The opening number of Damien Chazelle's La La Land, "Another Day of Sun," explodes onto the Los Angeles freeway with a vibrant, almost defiant, optimism. This ambitious sequence, featuring hundreds of dancers and singers, immediately establishes the film's central thematic concern: the pursuit of dreams in a city that both inspires and crushes them. While the film presents a conventional Hollywood romance, its true brilliance lies in how its musical score, composed by Justin Hurwitz, functions not merely as accompaniment but as a dynamic narrative force, shaping character development, articulating unspoken emotions, and ultimately commenting on the bittersweet realities of ambition and love.
From the outset, the music serves as a direct reflection of the characters' aspirations. Mia Dolan, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian "Seb" Wilder, a jazz pianist, are both artists struggling to make their mark. Their initial encounters are often charged with a musical tension that mirrors their prickly, yet undeniably magnetic, chemistry. "A Lovely Night," for instance, is a classic musical number, a duet where their contrasting personalities and immediate skepticism about each other are laid bare. Seb's cynical dismissal of Hollywood's romanticism is voiced through his dismissive melody, while Mia's hopeful yet cautious stance is captured in her more lyrical responses. The song itself becomes a microcosm of their burgeoning relationship, a playful push-and-pull that is as much about their individual desires as it is about their potential connection.
As their relationship deepens, the score evolves to reflect their growing emotional intimacy and shared dreams. "City of Stars," a simple, melancholic duet, becomes the film's emotional anchor. Sung first by Mia and then by Seb, its recurring motif signifies their shared longing and the profound impact they have on each other's lives. The song’s quiet introspection stands in stark contrast to the grand opening number, suggesting a more personal, internalized journey. The repetition of the phrase "city of stars, are you shining just for me?" highlights their individual isolation within the vast metropolis, but also the hope that they might find their place, together. This shared musical theme acts as a sonic representation of their evolving bond, a melody that binds them even as their individual paths begin to diverge.
The music also powerfully articulates the sacrifices and compromises inherent in pursuing artistic ambitions. Seb’s struggle to remain true to his jazz purism, a desire so central to his identity that he even names his dream jazz club "Whimsies," is a recurring motif. His brief stint in a commercially successful but artistically unfulfilling band, culminating in the catchy but soulless "Start a Fire," represents a betrayal of his musical soul. The jarring, synthesized sound of this number is a deliberate sonic departure from the film's otherwise warm, often orchestral and piano-driven score, underscoring the artificiality and emptiness of his compromise. This musical shift visually and aurally communicates his internal conflict and the cost of his choices.
Perhaps the most profound use of music occurs in the film's epilogue, a seven-minute sequence that imagines an alternate reality. Here, the themes of "Mia & Sebastian's Theme" and "City of Stars" are woven into a sweeping, romanticized montage of what might have been. This "Epilogue" is not just a visual recreation of their potential shared future; it is a musical exploration of loss, regret, and enduring love. The melody, now grand and sweeping, suggests the powerful, almost overwhelming, emotions that accompany the realization of dreams deferred and relationships lost. It’s a bittersweet symphony, acknowledging the beauty of their shared past and the enduring power of their connection, even if it couldn't survive the harsh realities of ambition. The music here allows the audience to experience the catharsis of what could have been, a powerful emotional release that solidifies the film's impact.
In La La Land, the music is more than just background noise or a vehicle for plot exposition. It is an active participant in the narrative, a language that speaks directly to the heart. Justin Hurwitz's score masterfully translates the characters' internal lives – their hopes, their fears, their loves, and their losses – into a soundscape that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The film’s success in capturing the essence of the dream-chasing spirit of Los Angeles is inextricably linked to its ability to use music not just to tell a story, but to make the audience feel it.