Decoding Figurative Languages Found in the Selected Songs’ Lyrics of Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Album

Abstract

This study investigated the types and functions of figurative languages
found in the lyrics of selected songs from Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard
and Soft (2024) album. Employing a mixed-methods approach with an
explanatory-sequential design, the study identified and analyzed 232
instances of figurative expressions. The entire analysis was guided by
Kennedy’s (2019) framework, which categorized figurative language
into comparative, correlative, and contradictory forms. The findings
revealed that metaphor was the most frequently employed comparative
device, effectively conveying abstract and complex ideas, followed by
simile and personification. Correlative expressions, such as metonymy
and synecdoche, occurred less frequently, whereas contradictory
expressions, including hyperbole, paradox, and irony, significantly
contributed to emphasis and emotional depth. These rhetorical
strategies enhanced the expressive quality of the lyrics, enabling
nuanced emotional and symbolic interpretations. Besides, this study
also underscored the critical role of figurative language in songwriting
as a mechanism for bridging literal and symbolic meanings, thereby
enriching audience engagement through the interplay of language,
music, and performance.