Appraising Emotion and Identity Through Clairo’s Lyrics Across Immunity, Sling, and Charm Albums

Abstract

This study investigates how Clairo’s lyrics across Immunity (2019), Sling (2021), and Charm (2024) albums construct emotion and identity using Appraisal Theory by Martin & White. By employing qualitative descriptive analysis, the research identifies Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation resources in nine representative songs selected from the three albums. The findings reveal a clear emotional progression: Immunity foregrounds sadness, vulnerability, and queer introspection; Sling reflects emotional fatigue, gendered frustration, and existential detachment; while Charm embraces playful desires, relational ambiguity, and emerging self-expression. These shifts demonstrate how Clairo’s affective stance evolves, reflecting changes in selfperception, interpersonal positioning, and ideological voice. The discussion highlights how evaluative language in her lyrics ranges from affective metaphors to dialogic engagement, which constructs intimacy, resistance, and freedom. Appraisal Theory proves effective in capturing lyrical nuance, emotional texture, and the subtle interplay between personal and social meaning. Through her discursive strategies, Clairo articulates a maturing voice that negotiates identity, independence, and emotional complexity within the indie pop genre. This study contributes to the understanding of how linguistic frameworks can illuminate the emotional and ideological dimensions of contemporary music.