There goes your excuse for mumbling lyrics while singing along on Spotify. The streaming music service is taking a break from updating its mobile app to tout a new desktop feature that gives users access to the massive lyrics catalog of Musixmatch. In the coming weeks a simple “lyrics” button will begin to appear near the play bar — click it and you’ll get a mini lyric video on the screen.
In addition to reading lyrics while listening to a particular song, users will also be able to search and browse popular lyrics from top songs using the Explore feature. Spotify’s director of product, Dave Price, calls the integration of lyrics a “sought-after feature” for its desktop app users. Spotify features a song called “Polka Dots” by British garage rock duo Bite the Buffalo in a web ad for the Musixmatch update. On screen the lyrics appear in twos, with current lyrics in the center and the following ones below, much like a karaoke machine would.
Spotify’s latest update to its desktop app also includes a new Friend Feed for discovering what playlists, songs and artists your pals are listening to. There’s also been an update to the daily viral charts that incorporates regional data.