diff --git a/src/display.cpp b/src/display.cpp
index 2bbd1ee7..83a1b3bf 100644
--- a/src/display.cpp
+++ b/src/display.cpp
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ void showSongs(NC::Menu<T> &menu, const MPD::Song &s,
 	bool separate_albums, is_now_playing, is_selected, discard_colors;
 	setProperties(menu, s, pl, separate_albums, is_now_playing, is_selected, discard_colors);
 
-	size_t y = menu.getY();
+	const size_t y = menu.getY();
 	NC::Buffer right_aligned;
-	Format::print(ast, menu, &s, &right_aligned);
+	Format::print(ast, menu, &s, &right_aligned,
+		discard_colors ? Format::Flags::Tag | Format::Flags::OutputSwitch : Format::Flags::All
+	);
 	if (!right_aligned.str().empty())
 	{
 		size_t x_off = menu.getWidth() - wideLength(ToWString(right_aligned.str()));
diff --git a/src/format.cpp b/src/format.cpp
index 17ca5cd9..025cf2ae 100644
--- a/src/format.cpp
+++ b/src/format.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 
 namespace {
 
+const unsigned properties = Format::Flags::Color
+                          | Format::Flags::Format
+                          | Format::Flags::OutputSwitch;
+
 template <typename CharT> using string = std::basic_string<CharT>;
 template <typename CharT> using iterator = typename std::basic_string<CharT>::const_iterator;
 template <typename CharT> using expressions = std::vector<Format::Expression<CharT>>;
@@ -54,7 +58,8 @@ void rangeCheck(const string<CharT> &s, iterator<CharT> current, iterator<CharT>
 
 template <typename CharT>
 expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
-                                iterator<CharT> it, iterator<CharT> end)
+                                iterator<CharT> it, iterator<CharT> end,
+                                const unsigned flags)
 {
 	string<CharT> token;
 	expressions<CharT> tmp, result;
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 				// skip the opening bracket
 				++it;
 				// recursively parse the bracket
-				tmp = parseBracket(s, it, jt);
+				tmp = parseBracket(s, it, jt, flags);
 				// if the inner bracket contains only one expression,
 				// put it as is. otherwise require all of them.
 				if (tmp.size() == 1)
@@ -117,7 +122,7 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 				any.base().push_back(string<CharT>());
 			result.push_back(std::move(any));
 		}
-		else if (*it == '%')
+		else if (flags & Format::Flags::Tag && *it == '%')
 		{
 			++it;
 			rangeCheck(s, it, end);
@@ -144,7 +149,7 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 				throwError(s, it, invalidCharacter(*it));
 			result.push_back(Format::SongTag(f, delimiter));
 		}
-		else if (*it == '$')
+		else if (flags & properties && *it == '$')
 		{
 			++it;
 			rangeCheck(s, it, end);
@@ -155,22 +160,43 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 				continue;
 			}
 			push_token();
-			if (isdigit(*it))
+			// legacy colors
+			if (flags & Format::Flags::Color && isdigit(*it))
 			{
 				auto color = charToColor(*it);
 				result.push_back(color);
 			}
-			else if (*it == 'R')
-				result.push_back(Format::AlignRight());
-			else if (*it == 'b')
+			// new colors
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Color && *it == '(')
+			{
+				++it;
+				rangeCheck(s, it, end);
+				auto jt = it;
+				string<CharT> scolor;
+				do
+					scolor += *it++;
+				while (it != end && *it != ')');
+				rangeCheck(s, it, end);
+				auto value = convertString<char, CharT>::apply(scolor);
+				try {
+					result.push_back(boost::lexical_cast<NC::Color>(value));
+				} catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
+					throwError(s, jt, "invalid color \"" + value + "\"");
+				}
+			}
+			// output switch
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::OutputSwitch && *it == 'R')
+				result.push_back(Format::OutputSwitch());
+			// format
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Format && *it == 'b')
 				result.push_back(NC::Format::Bold);
-			else if (*it == 'u')
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Format && *it == 'u')
 				result.push_back(NC::Format::Underline);
-			else if (*it == 'a')
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Format && *it == 'a')
 				result.push_back(NC::Format::AltCharset);
-			else if (*it == 'r')
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Format && *it == 'r')
 				result.push_back(NC::Format::Reverse);
-			else if (*it == '/')
+			else if (flags & Format::Flags::Format && *it == '/')
 			{
 				++it;
 				rangeCheck(s, it, end);
@@ -185,23 +211,6 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 				else
 					throwError(s, it, invalidCharacter(*it));
 			}
-			else if (*it == '(')
-			{
-				++it;
-				rangeCheck(s, it, end);
-				auto jt = it;
-				string<CharT> scolor;
-				do
-					scolor += *it++;
-				while (it != end && *it != ')');
-				rangeCheck(s, it, end);
-				auto value = convertString<char, CharT>::apply(scolor);
-				try {
-					result.push_back(boost::lexical_cast<NC::Color>(value));
-				} catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
-					throwError(s, jt, "invalid color \"" + value + "\"");
-				}
-			}
 			else
 				throwError(s, it, invalidCharacter(*it));
 		}
@@ -216,14 +225,14 @@ expressions<CharT> parseBracket(const string<CharT> &s,
 
