Well, I just really wanted to release this list of mine. Also, now that Hamilton is available to watch on Disney+, it's enough of a film to be worth talking about in a movie blog by my standards. While the musical has been available to stream in the U.S. since July 3rd 2020, it will only become available in Finland next month, as Disney+ opens up its services here. Having seen the musical live in London (hands-down one of the best experiences in my life), as well as having listened to the cast recording for a multitude of times, I'm a huge fan of Hamilton - so naturally I've made a ranking of all 46 songs. This is one of the most challenging lists I've made as all of the songs are so good - the differences in greatness are so small that my ranking changes a bit every time that I re-listen to the soundtrack. But here it is in its current state - I hope you enjoy!
For the sake of clearness, the actors I'll be referring to throughout the text will be the original Broadway Cast, as they're the ones appearing on the soundtrack album as well as the filmed version of the play on Disney+. That being said, pretty much everything I say about them could also be said about the West End cast who I saw live, as they filled the shoes of the original cast with aplomb.
(Spoiler alert: While it is debatable whether something based on history can have "spoilers", this list does discuss specific plot points so I'd urge not to read it if you haven't seen the show but are meaning to watch it. Be sure to come back and check the list out after you've watched it!)
46. Dear Theodosia
Even my least favorite Hamilton song is important and decent. I like the premise, as the song looks at the differences and similarities between Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) by taking a side-by-side comparison of them writing letters to their children. But while I enjoy the concept, the music isn't on the same level as the rest of Hamilton in my opinion. This type of song isn't exactly Lin-Manuel Miranda's strongest suite as a composer, and it comes off as quite a cliché radio ballad. Still, a nice effort of bringing even more variety and different genres into the show!
45. Schuyler Defeated
In this 1-minute piece, Hamilton and his family learn that his father-in-law has lost his senate seat to Aaron Burr, to the backdrop of chords and melodies familiar from The Schuyler Sisters. It's not mind-blowing or especially memorable, but it makes for an interesting development in the deteriorating relationship between Hamilton and Burr, while also providing an interesting look into the politics of the time.
44. The Reynolds Pamphlet
Sandwiched between the powerful solo ballads Hurricane and Burn in the second act, The Reynolds Pamphlet follows the chaotic aftermath of Hamilton publishing the titular pamphlet where he confesses to having an extramarital affair. It's not one of the more special songs in the musical, but it does get points for having a sick drum beat that sounds like something from a club in the 1990's yet somehow fits the atmosphere of this scandal from the 1790's with perfection.
43. What Comes Next?
Why is this melancholic King George III (Jonathan Groff) song so low in my ranking? Well, it scores low points for originality as it more or less reprises the king's earlier song You'll Be Back, and to be fair, any song in the world would seem a bit lame when it follows the majestic epicness of Yorktown. Still, this is the right song to follow it: after such a climactic moment, it's nice to breathe for a while with a fun little song about the British reacting to the new independence of the United States, before getting back to business with the main characters.
42. Best Of Wives And Best Of Women
The third-last song of the entire musical may be very short and simple, but it speaks volumes. Even first-time viewers have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen at this point, and the short and sweet conversation between Alexander and his wife Eliza (Phillipa Soo) strongly contributes to the astronomical emotional stakes of the final songs of the show.
41. Blow Us All Away
Oh, what a delightful upbeat song about Hamilton's son Philip (Anthony Ramos) going around town and living his best life - right up until those final seconds where things take a turn for the heartbreaking. The music is decent, Ramos is lovable and entertaining in the role of Philip, and the musical's story takes an important turn at the end of the song, which leads up to the tragic Stay Alive (Reprise).
40. The Story Of Tonight (Reprise)
This remix of Hamilton's most Broadway song takes place after Alexander and Eliza's wedding, as Hamilton celebrates cheerfully with his friends. Filled with humor and memorable lines, the reprise is especially notable for the conversation between Hamilton and Burr at the end, which serves as a set-up for Wait For It, one of the best songs in the show.
