Genius — Song Lyrics & More

Free!

Genius is a searchable database of songs, song lyrics, and musicians. From the app’s main screen, users can scroll a list of popular songs and tap them to access their lyrics. Users can also enter a song, lyric, or musician into the search field at the top of the screen, and they will see a list of matching songs, which they can tap to access the song’s lyrics. When viewing lyrics, users can tap the highlighted words, and the app will provide an interpretation of the lyrics. The interpretation offers an explanation of the lyrics’ meaning, and an image or video that links back to the interpretation is often included. Users can share the lyrics and interpretations over social media or with other apps by tapping the “Upload” button on the top right of the screen.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can assign students a line or lyric to analyze. To do so, teachers can have students first read the line or lyric in context of the entire text or song. Next, teachers can have students write out their interpretation of the line or lyric. These interpretations can be shared with a partner or the whole class. Finally, teachers can have students enter the line or lyric into this app to investigate whether their interpretation was aligned or not aligned to the app’s interpretation.
2. Teachers can present students with a specific interpretation of a line or lyric using this app. Teachers can then assign students to find sources that either confirm or argue against the app’s interpretation of the line or lyric.
3. If teachers find a text or song that is not indexed in this app, they can have their students research specific lines or lyrics from the text to form their own interpretation(s). Next, teachers can parlay those interpretations into a class discussion by asking questions such as: (1) What do you think this line/lyric means? (2) What evidence do you have to support that interpretation? (3) Are there any other possible interpretations?
4. Teachers can transition students from using this app to interpret songs to poetry. To do so, teachers can let students explore this app for lyrics and read the interpretations provided. Next, teachers can present students with a poem. In response, students will have to highlight the poem’s lines and write an interpretation of the lines by making a note, either in the margin or by adding a comment. Teachers can then have students share their interpretation with a partner, and the partners can developed an interpretation they both support. When ready, teachers can call on pairs to share their interpretation with the class.

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