Backward Masking Technique
Used To Convey Hidden Messages
Trough Nowadays Pop Songs
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Hergung Kadarman 112005173
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
i
TITLE
Hidden Messages Conveyed
Using Backward Masking Technique
Trough Nowadays Pop Songs
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Sarjana Pendidikan
Hergung Kadarman
11 2005 173
Approved by:
Purwanti Kusumaningtyas, M.Hum Lany Kristono, M.Hum
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
This thesis contains no such material as ha s been submitted for examination in any course or
accepted for the fulfillment of any degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my
knowledge and my belief, this contains no material previously published or written by any other
person except where due reference is made in the text.
Copyright@ 2011. Hergung Kadarman and Purwanti Kusumaningtyas, M.Hum
All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced by any means without the prior
written permission of at least one of the copyright owners or the English Department, Faculty of
Language and Literature, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This thesis would not have been completed without the help and support from many
people. Therefore, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the following people who
have assisted me in completing this research. First of all, I would like to give thanks to the
Almighty God, Jesus Christ, who always becomes my all in all. Without His grace I would never
finish this study. Thanks God, for You always be there. When I fall you pick me up to rise up
again.
Second I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mrs.Purwanti Kusumaningtyas,
M.Hum my supervisor, for teaching and guiding me patiently step by step until I could finish this
study. You could have kicked me out from your thesis students list. Thanks Mam, you did not
kick me out of your thesis class. And also to Mrs.Lany Kristono, the examiner of my thesis for
willing to be my second reader even though you had had so many jobs to finish when I submitte
my thesis.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to Mrs. Andriani for giving me chance and
recommendation to get scholarship, to Mrs. Neny Isharyanti who has given me advises, Mrs.
Martha Nandari for helping to get scholarship also.
I would like to say my respect and thankfulness to Mr. Djoemadi W. Pawiro who has given
me all supports. Mr. Djoemadi, you have given more than what I asked. You gave me financial
support, mental support and lesson I will never forget.
My special thanks are also given to my elders Siswo and Pandan who always encouraged
me in a time when I really need support, for my best friends: Nie, for you are my inspiration to
brothers who shares all happiness and sadness all times, for sharing advises; and also to my
2005‘ers team: Bela, Christin, Sandi, Tejo, Bowo and Melan. Also for RehobotSyeba cell group
and Kangen zone who have supported me in such a way, and everyone who helps me in finishing
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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Statement of the Problem ... 5
C. Research Question... 6
7. Satanism or Satanic Worship ... 9
G. Significance of the Study ... 9
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 11
A. Effects of Music on Human ... 11
1. From Historical Point of View ... 11
2. From a Life Story of a Scientist ... 12
B. Backward Masking ... 12
1. Definition of Backward Masking ... 12
2. History of Backward Masking ... 13
3. The Process to Make Backward Masking ... 15
4. Examples of Cases on Backward Masking ... 17
5. How Backward Masking Works ... 18
C. About Britney Spears ... 19
D. Christian Ethic Perspectives... 23
1. Christian Ethic Perspective on Sex ... 23
2. Christian Ethic Perspective on the Issue of Satanism or Satanic Worship ... 26
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ... 28
A. Type of Research ... 28
B. Subject of the Research... 28
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1. Data Collection Instrument ... 29
2. Data Collection Method ... 31
3. Sample of the Data ... 31
D. Method of the Data Analysis ... 32
E. Research Procedures ... 32
CHAPTER IV DATA ANALYSIS ... 34
A. Hit Me Baby One More Time ... 34
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 47
A. Conclusions ... 47
B. Sugestions ... 48
References ... 50
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX A ... 53
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Abstract
This research attempts to find and analyze backward masking technique used in nowadays
pop songs as a part of popular culture. The issue of backward masking is widely discussed ininternet as a tool to convey hidden messages like free sex or promiscuity, homosexual, lesbian,
drugs use, suicide and satanic worship or Satanism. It inspires me to check whether the rumors
are true or not because we as English Department people commonly use pop songs in English as
instruments in teaching learning activities. Other consideration is that pop songs cannot be
separated from our daily lives. I hope that this research can be a useful consideration and reading
materials for English Department people and also for the youth people in general. This research
is a qualitative descriptive research using 7 of Britney Spears songs as research sample and a free
or an open source software called Audacity as the research instrument. The software is used to
play the sample songs backward or reversedly to find any hidden messages. Result of this
research leads to an obvious conclusion. The analyzed data showed that 6 out of 7 Britney
Spears‘ songs found as containing hidden messages on the issues of free sex or promiscuity,
homosexual and satanic worship.
Keywords: Backward masking, pop songs, popular culture, free sex or promiscuity,
