Most of us have encountered it - perhaps during a walk, or driving to work - when a tune gets stuck in our head. Call it an earworm or a case of last song syndrome, you hum and sing along to your new fancy. However, there seems to be one problem, you can't stream it on Spotify or YouTube because you don't know what song is this.
Thankfully, technology has found a way to remove that persistent phantom tune you just can't place. So you'd never wonder "What song is this?" ever again, here four music recognition apps you need to have today.
Shazam
Although it was developed by Apple, this is also available for Android and Windows devices, in addition to iOS. In fact, this is the app that Siri taps when you ask her "What song is this?" It has a wide music database that will help you identify the song that you're looking for.
Aside from its near real-time song ID capabilities, Shazam also works offline. It keeps all your previous queries for a quick response the next time you ask what song is this you're hearing.
Musixmatch
Musixmatch is your one-stop-shop music app. It is actually a music player, but with song identification capabilities. Aside from the standard music player interface, it can help you identify the songs you hear around you.
In the app, available on all devices, play the song in question and press the hamburger menu icon and the "identify lyrics" option. It will then take a snippet of the song playing and, through its database, will tell you what song is this.
MusicID
The reception to this app from Gravity Mobile is mixed. However, it is mostly because it's not that intuitive and this is focused solely on music identification. For users who know what they want, and only to answer their "What song is this?" queries any time of the day, MusicID is perfect.
Also available for Android and iOS, MusicID also saves all your search history into your own profile. Aside from telling you what song you're currently playing, it also offers a variety of options. A list of suggested, similar songs and in some cases, an Amazon link for you to purchase the track.
Music Recognition
Another music identifier with a recognizable name, Beatfind's Music Recognition. It is popular across app markets because of its fast response and great accuracy. It also has a search history for your offline news. Aside from the title, it also displays the details about the song - the album it appeared in, the record label, and its genre.
It also has additional features to keep you updated. It also offers suggestions such as song from the same artist or related songs searched in relation to your song.
Bonus: Your Built-In Virtual Assistants
The virtual assistants that come with major phone operating systems can also help you identify what song is this you're hearing. For iOS, you can ask Siri; for Android, the Google Assistant is there; Window Users have Cortana to help them.
The method for asking your virtual assistant is essentially the same across all devices: open the assistant, press the microphone button, and ask "what song is this?" It will take a few seconds to sample the song and will return with an answer.
Complete your techie setups with these Two-Way Translators: Breakdown Communication Barriers. Or test your new music ID by playing songs from vintage radios on Get That Old-Timey Feel With These Vintage-Style Radios
