ABSTRACT

Affandi, Faisal. 2025. : Lexical Meanings In Bruno Mars’ “Doo Whops & Hooligans”

Album

Supervisor I : Dr. Diana Rozelin, M.Hum

This research investigated the functions of lexical meaning in three songs from
Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans album—Just the Way You Are, Grenade,
and The Lazy Song—using Deane’s (1987) theory. Employing qualitative content
analysis, the study identified 50 instances of lexical relations, consisting of
hyponymy (21), polysemy (15), and antonymy (14). It also found 21 occurrences
of lexical meaning functions, with the Argument Structure, Referential, and
Cognitive Functions appearing most frequently. The results show that Bruno Mars
uses lexical choices to build emotional expression, imagery, and cohesive
meaning in his lyrics. This study contributes to semantic analysis in popular music
and offers pedagogical insights for students learning linguistic concepts through
song lyrics.
the analysis demonstrates that lexical meaning functions play an essential role in
shaping the thematic depth of the songs, particularly in expressing love, sacrifice,
and personal identity. By linking linguistic theory with contemporary music, this
research shows how semantic concepts can be applied in real-world contexts,
making them more accessible and engaging for learners.

Keywords: semantic, lexical meaning, bruno mars