Analysis of the Hidden Meaning in the Lyrics of the Song "Vampire's Love" by Vamps

A Study of Riffaterre’s Semiotic Theory

Authors

  • Muhammad Fariz Galasta
  • Bayu Aryanto

Keywords:

Riffaterre’s semiotics, song lyrics, hidden meaning, VAMPS, “Vampire’s Love”, Japanese language

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the hidden meaning contained in the lyrics of “Vampire’s Love” by VAMPS using Michael Riffaterre’s semiotic theory. The song was selected because it contains various poetic expressions that cannot be fully understood through a literal reading alone. This research employed a descriptive qualitative method using heuristic and hermeneutic reading stages. The analysis focused on identifying indirect forms of expression, including displacement of meaning, distortion of meaning, matrix, model, variants, and hypogram. The findings reveal that displacement of meaning is represented through metaphor and hyperbole, while distortion of meaning is manifested through ambiguity, contradiction, and nonsense. The hermeneutic reading indicates that the lyrical persona represents a vampire who loves someone but is unable to express or realize that love directly. The song’s matrix is obstructed love, while its model is “ ” reflected in the chorus, which emphasizes that the feeling of love persists despite being unattainable. The variants found in the lyrics include distance, memories, sacrifice, and restrained affection. The song’s hypogram relates to the tradition of romantic literature concerning unattainable love and the Gothic tradition, which portrays vampires as symbols of forbidden love, loneliness, and sacrifice. Overall, “Vampire’s Love” depicts the suffering of unexpressed love through a network of semiotic signs that collectively construct the song’s deeper meaning.

Keywords: Riffaterre’s semiotics, song lyrics, hidden meaning, VAMPS, “Vampire’s Love,” Japanese language.

Downloads

Published

2026-11-07

How to Cite

Galasta, M. F., & Aryanto , B. . (2026). Analysis of the Hidden Meaning in the Lyrics of the Song "Vampire’s Love" by Vamps: A Study of Riffaterre’s Semiotic Theory. Proceeding of International Conference on Japanese Studies, Language and Education, 7(1), 21-34. Retrieved from https://proceedings.aspbji.id/index.php/icjsle/article/view/150

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Proceeding of International Conference on Japanese Studies, Language and Education (ICJSLE)

Section

Articles 
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Dispatcher.dispatch(Object:Request) % line  279, file: PKPApplication.inc.php
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Dispatcher.dispatch(Object:Request) % line  279, file: PKPApplication.inc.php
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Dispatcher.dispatch(Object:Request) % line  279, file: PKPApplication.inc.php
PKPApplication.execute() % line   68, file: index.php

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            PKPTemplateManager.display(frontend/pages/article.tpl) % line  281, file: ArticleHandler.inc.php
         ArticleHandler.view(Array[1], Object:Request) % line  391, file: PKPRouter.inc.php
      PKPRouter._authorizeInitializeAndCallRequest(Array[2], Object:Request, Array[1], false) % line  231, file: PKPPageRouter.inc.php
   PKPPageRouter.route(Object:Request) % line  143, file: Dispatcher.inc.php
Dispatcher.dispatch(Object:Request) % line  279, file: PKPApplication.inc.php
PKPApplication.execute() % line   68, file: index.php

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