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.

“Another Day of Sun” is the grand tribute to all the dreamers who never give up on 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