AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND MORAL VALUE OF LET IT GO SONG BY DEMI LOVATO

AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND MORAL
VALUE OF LET IT GO SONG BY DEMI LOVATO
MONIKA BULU
English Language Education
Social Science and Humanity Education Faculty
Monika_Bulu@yahoo.co.od
ABSTRACT
The research interest was to analyze figurative language and moral value in the
Demi Lovato’s song because moral is very important and influence human life
because teenagers and young people often make a singer their idol. The purpose
of study is to know: 1) the figurative language found in Let it go songs by Demi
Lovato and 2) moral value found in Let it go songs by Demi Lovato.
Based on the purposes of the study, in analyzing figurative language and
moral value in song lyrics, the researcher used qualitative design in this research.
The data taken for the study was let it go song. To support the main instrument,
the researcher used checklist.
The research findings of this study were, figurative language type’s
hyperboles were found 8 times. Hyperbole in the song was used to make an
reflection of the singer strong will. The simile in Let it go song was found 5 times.
The simile used in this song used the word like and seem. In Let it Go song, there
were 11 metaphors. It can be concluded that metaphor was the most frequently

appeared figurative language. The personification used in Let it Go only 3 times.
Personification is a special feature of the metaphor, which rejects the dead objects
of thinking, acting, speaking like humans. Moral value in the let it go song was
the writer realizing that she does not need to hide her abilities. She thinks that
she’s free from obstacles that she faces when she was child and rejoicing in being
able to use her power without fear and limit.
Key words: Figurative Language, Moral Value, Song
INTRODUCTION

over the world. The number of fans

The initial interest of the
research

subject

language

usage


is

Furthermore,

the

reason

that

general

motivated the decision to analyze the

motivation to explore the relationship

lyrics of pop music is young

between


and

generation feels much stronger bonds

music. The researcher decides to

with contemporary music than with

choose song especially from Demi

poetry. In this respect, it is important

Lovato because of her popularity all

to clarify that, though these artistic

everyday

from


figurative

amounts to hundreds of millions.

language

forms are commonly viewed as being

see the very basic description of

very

characters.
The word “moral” derives

similar,

they

are


actually

different forms of expression.
The
figurative
language

from the Latin ‘mos’ which means

allows person to be able to assess the

attitude and habits. This attitude

personality, character and abilities of

based on the determination of right

a person who uses the language. The


and wrong. In other word, moral is

better the language style, the better

standard of attitude that based on the

the judgment against it. If someone

determination of right and wrong

uses bad figuratives language, people

which regarded by those who make

will judge him also (Keraf, 2010:

the standard of moral. Moral in the

113).


literature
Song is usually short piece of

music with words that are sung. The
lyrics (words) of songs are typically
of a poetic, rhyming nature, though
they

may

be religious

usually

reflect

the

researcher’s mind sight, how her/his
view about rightness values, and the

kind of it to the readers (Nurgiyantoro,
2010: 321).

Analyzing

verses or

figurative

free prose (Cambrige, 2017).
A song can be analysis in

languange and moral value contain in

several

view besides

people often using song to see the


figurative languange. S o n g can be

modelling of real life. Research

analyzed from the moral, social and

which

religious point of view. In this

importance can be can be seen from

research, Demi Lovato’s songs will

research conducted by Arista Niken

be analyzed from the moral value.

Kartika Sari (2014), entittled, “The


Moral has a close relationship with

Poetic And Moral Values Analysis

character, because moral is reflected

Seen On Song Lyrics Of Forgive Me

by

the

Album By Maher Zain” This study

element of prose and moral actually

was aimed of describing the types of

is


moral

points

character.
one

of

of

Character
four

is

levels

of

the song is important because young

analyzed

values

moral

and

the

value

literary

characterization. These four levels

elements in the song lyrics of

are; physical, social, psychological

Forgive Me album by Maher Zain.

and moral. These levels help us to

The

researcher

used

qualitative

research to find out the valid data.