39. We Know
In this very fine second-act song, the Jefferson-Madison-Burr squad confronts Hamilton about his questionable financial transactions and find out the whole truth. We Know moves the story of Hamilton's sex scandal to a critical point, and gains a lot of re-listening value due to the absolutely delicious harmonies sung by Daveed Diggs and Okiriete Onadowan as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, respectively.
38. Stay Alive
While below-average on Hamilton standards, this is still a really awesome song. Beginning with the spine-chilling sound of Eliza singing "Stay alive" over an intense piano melody and ending with an even more spine-chilling exchange between Hamilton and John Laurens (Anthony Ramos) right before Laurens goes off to duel Charles Lee (Jon Rua), Stay Alive definitely has its moments while not being one of my biggest favorites among Hamilton's full-length tracks.
37. That Would Be Enough
In the midst of the drama, war and overall intensity of Hamilton's first act, That Would Be Enough makes for a much-needed moment of levity. Just for a moment, all seems right in the world, as Eliza sings of her love for her husband and their future hopes, cheering up the protagonist who has just been sent home after his fiery exchange with George Washington (Christopher Jackson). The song is melodic, emotional and beautifully arranged, proving that Miranda's compositional skills don't end at hip hop and R&B.
36. Meet Me Inside
This intense and explosive exchange between Hamilton and Washington is one of the more dramatic moments in the first act. Seeing Washington asserting his authority and trying to discipline his right-hand man, up to the point where Hamilton has had enough and lets his anger get the best of him, is quite gripping - but necessary for Alexander's character development. The drummer in me also enjoys the 7/8 time signature in the beginning of the song - very untypical for rap music, but works like a charm.
35. I Know Him
Much like Yorktown, One Last Time is a song so bombastic that it makes sense for it to be followed by a fun King George update. While it is musically similar to the character's other two songs, I Know Him gets extra points for featuring some of the King's best lines ("They will tear each other into pieces Jesus Christ this will be fun" is a big favorite of mine) and for serving as an extra-flamboyant exit for the character. The song also ushers in the era of John Adams's presidency, speaking of which...
34. The Adams Administration
Sure, it's a transitional song that lasts less than a minute. But I really, really like it. I enjoy all of the songs where the opening "How does..." verse of Alexander Hamilton gets reprised, and this one is no exception. My appreciation for this song shot up after seeing it live, as the moment when Hamilton publishes his response to Adams's comments ("SIT DOWN JOHN YOU FAT MOTHERF...") was truly spectacular on stage, with the light and sound effects surprisingly making it into one of the show's most explosive moments.
33. The Story Of Tonight
As I mentioned when discussing this song's reprise, this is arguably the most typical Broadway song in Hamilton. While much of the musical defies the norms of the medium, this short and sweet song has chords and melodies that you could imagine in any number of Broadway classics - and that's not a bad thing by any means. It feels fresh to hear a song like this between the more hip songs My Shot and The Schuyler Sisters, and the atmosphere of Hamilton and his fellow revolutionaries raising their glasses to freedom in a tired late-night manner makes the song feel like a mellow epilogue to the epicness of My Shot.
32. Farmer Refuted
As dramatic and emotional as Hamilton is, humor also plays a great part in the mix of elements that make it into such a masterpiece. While nearly all of the songs have some elements of humor in them, Farmer Refuted is more or less the high point of the show's comical side. The song portrays pro-British bishop Samuel Seabury (Thayne Jasperson) as a bard spouting propaganda in the form of medieval music, and when our main character happens upon him, he begins to rap on top of Seabury's melodies. The song turns the political debate of the time into an absolutely hilarious depiction of two people shouting at each other yet past each other - something that feels rather relevant in the 2020 landscape.
31. Take A Break
Very similar in context and style to the first act's That Would Be Enough, this is the second act's slow and beautiful Alexander-and-Eliza song. Here are a few reasons why this one is ranked higher than its counterpart: Angelica Schuyler (Renee Elise Goldsberry) brings her own flare to the song, Philip Hamilton makes his absolutely exquisite debut, and there's even an awesome Macbeth reference in the lyrics.
