Exploring Students’ Struggles through the Lens of Musical Analysis

Dr. Saima Jamshaid; Hira Bashir

doi:10.63056/

Authors

Dr. Saima Jamshaid Lecturer, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Author
Hira Bashir M.Phil (Linguistics), Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63056/

Keywords:

Student struggles, Multimodal analysis, Song interpretation, Academic pressure, Emotional expression

Abstract

This study investigates the emotional struggles and frustrations students face in their pursuit of academic success, emphasizing their longing for freedom from societal expectations and the value of individuality and creativity. Using a multimodal qualitative approach, informed by Fairclough’s (2003, 2006) Critical Discourse Analysis framework, the research examined three songs—“Give Me Some Sunshine” (2009), “Take Me Away” (2022), and “I Am So Lonely / Broken Angel” (2010). Through content and thematic analysis of lyrics and musical elements such as tone and rhythm, recurring themes of pressure, discouragement, and emotional fatigue were identified. The findings reveal that while the songs reflect students’ struggles under academic and societal demands, they also promote self-expression, emotional release, and the pursuit of personal happiness beyond conventional measures of success.