The film Guava Island embellishes and create new meaning for Childish Gambino’s music. In its essence, Guava Island is a musical. It was intentional to not have Glover’s music as a soundtrack, but rather embedded into the text. We hear full performances from Glover as Deni. They include background dancers and surrealist effects just like a music video, but reframe their lyrics and messages entirely. This collection of songs is only fully realized and experienced within the context of the film.
As the old theatre saying goes, when words fail, music speaks. Playwrights are taught that songs should be used when the actors are moved so much that they have to sing. If this same thought process is applied here, we can explore the music in a much richer manner.
The first time Deni sings is at the warehouse, when feeling frustrated in expressing that moving to America wouldn’t change the conditions of life for the islanders. With “This is America”, Guava Islans solidifies the message that Gambino is stressing: any state under capitalist industrialism is America, more so in ideology and oppression than in the literal sense. When presented alone, “This is America” is more of a reflection and commentary on the injustices occurring daily in the United States, which does include capitalism and its consequences. However, in the film, we see that they are driving home the concept of breaking down American supremacism and the “American Dream”. Deni is so moved by this idea, he is thrust into song, dramatically introducing a message at the heart of the movie.
With “Summertime Magic”, Deni is so moved by his emotions for Kofi, and he finally has found the words he has been searching for his entire adolescence and adult life. “Summertime Magic” alone is a fun, catchy, radio hit. Guava Island gives this gravity. The audience has experienced the build-up of Deni and Kofi’s relationship, and they understand the key knowledge of Kofi’s secret pregnancy. This makes the performance and all future experiences listening to this song much more expansive and brings up a more moving sense of love and happiness.
Lastly, with “Feels Like Summer”, Deni has realized that he wants to hold his concert despite Red’s threats. Again, alone, this song is a windows-down, beach day tune. Yet, once set to this backdrop, the lyrics hold more weight. Glover sings about “men who made machines that want what they decide”, demonstrating the control that production and labor has over the workers in Guava Island.
Overall, these songs were designed to enhance Guava Island, and advance the plot and Deni’s emotional arc. While it may not be a traditional musical, Guava Island follows theatre’s arc, and gives way to better and long lasting interactions with the music.
Did Childish Gambino intentionally not release a recording of the final song of Guava Island? Why, and what might this signify?
How does the context of culture / time periods dictate our experiences listening to the Blues and Jazz singers?
See you Thursday,
Emma