diff --git a/public/mediaDBControls.js b/public/mediaDBControls.js
index 18579e0..884e27e 100644
--- a/public/mediaDBControls.js
+++ b/public/mediaDBControls.js
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ function showSearch() {
     searchBox.innerHTML = searchTerm + "_";
 }
 
-
 document.querySelector("#mediaDB").addEventListener("scroll", function() {
     localStorage.scrollPosition = this.scrollTop;
 });
@@ -185,12 +184,10 @@ function restoreScroll() {
 adjustMediaDBHeight();
 restoreScroll();
 
-
 if (document.querySelector('#mediaDB').getAttribute("size") == 0) {
     var event = document.createEvent("HTMLEvents");
     event.initEvent("click", true, true);
     document.querySelector('#updateDB').dispatchEvent(event);
 }
 
-addPlayerFunctions();
-
+addPlayerFunctions();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/player.js b/public/player.js
index 404283d..60e2d56 100644
--- a/public/player.js
+++ b/public/player.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ function addPlayerFunctions() {
     document.querySelector('#mediaDB').addEventListener("change", function(event) {
         var album = event.target.value;
         if (album != "") {
-            var artist = event.target.options[event.target.selectedIndex].parentNode.label;
+            artist = event.target.options[event.target.selectedIndex].parentNode.label;
             var http = new XMLHttpRequest();
             
             http.onreadystatechange = function() {
diff --git a/server.rb b/server.rb
index a559aaf..75b59e9 100644
--- a/server.rb
+++ b/server.rb
@@ -161,16 +161,29 @@ def emptyMediaDB?
 end
 
 get '/lyrics' do
-    apiSearch = XmlSimple.xml_in(HTTP.get("http://api.chartlyrics.com/apiv1.asmx/SearchLyric?artist=#{params[:artist]}%20jackson&song=#{params[:track]}").to_s)
-    lyricId = apiSearch["SearchLyricResult"][0]["LyricId"][0]
-    checksum = apiSearch["SearchLyricResult"][0]["LyricChecksum"][0]
     i=0
-    sleep 5     # the the api enforces timeouts
+    begin
+        apiSearch = XmlSimple.xml_in(HTTP.get(URI.encode("http://api.chartlyrics.com/apiv1.asmx/SearchLyric?artist=#{params[:artist]}&song=#{params[:track]}")).to_s)
+    rescue IOError => ioe
+        sleep 10    # give the api more time
+        i++
+        until i == 2
+            retry
+        end
+    end
+    begin
+        lyricId = apiSearch["SearchLyricResult"][0]["LyricId"][0]
+        checksum = apiSearch["SearchLyricResult"][0]["LyricChecksum"][0]
+    rescue NoMethodError => nme
+        return "no lyrics found"
+    end
+    i=0
+    sleep 5     # the api enforces timeouts
     begin
         lyrics = XmlSimple.xml_in(HTTP.get("http://api.chartlyrics.com/apiv1.asmx/GetLyric?lyricId=#{lyricId}&lyricCheckSum=#{checksum}").to_s)
         return lyrics["Lyric"][0]
     rescue IOError => ioe
-        sleep 15    # give the api more time
+        sleep 15
         i++
         until i == 3
             retry