30. Stay Alive (Reprise)
Musically, well, it's a rendition of the first act's Stay Alive. But story-wise, this reprise is miles ahead of the song it's reprising. The death of Alexander's son Philip is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the musical, and while the biggest emotional impact comes in the song after the death (more on that later), the song where he actually passes away is also quite the tear-jerker.
29. Washington On Your Side
The song where the Jefferson-Madison-Burr group comes together with their shared aim of destroying Hamilton's career is truly awesome. The chord progression, the vocal harmonies and the lyrics are a great example of Miranda's compositional expertise. Extra points for the rhythmically clever and dynamically explosive line "Southern motherf**ing Democratic-Republicans!" - easily the high point of the song.
28. A Winter's Ball
The first installment in the trilogy of consecutive songs that center around Hamilton's path into the lives of the Schuyler sisters, A Winter's Ball is a short but important track. The song begins as a rendition of the musical's opening verse, giving Leslie Odom Jr. a chance to show his dramatic acting chops as Burr starts to grow envious and resentful of his friend Hamilton - and then the atmosphere does a complete 180-turn, as suddenly Burr and Hamilton are together at an event, hanging out like the closest of bros and discussing the ladies around them. Go figure.
Also, the "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey" ending of the song is a pitch-perfect lead-up into the song Helpless - definitely one of my favorite transitions in a musical full of great transitions.
27. Cabinet Battle #2
Everything in this song is one small notch down from the first Cabinet Battle: the beat isn't quite as dope, the subject of debate isn't quite as historically intriguing, and the wordplay isn't quite as impressive. Then again, comparing the song to a masterwork like Cabinet Battle #1 sets a high bar - everything in the second one is also quite excellent. The track even includes the best of the many references to classic hip hop throughout the musical ("And if you don't know, now you know, Mr. President")!
26. Say No To This
What a huge bummer this song is - in the best way possible. As all historical biopics should do, Hamilton definitely doesn't overly glorify its protagonist. Alexander Hamilton was no saint despite his accomplishments, and the events of Say No To This are the most critical in painting him as the show's anti-hero rather than simply the hero. It's heartbreaking to see Hamilton cheating on his wife, and the way the music matches the uncomfortable nature of the story is absolutely amazing - the unsettling yet weirdly sexual atmosphere that comes from the wavy synths in the background is just perfect for this gripping track.
25. Ten Duel Commandments
There's just so much going on with this song. The foreshadowing of the show's climax is clever, as the rules of dueling are established and Hamilton and Burr even comment ironically on the stupidity of duels. The dramatic intensity and musical harmonies of the number are also pretty amazing. There's intertextual humor as well, as the song's lyrical premise is a nod to The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ten Crack Commandments.
24. The Room Where It Happens
This catchy and jazzy showtune tackles Aaron Burr's conflicted feelings and growing bitterness, as well as the intriguing politics of the time. Leslie Odom Jr.'s charisma in the role of Burr is on full display, as he - the very person who wasn't in the titular room where it happened - narrates the story of Hamilton mysteriously coming to an agreement with his political enemies Jefferson and Madison. The Room Where It Happens is also quite breathtaking onstage, with its flamboyant choreographies.
23. Hurricane
This heart-stopping piece is, strangely enough, Hamilton's only solo song in the entire musical. The chords of Yorktown are wonderfully reworked into this very different song, making it an antithesis of Hamilton's glorious victories and never-ending enthusiasm in the first act, an anti-Yorktown of sorts. Hamilton struggles with his situation of being "in the eye of the hurricane", unwilling to accept that he can't write his way out of his troubles this time around. The music is beautiful, Lin-Manuel Miranda's emotional performance as Hamilton is quite top notch, and having such a quiet ballad in between two intense hip hop pieces makes for a nice change in dynamics.
