My Analysis and Thoughts on the "Brighter" Vox Song
Hey guys! Since season 2 is over, I thought I'd share my thoughts of Vox's song "Brighter" and how great the song is. This is a LONG post so I hope you enjoy it. For the structure of this, first is the image, THEN the text that corresponds next to it. If you are interested in hearing my analyses of this, please suggest another song I could analyze and I can take a swing at it. :)
First, why not start at the beginning? The song opens with Vox brooding about being called a failure by Lucifer. This is able to provide a smooth segue into the song and his past since he is likely brooding about it. Unlike other musicals (not excluding Hazbin Hotel) where they just stick a song and dance number in.
First introduction shows Vox as he says "Trust us with your weather." I find it hilarious he says that because weather forecasts are some of the least trustworthy things you can rely and trust on since it constantly changes. Also, I noticed how he says "weather" very cheerily and upbeat, but as the song progresses, he becomes more sinister. (news, entertainment, network, etc.)
The first reporter has a tie similar to Vox. Also sad to see how the two reporters get along so well together (she was so sad when he died) and the only thing Vox cares about is the position and his ambition.
He kicks the weatherwoman much like Katy Killjoy shoves Tom aside and abuses him. Can see why he chose her as his top reporter since she is much like him. He also has a small fish pin, showing his love for aquatic life. Funnily enough, it is an Angel fish.
After killing his first victim, he has gained his striped tie (before he had a black one as shown in the previous image) that is similar to the shirt he wears in hell and grayish blue shirt. His pin is now a boat, symbolizing how he is setting sail on his now murderous path.
Vox literally steals his next victim's outfit. Now (if you look in the next scene) he has an anchor pin. He has now settled on his new 'method' after killing his 2nd victim.
I thought this was a neat detail, but in this same scene one person has a picture of Vox's tv head as foreshadowing.
I thought this scene was so cool that it made his microphone cord look like his eye when he's hypnotizing people.
Great double meaning for every question mark. It means people who question him, but also 'mark' like a hit on someone.
Cool line "Fish like to swim next to sharks." But Vox's interpretation is skewed. Some fish do like to swim next to sharks, but not because they are stupid and unaware of the danger. Vox is most likely referring to himself as the 'shark'. However, in nature, sharks depend on the fish swimming next to them NOT as a a food source, but rather as an essential way to get groomed, cleaned, and supported by them to maintain the shark's own health. So, like them, Vox needs the support of others smaller than him to succeed and support him to be an apex predator. Without them, he is weaker...
I was wondering why she was going to use the matches and didn't just turn the stove off, until I realized that Vox broke the oven and she couldn't light it. Also, the eat or you get eaten line with the cooking show was a great pair up. The matchbox also ironically says "Strike anywhere!" Odd Vox is killing her over a cooking show, but maybe he just hated she was cooking a fish. 🤔
This next scene that shows Vox on camera again, he has a shark fin pin. He also mimics his eye squint he does but it looks natural since he does have one eye in the camera.
Vox now looks more deranged, his smile is more rectangular and wider like his demon form, and he has more gray hairs. the two picture frames in the background on the upper left also resemble his demon form eyes.
With some of the crazy things Vox has on his board, it isn't a surprise why Bob turned him down. I mean having a "Cola juice" sponsor with more cocaine is wild. New blood is also referring to sharks too.
Vox dancing here reminds me of Angel Dust dancing from Poison
For quick eyed history nerds like me, Bob was actually a real person. Seeing his handwriting, his name is Robert Sinclaire, who was an American film writer and director who was murdered by a burglar in his own home. (shot and stabbed) Vox here, in essence, is robbing him of his film network.
Even though this is a grisly scene, it's nice to see the lady reporter from the very beginning wasn't killed by Vox. Maybe due to all the murders going on and deciding to quit her job in media and raise a family (since she has a girl in her arms in this scene.)
The TVs are suspended above him and in a tangled mess, much like his mental state now. Now wonder he is killed by a falling one. I also think it is ironic how both him and Alastor die from a ridiculous death, both head related too.
Vox is killed along with his 'cult' too. I didn't notice or think about it until later then I remembered...
I think these are the people who died! They certainly look like they are worshipping him. One of them has Alastor ears even! (this is in the Hazbin Guarantee/trust us song btw. If this is the case, very good foreshadowing and something to catch up on rewatch.
As a final poetic word, the end of the song ends with the beginning lyrics of the song. "You gotta climb a little higher to reach the top of the display". Vox has now reached the peak of his power on top of the tv "displays". Showing how he has fulfilled his desire and is above the TVs that killed him when he was a mortal.
I hoped you enjoyed my LONG post guys! Just trying to give this great song its due justice and enhance your enjoyment of it anytime you see or hear it again. If you want me to do this for another song, or have any other things you'd like to share, feel free to respond in the comments:)
