The interlacing theme of Hope v/s Melancholy: It’s Another Day of Sun!
The interlacing theme of Hope v/s
Melancholy: It’s Another Day of Sun!

It’s the grand opening scene of Damien Chazelle’s celebrated 2016 Musical – La La Land. The scene begins with the panning shot of a traffic jam on a freeway. The diegetic sound of a radio suggests, it’s a warm and sunny day in Los Angeles. The camera pans, showing different cars caught up in the traffic jam –with drivers listening to music of different genre. This also implies at the multicultural diversity in LA - the City of Dreams, where people from various ethnic backgrounds and cultures come in search of their dreams. Ultimately, an Indian woman in yellow dress (played by Reshma Gajjar) starts to sing a song. She steps out of her car and begins to display her dramatic moves. Other drivers join her one by one – singing and dancing. Ultimately about 30 performers merry, dance, jump, hop up and down across the freeway, as well as on their cars - singing “it’s another day of sun”.
Although
the music of “it’s another day of sun” is self-motivating, the lyrics of the
song deepen its impact on the listeners. The ensemble music and the visuals of
people dancing in colourful dresses above their cars against the blue sky make
the audience perceive the song to be joyous. Even the lyrics appear to be
hopeful when the dancer merry on the freeway and sing “it’s another day of
sun”, which may appear as if it is a ‘productive day’. However, the lyrics
express a tinge of melancholy too, which is perceived implicitly. Chasing one’s dreams against the currents
of uncertain reality forms the central theme of the song.
The
song begins with the following lines –
I think about that day
I left him at a Greyhouse station
West of Santa Fe
We were seventeen, but he was sweet
and it was true
Still I did what I had to do
‘Cause I just knew
The
first line clearly establishes nostalgia, as the singer recollects the day when
she moved away from her teenage boyfriend at a bus station. Similar to all
teenage love stories, the singer believes that her love was ‘true’. We are also
introduced to the oppositional themes of ‘vagueness and knowingness’ in these
lines. Although the singer says she was only seventeen years old at that time,
she was aware of what was the right thing to do in life i.e. move away from her
sweetheart to pursue a bigger dream. Thus, the theme of hope is layered by
melancholia with a reference to nostalgia in these opening lines.
The
song continues –
Summer Sunday lights
We’d sink into our seats
Right as they dimmed out all the
lights
A Technicolor world made out of music
and machine
It called me to be on that screen
And live inside each scene
These
lines gyrate around the nostalgic memories of her teen hood. Weekend dates with
her boyfriend involved watching late night movie shows. However, teenage dreams
are not only characterized by ideal romance, but also prompts blossoming hope
to accomplish something incredible in life.
In this regard, these lines imply that the narrator aspires to become a
movie star. This is evident in the lines “a Technicolor world….called me to be
on that screen, and live inside each scene”. This is also a reference to the
popular phrase - “life is like a movie” where one ought to live inside every
scene.
The
song continues with the chorus –
Without a nickel to my name
Hopped a bus, here I came
Could be brave or just insane?
We’ll have to see
The
interesting part here is – the story of
everyone ‘dreaming’ to achieve big in life has a common beginning. The
previous lines acted as a prologue to the narrator’s story. But the current lines
– sung in chorus – imply that everyone coming to the big city, aspiring success,
has a common start. They come to the city, ‘empty handed, yet eyes filled with
dreams’. These lines describe the courage to pursue “personal calling”.
The
song continues with the lines –
‘Cause maybe in that sleepy town
He’ll sit one day, the lights are down
He’ll see my face and think of how he
Used to know me
Although
her teenage love has ceased to exist, the memories are alive yet. These lines
give a strong dose of hope and melancholia. The story of the dreamer is in a
state of abyss. Her personal calling has led her to sacrifice her personal life
in search of dreams. But the dreams are
not fulfilled yet. However, there is still hope. “Perhaps my dream will be accomplished”. “Maybe
I am still remembered by my former muse”. But
in reality, these hopes lie solely on the versatile terms like “Maybe or
Perhaps”. The singer feels the only way to substitute the sacrifice of love
is by achieving the dream that led to the break up in the first place.This is
the direct reference to the dichotomy of ‘hope versus melancholy’ in the song.
