Menelusuri Pesan Simbolis dalam Lirik Lagu ‘Hotel California’ oleh Eagles: Analisis Semiologi = Exploring the Symbolic Message in the Song Lyric ‘Hotel California’ by Eagles: A Semiology Analysis

Daffa Auzan Nugraha. Exploring the Symbolic Message in the Song Lyric ‘Hotel California’ by Eagles: A Semiology Analysis (supervised by Harlinah Sahib and Ainun Fatimah) Background. Music is one of the systems of signs that contains meaning. The meaning in a song is often implied and can lead to multiple interpretations if the listeners do not understand the context. Objectives. The objectives of this study are to identify the signifiers and the signifieds in the song lyric of ”Hotel California” and to discover the overall meaning of the song based on the analysis of each stanza. Method. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach. Purposive sampling was used to avoid analyzing repetitive lyrics. The data were analyzed using Ferdinand De Saussure’s semiotic model to analyze the signifiers and the signifieds. Results. The study identified fifteen signifiers and signifieds. The song delivers a message about the consequences of hedonistic lifestyle and seeking quick escapes from problems or pain. Conclusions. The song successfully reveal the main theme and the whole meaning of the song, which is hedonism and the dangers that lies within.

Keyword : semiology, Ferdinand De Saussure, signifier, signified, song lyric, hedonism.