Don't Forget the Lyrics!

Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Created by	Jeff Apploff
Original work	Don't Forget the Lyrics! (United States)
Owner	Banijay Entertainment
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".

Gameplay

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 American 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 yellow text), and chose whether to risk their accumulated winnings by locking-in the lyrics (indicated in blue text). To advance to the next level, all the lyrics must be correct (indicated in green text) without singing any incorrect words (indicated in red text), 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:

Backup Singer: The contestant receive assistance from one of two support members (or depending on version or game, an audience member or a team member) to help the contestant. The contestant may opt to choose their own lyrics or by going with their backup singer's lyrics if it is different.
Two Words: The contestant chooses any two of the missing words to complete the lyrics. In the Taiwanese version, Two Words backup provide only one missing word and is chosen at random.
Three Lines: The contestant is given a set of three lines, among which one line is correct; any common words that shares within the three lines are automatically highlighted green.

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.

International versions

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
Bulgaria^[2]	Помниш ли текста? Pomnish li teksta?	Kerana	bTV	November 5, 2024 – present	50,000лв
Canada	Don't Forget the Lyrics!	Mitchel Musso	MuchMore
Canada	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	€ 100,000 (2007–2013, 2014) € 20,000 (2013–)
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
Iran	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
Italy	Don't Forget the Lyrics! - Stai sul pezzo	Gabriele Corsi	NOVE	February 7, 2022 – present	€5,000 (series 1–5) €10,000 (series 6–)
Malaysia	Jangan Lupa Lirik!	Aznil Nawawi	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 and Magdalena "Kajra" Kajrowicz (2022–2024)^[4]		September 4, 2022 – present	zł 100,000
		Kacper Kuszewski (2024–present)		September 4, 2022 – present	zł 100,000
Portugal	Não te Esqueças da Letra!	João Paulo Rodrigues	RTP1	March 13, 2021	€10,000
Russia	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	S$500,000
	我要唱下去 (名人版)	Mark Lee	MediaCorp Channel 8	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
Taiwan	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
United Kingdom	Don't Forget the Lyrics!	Shane Richie	Sky1	May 11, 2008 – August 9, 2009	£250,000
United States (original format)	Don't Forget the Lyrics!	Wayne Brady	FOX	July 11, 2007 – June 19, 2009	US$1,000,000
		Niecy Nash	FOX	May 23, 2022 – present	US$1,000,000
		Mark McGrath	Syndication	June 15, 2010 – May 27, 2011	US$50,000
Vietnam	Trò chơi âm nhạc – Don't Forget the Lyrics!	Nguyên Khang Quốc Minh	VTV3	November 7, 2012 – December 30, 2015	100.000.000VND

Australia

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.

Austria

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.

Croatia

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.

Denmark

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.

France

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.

Greece

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.

India

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.

Indonesia

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).

Iran

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.

Italy

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.

Malaysia

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]

Mexico

The Mexican version was aired on TV Azteca and it is called ¿Te la sabes? Cántala.

Norway

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).

Poland

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. Currently since 2024 is hosted by actor and Singer Kacper Kuszewski.

Singapore

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 (Chinese: 我要唱下去) were aired, both airing on 8pm every Tuesdays. The first version premiered on 25 August 2009 was hosted by Taiwanese host Sam Tseng (Chinese: 曾國城), 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.

Slovakia

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.

Spain

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.

Taiwan

The Taiwan version is called "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).

United Kingdom

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.

United States

There have been three American versions of Don't Forget the Lyrics!

The original ran from July 11, 2007, to June 19, 2009, airing on Fox. It was hosted by Wayne Brady with a $1,000,000 jackpot.
The second version premiered in September 2010 as a daily syndicated game show from 20th Television, and was hosted by Mark McGrath with a $50,000 jackpot.
The revival version premiered on May 23, 2022, on Fox. It is hosted by Niecy Nash with a $1,000,000 jackpot.

Vietnam

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.

References

^ "Programmes". Banijay.
^ https://webcafe.bg/mediacafe/chetiri-novi-rialitita-debyutirat-po-btv.html
^ Δεν εχω λογια. Archived from the original on 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
^ "Sławomir poprowadzi reaktywowany program "Tak to leciało!", emisja jesienią w TVP2". www.wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-23.
^ "mSTAR Online - mstar.com.my". Archived from the original on April 18, 2009.
^ "'No te olvides de la canción' llega a laSexta el próximo viernes 26 de septiembre".
^ "Phiên bản mới của Trò chơi Âm nhạc sắp lên sóng". VTV Online. November 1, 2012.

[1] "Programmes". Banijay.

[2] ttps://webcafe.bg/mediacafe/chetiri-novi-rialitita-debyutirat-po-btv.html

[3] Δεν εχω λογια. Archived from the original on 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2015-10-02.

[4] "Sławomir poprowadzi reaktywowany program "Tak to leciało!", emisja jesienią w TVP2". www.wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-23.

[5] "mSTAR Online - mstar.com.my". Archived from the original on April 18, 2009.

[6] "'No te olvides de la canción' llega a laSexta el próximo viernes 26 de septiembre".

[7] "Phiên bản mới của Trò chơi Âm nhạc sắp lên sóng". VTV Online. November 1, 2012.

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