The
song continues with the chorus –
Climb these hills
I’m reaching for the heights
And chasing all the lights that shine
With
reference to the previous lines, the dreamers overcome melancholia by utilising
every opportunity that they come across. In terms of musical composition, these repeating
lines boost a feeling of utmost positivism. Every ray of light (hope) is
pursued with optimism. While the term ‘hills’ refers to the famous Hollywood,
‘heights’ denote the fame it offers. Further, the chorus continues –
And when they let you down
You’ll get up off the ground
‘Cause morning rolls around
And it’s another day of sun
These
lines convey the theme of hope amidst melancholy in an intense manner, both
lyrically and musically. The chorus motivate that despite rejections, one must not stop pursuing their dreams. In
other words, it suggests the classic proverb “try and try again until you
succeed.” Another day of Sun presents to the dreamer – a new day, filled with
new possibilities, hopes and opportunities. Another shiny day implies yet
another chance to achieve your dreams. It must be noted that in reality, the
dreams are not fulfilled yet. The irony
of these lines is that they are painful and powerful at the same time.
The
song continues further, with the male vocalist singing these lines –
I hear ‘em everyday
The rhythms in the canyons
That’ll never fade away
The ballads in the barrooms
Left by those who came before
They say “you gotta want it more”
So I bang on every door
These
lines establish that the narrator is an aspiring musician. “I hear...rhythms …that’ll
never fade away” suggests he finds infinite inspiration and does has abundant talent. Particularly in the context of this song, “the canyons” refers to the
Runyon Canyon, which is the home of Hollywood. Hence, it may be interpreted
that the rhythms in the canyons is his “personal calling” which has led him to
Hollywood. Even the ballads performed by
others in the barrooms inspire him to achieve his dream by giving his heart and
soul (i.e. giving his best). Hence, he knocks on every door –meaning he never
lets go of even a single opportunity. Perhaps, in the entire song, these lines best convey devotion and
dedication towards a dream by representing the narrator’s willpower to pursue
it. The song continues –
And even when the answer’s “No”
Or when my money is running low
The dusty mic and neon glow
Are all I need
What really thrills an artist is not
really the praise or applause, but the feeling of being on the stage, standing
under the neon lights, holding a microphone and drenching his/her heart out with
a soulful performance. However, in
the celebrity world driven by the popular perception of fame, achieving a name (stardom)
for oneself becomes a necessity in defining the fulfillment of one’s dream. But
for a true artist, it is only secondary. Hence, the narrator says – stage is primary, fame is secondary.The
song continues –
And someday as I sing my song
A small-town kid’ll come along
That’ll be the thing to push him on
and go go
Here
the singer provides a naked perspective to his grand dream.These are perhaps the
most vigorous lines in the entire song that describe the ultimate purpose of a
dreamer. It is not the name or fame that matters in the end. What really matters is to be an inspiration
for others by having incessant faith in one’s dream. The singer hopes, even
if he ends up singing on a dusty mike in a barroom, then perhaps – perhaps, a
small kid with dreamy eyes hailing from a small town might be motivated by this
sight; and aspire to pursue his own dreams in the big city. These are
undoubtedly the most powerful lines in the song where the themes of ‘hope and melancholy’ are intertwined with a punch of irony.The
song continues with the repeating lines of chorus singing “It’s another day of
Sun”.
“Another
day of Sun” is not merely a story of an aspiring actress or a musician – who narrate
this song. This is the story of every
dreamer who makes sacrifices in personal life and move out of comfort zone, in
a hope of achieving something great in life. However, at times the dreamers
may have to confront doubts, fears and rejections during the course of their
journey. At such times, it is the hope that – there is always a next chance and
a new day to try again– is what keeps them moving towards their dreams.

End Notes:
"Another day of Sun" is significant in terms of video composition too. The entire sequence is
recorded with a few hidden shots; so as to make it appear that the entire dance
sequence was shot in one go.
Song
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmfG0LNzscE
Song
Writers: Pasek Benj, Hurwitz Justin
Composer:
Justin Hurwitz
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