 namespace Format {
 
-AST<char> parse(const std::string &s)
+AST<char> parse(const std::string &s, const unsigned flags)
 {
-	return AST<char>(parseBracket(s, s.begin(), s.end()));
+	return AST<char>(parseBracket(s, s.begin(), s.end(), flags));
 }
 
-AST<wchar_t> wparse(const std::wstring &s)
+AST<wchar_t> parse(const std::wstring &s, const unsigned flags)
 {
-	return AST<wchar_t>(parseBracket(s, s.begin(), s.end()));
+	return AST<wchar_t>(parseBracket(s, s.begin(), s.end(), flags));
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/format.h b/src/format.h
index 30af58f6..a2762e69 100644
--- a/src/format.h
+++ b/src/format.h
@@ -31,6 +31,15 @@
 
 namespace Format {
 
+namespace Flags {
+const unsigned None = 0;
+const unsigned Color = 1;
+const unsigned Format = 2;
+const unsigned OutputSwitch = 4;
+const unsigned Tag = 8;
+const unsigned All = Color | Format | OutputSwitch | Tag;
+}
+
 enum class ListType { All, Any, AST };
 
 template <ListType, typename> struct List;
@@ -38,7 +47,7 @@ template <typename CharT> using All = List<ListType::All, CharT>;
 template <typename CharT> using Any = List<ListType::Any, CharT>;
 template <typename CharT> using AST = List<ListType::AST, CharT>;
 
-struct AlignRight { };
+struct OutputSwitch { };
 
 struct SongTag
 {
@@ -59,7 +68,7 @@ using Expression = boost::variant<
 	std::basic_string<CharT>,
 	NC::Color,
 	NC::Format,
-	AlignRight,
+	OutputSwitch,
 	SongTag,
 	boost::recursive_wrapper<Any<CharT>>,
 	boost::recursive_wrapper<All<CharT>>
@@ -82,17 +91,18 @@ private:
 	Base m_base;
 };
 
-template <typename CharT, typename OutputT, typename OutputAfterAlignmentT = OutputT>
+template <typename CharT, typename OutputT, typename SecondOutputT = OutputT>
 struct Printer: boost::static_visitor<bool>
 {
 	typedef std::basic_string<CharT> StringT;
 
-	Printer(OutputT &os, const MPD::Song *song, OutputAfterAlignmentT *os_after_alignment)
+	Printer(OutputT &os, const MPD::Song *song, SecondOutputT *second_os, const unsigned flags)
 	: m_output(os)
 	, m_song(song)
-	, m_after_alignment(false)
-	, m_output_after_alignment(os_after_alignment)
+	, m_output_switched(false)
+	, m_second_os(second_os)
 	, m_no_output(0)
+	, m_flags(flags)
 	{ }
 
 	bool operator()(const StringT &s)
@@ -103,27 +113,29 @@ struct Printer: boost::static_visitor<bool>
 
 	bool operator()(const NC::Color &c)
 	{
-		output(c);
+		if (m_flags & Flags::Color)
+			output(c);
 		return true;
 	}
 
 	bool operator()(NC::Format fmt)
 	{
-		output(fmt);
+		if (m_flags & Flags::Format)
+			output(fmt);
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	bool operator()(AlignRight)
+	bool operator()(OutputSwitch)
 	{
 		if (!m_no_output)
-			m_after_alignment = true;
+			m_output_switched = true;
 		return true;
 	}
 
