Can I Use The Lyrics What Is Love In My Video?

As someone who edits videos for a small hobby channel, I treat songs like 'What Is Love' as off-limits unless I’ve cleared them. The safest path is getting a sync license from the song publisher and a master license from the record label if you want the original vocal track. If you only want the words on-screen or a short quote, that still usually requires permission — song lyrics are protected and sites that host lyrics actually license them through companies like LyricFind.

If budget’s tight, alternatives I use are: licensed music libraries that cover sync for video, commissioning an original jingle that evokes the mood, or asking permission directly (sometimes indie publishers say yes for a small fee). You can also test on platforms privately to see claims, but don’t rely on that as legal clearance. If it’s for commercial use or a big audience, consider talking to a music rights pro so you don’t get a takedown or strike later.

I get why you'd want to drop the lyrics from 'What Is Love' into a video — it’s iconic and can really boost the vibe. From my experience making short films and goofy edits for friends, though, the short version is: you probably need permission. Lyrics are usually owned by a publisher, and the recording itself is owned by a label. That means two separate rights matter: the composition (the words and melody) and the master recording. If you use the original track and its lyrics, you generally need a sync license from the publisher and a master use license from the label.

I once had a clip flagged on a big platform even though I only used a ten-second chorus. Platforms use automated systems like Content ID that will detect songs and either mute the audio, monetize my video for the rights holder, or block it in some countries. Using a cover doesn't magically avoid the sync license — covers still need a license to sync to video, and displaying sung lyrics on-screen often requires print/display rights too. If you just want the mood, consider licensing a cover or an instrumental through services like 'Epidemic Sound', 'Artlist', or getting a custom track from an independent musician. Another route is checking whether the song is in the public domain (not 'What Is Love') or available under a license that allows sync.

If you want to do it properly, identify the publisher (ASCAP/BMI/PRS databases help), ask for a sync license, and if using the original, get the master license from the label. Costs vary wildly — from free for tiny creators (if a rights holder allows it) to expensive for commercial use. I usually either use licensed libraries or commission a short original to avoid headaches, but if you really want that exact lyric, start the licensing convo early and be prepared for delays.

I'm a huge music nerd who edits reaction videos on the weekends, so I’ve learned the messy middle ground here: quoting a line from 'What Is Love' could be okay in tiny doses under something like fair use, but that's risky and depends heavily on context. Fair use depends on purpose (criticism, commentary, parody), how much you use, the nature of the work, and whether your clip harms the market. If you’re making a review or a parody, you have a stronger argument, but it’s not a guarantee — every platform and court looks at the whole situation.

Practically speaking, platforms like YouTube make it simple to check: upload privately, see if Content ID flags it, and then decide. But that doesn’t give you legal clearance — it just shows how the platform treats it. For peace of mind, I either clear the rights (contact the publisher or use licensing services) or swap in a licensed track. Displaying the lyrics on-screen? That’s another license (print/display rights). If you want a cheaper option, try to find a licensed cover or work with a musician to record a unique take — costs are lower than full publisher/label deals and you avoid the master rights problem. Bottom line: using the lyric can be done, but plan for licenses or a fallback track so your upload and monetization don’t get torpedoed.