22. Guns And Ships
A whole lot happens in this three-act, two-minute track. First, there's Burr rapping to the opening song's beat once again, updating the revolutionary army's situation to the audience. Then, there's Lafayette (Daveed Diggs) bringing about one of the show's coolest moments as he raps with an incredible speed and even jumps off a table while doing so. Finally, George Washington realizes that he needs his right hand man back, leading to the song's melodramatic ending. It's all pretty great.
21. It's Quiet Uptown
In a musical full of tear-jerkers, this song is possibly the tear-jerker out of them all. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phillipa Soo sing with raw and realistic emotion as their characters try to deal with the death of their son. The melodies and harmonies of the piano and string section throughout It's Quiet Uptown only amplify the powerful and heartbreaking nature of the song, as do the sobering lyrics. I'm getting sad just thinking about it.
20. Your Obedient Servant
The most interesting narrative in Hamilton might very well be the story of Aaron Burr slowly and bitterly turning against Hamilton - and this song is the explosive tipping point of this adversarial relationship. In the opening lines, Burr's lines are full of hatred at unforeseen levels, making it clear that Hamilton taking sides against him in the previous song was a breaking point for him. The musical's endgame becomes clear, as Burr challenges Alexander to a duel and he accepts - in other words, this is the song where things get very real very quick.
19. Burn
Phillipa Soo really showcases her talents in this heart-piercing track. Her character Eliza has found out about her husband's extramarital affair, and in this song, she reacts with feelings of heartbreak, being betrayed and turning understandably bitter. The deterioration of the Hamiltons' marriage is all the harder to watch due to their romance having such a beautiful and authentic start in the first act. The escalation of the lyrics, from "I saved every letter you wrote to me", to "I'm burning the memories, burning the letters that might have redeemed you" all the way to the shiver-inducing "I hope that you burn" at the end, is extremely powerful.
18. Aaron Burr, Sir
I will always have a humongous soft spot for this song. I remember listening to the soundtrack for the very first time, as the first song made me think "This might be the greatest musical of all time", and this, the second song, made me think "This will be the greatest musical of all time". (By the third song, I was convinced of it being the greatest musical of all time - the other 43 songs didn't give evidence to the contrary, either).
The beginning of Alexander's friendship with Aaron Burr is bittersweet, as they get along at first yet the first signs of the differences that would ultimately destroy each other's lives are already there. The introductions to Laurens, Mulligan (Okiriete Onadowan) and Lafayette are awesome and entertaining, and don't even get me started on the genius wordplay at the start of the song that would become a recurring theme throughout the show yet is at its absolute best here. The line "You punched the bursar" in its rhyming context is pretty much the pinnacle of my sense of humor.
17. You'll Be Back
Speaking of Lin-Manuel Miranda's comedic genius, have you realized that the musical genre of King George III's songs is the sort of pop music that became hugely popular in the United Kingdom in the 60's - also known as "British Invasion pop"? Now that's an elaborate pun.
Apart from that, King George's debut towers over the admittedly awesome follow-ups, if only because it comes first and has the benefit of sheer shock value. The show's depiction of the British King as a flamboyant and lovable bloodthirsty sociopath is sheer perfection, and the dynamic shifts between the soft and "emotional" parts of the song and the explosive "DA DA DA DA DA" choruses never fail to amuse me.
16. History Has Its Eyes On You
To be fair, the epicness of Yorktown is to be thanked for this song being regarded so highly on my list. This may be the greatest build-up song I've ever come across. It's a decent enough song on its own, featuring words of wisdom from George Washington and great foreshadowing to the musical's final song - but the song's greatest merit is how it sets the stage for Yorktown. When I saw the musical live, I was in a state of strangely calm yet hype-filled trance throughout this song, knowing what would come next, appreciating the role that this song has setting it up. Those final harmonies always have quite the spine-chilling effect on me.
15. What'd I Miss
While Hamilton is filled with awesome character introductions - Alexander in the opening track, Laurens in Aaron Burr, Sir, Philip in Take A Break et cetera - there are two entrances that are in a league of their own. And the slightly lesser of those two (but still one of my favorite entrances ever) is Thomas Jefferson's ultra-charismatic debut in the first song of Act II. The build-up to his entrance is quite amazing already, as Burr's opening verse does a great job of creating hype, after which the flamboyant Jefferson arrives to absolutely steal the show. It's over-the-top in the best possible way, and includes some of my favorite Hamilton lines, such as "I guess I basically missed the late 80's".