 	bool operator()(const SongTag &st)
 	{
 		StringT tags;
-		if (m_song != nullptr)
+		if (m_flags & Flags::Tag && m_song != nullptr)
 		{
 			tags = convertString<CharT, char>::apply(
 				m_song->getTags(st.function())
@@ -198,11 +210,13 @@ private:
 			result += s;
 		}
 	};
-	// when writing to a string, ignore all properties
+	// when writing to a string, we should ignore all other
+	// properties. if this code is reached, throw an exception.
 	template <typename ValueT, typename SomeCharT>
-	struct output_<ValueT, std::basic_string<SomeCharT>>
-	{
-		static void exec(std::basic_string<CharT> &, const ValueT &) { }
+	struct output_<ValueT, std::basic_string<SomeCharT>> {
+		static void exec(std::basic_string<CharT> &, const ValueT &) {
+			throw std::logic_error("non-string property can't be appended to the string");
+		}
 	};
 
 	template <typename ValueT>
@@ -210,8 +224,8 @@ private:
 	{
 		if (!m_no_output)
 		{
-			if (m_after_alignment && m_output_after_alignment != nullptr)
-				output_<ValueT, OutputAfterAlignmentT>::exec(*m_output_after_alignment, value);
+			if (m_output_switched && m_second_os != nullptr)
+				output_<ValueT, SecondOutputT>::exec(*m_second_os, value);
 			else
 				output_<ValueT, OutputT>::exec(m_output, value);
 		}
@@ -220,10 +234,11 @@ private:
 	OutputT &m_output;
 	const MPD::Song *m_song;
 
-	bool m_after_alignment;
-	OutputAfterAlignmentT *m_output_after_alignment;
+	bool m_output_switched;
+	SecondOutputT *m_second_os;
 
 	unsigned m_no_output;
+	const unsigned m_flags;
 };
 
 template <typename CharT, typename VisitorT>
@@ -234,17 +249,18 @@ void visit(VisitorT &visitor, const AST<CharT> &ast)
 }
 
 template <typename CharT, typename ItemT>
-void print(const AST<CharT> &ast, NC::Menu<ItemT> &menu,
-           const MPD::Song *song, NC::BasicBuffer<CharT> *buffer)
+void print(const AST<CharT> &ast, NC::Menu<ItemT> &menu, const MPD::Song *song,
+           NC::BasicBuffer<CharT> *buffer, const unsigned flags = Flags::All)
 {
-	Printer<CharT, NC::Menu<ItemT>, NC::Buffer> printer(menu, song, buffer);
+	Printer<CharT, NC::Menu<ItemT>, NC::Buffer> printer(menu, song, buffer, flags);
 	visit(printer, ast);
 }
 
 template <typename CharT>
-void print(const AST<CharT> &ast, NC::BasicBuffer<CharT> &buffer, const MPD::Song *song)
+void print(const AST<CharT> &ast, NC::BasicBuffer<CharT> &buffer,
+           const MPD::Song *song, const unsigned flags = Flags::All)
 {
-	Printer<CharT, NC::BasicBuffer<CharT>> printer(buffer, song, &buffer);
+	Printer<CharT, NC::BasicBuffer<CharT>> printer(buffer, song, &buffer, flags);
 	visit(printer, ast);
 }
 
@@ -252,13 +268,13 @@ template <typename CharT>
 std::basic_string<CharT> stringify(const AST<CharT> &ast, const MPD::Song *song)
 {
 	std::basic_string<CharT> result;
-	Printer<CharT, std::basic_string<CharT>> printer(result, song, &result);
+	Printer<CharT, std::basic_string<CharT>> printer(result, song, &result, Flags::Tag);
 	visit(printer, ast);
 	return result;
 }
 
-AST<char> parse(const std::string &s);
-AST<wchar_t> wparse(const std::wstring &ws);
+AST<char> parse(const std::string &s, const unsigned flags = Flags::All);
+AST<wchar_t> parse(const std::wstring &ws, const unsigned flags = Flags::All);
 
