| Don't Forget the Lyrics! | |
| Creator: | Jeff Apploff |
| Origin: | Don't Forget the Lyrics! (United States) |
| Owner: | Banijay Entertainment[1] |
| Years: | 2007–present |
Don't Forget the Lyrics! is an international music game show. The original American show aired on Fox from July 11, 2007, to June 19, 2009, and after a year off the air, a third overall season, and first as a syndicated show, began on June 15, 2010, in daytime syndication and in primetime on VH1 and in primetime on MyNetworkTV on October 5, 2010. On March 24, 2011, the show was canceled. A new primetime version, hosted by Niecy Nash, debuted on FOX on May 23, 2022. The show has spun off to numerous countries outside America using different top prize or game format.
The primary difference between Don't Forget the Lyrics! and other music-based game shows is that artistic talent (such as the ability to sing or dance in an aesthetically pleasing way) is irrelevant to the contestants' chances of winning. In the words of one of their commercials prior to the first airing, "You don't have to sing it well; you just have to sing it right".
Each game is played by a single contestant who earns money incrementally based on a payout ladder by completing missing song lyrics on up to ten songs, testing the contestant's memory on songs. The following description of the show is based primarily on the U.S. version of Don't Forget the Lyrics!, though the general format applies to all international versions.
The contestant is presented and chooses from a set of nine different genres. Two different songs (some versions presented three) were then presented to the contestant to choose one to sing, then the host inform on how many missing words the contestant must provide. The band or an ensemble will play the music and sings along, karaoke-style until the music stops, in which the monitor will display blank lines. In some versions such as Taiwan version, an alert marker will inform the contestant on the upcoming line. The contestant then fills in the missing lyrics (indicated in), and chose whether to risk their accumulated winnings by locking-in the lyrics (indicated in). To advance to the next level, all the lyrics must be correct (indicated in) without singing any incorrect words (indicated in), otherwise the game ends and the contestant leaves with the last guaranteed amount or nothing depending on the level they lost. Before locking the lyrics, the contestant can end the game and leave with the current accumulated winnings won up to the point.
The contestant is also presented with three "Backups" that help the contestant but may only be used once throughout a game:
The contestant has no choice over the tenth and final song (usually with the generic genre mentioning the top prize amount, such as the "Million Dollar Song"), which is not revealed unless they risk their winnings and play on. In most versions, any unused backups before the final song are rendered unavailable to use. If the contestant completes the final lyric correctly, he or she wins the grand prize that varies from country to country.
In some versions, notably the Taiwanese version, the contestant is required to sing the lyrics correctly even during the sing-along, but missing too many lyrics while the music plays may prompt the player to stop singing and is given the option to either end the game or try again, or prematurely ending the game with the same penalty as incorrect lyrics given.
Currently airing franchise
| Country | Name | Host | Channel | Premiere | Top prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria | اسمع صوتك Essma3 Saoutek | Brahim Ghazali | Samira TV Zahra TV | January 20, 2020 (season 1) March 24, 2023 (season 2) | DA 1,000,000 | |
 Austria | Sing & Win | Rainhard Fendrich | ATV | March 6, 2008 | €50,000 | |
| [2] | Помниш ли текста? Pomnish li teksta? | bTV | 2024 | |||
 Canada | Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Mitchel Musso | MuchMore | |||
| On connaît la chanson! | Mario Tessier | TVA | September 25, 2011 | Can$ 200,000 | ||
 Chile | ¡No te olvides de la canción! | Rafael Araneda | Chilevisión | August 6, 2012 – December 21, 2012 | Ch$20,000,000 | |
 Croatia | Ne zaboravi stihove! | Igor Mešin | Nova TV | March 17, 2008 | kn 500,000 | |
 Denmark | Så det synger | Michael Carøe | TV2 | March 22, 2008 | DKr 500,000 | |
 Egypt | فاكر ولا لأ؟ Faker wella la? | Amir Karara | ERT 2 NTN | 2009 | LE 250,000 | |
 France | N'oubliez pas les paroles! | Nagui | France 2 | December 15, 2007 – present | €∞ | |
 Greece | Δεν εχω λογια! Den echo logia | [3] | Giorgos Kapoutzidis | Mega Channel | 2015–2016 | €10,000 |