researcher used qualitative design in

The differences

between Sari’s

this research. Qualitative research

research and the researchers’ are, 1)

itself is often called naturalistic

album used to analyzed. Saris’ use

research

Maher

conducted

Zain

researcher

Album

use

the

for

on natural

research
conditions

Lovatos’

(natural setting); also known as

album. 2) research variables. Saris’

ethnography, because initially this

analyze

the

method is more widely used for

researchers’ in figurative language.

research in the field of cultural

The differences of Saris’ research

anthropology;

with the researcher are in the album

methods for the data collected and

analyze

variable.

analysis is more qualitative. In

Sari’s analyze Maher Zains’ album

addition qualitative research is often

and the researcher from Demi

defined as the study did not conduct

Lovatos’. In Sari research, the

calculations or numbers (Sugiyono,

research variable just in moral

2012: 8).

in

and

Demi

and

methods

poetic

research

and

called

qualitative

value but in the ongoing research

The data in this study is

the research variable consist of two

song’s lyrics contained figurative

variable,

language and moral value taken from

moral

values

and

figurative language.
RESEARCH METHOD

Demi Lovatos Albums Let It Go. The
data taken for the study was Let It
Go Song. The researcher took the Let

The aim of the study is to know

It Go song by Demi Lovato because

the use of figurative language and

the song was popular and contained

moral value found in Demi Lovatos’

moral messages and reflected the use

song “’Let it Go”. The researcher

of figurative language.

find figurative language in Lovatos’

The instruments used for the

song lyrics and an impetration about

research were:

the moral aspect in the song lyrics.

1. The

researcher

as

main

Based on the purpose of the study in

instrument. In the qualitative

analyzing

the figurative language

research, the researcher is the

and moral value in song lyric, the

main instrument. The researcher

collected the data, made an

sentence

interpretation,

figurative language and moral

classifyied

the

data, and then made a conclusion

value

based on the purpose of study.

songs.

2. Checklist

5) The

which

in

contained

Demi

researcher

Lovatos’
indentified

To support the main instrument,

the figurative language in

the researcher using checklist.

Demi Lovato song.

Observation checklist contained
of

song’s

figurative

lyrics

contains
and

the

researcher put thick ( √ ¿

in

the

language

row

that

6) The researcher indentifying

indicated

the moral value in Demi
Lovato song.
7) Finally,

the

process

researcher

classified it and re-checks

figurative language.
The

the

data and ready to analyze it.
of

data

collection:

RESEARCH FINDING

1) Researcher selected the song

There are four kinds of figurative

from the Demi Lovatos’ song:

languages found in songs such as:

Let It Go

personification, metaphor, hyperbole,

2) The next step, the researcher

and simile. These kinds of figurative

downloaded the song from

languages are used by the researcher

Stafaband.com and then the

in order to make her creation in this

researcher listened to the

case the songs look alive so we can

song. The researcher listened

feel the condition that the researcher

to the song at least 3 times.

tries to show in that song. So, by

The researcher listen the song

using the figurative languages and

many times to understand the

their

figurative language and moral

researcher

value in the song.

attention and slowly leads us to the

3) The researcher transcripted
the song to analyzed.
4) Next the researcher attempt to
found the word, phrase, and

contextual
wants

theme.
Figurative

meaning,
to

the

attract

language

is

our

a

conspicuous departure from what
competent

users of

a language

apprehend as the standard meaning

of words, or else the standard order
of words, in order to achieve some
special meaning or effect. Figures
are sometimes described as primarily
poetic, but they are integral to the
functioning

of

language

indispensable

to

all

and

modes

of

discourse.
Figurative language is a kind of
literature

that

in

The reason why we used

connotation meaning than literary

figurative language are we can

one. It is language that uses word or

say what we want to say more

expression with a different meaning

vividly

than literal interpretation. It can be

forcefully by figures than we can

found in literature and poetry where

by saying it directly, and we can

the writing appeals to the senses. It

more by figurative statement then

can do this by giving a word with a

we can by literal statement.

