Money – Dawn

To put it simply, this song challenges capitalism. That was pretty easy to figure out. However, this is an analysis and, as it is not my nature, this won't be short. (I do also have a minimum word count to meet so)

This piece of pop music is an invitation to pursue an internal interrogation on the flaws of the economic system that is capitalism. Indeed, Dawn takes here the role of a curious child that wants to ask his parents how to acquire happiness if it’s not by buying it. By doing this and by formulating his lyrics in the shape of questions, he brings forth the discussion on the worrying importance of money in many societies.

This incitation to Socratic questioning is his way of making an impact.

This is the meaning we could understand he gives to the sentence “I paint flowers so that they will not die”, a reference to Frida Khalo’s famous words that appear on a poster somewhere in the music video. He asks others his questions so that others can analyze those issues too. This way, he keeps the listener heedful of the world they live in.

Music Video

More symbolism is present in the music video.

For example, from the beginning of the MV, Dawn wears a fancy looking bandage on his nose while wearing an elegant outfit and jewelry, and being surrounded by luxury. Throughout the video, currency notes and other treasured items will garnish his environment. It is clear that he is in a position of wealth yet, from the existence of visible wounds, from the constant dreary atmosphere and from his cheerless presence, we can understand that he aches both literally and metaphorically. The unusual bandage suggests that he wishes to hide or heal his pain with luxury but (spoiler) he does not succeed. This failure leads to his existential crisis.

Moreover, a neon sign that reads “how bad do you want it” can be noticed decorating the set as choreography is performed. These words imply the existence of one or many bullies trying to get someone else to beg for money. They imply that there is a person in a position of power that wants to know how far someone would go to gain money. This confronts the oppression that is enforced by the capitalist system.

Furthermore, Dawn’s living space in the music video contains mostly inanimate objects or dead or fake plants. Although it might be a way of stating “the character is depressed and has a hard time doing productive things like keeping his plants alive” (which would explain why he keeps a lot of garbage around and the general mess), it could also just be a metaphor for how the character doesn’t feel like he’s truly alive.

The limited presence of light also refers to his state of mind and adds to the lethargic feeling that his environment holds. Indeed, this tells us that those are sombre moments in his life. The character is in his search for happiness but can’t find any, can’t find the life.

However, this changes at two moments in the music video.

The first one is linked to dreams. He might be sleeping (his eyes are closed), might be remembering or thinking about his dreams but it can plausibly be related to the words “Let your dreams be your wings” that appear on the floor next to Dawn before he starts levitating. Then, he drops the money he was previously holding and baths in the sunlight coming through the ceiling. As he levitates, he is wearing a butterfly, a symbol of hope and life, on his hand. The cold palette of colors reveals that he is, however, not yet happy. In fact, he comes back down to Earth pretty quickly (literally).

The second time is when he finally establishes that he doesn’t need money to find happiness after remembering his hopes and dreams. Indeed, he goes back to a room where nature lives which makes the set start to crumble. The lights flicker, Dawn’s dancing is more energetic, there are dust particles floating around, the chorus finishes to give way to silence. Then, a warm pink light illuminates the set and rose petals float around him. He has found happiness and serenity.

This is a message to find hope and fight for it.

Lyrics

Throughout the song, Dawn expresses a desire to acquire money even though it makes him feel miserable. “Not a day goes by without fighting” but no one is there to explain to him why those wars are happening and why they keep happening. “We can’t see the end.”

He is repulsed and, yet he still requires money.

He is confused by those conflicting feelings, is living an internal conflict because he must dismiss his values to meet his needs and wants. He believes that the surrendering of those values is the “price to pay” to have money.

This confusion and the constant questioning makes his characters come off as innocent. Reading the lyrics, it feels as if Dawn is a child, trying to figure out the world. By taking on this role he becomes vulnerable which makes the discussion even more personal. Truly, “if money can’t buy happiness” in a world where the ultimate goal is to make the most money, how can one find happiness?

However, Dawn’s character is not gullible. The questions he is asking are mostly rhetorical. They remain, nonetheless, a cry for help. He doesn’t want typical optimistic answers, he requires someone that has discerned the flaws of the system to help him survive and find happiness. He wonders if that is a selfish request.

After the last chorus, the song is cut to a moment of silence which is followed by the repeated statement: “I don’t need you” and then “the shining you”. The use of silence here separates the end of his crisis and then the beginning of his hopeful life. He understands that money is still desirable but now knows he can find happiness outside of it.

Ending

Yey! That’s nice! A good ending! We like that!

Do we? (meh.) As an author, it is my duty to find a way to make things sad so, here I go.

So, is it really a good ending? After all, last time we saw him in the MV, his house was crumbling down and he isn’t seen leaving it. For all we know, he might have just died because he didn’t have enough money to take care of himself (which is something that happens in capitalist societies, after all). Maybe what we see in the ending is Dawn’s paradise? After all, religion is present in the MV if only by the big ass cross that reads “Jesus Saves” in the back of their dancing.

And isn’t it quite fascinating how the music and images just cut abruptly and jump to happy times? While the chorus before that explained that Dawn would rather live in luxury than constantly saving money? In that line of thought, the words “I don’t need you” would hold a whole other meaning. After all, you indeed do not need money when you’re dead.

In conclusion, I don’t know more than you what any of this means but I like looking deep into things so: you’re welcome for the babbling.

And remember, kids, you have the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to freedom of association which means you have the right to manifest. Might wanna look into the people trying to take that away from others ;)