 India | Bol Baby Bol | Adnan Sami | Life OK | November 9, 2007 – April 11, 2008 | Rs. 2,500,000/- | |
 Indonesia | Missing Lyrics | Irgi Achmad Fahrezi | Trans TV | 2008–2010 | Rp. 100,000,000 | |
| شعر یادت نره Sher yadet nare | Omid Khalili Tajrishi | Manoto 1 | September 14, 2012 | US$10,000 | ||
 Italy | Canta e Vinci | Amadeus and Checco Zalone | Italia 1 | 2007–2008 | €250,000 | |
| Don't Forget the Lyrics! - Stai sul pezzo | Gabriele Corsi | NOVE | February 7, 2022 – present | €5,000 | ||
 Malaysia | Jangan Lupa Lirik! | Astro Ria | May 25, 2008 – 2011 | RM 1,000,000 | ||
 Mexico | ¿Te la sabes? Cántala | Chuck Pereda | Azteca 7 | October 10, 2007 | Mex$500,000 | |
 Montenegro | Prave riječi | Nikola Đuričko | TV Vijesti | 2012 | €5,000 | |
 Myanmar | Don't Forget the Lyrics Myanmar | Kaung Htet Zaw | MRTV-4 | March 2, 2024 – present | Ks200,000 | |
 New Zealand | Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Television New Zealand | ||||
 Nigeria | Don't Forget the Lyrics (Nigeria) | Kamal Salau | All Major stations (Nigeria) | 2008 | ₦20,000,000 | |
 Norway | Kan du teksten? | Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam | TV2 | 2008–2009 | NKr 500,000 | |
 Poland | Tak to leciało! | Maciej Miecznikowski | TVP2 | March 9, 2008 – June 3, 2012 | zł 150,000 (series 1–8) zł 100,000 (series 9) | |
| Sławomir Zapała[4] | September 4, 2022 – present | zł 100,000 | ||||
 Portugal | Não te Esqueças da Letra! | João Paulo Rodrigues | RTP1 | March 13, 2021 | €10,000 | |
| Из песни слов не выкинешь Iz pesni slov ne vykinesh | Vyacheslav Manucharov | NTV | August 31, 2013 | Main prize: Flat in Moscow | ||
 Singapore | Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Gurmit Singh Adrian Pang (Comic Mayham episode) | MediaCorp Channel 5 | November 27, 2008 | S$500,000 | |
| 我要唱下去 | Zeng Guo Cheng | MediaCorp Channel 8 | August 25, 2009 | |||
| 我要唱下去 (名人版) | Mark Lee | June 1, 2010 | S$50,000 | |||
 Slovakia | LYRICS - Vyspievaj si milión! | Andrej Bičan | TV JOJ | February 22, 2008 | Sk 1,000,000 | |
 Spain | ¡No te olvides de la canción! | Àngel Llàcer | La Sexta | September 26, 2008 | €100,000 | |
| Chinese: 百萬大歌星 Million Singer | Harlem Yu | TTV | May 10, 2008 – August 11, 2012 | NT$300,000 | ||
 Tunisia | لسه فاكر Lessa faker | Sami Fehri | El Hiwar El Tounsi | September 22, 2015 | DT 20,000 | |
| Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Shane Richie | Sky1 | May 11, 2008 – August 9, 2009 | £250,000 | ||
 United States | Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Wayne Brady | July 11, 2007 – June 19, 2009 | US$1,000,000 | ||
| Niecy Nash | May 23, 2022 – present | |||||
| Mark McGrath | June 15, 2010 – May 27, 2011 | US$50,000 | ||||
| Trò chơi âm nhạc – Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Nguyên Khang Quốc Minh | VTV3 | November 7, 2012 – December 30, 2015 | 100.000.000VND |
The Australian version was rumoured to be airing on Network Ten in late 2008, with a jackpot of $A 500,000, after strong ratings to the US version over the summer non-ratings period. However, there has never been any confirmation and no production has begun. This may be due to lower ratings for episodes of the US version airing during the ratings period.
The Austrian version premiered on March 6, 2008, and aired on ATV titled Sing & Win. It is hosted by Rainhard Fendrich. The jackpot for this version is €50,000. So far, only one person managed to win the jackpot: the female singer Alexandra Poetzelsberger.
The Croatian version premiered on March 17, 2008, and aired on Nova TV titled Ne zaboravi stihove!. It is hosted by Igor Mešin. The jackpot for this version is kn 500.000.
The Danish version premiered 22 March 2008 (Easter Saturday) and aired on TV 2 Denmark titled Så det synger (So it sings). It is hosted by Michael Carøe. The jackpot for this version is DKr 500.000.
See main article: N'oubliez pas les paroles!. The French version premiered in December 2007 and aired on France 2, titled N'oubliez pas les paroles!. It is hosted by Nagui. The jackpot for this version is €100,000.
Since April 7, 2014, a new version is aired and the jackpot is now €20,000.In the new version, there are 2 contestants and, at the end, only one (the finalist) can try to win at most €20,000, the other is eliminated. The finalist of the previous episode comes back in the next episode and tries to reach the final. When they lose, they keep all the money previously won.
In February 2020, Margaux E. became the candidate that won the biggest amount of money (€530,000). In March 2023, Louis won the biggest number of episodes (65).