specific meaning, by comparing two

Figures of speech offer another

things in such a way that we find the

way of adding extra dimension to

comparison interesting or by using

language. Figurative language

words

often provides a more effective

that

constructions

emphasize

have
or

sounds.

unusual
It

and

forcefully

and

is

meaning than a direct statement.

characterized by figure of speech that

In this condition, there are some

compares, exaggerates, or shows the

reasons for that effectiveness that

other sense of the first appearance

is because figurative language

meaning.
After the researcher indentifying

affords imaginative pleasure.
Based on the research

the figurative language and moral

finding, figurative language types

value in Demi Lovato song, the

hyperbole are 10. Hyperbole in

researcher classifying it in the table,

the

as below:

reflection of the singer strong

song

use

to

make

an

will. The simile in Let it go song
is 5 kinds. The simile use in this

song use the word like and seem.

wants. she obey her community

In Let it Go song, the singer use

and stand for herself. Analyzing

11 metaphor. It can conclude that

figurative language and moral

metaphor is the mainly used as

value contain in the song is

figurative

The

important because young people

personification uses in Let it Go

often using song to see the

only 3. Personification is a

modeling of real life. Because

special feature of the metaphor,

teenagers and young people often

which rejects the dead objects of

make

tinkling, acting, speaking like

Therefore, by the absence of

humans.
The research conclusion same

higher moral in human life will

language.

with the research by Retnayanthi
(2015) that states by using the
figurative languages and their
contextual

meaning,

the

researcher wants to attract our
attention and slowly leads us to
the

theme.

The

difference

a

singer

their

idol.

be declined, moral are considered
very important because one of
the sources of human happiness
is having good morality. Besides,
moral education can be learning
easily from song because it not
feels like study in front of the
class.

between Retnayanthi result with
the researcher is in contextual
meaning’ result variable.

The

ongoing research analyzed moral
value, while the Retnayanthi’s
analyzed contextual meaning.
Let it go song not only

CONCLUSION
The conclusion of this research
can be seen as follow:
1. Based on the research finding,
figurative

language

type’s

figurative

hyperboles are 10. Hyperbole

language, it also from the moral

in the song use to make an

value. Based on the research,

reflection of the singer strong

moral value in the let it go song

will. The simile in Let it go

are 9 usage. The moral in this

song is 5 kinds. The simile use

song is about the singer that

in this song uses the word like

decide to live her live as what she

and seem. In Let it Go song,

analyze

from

it

the singer use 11 metaphors. it

figurative language that usually

can conclude that metaphor is

used in song, poem, etc. The

the mainly used as figurative

using figurative languages is to

language. The personification

make the song, poem or our daily

use in Let it Go only 3.

speaking more interesting not

Personification is a special

only in listening but also in

feature of the metaphor, which

reading and writing.

rejects the dead objects of

2. Suggestion for the teacher

tinkling, acting, speaking like

Related

humans.
2. Let it go song not only analyze

contribution

the

English

can be a complement for other

also from the moral value.

literary studies especially about

Based on the research, moral

figurative

value in the let it go song are 9

languages,

when

teaching listening, writing and

usage. The moral in this song is

reading.
3. Suggestion

live her live as what she wants.

for

the

next

researcher

She obeys her community and
stand for herself.

the

teacher, it is hoped that this study

from it figurative language, it

about the singer that decide to

to

to

The researcher has some
suggestions related to the subject of
research for the next researcher,

SUGGESTION
Related to the result analysis on

because my research study is actually
still far from being perfect, so it can

the lyrics of Demi Lovato’s selected

be

songs, the researcher of the thesis

researcher has to master in English

have three purpose and suggestions

being doing the research to get more

to the students, teacher, and further

advantages research. In addition, the

researcher.

result

1. Suggestion for students

contribution to others and give

continued.

of

the

Moreover,

study

can

the

give

The student should be

advantages to all people that they

open mind that English is very

have intention to learn about live

important. Moreover, study about

through work of art.

Retnayanthi, Putu Ayu. 2015. The
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