Lyric Video Production

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Everything You Need to Know About Lyric’s Video Production

If you’re searching for everything about lyric videos, including why to make them as an artist and where to go to have them produced, the information below is for you! Read on to find out everything you need to know about lyric video production!

Times Change and Musical Habits Change with Them

If you took a time machine back to the 1970s or the early 1980s, you’d find that most music fans heard their music on the radio. If they liked a song or a group, they would then go to the store, and (hopefully) mom or dad would buy the group’s vinyl record album for them. In the mid-1980s, of course, MTV made the scene, and, suddenly, we were all watching TV to get our music fix.

Fast forward 30 years, and the biggest platforms for music are YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo, all three of which are online. Indeed, we also stream and buy our music online these days, preferring to listen and watch as we sing along. That desire to sing along with the song using the correct words is the key. Music hits us right in the soul and, as we move, sway, and swoon to the beat, the desire to sing the lyrics is palpable. That, in a nutshell, is the reason why Lyric Videos have become so popular today.

What, Exactly, is a Lyric Video?

Way back in 1988 was when producers made the very first lyric video. It was Every Little Step by Bobby Brown and, while there was only one phrase in the video, it was an instant hit. Not only did it stand out among the music videos of the time, but it also generated so much buzz that Brown shot to fame almost overnight. Over the following years, lyric videos slowly but surely grew in popularity.

Today’s lyric videos are, typically, more about the lyrics on-screen and less about the performer being seen. What you see on screen is the words or lyrics to the song being played, making it easy to read them and sing along. There are many different methods of producing a lyric video, including:

  • Animating the lyrics like an animated music video
  • Overlaying the lyrics on a traditional, filmed music video.
  • Integrating the lyrics into the scenes of the video.
  • Motion-graphic videos with images, shapes, and creative typography of the lyrics.
  • 3D CGI lyric videos
  • Showing only the lyrics on-screen with a plain background, karaoke-style.

Of course, all of the lyrics in any of these lyric videos are synced to the music being played. That way, if someone wishes to sing along (or learn the lyrics), they can easily do so. What’s interesting is that, while some lyric videos appear plain, a lot of creativity and energy go into others. The lyrics dance, emote and flow on-screen in some of the most innovative ways, making these videos as visually appealing as their traditional counterparts.

One of the easiest ways to explain why you should be having lyric videos produced as a musician or lyricist is to look at Taylor Swift. Yes, Ms. Swift was a child prodigy, but she was primarily known in the country music industry. At the beginning of her career, however, she released several lyric videos, and her transformation into the pop superstar that she is today began in earnest.

By the way, that was back in 2007/2008. In 2021, Taylor is still releasing lyric videos. In February 2021, for example, she released Love Story (Taylor’s Version) to great fanfare. Today, less than two months later, it has over 22 million views on YouTube!

Lyric Videos Are A Great Tool to Build Your Musical Brand.

One of the best reasons to have lyric videos produced is to improve your name recognition among the public. Let’s face it; there are more artists out there trying to “make it” today than ever before. The more you can do to put your group, your songs, and yourself out there, the better.

Yes, music videos and animated music videos are still important. They serve their purpose and are well-liked by the music-loving public, and you should have those produced also. But lyric videos today are just as important and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Lyric Videos are Incredibly Popular Today

Lyric videos should definitely be part of your musical career plan because, frankly, they’re super-popular, especially among the vitally important tween and teen crowds. The fact is, many people today love reading and learning the lyrics to songs they love. If you give them those lyrics, you’ll enamor yourself and your songs to many more people. The more people know your song, the more people will share it, creating a snowball effect that shoots you and your music to the top of the charts.

Producing Lyric Videos Can Be very Cost-Effective

If you’re new in the music world and still trying to “break into” the industry, one thing is likely; you don’t have a lot of money. (That’s not a put-down or an insult, it’s just a fact.) Having an animated or traditional music video created might be far out of your budget, but a well-made lyric video probably won’t. Even if your budget is small, you can still have a lyric video produced and start gaining fans, likes and views.

The More Content You Have Online, The Better

Now, sure, an introductory lyric video might not have the visual pizzazz of an animated or traditional music video, but it’s still content. You can post it to YouTube, Facebook, or Vimeo, where people can begin to discover it, “like” it, share it, and tell friends and family how awesome it is, which is excellent!

The thing is, the more content you have for people to watch, enjoy and share, the better! So, again, while having traditional and animated music videos produced is a great idea, mix things up with a lyric video, and your results (and fame) will grow even faster.

