Self and Society: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Lyrics of 'What Was I Made For?' by Billie Eilish

Abstract

Song serves as significant artistic works that influence public opinion while communicating ideas, feelings, and social criticisms. Using Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) methodology, this study attempts to conduct a CDA of Billie Eilish's song "What Was I Made For?" in order to analyze the intricate relationship between one's self-identity and society's expectations. Using a qualitative approach, contextual observation and lyrical analysis were used to collect data. The three interrelated aspects of the analysis framework are as follows: (1) The text dimension, which looks at the language and structure of the lyrics; (2) The discourse practice dimension, which highlights the song's creation and reception in relation to its cultural setting; and (3) The sociocultural practice dimension, which takes into account the lyrics' broader social and ideological implications. The findings show that the song captures elements of emotional struggle, existential doubt, and alienation, demonstrating how relatable Eilish's lyrics are to anyone going through comparable difficulties. The study comes to the conclusion that comprehending song lyrics in their entirety is crucial to understanding the songwriter's goals as well as the socio-emotional context of modern music.