Revisiting Hamilton's Genius

In 2015, Lin Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton" was performed for the first time off Broadway, and sparked a wave of popularity that was unlike what anyone else had ever seen. The popularity created sold out shows for months at a time, a lottery to get tickets, and of course its own fandom culture. I for one, remember listening to the soundtrack and wishing that I could one day see this beautifully told story performed before my very eyes.

During the 2020 pandemic, my prayers were answered through a filming of the original cast's performance released on Disney+. My memories of rewatching this performance are fond; singing along to all the songs, reliving my childhood fondness, and even experiencing new moments that were left out of the soundtrack itself. I probably rewatched this special dozens of times over the last couple of years.

This filmed performance of the original cast was recently released into physical theaters, sparking a trend of revisiting "Hamilton" through the film, TikTok trends, and the originally casted Aaron Burr, Leslie Odom Jr. returning to the Broadway production. This theatrical release has made many, including myself, reflect on "Hamilton's" popularity, soundtrack, and production.

Lin Manuel Miranda is no stranger to popularity, especially in the world of Broadway and musical theatre, with one of his previous musicals "In the Heights" being nominated and winning several Tony Awards. His lyricism is nothing short of witty, creative, and clever. The way he turns a subject like Alexander Hamilton into a full length Hip-Hop musical is a level of creativity at I aspire to have. "Hamilton" itself is one of the most highly awarded Broadway plays of all time, with a total of 11 awards. The musical has been praised by Broadway finatics, everyday people, and even the Obama administration for its ingenuity and education of American history. The vocals, production, lyrics, and more all combine into one of the most well regarded musical in Broadway history.

For anyone who hasn't listened to or watched "Hamilton", I strongly urge you to do so. Dedicate two hours to your life in order to understand the complexities in lyricism, performance, production, and so much more. You will not only get to experience the beauty of the soundtrack, but also have to opportunity to see this production in a unique way. My personal favorite tracks are

-Wait For It

-Room Where It Happens

-Satisfied

-Non-Stop

-Cabinet Battle 1

If you still are able, I would highly recommend seeing "Hamilton" is theatres, as the sing-a-long experience adds so much to the viewing. Who knows, you may even see someone dressed as Alexander Hamilton himself telling you they "have an early meeting out of town".