As with any video, producing a lyric video has a relatively specific process that producers and artists should follow to create a successful end-product. Yes, it’s OK to “break the mold” and do something completely different (and many successful artists have done just that) but, again, following the process is a good place to start. That’s especially true if you’ve never had one of your songs produced into a lyric video.

Meeting With the Lyric Video Producer and Brainstorming Ideas

The first step in the lyric video production process is to sit down with the production company you’ve chosen and “brainstorm” ideas. Some would say this is the most essential part of the process, as many unique, trend-setting ideas come out of these sessions!

Creating the Space

As we mentioned earlier, some lyric videos simply overlay the lyrics of a song onto a traditional video. Of course, if you don’t have a conventional video, this will be impossible. If that’s the case, the first thing that needs to be done is to “create the space” for your lyric video. This is the world, so to speak, that your lyric video will inhabit.

If it’s a simple lyric video with a plain background, the space created will be unassuming and straightforward. However (and this is where the creative fun starts), your video’s space can be anything you like. It can be something as simple and beautiful as actual space itself, with stars, planets, and nebulas all around. You can also use stock images and videos to create your space, like ducklings playing in the rain or flowers blowing in the breeze. The sky is definitely the limit!

One thing to avoid in lyric videos, though, is to overlay the lyrics onto human faces. Because of how the human brain works, many people don’t enjoy this as it obscures the faces on screen.

How The Lyrics Enter, Act, and Depart the Video

In a basic lyric video like a karaoke video, the lyrics are timed to appear in concert with the song. In most, they light up when they need to be sung so that karaoke singers can keep up easily. However, there are many different ways for the lyrics to enter, act and depart the video, referred to as typography.

Typography determines the style of the letters, the font, and the way they act on the screen. For example, they can appear as smoke, forming the words to the song and then blowing away. (Which would look mind-blowingly cool!) The lyrics can be animated in practically any manner, which makes this one of the more creative aspects of lyric video production. Below are some of the best lyric videos of the last few years (and the number of views they have on YouTube):

  • Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake (27 million views.)
  • Firework – Katy Perry (Nearly 6 million views.)
  • Hey Brother – Avicii (7 million views.)
  • One Foot – FUN (Over 4 million views)
  • Really Don’t Care – Demi Lovato (%0 million views)
  • MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) (Lyrics) – Lil Nas X (49 million views.)
Special Effects

If you watch many music videos, movies, or TV shows, special effects are a big part of the game. The same can be said for lyric videos, where producers can use effects to make them “pop” and stand out from the crowd. Lyric video producers can do this with the actual letters of the lyrics but also with other aspects of the video.

However, one thing to always keep in mind is this; the lyrics need to be the main focus of a lyric video. Adding effects just for the sake of the impact they make can lead to disaster, including far fewer views and more “dislikes” of your video. Also, the more effects you desire, the more your lyric video will cost. In other words, use special effects with caution.

As we discussed earlier, lyric videos are usually far cheaper to produce than full-blown music videos and animated music videos. That being said, the overall cost depends on several factors:

  • The number of words in your song.
  • The number and type of visual effects desired.
  • The cost of stock photos and videos and how many are used in the lyric video.
  • The speed at which the video needs to be delivered. (Faster = more expensive.)
  • If it’s optimized for mobile viewing. (An excellent idea in today’s market!)
  • Optimization for social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Yes, you can have a lyric video made for under $500., but the average cost of a lyric video falls somewhere between $1000. and $4000., depending on all of the above factors. The more effects, visuals, and “cool stuff” you want to use in your lyric video, the more the price will increase.

Again, remember that the lyrics are the most critical part. If you want to save money and just have these all-important words on-screen with little else (save a good background), you can certainly have that done.

We hope you enjoyed this guide and that you now have a much better idea of how lyric videos are produced and why they’re such an essential part of any musician or band’s portfolio. We’re Latent Productions, Toronto’s premier video production company. We make top-quality lyric videos that attract, engage, and delight viewers, as well as introducing you and your music to the world.

Why use Latent Productions for your lyric video production? Below are a few excellent reasons, including:

  • Years of Experience in the Industry. We’ve been producing lyric videos for several years with excellent and popular results.
  • A Talented Crew of Artists and Animators. We’ve teamed up the top artists and animators to work with you.
  • Several budget-friendly options for creating your lyric video. If you imagine it, we can make it happen on video.
  • A team that genuinely listens to what you’re saying puts a high value on your ideas, opinions, and wants.

If you have questions, need help, or want to get started, please leave your name and contact info below. One of our friendly staffers will get back to you within 24 hours to get your lyric video off the ground!