diff --git a/irs/ripper.py b/irs/ripper.py
index 7603a41..8993190 100644
--- a/irs/ripper.py
+++ b/irs/ripper.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# _*_ coding:utf-8 _*_
+
 # System
 import sys
 import os
@@ -141,8 +143,8 @@ class Ripper:
             raise ValueError("Must specify song_title/artist in `args` with \
 init, or in method arguments.")
 
-        search_terms = str(song) + " " + str(artist
-                                             ) + " " + str(additional_search)
+        search_terms = song + " " + artist + " " + additional_search
+
         query_string = urlencode({"search_query": (
                                  search_terms.encode('utf-8'))})
         link = "http://www.youtube.com/results?" + query_string
@@ -376,7 +378,11 @@ init, or in method arguments.")
 
         video_url, video_title = self.find_yt_url(song, artist)
 
-        print(self.args["hook-text"].get("song").format(song, artist))
+        if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+            print(self.args["hook-text"].get("song").decode().format(song,
+                                                                     artist))
+        else:
+            print(self.args["hook-text"].get("song").format(song, artist))
 
         file_name = data["file_prefix"] + ObjManip.blank(song, False) + ".mp3"
 
diff --git a/irs/utils.py b/irs/utils.py
index f5a0c8a..f1c7277 100644
--- a/irs/utils.py
+++ b/irs/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-# -*- coding: UTF-8 -*-
+# _*_ coding:utf-8 _*_
+
 
 # =======
 # Imports
@@ -95,12 +96,16 @@ class ObjManip:  # Object Manipulation
         return False
 
     def blank(string, downcase=True):
-        import re
-        regex = re.compile('[^a-zA-Z0-9\ ]')
-        string = regex.sub('', str(string))
         if downcase:
             string = string.lower()
-        return ' '.join(string.split())
+        import re
+        regex = re.compile('[^a-zA-Z0-9\ ]')
+        if sys.version_info == 2:
+            string = regex.sub('', string.decode("utf8"))
+            return ' '.join(string.decode().split())
+        else:
+            string = regex.sub('', string)
+            return ' '.join(string.split())
 
     def blank_include(this, includes_this):
         this = ObjManip.blank(this)