14. Cabinet Battle #1
One of the most clever concepts in Hamilton is presenting political debates in the White House as rap battles - the musical's infusion of American history and hip hop culture clash together beautifully. From George Washington's intro speech, through Jefferson and Hamilton's increasingly aggressive verses and disses, all the way to James Madison's hysterical role as Jefferson's hype man, everything in this song is great. I love how the cast performed a rendition of this song in the actual White House, framing themselves as actual politicians discussing the matter of Hamilton's financial plans.
13. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
It says something about my love for Hamilton that I consider this song to be one of the greatest musical ending tracks ever, yet it is only the thirteenth-best song of the musical it's in. Remember that this is a show of 46 songs, so the fact that I like 12 other songs even more than this one shouldn't undermine my regard for the final song too much!
Ending a musical full of explosive larger-than-life numbers with such a mellow and low-key song may seem like an odd choice, but it's the perfect ending for Hamilton. Instead of going for a cheerful celebration of an ending, the musical chooses to reflect upon its core themes and lessons with its final number, in a way that really makes you think. The question of Hamilton's legacy is looked at from many angles in this highly emotional track, almost as likely to make one cry as It's Quiet Uptown. Despite the song's context being sad and its style being melancholic, it still leaves the viewer feeling fulfilled and content - how can one not smile when Hamilton's lifelong political enemies Jefferson and Madison finally compliment him, or when Eliza chooses to be the bigger person and celebrate her late husband's legacy despite the fact that he ruined their marriage?
12. The Schuyler Sisters
Being an awesome character introduction filled with sharp choreographies, hilarious wordplay ("Burr, you disgust me" / "Aha, so you discussed me") and seriously badass feminism ("And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, I'mma compel him to include women in the sequel") is reason enough for this song to, pardon the pun, work. But the biggest reason for The Schuyler Sisters being ranked so high here is Miranda's musical composition. Out of all the songs in Hamilton, this is probably my favorite one to jam along with on the piano - even though a majority of it consists of switching between two chords, it's inexplicably fun due to the song's infinite amount of sheer R&B groove. Whenever I listen to the full soundtrack or the first act, this seems to be the song that's stuck in my head for the next week, and I'm not complaining.
11. Satisfied
There's just so much to love about this song - Renee Elise Goldsberry's powerhouse performance, the mix of emotion and and witty wordplay in the lyrics, the absolutely haunting piano melody and dramatic chord progression, and the impressive choreography utilizing the spinning stage to a "rewind" effect to name a few. As great as Angelica Schuyler's verses are, the highlight of the song for me is the theme at the very beginning and very end of the song. There are several nuances that make it into the perfect piece of dramatic music: John Laurens's drunken opening line on top of the piano melody, the men shouting "To the revolution" after "To your union", and much more. Quite the heartbreaker.
10. Non-Stop
The final song of Act I starts as a standout Hamilton track, with a very unique beat and an addictive groove. Then, there's a spine-chilling middle part where Burr's envy and bitterness over Hamilton's success are on full dramatic display. Finally, Non-Stop grows into an epic mash-up of pretty much every Hamilton song, as melodic and harmonic themes from Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Sir, My Shot, The Schuyler Sisters, Helpless, Satisfied, Wait For It, That Would Be Enough and History Has Its Eyes On You all come together as a massive melting pot of Lin-Manuel Miranda's genius.
9. The Election Of 1800
The theme of Washington On Your Side is made infinitely better in the song that brilliantly ushers in the musical's five-song endgame. The political intrigue of the show reaches its highest point, as Thomas Jefferson faces off against Aaron Burr in the 1800 Presidential Election. The song escalates from fascinating and amusing interactions on the campaign trail all the way to the election's result being up to the powerfully positioned Hamilton and his endorsement. Alexander's endorsement of Jefferson is a shocking moment, and one that finally pushes Burr over the edge, leading up to Your Obedient Servant. The song is an absolute treat to fans of political history, while also being an explosive and climactic turning point in the show's main character narratives.
