Construction of The Meaning of The Song Lyrics: Exile's Taylor Swift Feat Bon Iver Analysis Roland Barthes' Semiotics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58905/jse.v6i2.784Keywords:
Romantic relationships, Emotional communication, Song lyrics, Meaning, SemioticsAbstract
Songs serve not only as entertainment but also as a medium of communication that represents human emotional and social experiences. One song that reflects these dynamics is Taylor Swift's "Exile" featuring Bon Iver, which depicts emotional conflict and communication failure in romantic relationships. This study aims to analyze the construction of meaning in the lyrics of the song "Exile" using Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. The research method used is qualitative with text analysis techniques of observation, documentation, and interviews with song listeners. The main data in the form of song lyrics are analyzed through three layers of meaning: denotative, connotative, and myth. The results show that the lyrics of "Exile" construct the meaning of emotional alienation through signs, dialogue between characters, and the use of symbolic metaphors. At the denotative level, the lyrics depict separation and conflict between two individuals. At the connotative level, these lyrics represent emotional exhaustion, inner distance, and failure of interpersonal communication. Meanwhile, at the myth level, this song reflects the cultural view of romantic relationships trapped in a cycle of conflict due to a lack of empathy and emotional communication. This study concludes that Roland Barthes' semiotics is relevant for understanding song lyrics as cultural texts that represent the emotional reality of modern society.
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