Analysis of Satire in Iwan Fals’ Songs

Abstract

Satire has long been a potent literary and artistic tool used nowadays to condemn societal concerns, injustice, and abuse of power using comedy, irony, and cutting language. Iwan Fals, Indonesia's most renowned folk singer, continuously employs satirical lyrics to highlight real-life issues, becoming the people's voice until today. This research aims to explore how the satirical lyrics in Iwan Fals’ songs reflect social aspirations and forms of resistance within Indonesian culture. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the study analyzes several of Iwan Fals’ songs that contain satirical messages. The findings reveal that most of his satirical songs criticize social inequality, poverty, legal injustice, corruption, and the misuse of power by government authorities and state officials. This study demonstrates that Iwan Fals' songs are more than just entertainment; they are a strong communication tool capable of promoting social change. This study also argues that the major function of satire in Iwan Fals' works is to serve as a mirror for society. This satire serves as a moral reminder and a form of social oversight, turning music into a space for freedom of expression—a space that was often restricted or limited in public and political spheres. Iwan Fals' songs become one of the safest and most efficient means to express people's desires, aspiration and social control in Indonesian society