Gadamer’s Hermeneutics in the Lyrics of the Song ”Si Paling Mahir”by Raisa Andriana

Abstract

This study aims to interpret the meaning of Raisa Andriana’s song “Si Paling Mahir” using Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutical approach. Employing a qualitative case study with an interpretive design, the study analyzes the lyrics and their socio-cultural context. Data were obtained from the song lyrics, audio transcripts, academic literature on Gadamerian hermeneutics, the music video, and public responses on digital platforms. Data were collected through documentary study and observation, then analyzed through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the song’s meaning emerges through the interaction between the text and listeners’ lived experiences. Four hermeneutical dimensions are identified: historically, the lyrics reflect the tendency to display happiness on social media; dialectically, “always being fine” functions as an exhausting defense mechanism; prejudice reveals the cultural expectation to suppress negative emotions; and the fusion of horizons reconciles responsibility toward others with the need for self-care. The study contributes a hermeneutical model for interpreting Indonesian popular music.