Justin Timberlake brings a touch of elegance to the clip with words, describing his feelings in an everyday situation.

Watch the video below:

2. Ben Harper – Rock N’ Roll is Free

This upbeat song from Ben Harper shows the musician is clearly not afraid to experiment, and the video provides viewers with a feeling of immersion.

Check out the video below:

3. New Rules – Dua Lipa

There’s nothing better than neon signs and a memorable voice to make this clip, from British pop star Dua Lipa, extremely hypnotic and engaging.

Check it out:

4. Otis Redding – Hard To Handle

American soul legend Otis Redding originally released this song in 1968. It has since been covered by various artists from the most diverse genres. Check out the lyric version of this brilliant song:

5. Perfect – Ed Sheeran

Romance takes over this clip by British star, Ed Sheeran. The lyrics are displayed with drawings, which illustrate each action and feeling.

Watch the clip below:

6. Look what you made me do – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s lyrics in this song are more serious than usual. This lyric video represents the essence contained in the song’s lyrics.

You can check it out below:

7. Swish – Katy Perry

This hit by American artist Katy Perry, which included the participation of Brazilian meme legend Gretchen, presents a simpler form of lyrics. There’s nothing better than having subtitles to encourage us to sing the song while we watch the video.

Check it out:

8. Sorry – Justin Bieber

Last but not least, we have the Sorry lyric video by Canadian star Justin Bieber. This clip displays the lyrics everywhere, interacting with the environment.

Watch the clip below:

Lyric videos are only another type of content, capable of generating a lot of engagement with the audience. They don’t require major productions like professional videos. At the same time, they don’t require large investments in order to produce them.

Therefore, they are an alternative that content producers can check out. And thus, widen the range of options to create unique video content.

Did you enjoy this tip and would like to learn more about other production formats? Click here and learn about all types of video you can include in your video marketing strategy.