8. Helpless
As much as I love the serious Revolutionary War songs and dramatic political machinations in Hamilton, there's something to be said for this pure and sweet love song. One of the reasons why Hamilton cheating on his wife in Act II is so incredibly gripping is that up until that point, the romance between Alexander and Eliza has been so blissful. Helpless is a celebration of innocent, passionate love, and listening to it never fails to make me smile. Whether it's the awesome bass drop when Eliza says "And my heart went boom", her singing "I am so into you" on top of the choir's main melody in the chorus, Alexander's Ja Rule -growl in the final verse or the rendition of Here Comes The Bride on top of the ending chords, every little thing in this masterful song contributes to an atmosphere of pure and joyous bliss.
7. The World Was Wide Enough
There are three distinct phases in the second-last (and climactic) song of Hamilton, and they're all quite breathtaking in their own way. At first, it's a reprise of Ten Duel Commandments, swapping the entertaining nature of the original song for a much more serious tone, as it's now the main characters Hamilton and Burr who are about to duel each other. Then, all instruments pause for Hamilton's pre-death soliloquy, which is a truly heart-stopping moment. Then, after our main character tragically throws away his shot, the rest of the song is devoted to Burr reflecting his role in the narrative and Hamilton's downfall. This is the song where the musical's main narrative culminates into the moment it has been leading up to, and the main character's death is dealt with in an appropriately melancholic manner.
6. Right Hand Man
What'd I Miss made it all the way to 15th place due to it having one of the coolest entrances ever. Right Hand Man is this much higher, with the main reason being that it features the coolest entrance ever. Sure, the song has much more than that to offer - the chord progressions and synth melodies are wonderfully intense, and Hamilton & Burr's "We keep meeting" is one of the show's funniest lines despite most of the song being on the rather serious and intense side.
The best part of the song, however, is George Washington's entrance by a long shot. The build-up to it, as Hamilton ponders the revolutionary army's need for a leader, after which Burr spits out a series of absolutely amazing lines hyping up the "moment you've been waiting for", is masterful. After that, the music explodes into action as Washington makes his way to the front of the stage, sword in hand, with some seriously badass and memorable lines. It comes across well enough when just listening to the soundtrack, but truly comes into its own when seen on stage.
5. Wait For It
Wait For It is the defining song of Aaron Burr's character arch, diving deep into his motivations and conflicting heart. While he is the antagonist of the narrative, he is by no means a typical villain - many viewers sympathize with him much more than they do with Hamilton himself when watching the show play out.
This deeply emotional song looks into Burr's views on life, as he has chosen to advance his career carefully without taking risks, and grows increasingly bitter of Hamilton rising ahead of him despite taking foolish risks and taking whatever opportunities he sees. The chords in the song are a work of genius, creating the perfect background for what is a magnificent vocal & acting performance by the great Leslie Odom Jr.
4. My Shot
I've heard fans of rap music call this the Lose Yourself of Hamilton, and now that the show is on Disney, I've heard Disney fans call this the de-facto "I want" song of Hamilton. Both are delightfully accurate. Just the third song in the musical, although its theme re-appears multiple times later in songs like Yorktown and Non-Stop, this song is the happy counterpart to Wait For It: we look at Alexander Hamilton's own motivations and goals, swapping Wait For It's heartbreaking emotion for sheer enthusiasm.
The other revolutionary characters also get their time in the spotlight, as Lafayette, Mulligan and Laurens all spit their own character-defining verses, as does Aaron Burr himself. But a majority of the song belongs to Alexander, as we dive into the forces that have shaped him and drive him to excel in the revolutionary moment. Being one of the longest songs in the musical, it shifts between delightful moments of humor, reflective moments of emotion, and explosive moments of pure adrenaline. It's a massively important and memorable track, with expertly written light-speed lyrics and seriously awesome choreographies bringing it to life on stage.
