Track Six: Miss Sunshine
First off, this music video is everything. So 90’s, so Blink 182, and just silly. I love the crazy wide angle lens that is used, the weird white picket fence situation and most of all, him presenting his cats throughout the video.
MGK stated that he finished this song, and then immediately made the music video within 24 hours of finalizing the song. However, the Vinyl reproduction is entirely different from what is on the digital album. He is a perfectionist to his core, and altered the songs even after the official release, to many of the songs. I was actually whiplashed when I started to play the vinyl and heard the entirely different 2nd verse, and completely different ending.
There are a few songs on the vinyl that are a bit different from their digital reproductions – and I have 5 copies of this vinyl [lol] with none of the finalized version of the song.
This song is definitely road trip vibes. From the lyrics to the melody – it’s everything you would want to see on an early 2000’s scene with friends packing up and driving across the nation.
Lyrical Interpretation
Hey, Miss Sunshine, I took a tab and felt the sky
It’s a good life and then it’s bad, but that’s alright
On the bright side, we all sit and sympathize
So in the meantime, might as well enjoy the ride
So immediately we are talking about LSD. [lol]
The music video definitely makes this obvious
From the swirly backgrounds when he is playing the piano,
to the silly boppin’ in and out of the scene with the white picket fence [this is one of my favorite things about this video haha]
To the comical road trip vibes in their mini jeeps.
It’s a good life doing this, and then the repercussions come – but it’s accepted that’s a consequence of this lifestyle. The friends he is with, understand the pain, the hurt, from their daily lives as well as the up’s and down’s of doing these drugs – but they’re just coasting through. Enjoying what they can – even when they are in pain.
Though this song heavily shows freedom, and impulsive decisions and enjoying life as a road trip – but all of this shows the consequences through his other songs.
Four seats and five people ’bout to take a (a trip)
Roll the windows, roll one up, let’s make a (spaceship)
Where’s the volume? Turn it up, who got the (playlist?)
Everybody sings the song just like we’re (famous)
Four seats and five people is a funny line because I think everyone has endured this packed car scene. There are not enough seats in a 4 person car- but you pile in any ways [these bad decisions are just me avoiding boredom].
Andddd then we are on LSD making a spaceship out of a car.
But really this is also meaning living beyond your experience, ignoring realities, and pretending everything is alright and somewhat living irresponsibly. Singing loudly, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and escaping the bad life moments, and it’s alright.
We were royalty in a cheap hotel
Dazed and confused, but we clean up well
Didn’t need no help for a hell of a time (ha, ha)
(Yeah!)
Continuing on with escapism, too many drugs but when they are off of them they can present normally to the world – they didn’t do much – together – but it doesn’t take money or extravagant experiences to let them enjoy their company and simply pleasures. The drugs do this for them.
It’s a long way home (oh)
It’s a long way home (don’t know which way to go)
It’s a long way home
Ooh, hoo
It’s a long way home
Uh, uh
lost. americana.
home can be literally home, or it can be a metaphor for finding your way. In this album he talks a lot about rehab, making most of his album in room 3, so although this song is peppy and fun, it’s also about being lost, content with drugs and the life he’s been living, but also pained by this life he’s been living. His life exists with just moments of pleasure but consequences of pain and loss through that.
These bad decisions I make is just me avoidin’ boredom
Call it ironic, I got money and poor decorum
Feels like I’m flyin’ off coffee and Coca-Cola
Only lights on my horizon are ones that pull me over
(Damn) yeah
This verse directly relates to Vampire Diaries for me. He can’t do what he wants, he can’t just walk down the street without being noticed, he is locked away most of the time from public if he doesn’t want the scrutiny, so he gets bored. It would be easy to not makes mistakes if he wasn’t so damn bored.
He has money but doesn’t spend it on expensive things for his house.
He did say in an interview that he ingests mostly coffee and cigarettes now that he is clean – but I think this line is actually referencing cocaine, as a cover up. However, he does mention he loves coca-cola so this could be straight up as well.
He has no guiding light – light at the end of the tunnel – but he has gotten pulled over – and those are the lights he sees in the darkness.
I like in the Cliche he mentions ‘Your name is in neon light in the sky when darkness surrounds us‘
as the light that possibly has replaced this.
I’m a drifter, let me go
It’s the only life I know
Im just a rollin’ stone
Chasin’ vultures and black crows
To the promised land, I’m sold
The only interpretations I really get from this is the symbolism of black crows and ravens/vultures, which are usually tied to bad omens or bad luck. Chasin’ bad luck in America?
We were royalty in a cheap hotel
Dazed and confused, but we clean up well
Didn’t need no help for a hell of a time
(Alright!)
It’s a long way home (oh)
It’s a long way home (don’t know which way to go)
It’s a long way home
Ooh, hoo
It’s a long way home
I got my shades on (it’s always like “There’s a light”)
Because the day’s long (there’s a light)
I’m on the highway
I got to move on (that’s what I’m talkin’ about)
(Yeah)
The light is too bright even at night? The days are long and his eyes are tired, which is why the light is too bright – he’s on this roadtrip but he has got to go back home – home being him finding himself again… sober.
Visual Representation
35mm film – cinestill 800 asa
I photographed this with the thought of bouncing from hotel to hotel. Although the song SOUNDS peppy, it’s really discussing this time in his life where he was making irrational and irresponsible choices. The only way to feel joy is to pretend life isn’t real, to self medicate, to check out.
We were royalty in a cheap hotel
Dazed and confused, but we clean up well
Didn’t need no help for a hell of a time