How to make a personalized song gift with AI

Step 1: Collect three real details

Write down things only people who know Anna would recognise: road trips in her yellow car, terrible karaoke nights, her dog Pepper. Three details are enough; ten details make a cluttered song.

Step 2: Choose a style she likes

Anna listens to acoustic pop, so that's the style, with an upbeat mood and a chorus the whole party can sing.

Step 3: Write the prompt

"A warm acoustic pop song for my sister Anna's 30th birthday. She loves road trips in her yellow car, terrible karaoke nights and her dog Pepper. Upbeat, with an easy sing-along chorus that says her name."

Step 4: Generate and check

• Is the name sung clearly? If not, spell it phonetically and regenerate.
• Do the details appear? If one is missing, make it more prominent in the prompt.
• Is anything too private for a party? Remove it.

Step 5: Deliver it

Download the song and play it at the party, add it to a photo slideshow, or send it at midnight on the day. You can also write the lyrics yourself in lyrics mode for full control.

Prompt templates

• Anniversary: "A slow soul song for our 10th anniversary: our rainy first date, the yellow kitchen, Sunday pancakes."
• Mother's Day: "A gentle folk song for Mom: her garden, the songs she sang in the car, 'call me when you land'."
• Thank-you: "An upbeat country song thanking Coach Rivera for three seasons, early practices and the championship run."

Common mistakes

• Listing ten details instead of three strong ones.
• Picking a style you like instead of one they like.
• Not checking how the name is pronounced before sending.
• Including private details that would be awkward if played at a party.

How to present it

• Play it as a surprise at the party, before the cake.
• Add it to a photo slideshow of the year.
• Send it at midnight with a short message.
• Share the lyrics as a card alongside the song.