GALIH PURWANTO-FAH

70 Pages·2011·0.46 MB·English

ABSTRACT

Galih Purwanto, A Symbol Analysis on Two Punk song Lyrics “American Idiot”
(Green Day), “God Save The Queen” (Sex Pistols), Thesis: English Letters
Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University “Syarif
Hidayatullah”, Jakarta 2010.

The aim of this research is to find out the Symbol, their meaning, and also
purposed the theme in two punk songs lyric. The writer analyzes lyrics entitled
“American Idiot” (Green Day), and “God Save The Queen” (Sex Pistols).
The research discussed the lyric by Green Day and the lyric by Sex Pistols.
The objectives of the research are to know about symbols that utilized in those
lyrics, the meaning of them, and symbols contributions in building the themes of
the lyrics. Here the writer studied two selected lyrics as the objects of the study;
they were “American Idiot” by Green Day and “God Save The Queen” by Sex
Pistols. Those lyrics were studied by using descriptive qualitative method and
content analysis techniques. In this research, the writer focused in symbol analysis
to those selected lyrics. By using symbol analysis, it makes an easier to conclude
the theme that implicit in these two selected lyrics. The writer expects that this
study will be useful to the readers who want to know further about symbol
analysis and explication about the lyric, and their contribution in building the
themes in those lyrics.

The writer finds out the themes of them. These two selected lyrics have
different themes. From the lyric “American Idiot” by Green Day, the writer has
concluded that the suitable theme is about “A Criticism of Democracy” in the US
Government. Then the writer makes a sentence for proposing the theme, and the
sentence is “The Americans criticizes the application of their own Democracy”.
And from the lyric “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols, the writer also has
concluded that the suitable theme is about “Social Justice or Social Protest”. And
the writer makes a sentence for proposing the theme, and the sentence is “The
Super power of the Queen makes no future of the England”.

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APPROVEMENT

A SYMBOL ANALYSIS ON PUNK SONG LYRICS
AMERICAN IDIOT (GREEN DAY),
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (SEX PISTOLS)

A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Strata One Degree (S1)
In English Letters Department

Galih Purwanto
NIM. 105026000975

Approved by:

Drs. H. Abdul Hamid, M.Ed.
NIP: 150 181 922

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
ADAB AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH” STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
JAKARTA
2010

LEGALIZATION
ii
Name : Galih Purwanto
NIM : 105026000975
Title : “A Symbol Analysis on Two Punk Song Lyrics, American
Idiot (Green Day), “God Save the Queen (sex Pistols)”.

The thesis has been defended before the Letters and Humanities Faculty’s
Examination Committee on June, 14th 2010. It has already been accepted as a
partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Strata One (S1).

Jakarta, June 14th, 2010

Examination Committee

Signature Date

1. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd (Chair Person)
19650919 200003 1 002

2. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Secretary)
19640710 199303 1 006

3. Drs. H. Abdul Hamid, M. Ed (Advisor)
150 181 922

4. Dr. Frans Sayogie, M.Pd (Examiner I)
19700310 200003 1 002

5. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd (Examiner II)
19640710 199303 1 006

DECLARATION
iii
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that to the best of my
knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by
another person no material which to substantial extend has been accepted for the
award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher
learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.

Jakarta, July 2010

Galih Purwanto

iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The writer would say thank to the lord of the universe and thereafter Allah
SWT, the real writer’s guide, who amazingly and mysteriously guides him in the
process of making this thesis and the salutation be upon the greatest prophet
Muhammad SAW (the Master of the Messenger), May peace and blessing be
upon him, his family, companions and adherents realizes that surely owes much
many people materially, morally, scientifically, and spiritually.
The thesis is submitted in partial accomplishment of the requirements for
the Strata I Degree to Faculty of Adab and Humanities, English Letters
Department State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
The writer would like to express his deeply grateful to Drs. H. Abdul
Hamid, M.Ed. as his advisor who has always given suggestions, corrections,
supports, and also criticism until the writer can finish this thesis, because without
his guidance, patience, and encouragements, this thesis is never be completed.
The writer also would like to express his deepest gratitude to the following
people:
1. Dr. H. Abdul Chair, M.A. a former Dean of Adab and Humanities Faculty.
2. Dr. H.M. Farhan, M.Pd. the Head of English Letters Department.
3. Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd. the Secretary of English Letters Department.
4. The Lecturers, the staff academics, and the staff of library of English letter
department, the staff of many Libraries, University of Indonesia library,
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5. My beloved Family: My Mother Paerah, Father Paruso who always give
support, morally, and spiritually until now. Thanks for you’re sacrificing
and fighting to reach my future. My Sister Renny Purwaningsih S.Pd, my
Brother in law Aditya Dharma AMd, my cousin amiey, iyud, Agus
Setiawan ST, Special thanks for my beloved girl (oktafiani) who always
gives me support spiritually and morally during the process of completed
this thesis. Thanks for her that always gives motivation and moral
encouragement in facing this life.
6. My best friends, all’size’s Family are Aav, Yudy, Tony, Dory, Oniel, and
Dyant. All of my friends at English Letter Department, especially my
classmates, Akbar Lintang, Mulya, Helmi Fahmi, Ardhie, Jurjani, Rohim,
Wahyu, Amar, bejo, iqbal, and those who cannot be mentioned one by
one. Thanks to all of you.
May Allah blesses, protects and guides them always. The writer hopes this
thesis is able to be a reference of some literary interpretation.