A special episode, 100% Tubes, aired on 11 June 2016 featuring four pairs of celebrities playing for up to €150,000 to be split among their chosen charities. In the final round, Gérard Holtz (sports journalist for France 2) and Amir (French representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016) worked together to win €90,000 for the four charities.
The Greek version premiered in November 2015 and is airing on Mega Channel, titled Den Eho Logia (I Have No Words). It is hosted by Greek actor and scriptwriter, Giorgos Kapoutzidis. The jackpot for this version is €10,000.
The Indian version premiered on November 9, 2007, and aired on STAR One titled Bol Baby Bol. It is hosted by Adnan Sami The jackpot for this version is Rs. 2,500,000/-. They have had one winner of the grand prize so far.
An Indonesian version, titled Missing Lyrics, airs on Trans TV. The top prize for this version is Rp. 100,000,000 (about US$10,000).
The Iranian version of Don't Forget the Lyrics called "Sher yadet nare" premiered on September 14, 2012, and aired on Manoto 1. Hosted by Omid Khalili Tajrishi. فارسى The jackpot for this version is US$10,000.
See main article: Canta e Vinci. The Italian version aired for a pilot in December 2007 on Italia 1 titled Canta e Vinci, then it had a season split between Spring and Summer. It is hosted by Amadeus & Checco Zalone. The jackpot for this version is €250,000.
The game show has come back on the air from 7 February 2022, on Nove presented by Gabriele Corsi, aired from Monday to Friday in access prime time with the title Don't Forget the Lyrics! - Stai sul pezzo.
The Malaysian version premiered on May 25, 2008, and aired on Astro Ria titled Jangan Lupa Lirik!. It is hosted by Aznil Nawawi The jackpot for this version is RM 1,000,000.[5]
The Mexican version was aired on TV Azteca and it is called ¿Te la sabes? Cántala.
The Norwegian version is hosted by Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam from the Norwegian hip hop/rap band Madcon. It is aired on TV 2 (Norway).
See main article: Tak to leciało!.
The Polish version’s first edition premiered on March 9, 2008 on TVP2, and run for four years to May 2012. It was hosted by Maciej Miecznikowski. The top prize was zł 150,000 (100,000 in the last series). The show returned in September 2022 with new host, Sławomir Zapała (along with Magdalena Kajrowicz-Zapała as hostess). The top prize remained at a decreased level of zł 100,000.
See main article: Don't Forget the Lyrics! (Singaporean game show). The Singapore version, hosted by Singapore Idol host Gurmit Singh, premiered on 27 November 2008 on MediaCorp Channel 5. It airs every Thursday night at 8.00pm. Contestants will sing their way to the top prize of S$500,000 (S$50,000 for the second Chinese version).
Two Mandarin version of Don't Forget the Lyrics were aired, both airing on 8pm every Tuesdays. The first version premiered on 25 August 2009 was hosted by Taiwanese host Sam Tseng, and the series produced 14 episodes, four of which were celebrity episodes. The second version which featured entirely celebrities premiered on 1 June 2010, and was hosted by Singaporean comedian Mark Lee.
The Slovak version premiered on February 22, 2008, and aired on TV JOJ titled LYRICS - Vyspievaj si milión!. It is hosted by Andrej Bičan. The jackpot for this version is now €100,000 because Slovakia is joining the Eurozone, which results in the 1,000,000 crown prize being dropped.
The Spanish version premiered in September 2008 with the name "No te olvides de la canción" (Don't forget the song).[6] It is aired at La Sexta and hosted by Operación Triunfo academy's former director Àngel Llàcer. The jackpot prize is €100,000.
The Taiwan version is called "Chinese: [[:zh:百萬大歌星|百萬大歌星]]" (Million Singer), hosted by Harlem Yu. This program is aired in Taiwan Television Enterprise, Ltd. (TTV) and TVBS Asia. The top prize is NT$300,000. The Taiwan version premiered on 10 May 2008 and ended on 11 August 2012. Unlike other versions, there is an alert system to indicate on the next line, and using a no-guarantee progression level (the contestant may not leave the game at any point, and the contestant loses half of the winnings won up to the point for any incorrect lyrics).
See main article: Don't Forget the Lyrics! (UK).
The UK version premiered on May 11, 2008, and aired on Sky One titled Don't Forget the Lyrics!. It is hosted by Shane Richie. The jackpot for this version is £250,000.
See main article: Don't Forget the Lyrics! (American game show). There have been three U.S. versions of Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Unlike some countries, the Vietnamese version of Don't Forget the Lyrics (Vietnamese: Đừng quên lời bài hát) served as the third version of VTV3's music gameshow Trò chơi Âm nhạc (lit. Music Game),[7] after The Lyrics Board, which was the second version of this music gameshow. This version premiered on November 7, 2012 and aired on VTV3. It is hosted by Nguyên Khang. The jackpot for this version is 100.000.000VND.