3. One Last Time
As spectacular as George Washington's entrance was, his exit somehow managed to be even better. In One Last Time, he makes the historic decision that would shape one of the cornerstones of the U.S. democracy - the decision to limit himself to two terms and not run again, passing the torch to new leadership. The song escalates from slow and chill to ultimately magnificent and majestic, as Washington and Hamilton have a drink together for one last time and "teach them how to say goodbye". The song even borrows parts straight out of Washington's real-life farewell address, which was conveniently written by the real Alexander Hamilton.
Oh, and don't even get me started on the Hamilton cast's performance of this song in the White House during Barack Obama's final weeks as president. The symbolic effect of them singing a song about a great leader stepping down after two terms, the fact that Obama is a huge Hamilton fan himself, Christopher Jackson's emotionally powerful vocals...it's all so beautiful. Tears.
2. Alexander Hamilton
I know, I know, it's anticlimactic to have the opening song that we've all heard a million times in the top two. But it's just that good in my honest opinion. It's the song that made me fall in love with the musical, and it says something that I haven't gotten sick of it after hearing it so very many times. The song is more or less a mini-musical of its own, cramming an incredible amount of information and dynamic shifts into less than four minutes, without feeling too exposition-filled.
We learn all we need to know about Alexander Hamilton's background and early life, through some seriously epic buildup. The first lines, rapped by a suspenseful Aaron Burr, are incredible, as are the haunting first chorus, the epic chord progression in the "The world will never be the same" part, and of course the wonderfully dramatic "And me - I'm the damn fool that shot him" near the end. Hearing this song convinced me to check out the rest of the musical, feeling that it might be a work of true greatness. Oh, how right I was.
1. Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)
If you've read the whole list through, three things: 1: Thank you. 2: Get a life, nerd. 3: I'm guessing that the first placement isn't too surprising, as I've referenced Yorktown seven different times throughout my descriptions for places #46 - #2. I couldn't help myself. So much about the musical's greatest elements and the most important parts for me revolve around this masterpiece. The Battle of Yorktown, which brought the Revolutionary War to a bombastic end, comes to life in this intense and ultimately glorious song.
It all starts with those chords. D minor, followed by C major and G major with D still in the bassline. Simple, but absolutely epic in the way they're played on the piano. When I saw the musical live, the hands-down most special moment was when this song began - I knew what was coming when History Has Its Eyes On You ended, yet nothing prepared me for the spine-shivering effect that those piano chords would have as the song kicked in. And what a wild ride it was from there.
Kick-ass lines like "Immigrants - we get the job done" and "Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction, when you knock me down I get the f**k back up again"? Check. Larger-than-life choreographies and lighting effects to lift the song to new heights of epicness? Check. Heart-wrenching and emotional moments that made Lin-Manuel Miranda fight to hold back tears when the cast performed this piece at the Tony Awards? Check. Totally awesome parts that capture the spirit of revolution and the fight against injustice with a feeling of glory and climax? Check. This song has it all, and is the highlight of this masterpiece of a musical.
It all starts with those chords. D minor, followed by C major and G major with D still in the bassline. Simple, but absolutely epic in the way they're played on the piano. When I saw the musical live, the hands-down most special moment was when this song began - I knew what was coming when History Has Its Eyes On You ended, yet nothing prepared me for the spine-shivering effect that those piano chords would have as the song kicked in. And what a wild ride it was from there.
Kick-ass lines like "Immigrants - we get the job done" and "Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction, when you knock me down I get the f**k back up again"? Check. Larger-than-life choreographies and lighting effects to lift the song to new heights of epicness? Check. Heart-wrenching and emotional moments that made Lin-Manuel Miranda fight to hold back tears when the cast performed this piece at the Tony Awards? Check. Totally awesome parts that capture the spirit of revolution and the fight against injustice with a feeling of glory and climax? Check. This song has it all, and is the highlight of this masterpiece of a musical.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my list of the top 10 comedy TV episodes of all time!
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