Jakarta, July 2010

The Writer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………….. i
APPROVEMENT…………………………………………………………. ii
LEGALIZATION…………………………………………………………. iii
DECLARATION………………………………………………………….. iv
ACKOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………….. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………… vii

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study……………………………………... 1
B. Focus of study ……………………………………………… 4
C. Research Questions ………………………………………… 5
D. Significances of the Study …………………………………… 5
E. Research Methodology ……………………………………… 5
1. Objective of the Study ………………………………… 5
2. Method of the Research ……………………………….. 5
3. Unit of Analysis ……………………………………….. 6
4. Instrument of the Research ……………………………. 6
5. Technique of Data Analysis…………………………… 6
F. Place and Time……………………………………………….. 6

CHAPTER II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Definition of Music …………………………………………... 7
B. Types of Music ………………………………………………. 8
1. Jazz ……………………………………………………….. 8
2. Blues……………………………………………………… 8
3. Classical ………………………………………………… 9
4. Rock ……………………………………………………… 9
5. Pop ……………………………………………………….. 9
6. Reggae……………………………………………………. 10
7. Punk………………………………………………………. 10
8. Rap ……………………………………………………….. 11
9. Folk……………………………………………………….. 11

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C. Lyric ………………………………………………………….. 11
D. Semiotics ……………………………………………………... 12
1. Semiotic elements ………………………………………. 13
2. Classes of sign …………………………………………... 14
3. Ten Classes of Sign ……………………………………... 18
E. The meaning of Symbol ……………………………………… 20

F. Explication …………………………………………………… 22

G. Theme………………………………………………………… 22
1. The Step of Theme Analysis ……………………………. 23
2. Kinds of Theme …………………………………………. 24
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH FINDING
A. Data Description
1. American Idiot (Green Day) …………………………….. 26
a. Background of Song ……………………………………. 26
b. Lyric…………………………………………………….. 26
2. God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols) ……….……………… 27
a. Background of Song…………………………………….. 27
b. Lyric…………………………………………………….. 29
B. Data Analysis
1. Explication …...………………………………………….. 30
a. American Idiot (Green Day) ……………………………. 30
b. God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols) ……………………. 32
2. Analysis of the Symbols …………………………….… 37
a. Symbol in “American Idiot’s” lyric (Green Day) …..… 37
b. Symbol in “God Save the Queen’s” lyric (Sex Pistols)… 42
3. Proposed Theme ………………………………………… 47
a. Theme in American Idiot lyric (Green Day) …………… 47
b. Theme in God Save the Queen lyric (Sex pistols)…….... 48
C. The table of utilized symbol and theme of both lyrics ……….. 48

CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion…….……………………………………………….. 52
B. Suggestion……………………………………………………… 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………..……………………………………… 54
APPENDICES……………………………………………………………… 56

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1

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of study
Language is one of tools of communication. Language is formed by a
norm; rule and design that have to obey in order to avoid the wrong
communication and makes it come well. Norm, rule, and design which are formed
including sounds system, form system, and sentences system. In order to get a
good communication, the consignee and transmitter of language must be getting
of best of it. Language is a group of sounds distinguishable from one another and
arranged in a system by means of which thoughts and feeling (neural events) can
be communicated from one person to another. A single language however may be
defined as a system of sounds familiar and usable to a limited number of people
and unfamiliar to all others in the world.1 A language then is a sound system
known to and used by a limited number of people.2
The possession of language, more any other attribute, distinguishes man
from other animals. To understand man’s humanity one must understand the
language that makes him human. According to the philosophy expressed in the
myths and religions of many peoples, it is language which the source of human
life and power.3 Language is therefore a system by which sounds and meaning are
related.4

1 J. Burl Hogins and Robert E.Yarber, LANGUAGE: An Introductory Reader, (New
York, Harper and Row, Publisher), 1969, p. 70
2 Ibid, p. 71
3 Victoria Fromkin and Robert Rodman, an introduction to language, (USA, Holt,
Rinehart and Winston, Inc, 1974), p. 1
4 Ibid, p. 2
2

Rachmat Djoko Pradopo said that the literary work is the swan song that
utilized language as a medium. Material of the literary is the language that already
had a meaning. So the meaning of language increased become meaning of literary
or sense, though not rid of from the meaning of language.5
As we know that poetry, movie, drama, and music already become very
interesting to be learning in literary works, and all of those to be certain used
language as medium. Then as the most favorite literary work for everyone in the
world, music has also the element of language that written in lyrics.
Music is universal language that people also like very much. Everyone has
a favorite music which can make them feel happy, relax, dancing, and jumping.6
Music is a sound that received by different individual based on history, location,
culture, and human sense. The intent of composer, and the performer’s
contributions, the greater will be our intellectual, emotional, aesthetic rewards for
listening to any kind of music.7
Music is one of literary work which contains lyrics and a beautiful word
enjoyed and teaches the component from lyric. Lyric is a kind of poetry, generally
short, characterized by a musical use of language. Lyric poetry often involves the
expression of intense personal emotion. The elegy, the ode, and the sonnet are
forms of the lyric poem.8
In Nando Baskara’s book said that the reason why he wrote his book was
not becoming his book for information for society only, especially for the young
man, but also as a type of moral “movement” that wants to proclaim through

5 Rachmat Djoko Pradopo, “Beberapa Teori Bahasa, Metode Kritik, Dan
Penempatannya”,pustaka pelajar, Yogyakarta, 2003. p. 121.
6 http://id.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071107084909AAPskuR
7 Jean Ferris, America’s Musical Landscape, (United State: McGrawHill, 2002), P.xxi
8 http://www.answers.com/topic/lyrics. Accessed on 26th of October 2009