The "Highway" to Vocal Endurance
Another Day of Sun is the iconic opening number from the 2016 musical film La La Land. Composed by Justin Hurwitz with lyrics by Pasek and Paul, the song is a high-octane ensemble piece featuring multiple soloists, complex harmonies, and modulating keys. It captures the frantic optimism of dreamers in Los Angeles.
To sing this successfully, you need more than just pitch accuracy. You need "spin" in your tone—a bright, forward placement that cuts through the busy jazz instrumentation—and incredible breath control to handle the rapid-fire lyrics while maintaining energy.
AI Coach Tip: Smile While Singing
To achieve that authentic musical theatre sound, lift your soft palate and maintain a slight smile. This brightens your resonance and helps with the rapid articulation required for lines like "Technicolor world made out of music and machine."
Phase 1: The Rhythmic Verses (0:00 - 1:15)
The song opens with a driving drum loop and piano chords in Eb Major. The first soloist begins with "I think about that day / I left him at a Greyhound station." The challenge here is syncopation. The melody rarely lands square on the beat.
The Trap: Many singers drag the tempo. Focus on crisp consonants (T's, K's, and P's) to stay locked in with the percussion. Treat the voice almost like a percussion instrument here.
Phase 2: The Climbing Chorus (1:15 - 2:30)
As the chorus hits ("Climb these hills / I'm reaching for the heights"), the melody ascends. This requires a strong mix-belt. Do not pull pure chest voice up to these notes, or you will fatigue quickly.
- Breath Management: The phrases are long. Snatch quick breaths at punctuation marks, but keep the airflow consistent.
- The "Sun" Vowel: On the word "Sun," modify the vowel slightly towards "Suh-n" (Schwa sound) rather than a wide "San," to keep the throat open on the sustained note.
Phase 3: The Ensemble Finale (2:30 - 3:48)
The song modulates and builds to a massive finish. The backing vocals perform complex counterpoint while the main melody belts high notes (reaching up to Eb5/F5 in harmonies). This is pure stamina.
Engage your core (solar plexus) to support these high notes. If you are dancing or moving while singing this (as the original cast did), you must practice cardio to ensure your voice doesn't shake on the final sustained chords.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an ensemble piece. The solos cover ranges suitable for Tenors and Mezzo-Sopranos, but the choir parts cover the full SATB spectrum.
Yes. The difficulty lies in the speed (tempo), the jazz syncopation, and the endurance required to maintain high energy for nearly 4 minutes without sounding winded.
Use the Singing Coach AI app to slow the track down to 75% speed. Focus on landing the consonants exactly on the off-beats, then gradually increase speed.
