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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Literature cannot be separated from human life. It is human expression which sketches their problems, struggles of life, or even their conflicts and is considered to be difficult to understand (Hartiningsih: 2001). The writers intend their works to be permanent, nothing less than immortality. Since it shares experiences, illumination, and knowledge; people want to keep it forever, in order to make life more wonderful and worthy. By reading literature people can get knowledge about the expression of life in the world of truth and beauty because it is a written record of man spirit of his thought, emotion and aspiration. Talking about literature is very interesting because literature have many connotations. This is why the writer wants to analyze a literary work.

Poetry is part of the literature. According to Pradopo (2003: 7), poetry is the recording and interpretation of the human experience in the existence of a material and is composed effectively. The readers will find many figurative languages in poems. However, in this studies the writer wants to analyze song lyrics because song has its own figurative language.

Song lyric is an expression of something which is seen, heard or experienced. In expressing his experience, the poet or creator of songs does play on words and language to create the attractiveness and uniqueness of lyrics. Language games can be either vocal games, styles or distortion of meaning reinforced by the P a g e | 2

use of words and melodies and musical notation adapted to the song lyrics in which the listeners are able to carry with thinking about what the author means (Awe, 2003:

51). Song lyrics have many connotations of meaning, the creator of song wants to deliver the meaning of the music by using the figurative language. This is why it is interesting to analyze the meaning of figurative language found in songs.

Figurative language is a conspicuous departure from what 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 (Abram, 1999:96). It is not surprising if we find a lot of figurative language in poetry, to beautify and to refresh the idea of poetry so it will never be boring. Thus, we need to discover it carefully before we explore and get the aim of poetry; otherwise, we will be confused in determining it. In this case, by knowing the figurative language in song lyrics, then people will enjoy the music.

Barry Manilow born , 1943 is an American singer- songwriter and producer. He is best known for such recordings as "Mandy", "Can't

Smile without you", and " (At the Copa)". In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-seller charts simultaneously, a feat equaled only by Herb

Alpert, , , and . He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records' No. 1 adult contemporary artist, and winning three straight for favorite pop/rock male artist.

Between 1974 and 1983 Manilow had three No. 1 singles and 25 that reached the top

40. Several well-known entertainers have praised Manilow, including Sinatra, who P a g e | 3

was quoted in the saying, "He's next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don't stop what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you." As well as producing and arranging albums for other artists, including Bette

Midler and , Manilow has written songs for musicals, films, and commercials. From February 2005 to December 30, 2009, he was the headliner at the Hilton, performing hundreds of shows before ending his relationship with the hotel. Since March 2010, he has headlined at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas.

He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. Barry Manilow is a top singer, song writer and music producer that inspires the writer to write this thesis. The writer wants to know more about figurative language and meaning of songs.

The writer supposes that a song is created in a beautiful language that expresses someone’s feeling or imagination, so the figurative language will be very interesting to be discussed. Indeed, it is very needed to understand figurative language as a device before getting the core of poetry that is full connotative meanings.

Previous research which are relevant with this study have been done by other researchers, Wahyuni (2007), who studied about figurative language, found that there were some kinds of figurative language. The figurative language found in her study were antithesis, hyperbole, symbol, personification and simile. The next researcher,

Hidayanti (2007), also found some figurative language, they were personification, symbol, simile, and antithesis.

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The above explanation becomes the writer’s consideration to conduct this research by choosing the figurative language especially in ‘’Even Now’’ Album as the topic of the discussion in this thesis. The writer chooses four songs, “I can’t smile without you”, Somewhere in the night’’, Sunrise’’ and “I just want to be the one in your life” of Barry Manilow’s album ‘’Even Now’’. These four lyrics are selected because they contain more figurative language than the other songs in the album.

Although figurative language mostly has been researched in a lot of songs, the research about figurative language in ‘’Even Now’’ album has never been researched yet by other researchers.

1.2 Statement of the Problems

Based on the background of study above, the problems are stated as follows:

1. What kinds of figurative language are found in Barry Manilow’s album ‘’Even

Now’’?

2. What are the meanings of figurative language found in Barry Manilow’s album

‘’Even Now’’?

1.3 Purpose of the Study

Based on the statement mentioned previously, the purposes of study are stated as follows:

1. To discribe the kinds of figurative language found in Barry Manilow’s album

‘’Even Now’’. P a g e | 5

2. To explain the meanings of figurative language found in Barry Manilow’s album

‘’Even Now’’.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This research is expected to give contribution to the readers in order to know the kinds and meanings of figurative language. In addition, the result of this research is also hoped to open the readers’ mind in interpreting the literary works, especially songs. Besides, they are expect to get better understanding of figurative language.

Moreover, the result of this study is expected to be used as a reference for the teachers who want to teach their students about literature. Finally, this thesis can be used by the students as a reference in conducting research related to the topic in the same field.

1.5 Scope and Limitation

The scope of this study is focused on of figurative language found in Barry

Manilow’s album ‘’Even Now’’. More specifically, it is focused on kinds of figurative language and meanings of figurative language. This study is limited to the analysis of Barry Manilow’s album ‘’Even Now’’, with includes “I can’t smile without you”, somewhere in the night’’, Sunrise’’ and “I just want to be the one in your life”. These four lyrics are selected because they contain more figurative language than the other songs in the album.

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1.6 Definition of the Key Terms

In order to avoid misunderstanding toward this study, the writer wants to present the definition of the key terms which are used in this study.

1. Figurative language is language used in writing in which the author temporarily

interrupts the order, construction, or meaning of the writing for a particular effect

(Thomason: 2001: 261).

2. Song is a piece of music with words for singing (Longman, 1992:1265).

3. Lyric is any fairly short poem, consisting of the utterance by a single speaker,

who expresses a state of mind or process of perception, thought and feeling

(Abram: 1999: 146).

4. Barry Manillow is the one of the greatest American singers, songwriters and

music producers.