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lyrics.cpp b/src/lyrics.cpp
index 3677a72e..a35cde82 100644
--- a/src/lyrics.cpp
+++ b/src/lyrics.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ std::wstring Lyrics::title()
 	std::wstring result = L"Lyrics: ";
 	
 	result += Scroller(
-		Format::stringify<wchar_t>(Format::wparse(L"%a - %t"), &itsSong),
+		Format::stringify<wchar_t>(Format::parse(L"%a - %t"), &itsSong),
 		itsScrollBegin,
 		COLS-result.length()-(Config.design == Design::Alternative ? 2 : Global::VolumeState.length())
 	);
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 4347f98f..d360f846 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ option_parser::worker buffer(NC::Buffer &arg, ValueT &&value, TransformT &&map)
 {
 	return option_parser::worker(assign<std::string>(arg, [&arg, map](std::string s) {
 		NC::Buffer result;
-		Format::print(Format::parse(s), result, nullptr);
+		auto ast = Format::parse(s, Format::Flags::Color | Format::Flags::Format);
+		Format::print(ast, result, nullptr);
 		return map(std::move(result));
 	}), defaults_to(arg, map(std::forward<ValueT>(value))));
 }
@@ -271,30 +272,37 @@ bool Configuration::read(const std::string &config_path)
 		message_delay_time, 5
 	));
 	p.add("song_list_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		song_list_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{$8%f$9}$R{$3(%l)$9}", Format::parse
-	));
+		song_list_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{$8%f$9}$R{$3(%l)$9}", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(v);
+	}));
 	p.add("song_status_format", assign_default<std::string>(
 		song_status_format, "{{%a{ \"%b\"{ (%y)}} - }{%t}}|{%f}", [this](std::string v) {
 			// precompute wide format for status display
-			song_status_wformat = Format::wparse(ToWString(v));
+			song_status_wformat = Format::parse(ToWString(v));
 			return Format::parse(v);
 	}));
 	p.add("song_library_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		song_library_format, "{%n - }{%t}|{%f}", Format::parse
-	));
+		song_library_format, "{%n - }{%t}|{%f}", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(v);
+	}));
 	p.add("browser_sort_mode", assign_default(
 		browser_sort_mode, SortMode::Name
 	));
 	p.add("browser_sort_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		browser_sort_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{%f} {(%l)}", Format::parse
-	));
+		browser_sort_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{%f} {(%l)}", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(v, Format::Flags::Tag);
+	}));
 	p.add("alternative_header_first_line_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		new_header_first_line, "$b$1$aqqu$/a$9 {%t}|{%f} $1$atqq$/a$9$/b", [this](std::string v) {
-			return Format::wparse(ToWString(std::move(v)));
+		new_header_first_line, "$b$1$aqqu$/a$9 {%t}|{%f} $1$atqq$/a$9$/b", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(ToWString(std::move(v)),
+				Format::Flags::All ^ Format::Flags::OutputSwitch
+			);
 	}));
 	p.add("alternative_header_second_line_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		new_header_second_line, "{{$4$b%a$/b$9}{ - $7%b$9}{ ($4%y$9)}}|{%D}", [this](std::string v) {
-			return Format::wparse(ToWString(std::move(v)));
+		new_header_second_line, "{{$4$b%a$/b$9}{ - $7%b$9}{ ($4%y$9)}}|{%D}", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(ToWString(std::move(v)),
+				Format::Flags::All ^ Format::Flags::OutputSwitch
+			);
 	}));
 	p.add("now_playing_prefix", buffer(
 		now_playing_prefix, NC::Buffer::init(NC::Format::Bold), [this](NC::Buffer buf) {
@@ -323,8 +331,9 @@ bool Configuration::read(const std::string &config_path)
 		modified_item_prefix, NC::Buffer::init(NC::Color::Green, "> ", NC::Color::End), id_()
 	));
 	p.add("song_window_title_format", assign_default<std::string>(
-		song_window_title_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{%f}", Format::parse
-	));
+		song_window_title_format, "{%a - }{%t}|{%f}", [](std::string v) {
+			return Format::parse(v, Format::Flags::Tag);
+	}));
 	p.add("song_columns_list_format", assign_default<std::string>(
 		columns_format, "(20)[]{a} (6f)[green]{NE} (50)[white]{t|f:Title} (20)[cyan]{b} (7f)[magenta]{l}",
 			[this](std::string v) {