AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES USED IN OLIVIA RODRIGO’S ALBUM ‘SOUR’

The researcher aimed at determining the types and functions of figurative languages
used in Olivia Rodrigo’s album ‘Sour’. In this research, the method used was a
descriptive qualitative method, the instrument was the researcher herself and a
checklist table. The subject of this research is the lyrics of 11 songs in Olivia
Rodrigo’s album ‘Sour’. Figurative language found in the lyrics were categorized
into twelve categories based on Perrine’s theory (1982). In data collection, it
applied the observational method as the data were collected by collecting song
lyrics and listening to the songs. Since there was no direct participation of the
researcher, then it was a non participatory technique. According to research’s result,
there were only 9 out of 12 types of figurative language that are found in the songs.
These nine types of figurative language were metaphor, simile, personification,
metonymy, symbol, allegory, paradox, and hyperbole. In total there were 55
figurative languages found in the album. Metaphor was the most common type
compared to the others in the data, due to many forms of something representing
something else. Meanwhile, the songs revealed all four functions of figurative
language, which were imaginative pleasure, additional imagery, emotional
intensity, and means of concentration. The dominant function found was emotional
intensity. This was owing to most of Olivia Rodrigo’s songs serving both
informative statements and emotional expressions.
Keyword : figurative language, song lyrics, Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ album