Hamilton Song Countdown (#24- #46)

Hey everybody! So I know it's been a while, but I'm going to go ahead and start off February strong by finishing off my Hamilton Song Countdown. 

This is where we pull back the curtain and reveal all of the best and worst songs in the show. 

Get it? Curtain? Because of the gif?

No?

Okay, then, forget it. Here's a review of Hamilton overall in case you missed it:

If you haven't already seen the first part of this list, please do so before continuing. Part one is here. Again, if you haven't seen Hamilton or heard any of the music from the soundtrack before today, this review may not make much sense to you. This review is also very full of spoilers for the entire show. You've been warned.

Okay, so we've reached the point in the list where I start to feel kind of bad because a lot of these songs aren't bad. In fact, most of them are actually quite good and perfectly enjoyable, both with and without the context of the show. However, decisions had to be made about which songs were better than other ones, and frankly, I stand by the rest of the rankings on this list.

Let's continue our Hamilton countdown with #24 out of 46.

24. Adams Administration

I like this song for one reason and one reason only: Listening to Hamilton lose his shit is amazing. I think it's amazing to me because every time it happens, I'm reminded that Hamilton really was just a little guy with a big chip on his shoulder. 

I love thinking that Alexander Hamilton had something to prove to everyone, and calling him a "Creole bastard" was definitely going to start a fight. He wasn't just going to take that sitting down. (Which is even funnier when you remember that in the show he says, "Sit down, John, you fat mother*%$#@$!")

Even better, I love this song because it shows how principled Hamilton was. He hated John Adams so much that he was basically willing to sever party ties with him in order to publicly call him out for all of the things that he didn't like about him (if only some modern Republicans would take a note and be more like Hamilton in this respect).

(Also, this feud was mutual. There's a WILD letter that John Adams wrote about Hamilton after his death where Adams basically insinuates that Hamilton was so full of *semen* that he couldn't think straight, which led to his inevitable moral failings and untimely death. I mean, holy shit!)

Overall, I love this song, and I love Hamilton for having such a reckless fighting spirit.

25. History Has it's Eyes on You

Can we just take a moment to acknowledge Chris Jackson's wonderful voice, please?

This song is so good, and honestly its placement in the musical is fantastic as well. It communicates to Hamilton that the Revolutionary War is serious, and that his legacy depends on what happens next. This song is one of the many that reinforce the theme of legacy and how history will remember you, and I'm personally here for it.

26. Your Obedient Servant

I honestly love this song, and I'm a little upset that it didn't make the first half of this list, but again, decisions had to be made. I appreciate this song because of all of the big words that Lin Manuel managed to cram into what is essentially a diss track. Words like "intemperate" and "grievance" sneak their way into this song, and again- they work so well.

This song is also crazy because it's based on the very real letters that Hamilton and Burr exchanged a few days before their duel. You can read all about them here.

Here's an animatic that I like of this particular song as well (by a-sanne on YouTube):

27. We Know

As if President John Adams didn't have enough to say about Hamilton in the song before this one (especially regarding that wild theory about Hamilton being so full of semen- YIKES), here we get Jefferson, Burr, and Madison all ganging up on Hamilton in order to blackmail him with information that they found out about his affair with Maria Reynolds.

In real life, the story is much more convoluted as to who found out what about Hamilton's financial records, and what the whole situation with Hamilton's affair was (and so I suggest you read it here), but Lin Manuel Miranda simplified it so that all of our favorite characters could be a part of this moment. In the end, the net result is the same, but in real life, the story was more complicated and messy, as these things usually are. 

I really like this song because it tows the line between lighthearted and serious just enough to set the mood for the upcoming series of events which are DEVASTATING. This is like priming the audience for the next few songs in the show when everyone is sure to turn on the waterworks.

28. Blow Us All Away

(Distant screaming persists in the background)

HOW MANY TIMES IS LIN MANUEL MIRANDA GOING TO KILL OFF ANTHONY RAMOS' CHARACTER IN THIS PLAY?

I'm upset- I'm inconsolable.

Not only do I love Anthony Ramos in real life, but I love both of his characters in the show and how they die. Ramos plays both Philip Hamilton and John Laurens (both of whom "died for Hamilton" as referenced in the beginning of the show. Ah, I see what he did there...).

I think this song was the point in the show where everything really started to fall apart for Hamilton. By this point in the show, his marriage was ruined (or seemingly so) due to everything he had done with the Reynolds Pamphlet previously, and so losing his son was truly the last straw for him and Eliza.

I think what makes this death hurt worse (for Hamilton, me personally, and the audience), is that his son was only in a duel to defend his honor, which especially makes it his fault when his son turns up dead. This is especially hard to swallow when Eliza finds out about what happened to her son due to her no-good husband's mistakes.

Geez, I love this song. It starts off with casually mentioning having a threesome before ending in murder. Name one other musical that pivots that hard, I dare you.

Hamilton does it effortlessly, though, and that's what I call true storytelling.

Please watch this heartbreaking and adorable animatic of this song (by Ziksua on YouTube). It's wonderful.

29. Say No to This

This song is really the catalyst for everything bad happening in Act II. Honestly without this song, there isn't nearly as much of a plot for the show. This song leads to literally everything going horribly for Hamilton in the show, and it reflects on how his issues with his mother led to him falling for a helpless woman like Maria Reynolds (or even before that, a woman like Eliza, with a song literally titled "Helpless").

Overall, this song sounds fine, but I think I just like it for the drama. The song by itself doesn't do all that much for me, but with the added context of a cheating scandal in the life of a founding father- this song SLAPS.

The drama- the infidelity- the blackmail- this song has everything you would ever want from a show about the birth of our nation. It was like Hamilton was the original politician with a leaked sex scandal. A century before John F. Kennedy, Hamilton was really making a name for himself in this arena.

30. What Comes Next?

Two words: "Awesome. Wow."

The sarcasm JUMPED out of this song and punched me in the face. The first time I saw this musical, I thought this was so funny because the king was so salty that he had lost the war. Jonathan Groff plays a bitter royal incredibly well, both on the soundtrack and on the stage, and I love him for it. 

Honestly all of his little interludes explaining how he's feeling about what's happening in America at any given time really pull the show together for me.

31. Ten Duel Commandments

This song doesn't exactly hold up as well as I remember it holding up the first time that I watched the show, but it's still good. I appreciate that this song has several reoccurring instances throughout the plot  of the show (which, if anything, was more indicative of the fact that people in this time period were more prone to shooting each other on sight). This song helps to establish the rules of dueling in the early days of America, and so at the end, when Hamilton and his son Philip are both shot, it comes as no surprise when they die, but the impact is definitely felt.

32. It's Quiet Uptown 

This song is heartbreaking. Try not to cry while watching this on stage. You'll cry, I promise. If you say you didn't- you're lying.

This song, along with "Stay Alive (Reprise)" are real tear jerkers for me. (Not so much on the soundtrack, but definitely for the stage play.) Especially when Lin Manuel and Phillipa Soo start crying on stage- I always get a little misty eyed thinking about it.

Overall, I love this song, and it's a solid listen- with or without the context of the show.

33. What'd I Miss?

The glamour, the sass, the gall! This song has all of that, and more.

I'm going to be honest, I don't much care for this song, but I have to give it props for masterfully introducing one of Act II's main antagonists. This song is very campy and over the top, and while I believe that's part of the reason why I don't like it, it is still fun to listen to and sing along with. In this song, Daveed Diggs reemerges as one of America's founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson.

His introduction serves as a pivotal point in the story, and it also helps to shift some of the focus away from the last act, which was so driven by the war and the impact of building a nation. Now that the nation's been built, people like Jefferson have to decide who's going to govern. Naturally, he and Hamilton have a difference of opinion on the matter.

But I mean, you've got to give it to him. Homeboy's definitely got stage presence. 

34. A Winter's Ball

This song is cute and funny, but overall, it's a little forgettable. It does act as a sort of interlude between two other main songs, and so I can't fault it for that, but overall, this song isn't distinguishable enough in this fantastic soundtrack.

35. I Know Him

This song is perfectly fine, but it's almost unnecessary in the show. It takes place immediately after Washington leaves office and serves as a sort of comedic bridge in the show to reference how the idea of stepping away from power wasn't really heard of before Washington decided he didn't want the job anymore. It's funny in the stage show to watch Jonathan Groff step on stage in his long robe and look astonished as George Washington walks away, but on the soundtrack it's not as enjoyable.

This song still has the funny charm of the king's sarcastic disdain for American politics, but it's not as unexpected or outright sassy as the other two songs that the king gets in this show. Like I mentioned before, this song is a little unnecessary. It's the last time that we hear from the king in the show (but not the last time we see him, mind you), and it's a little underwhelming compared to his other two songs. This one is a little forgettable if I'm being honest.

36. Farmer Refuted

This one is a fun introduction to Hamilton's personality in the face of the monarchy and power dynamics that he disagrees with. I love this song because it's one of the few songs on the soundtrack where two characters are singing in a round of sorts, where one character is singing something entirely different than the other one at the same time, and it flows amazingly. I'm really into it.

37. Washington on Your Side

I'm gonna be honest. This song kinda SLAPS. 

You know how I mentioned that Daveed Diggs was put on the map for "Guns n' Ships?" Well this one is a close second for him. I love his verses in this song. He's so good with them, and I can't help but get hyped when Jefferson, Madison, and Burr all shout, "SOUTHERN MOTHERFUCKING DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS" (which was censored out of the film version on Disney+, disappointingly).

I mean, come on: "If Washington isn't gon' listen to disciplined dissidents/ This is the difference, this kid is out!"

BARS.

38. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story

This is the last song in the entire show, it just feels like an appropriate end to the story. Everything seems nicely rounded out by this song. Even Jefferson and Madison had to extend a kind word to Hamilton at the end of the show, because as much as they may have hated him in life, even they had to admit that he made a difference.

All of the major arcs are completed by the end of the show, and Hamilton has officially left the legacy he was so desperate to create for himself at the beginning of Act I. Even the kind-hearted Eliza became a larger part of the story, helping to build orphanages and to raise money for monuments (one could argue that she was the true main character of the show- especially given how important she is after Hamilton's death). 

Overall, this is a heartfelt and lovely end to an amazing show, and it might leave you a little misty eyed by the end of it.

39. One Last Time

I'll be honest, I like this song, but I feel like it goes on for a bit too long. I enjoy hearing Chris Jackson sing (because who doesn't), but I feel like Lin could've cut like a minute off of this song and I would like it more. I do enjoy the letter that they read at the end of the song, because it was part of Washington's farewell address. I especially like that Chris Jackson sings it while Lin is reading it, and I love the reference the bible verse from Micah 4:4 (because apparently George Washington really loved that particular verse and would reference it all the time). 

However, overall, this song is a little slow and not my speed. Here's a cute little animatic of it, though (by officaldaelight on YouTube).

40. Stay Alive (Reprise)  

This song is especially soul crushing, especially if you're watching the show. On the soundtrack this song doesn't really have the same emotional impact, but on stage this song is... a lot.

I think the reason why this song has a greater impact on me when I watch the show as opposed to listening to it is because of the performances. Not only is it devastating to watch Anthony Ramos die (A SECOND TIME, MIND YOU), but it's also absolutely gut wrenching to watch Phillipa Soo rush in with tears in her eyes, wailing about her dead son. It's absolutely awful, and I think that's what makes this song work.

The performances from Soo and Ramos really make this song work, and they really carry a lot of the emotional weight in the show. Both the death of his son and his infamous cheating scandal lead to Hamilton's downfall, and I think this number is good because they show us what he lost, truly. After Philip died, Eliza wanted nothing to do with Hamilton, and for good reason.

Overall, watch this performance in the show. It's so good.

41. Schulyer Defeated

This song isn't so much bad as it is completely forgettable. It's so brief that I almost completely omitted from this list by mistake, and I absolutely don't remember hearing it most of the times I sat and listened to the Hamilton soundtrack. The only valuable piece of information that can be gleaned from this song is that Hamilton thinks that Burr is a snake because Burr switched parties to beat out his father-in-law, while Burr views this as just an opportunity for this career. Hamilton (obviously) takes this personally, but Burr doesn't understand why. 

Overall, I would say that this song is a perfectly fine skip, but not because the song is bad.  

42. Hurricane

I think this song has its merits; the lyrics are good. I think if it was performed by anyone else but Lin Manuel Miranda this song would be higher on my list- but something about his performance just doesn't do it for me. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that Lin Manuel Miranda is not a very good singer.

Don't get me wrong- I don't think this song is bad, but it doesn't SLAP as hard as the upbeat songs and it doesn't have nearly as much of an emotional impact as songs like "The World was Wide Enough" or "Wait for it" which were performed by Leslie Odom Jr., primarily. It's just... fine? 

This song is a little weak for me, and I think it has a lot to do with the performance of it all. It's one of the few songs on the soundtrack that I would skip over when just listening to it, because without the visuals of the play to back it up, it's just not as compelling for me. 

43. The Reynold's Pamphlet

To me, this song kind of sounds like a hot mess, and I feel like that's appropriate, because this is the point in the show where Hamilton's life has officially fallen apart. Desperate to clear his name of all political scandal, Hamilton hastily publishes what is essentially a memoir about his marital infidelity,  thus throwing his wife and children under the proverbial bus.

I don't like this song. I think it's a little messy, all things considered. The beat doesn't do much for me, all of the screaming about "Have you read this?!" doesn't add anything for me lyrically... This song is one of the few on the soundtrack that doesn't actually work, in my opinion. I believe that this song could've been rewritten to be better. In fact, there was an entire verse in this song (Angelica's verse) that was it's own song, called "Congratulations," that was cut from the musical, even though in my opinion- it is a better song than the one we ended up with (I'm not saying that I want to replace "The Reynolds Pamphlet," with "Congratulations" but I am saying that "The Reynolds Pamphlet" could have been a better song that was more in tune with the overall musical).

An animatic of "Congratulations," Renee Elise Goldsberry's cut song from Hamilton (by Chiino on YouTube)

The one thing that I do like about this song is how upset Hamilton looks in the show, and how happy everyone else is (even the King George, mind you) that Hamilton's political career is over due to the nature of his admissions. Honestly watching everyone on stage celebrate his downfall, and even having Angelica tell Hamilton off for what he did to her sister- it's fun, I'm not going to lie.

44. Best of Wives and Best of Women

Perfectly short and forgettable. I would say to skip this song, but it's not even long enough to skip. It's literally 48 seconds long, so you can just sit through it if you have to.

45. Burn

This song is just... a little too long? At least, it feels a little too long.

I'm not sure if that's why I don't like it, but I feel like this song drags the pace of the show to a grinding halt. It's not like I didn't understand what Lin Manuel Miranda was going for by including this song in the show. And while I feel bad for Eliza by this point in the show, I mostly skip this song when it comes on on the soundtrack.

In the show I feel like this song has greater impact, but on the soundtrack, I just feel tired after listening to it. I understand that it's symbolic of how Eliza is feeling after the Reynolds Pamphlet incident, and indicative of the fact that historians likely couldn't find any records of what Eliza said in response to the scandal of her husband's adultery. However, this song really just doesn't do it for me. I get tired and bored when this song comes on on the soundtrack.

46. Helpless

I love Phillipa Soo. I think she's so talented.

However, this song is not it, honey.

I don't like this song at all. Compared to literally every other song in the musical, this song stacks up as the worst every time. This song pales in comparison to all the others on the album, especially when it's followed up by the fantastic "Satisfied."

I have seen this show multiple times, and "Helpless" is always the song that I want to skip more than any other because everything about it just seems off. The tune seems too cheery and pop oriented to fit in with the rest of the songs in Act I, and I'm not even going to start on Lin Manuel Miranda's attempt at a Ja Rule impression when he starts rapping on this song. Lin has said before that he's tried to channel his inner Ja Rule and Ashanti for this song, but I'm just not interested in hearing him attempt to perform this awful song.

To be honest, they could have cut this song out of the final musical, just told me that Eliza and Alexander got married and then skipped to "Satisfied" because I just dislike this song that much.

Alright, I think that about does it for my Hamilton song review. Thank you so much for putting up with me as I ranted about this topic for two whole months. Like I mentioned before, if you have an opinion about the Hamilton soundtrack, I would love to hear it, even if it's different from my list (which is objectively the most accurate list out there on this particular topic).

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy, and I hope to see you all next month when I inevitably review something else that no one asked for.

Wear a mask everyone! 

Hamilton Song Countdown (#1- #23)

Happy New Year, everyone!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday, and is doing well in spite of the global pandemic that is still currently happening.

I, for one, am in a good mood all things considered, because in spite of all of the chaos and devastation that 2020 and the first few weeks of 2021 has caused, at least we as a country have managed to get one thing right. We elected a new president of the United States!

I'm just as relieved as the next person that Donald Trump isn't going to be in office anymore, and in light of the inauguration coming up, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite musicals that celebrates the birth of our great nation, Hamilton.

In case you've been living under a rock, Hamilton was a 2015 American musical that was made into a film on Disney+ last year, in which all of the original cast reprised their roles in a taping of the stage performance. Hamilton is also the best movie that came out in 2020, hands down. (And I know that's a low bar to beat considering that most movies coming out in 2020 were released on streaming or delayed due to the pandemic, but still, trust me. It's good.)

As someone who was never really into musical theater, I consider Hamilton to be one of the rare exceptions where everything just... works. The casting works, the music works, the production works. Everything about this show and this film proves to be so amazing that it actually lives up to the hype around it. The story and the music are accessible for those people who don't like musicals, and even those who don't live in America. The whole thing is a perfect storm of brilliance and creativity.

The only thing is, though, not every song on the Hamilton soundtrack slaps as hard as it possibly could. In the context of the show, the entire album is fabulous, and frankly, well deserving of it's multiple Tony and Grammy wins. However, when the show is over and you go back to listen to the soundtrack on your own, there might be some songs that you want to revisit and replay over and over again, and then there are those that you skip.

I've seen Hamilton at least five times already (both last year on Disney+ and many years ago on YouTube when some cheap theater-goer illegally recorded the show and uploaded it. Talk about a true American hero.), and each time I've seen the show I can safely say there are songs that I would unironically crank all the way up, and there are definitely songs that I felt were just filler for the plot of the musical. 

The first time I watched the show (illegally on YouTube, mind you), was my first time hearing the album all the way through, and it shook me to my core at how good it was. But in the years since, I have definitely developed a sense of what songs are actually good, and which songs just needed to be in the musical to move the story along.

In this review of sorts, I will be ranking all 46 songs on the Hamilton soundtrack based on how good they are not only in the musical, but in general- based on how well they establish each character, how well they move the story along, and overall, just how good they sound. This is the first of two parts, as I will continue this review in February. This is partially because February contains President's Day, and also because this review would be too long if I didn't break it up.

So- please allow me to rank the top 23 songs off the Hamilton soundtrack from best to worst. (If you haven't seen the show yet or listened to the soundtrack yet, this review probably won't make much sense, so proceed with caution. Spoilers ahead!) 

1. Non-Stop

I think a large part of the reason why I love this song so much is because of the way it bookends the first act of the musical. "Non-Stop" is the number that sets Hamilton up on his rise to greatness just before his catastrophic fall in Act II. 

It quickly establishes all of the major accomplishments that Alexander and Burr did after the Revolutionary War, and how they became more divided on their stance about not only the Constitution, but also their personal lives. Aaron Burr is so envious of Alexander's drive and his success that he's confounded when Alexander is able to write 51 essays in defense of the Federalist papers.

I think one of the main reasons why I love this song so much is because it's incredibly obvious that Hamilton thinks he's the smartest person in town, and he's so determined to prove it, which is oddly relatable for me. (I'm not saying that I have a big chip on my shoulder like he does, but I can relate to occasionally thinking that I'm better than other people because I think that my ideas are right, even when no one else is listening to me. This proves to be a fatal flaw for Hamilton, but we won't get into that now).

Also this song sums up the founding of our nation and transitions Hamilton's character from a child into a man in a fast paced way that slaps. I personally adore all of the animatics of this song (and every other Hamilton song), but this one, below, is my favorite animatic possibly ever. It's by an artist named pevelis on YouTube.

2. My Shot

This song speaks to me on so many levels, and I'm not sure why.

I think it's got something to do with the uplifting nature of the lyrics and the beat that makes me feel like I can do anything. All of the characters in this song (sparing Burr, of course) are filled with a certain life and urgency that comes with being with your friends and having goals that you want to accomplish. Lafayette wanted to liberate France, Hercules Mulligan wanted to join the rebellion, and John Laurens wanted to free the slaves. All of them wanted to do something great with their lives in order to secure their legacy, including (ESPECIALLY) Hamilton.

I think my favorite part of this song is the "Rise up!" verse where everyone is chanting and singing, because it speaks to a deep part of me that aspires to "rise above my station" as Hamilton would say. It seems reminiscent of the American dream, or Frank Sinatra's law: "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." (If you get that Dimension 20 reference we can be friends.) "My Shot" just fills me with a hopeful optimism every time that I hear it, and that's why I love it. I even briefly considered getting a "Rise Up!" tattoo on my wrist back in 2017.

3. Satisfied

Let me tell you something right now. You'd be lying if you said that you have ever heard a song more dramatic with greater twists and turns than this one. This song is the PEAK of theater perfection. It's just too good.

Not only does this song start immediately after Eliza and Alexander get married, but it allows the audience a peak behind the curtain into the mind of the single best character in this musical (in my opinion), Angelica Schulyer, on their wedding day.

This song is amazing because it includes it's own time travel aspect that absolutely blew my mind the first time I saw it on stage. (Actually, if you want to believe it, "Satisfied" was the first song I heard from Hamilton- aside from "My Shot," obviously- but it was the celebrity album where artists did covers of the songs. So the first time I heard this song, Sia was singing it. And while Sia was good, let me tell you, Sia was NOTHING compared to the fantastic Renee Elise Goldsberry.)

As you may or may not know, I'm a sucker for a good time travel concept, and this song has that baked into the music, by reframing everything that happened in the previous song, "Helpless" and showing us how things looked from Angelica's perspective.

In her perspective she decided that she loved her sister more than she loved Alexander, which is both heartfelt and concerning considering that she also said that she knew Alexander was a gold-digger...

Anyway, the point is that "Satisfied" is one of the best songs in this entire musical, and it's incredibly hard to follow up. Renee Elise was incredibly deserving of the Tony that she won for this role.

4. Alexander Hamilton

It's funny that the song about the main character that also happens to be the title of the show is not the best song in the production, but it cracked the top 5, so I guess that's still pretty impressive.

This song is iconic because the opening theme of this song literally bookends every chapter of Hamilton's life. The iconic opening of "Alexander Hamilton" is how you know some more shit is about to happen to everyone's favorite problematic founding father. It's amazing, and it perfectly opens up the show and sets your expectations for what's about to happen without spoiling anything, which is also amazing.

5. The Schulyer Sisters

Remember when I said that everything about this show just works?

Well, I meant it. Literally.

This song is the epitome of "independent woman who don't need no man." This song told me to get my shit together and stop worrying about big headed boys, because I too, am lucky to be alive right now.

This song has no business being so good. It starts off strong with Aaron Burr introducing the three main female leads of the play, two of which remain in their roles throughout the rest of the show (with Jasmine Cephas Jones returning later to play another character). But then Angelica comes in and steals the show with her mention of independence and women's rights. 

With the nod to the Declaration of Independence and referencing meeting Thomas Jefferson, Angelica became the single most iconic character in the entire show. (What makes it better is that it is speculated that the real Angelica Schuyler had a romantic love affair with Thomas Jefferson while abroad. They exchanged love letters and everything.)

Basically Angelica invented women's rights, and we have no choice but to stan.

6. Guns and Ships

This song might not be my favorite song in the entire musical, but let me tell you that this song SLAPS THE HARDEST.

This is the song that people go hard to on the Hamilton soundtrack, and it's frankly the song that put Daveed Diggs (the actor who plays both Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson) on the map, I feel.

I can't help but get hype when I listen to this song, even today. It's just so damn good and energetic, and it fills me with a sense of purpose that a lot of other songs fail to do. Screaming "Lafayette!" at the top of my voice just makes me feel so good, whenever that part of the song comes on. You're lying if you say that it also doesn't make you feel good, too. Like you're a part of something larger than yourself.

7. Right Hand Man

This song starts out so strong and really only gets stronger as it goes along. The entire song is about the introduction of one of the most important characters in the show, George Washington and his relationship with Alexander Hamilton.

This song is great because it also shows us how Washington responded to Alexander and Aaron very differently. The first time I heard George Washington's dismissal of Aaron Burr, MY feelings got hurt. It was bad. Which is also one of the reasons why this song is so good. It helps to establish the connections that Alexander is making while Burr has been essentially sidelined by one of the greatest war generals in American history.

Honestly songs like this help to build up to the growing resentment that leads to Burr killing Hamilton at the end of the show.

8. Wait for it

This is the song that basically moves Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) out of the background of the show and proves to everyone that he's just as important to this story as Hamilton is. Sure, the show may be titled after Hamilton, but Burr is just as much of a main character, if not a perfect foil to Hamilton in this show.

It's a song about questioning your own circumstances while also looking at those around you who are doing better than you. It's a song where Burr explores in real time what happened to him to make him the way that he was, and how he feels about Hamilton and his successes.

It's honestly one of the more poignant and beautiful songs in the whole musical, and I'm here for it.

9. Stay Alive

I like that this song starts with the dramatic cry from Eliza in the wings saying, "Stay alive!" and then evolves into a sort of hip-hop song in which a literal war is happening.

This song is exciting, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my favorite part of this song was Charles Lee's personal attack on George Washington after he demotes him in the military. Something about it just makes me want to sing along every time, and outside of John Laurens, he may be my favorite character in the whole show, just because he's such an asshole.

Also this song ends in a duel, which is also pretty sweet, if you ask me.

10. Aaron Burr, Sir

This song is great because it does the work of introducing all of the major players that are going to be in Act I of the play without being obnoxious about it. It also introduces the audience/ listeners to Hamilton's particular brand of cocky and Burr's brand of shady. It quickly establishes that they are going to be foils early on (after all, it's only the second song in the show), and it makes the auxiliary characters like John Laurens (played by Anthony Ramos) Marquis de Lafayette (played by Daveed Diggs) and Hercules Mulligan (played by Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan) sympathetic and fun to be around by comparison. 

I honestly love this song with all my heart, but that might have something to do with the fact that I think Anthony Ramos is adorable and John Laurens is great.

11. The Story of Tonight

I think one of the main reasons why I love this song is because of how it begins with Hamilton singing, "I may not live to see our glory."

Something about that is so hopeful and optimistic while also being so utterly heartbreaking, and I think that this has a lot to do with why I think the lyrics in this song (and this musical overall) are so brilliant. They make you feel something.

When everyone in Hamilton's crew joins in (Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, and Lafayette), it just builds a warm sense of comradery in me that makes me feel like I'm a part of something bigger than myself. 

"Tomorrow there'll be more of us," is both so hopeful and so optimistic as well as utterly devastating (especially if you've seen the musical on Disney+ and you know about what happens with Laurens' song that wasn't on the soundtrack).

Overall, when I first saw the show, "The Story of Tonight" was one of the songs from the musical that I couldn't get out of my head. I definitely kept repeating it on Spotify. 

12. The World was Wide Enough

This song breaks my heart every time I listen to it. It's one of the last songs of the entire show, and it's the first song on this list from Act II.

"The World was Wide Enough" is honestly amazing and I love it so much, because it's essentially the musings of man who screwed up by killing his former friend. I think this song is so beautifully crafted, and the way that it was executed on stage and on the album is flawless. The spoken word before Hamilton gets shot is honestly breathtaking and it makes me tear up most times that I hear it. 

I think my favorite part of the song, though, are Burr's last lines, because they mirror real lines that the actual Aaron Burr has said about killing Hamilton. "Had I read Sterne more and Voltaire less, I should have known the world was wide enough for Hamilton and me.”- Aaron Burr

This song is so great that I love two animatics for it. Check them out if you feel so inclined: The first one is by stariitea on YouTube, and the second if by ThirdChildFilms on YouTube.

13. You'll be back

The first time that I saw this show I think I was confused by this song. I think I was wondering why King George was singing a 60's love song to his colonies in this show based around hip-hop and revolution, but then I realized because this show has a flair for the dramatic. This show can be so off the wall ridiculous while being absolutely heartwarming and utterly wrenching all at once that it's hard to know how to feel at any given moment, really.

However, "You'll Be Back" is a great song, performed expertly by the excellent Jonathan Groff, who we all know from Frozen (Ugh... Read my Frozen review if you really want to know my thoughts on that, by the way). 

Overall, when he came out, I was expecting this song to be a little slow and boring the first time that I saw him, but in the end, he wound up being one of my favorite parts of the show. His sarcasm and pithy dialogue really made him stand out, and having him on stage was a nice break from all of the fun stuff happening with Alexander and his crew during the first act.

Overall, 10/10 for His Majesty the king.

14. The Story of Tonight (Reprise)

I think I just like this song because it plays off of the original song in a fun way. This song is immediately after "Satisfied" and it's such a good time to listen to because of the way that this song is performed both in the show and on the soundtrack. 

This song is meant to follow Hamilton's wedding to Eliza, and it begins with Hamilton's friends all ribbing him for marrying up in the world, which is fun and lighthearted. The lyrics were tweaked so that they would suit this new, happier occasion immediately following this joyous life event.

Then the music switches when Aaron Burr arrives, into a rendition of "Aaron Burr, Sir" to pay homage to the fact that Hamilton looks up to Burr despite how different they were at that point in their lives.

I think I just like this song because of how funny it is. I like that Hamilton's friends give him shit for marrying a rich woman, and I like that they make fun of Burr, calling him the worst. I especially love the shock in Hamilton's voice when Burr reveals that he's having an affair with the wife of a British officer. 

This song's got everything: playful ribbing, infidelity, drunken singing. It's a fun time, and I love this song so much.

15. That Would Be Enough

This is one of my favorite songs on the soundtrack because it reprises one of my favorite lines from the "Schulyer Sisters" song earlier in the musical: "Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now." Something about that really speaks to not only my inner optimist, but it's also a line that will never not be true, which I think is nice.

(At one point I even had that line as my Twitter bio because I was such a Hamil-stan. Hell, I still am.)

This song is so sweet and beautiful, and it reminds me of how completely talented that the gorgeous Phillipa Soo is, which I love. The line "Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now," almost becomes Eliza's calling card, because it's repeated by her and to her in no less than five songs throughout the entire musical.  

That's my long winded way of saying that I love this song. It also doesn't hurt that the animatic for this song is absolutely gorgeous. The animatic is by the artist szin on YouTube. 

16. & 17. Cabinet Battle #1 & Cabinet Battle #2

I feel like this meme perfectly sums up the mood of these two songs, and I love it.

Both of these songs are a perfect combination of pettiness, sass, and classic hip-hop references. It's through these songs that we learn more about Alexander Hamilton's relationship with Thomas Jefferson, who he viewed as a political barrier while he was working for President Washington.

In a way, these songs are like those Epic Rap Battles of History that were really popular on YouTube in 2012. They're somewhat educational, but they're mostly just an excuse for two political figureheads to shit all over each other in a public setting.

Overall, both of these songs SLAP, and Hamilton really digs into Jefferson in both of them, which I respect. 

18. Take a Break

I love this song. It's got everything. 

Counting in French? Check.

Adorable children rapping? Check.

Possible infidelity? Check, check, triple check.

I love "Take a Break" because of Angelica and Eliza, specifically. Both Angelica and Eliza (Renee Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo) carry this song on their backs and I'm perfectly okay with that. 

Honestly, both Angelica and Eliza deserved better.

19. The Room Where it Happens

This song is the epitome of an "I want" song, as seen in many a Disney movie in the late 1980s and 1990s (see The Little Mermaid's Ariel singing, "I want to be where the people are..."). It is easily one of the best examples of character development in the show, as it takes Aaron Burr, a character who is too cautious to state his desires for fear of being wrong, and turns him into someone who is now willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He now wants power for the sake of having a claim to something, as opposed to Hamilton who wants it for the sake of leaving a legacy. It's a fundamental flaw that Burr eventually comes to terms with, but in the incorrect way, and that's what makes him such an interesting character.

"The Room Where it Happens" is also one of the most notable songs in the entire show not only because it is the one that sounds the most like a traditional showtune, but it's also the most referenced in pop culture. Hell, one of Trump's former National Security Advisors, Michael Bolton, essentially stole the title of this song for his latest tell-all book. Now that's what you call a cultural impact.

20. The Election of 1800

This song is WILD. It's nearly one of the last songs in the show and so much happens that I'm not even sure where to start. 

This song is great because it leads into the final conflict between Aaron and Alexander, and you can truly see how all of the resentment and anger between them has developed over the course of the show. They have a serious Mozart and Salieri complex, and it comes to a head in this particular song perfectly. Even the secondary antagonist of the show, Thomas Jefferson was impressed with how the events in this song played out.

I also love this particular animatic for this song, so feel free to check it out. It's pretty masterfully done, by the artist pevelis on YouTube once more.

21. Dear Theodosia

This song is so gosh darn sweet and cute that every father should aspire to be as enamored with his children the way that Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were in this show. This song is also great because it reflects how the two characters were sharing a similar experience despite having completely different outlooks on life, and it reinforces the fact that the two main characters of the show, Hamilton and Burr, were truly foils of one another. Well done, Mr. Miranda. Well done, indeed.

22. Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)

This song is great, because it's like the end of Hamilton's arc for the entirety of Act I. His whole identity up until this song was based on the idea that he was going to die at war for a cause that he believed in because he was determined to leave a legacy. This song is the epitome of that, because it lets Hamilton lead a command under Washington (which is what he'd been begging to do since he met Washington), while also thinking about his future, which he had never done before (because he references his wife who's "expecting").

After they win the war in this song, it's almost like Hamilton was forced to grow up. Soon after this song, Eliza gives birth to their son, Phillip, which motivates him to work even harder to fight for his country. This song was a good transition into this new Hamilton, because it leads into the end of Act I nicely, wrapping up an entire war in about 4 minutes.

 

23. Meet Me Inside

The first time I saw this song performed, I was blown away by how hard they were committed to the whole "Hamilton's got daddy issues" bit, but honestly it works SO WELL. It adds so much to Hamilton's character to know that he sees Washington as a sort of father figure, and then to have Washington treat him accordingly is also fantastic. It really builds on the dynamic that they have together and it leads to some great moments not only in this song, but throughout the show.

Overall, Hamilton (2020) is a near perfect experience. The whole show is fantastic, and if you haven't seen it yet, feel free to listen to the soundtrack or check it out on Disney+ and tell me what you think. Or if you have seen it and you disagree about what the best Hamilton songs are, I would be more than happy to tell you why you're wrong.

Well, that's all I've got for now. The best 23 songs on the Hamilton soundtrack have been officially ranked. Check back in with me next month when I finish up this list and tell you what my absolute least favorite Hamilton song is. (It might not be what you expect...)

Update in 2020 (Top 10 Things to Watch Right Now)

(Cue "It's the end of the world as we know it" by R.E.M. while distant screaming persists in the background.)

SO.

It's been a bad year. (And it's only September.)

All of us right now are absolutely going through it, which is understandable because there's a global pandemic ravaging the world as we know it. I hope everyone out there is doing okay.

Personally, I've taken this time to work on my mental health (to some modicum of success) and to basically ignore the trash fire going on around me by watching movies and TV shows that make me happy. I've decided to make a list of things that I found enjoyable, so that I can share them with you. Maybe then we can bond over our favorite movies and TV shows while the world burns around us.

(This list is in no particular order, by the way)

10. Hamilton (on Disney+)

Now, if you haven't seen the Broadway musical Hamilton yet, I have to say that you're missing out. I can't explain to you why this show is so amazing, but I can tell you that no matter how you feel about American history (especially right now), this show is bound to captivate you and trick you into caring about America's founding fathers. The music is impeccable, the acting is unparalleled, and the casting is just... (chef's kiss). If you haven't watched it yet, please give it a shot (no pun intended), and if you have, go listen to the soundtrack again on Spotify. You know you want to.

9. Normal People (on Hulu)

Normal People was a limited series based on the book by Sally Rooney, produced by the BBC and distributed through Hulu. The overall show is about two Irish people who fall in and out of love over the course of several years, and it's great. If you have Hulu and are able to watch it, I suggest you give the show a chance. It's a romantic show, but it's about much more than that, if you ask me. 10/10 would recommend.

8. Little Fires Everywhere (on Hulu)  

 

Can you say, "all-star cast?" Can you say, "relevant social themes?" This show was amazing. Little Fires Everywhere had all of the things you want out of a good mini series: thoughtful commentary about the "white savior" narrative, drama between Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, LGBT+ representation, etc. We live for it, honestly. I definitely didn't think this show was perfect, but it tackled some issues that aren't usually talked about in this particular format- such as how systemic racism affects white people much differently than people of color. Just like the gif says, "[White people] didn't make good choices [in life]. [They] had good choices." You love to see it. 

7. Work It (on Netflix)

Now this movie may be a little controversial for some of you. Was Work It a good movie? Well, that depends on what your definition of good is. If you're looking for something light, in the vein of a Disney Channel original movie with some fun dance moves thrown in, then you won't be disappointed. Sure the movie is predictable and silly (with some major plot points that are just completely dropped for the sake of moving the story along), but it's a good time to watch. Have a viewing party with some friends over Discord and laugh at how silly it is if you feel so inclined.

6. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (on Netflix)

If you haven't seen this movie yet, I don't think I can associate with you in public. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is probably the best (yes, I said BEST) Spider-Man movie out to date, and that's including the Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire ones. The plot is more interesting and complex than many of the other Spider-Man movies, and the animation and music in this movie is absolutely stunning. It is definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already.

5. Booksmart (on Hulu)

I love this movie. I'm not sure what it is about it that appeals to me, but I think the realism really gets me. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the film, and the way it was executed also really worked for me. Booksmart is relatable for those kids who would kiss up to their English teacher in class, and then never do anything outside of their college approved extracurriculars. I think it speaks to my inner nerd, and that's why I love it. Check it out.

4. Carole & Tuesday (on Netflix)

This one is a little more personal to me, because I absolutely adore this show and all of the music in it. Carole & Tuesday is an anime that focuses on two girls who want to become famous on Mars. It is... problematic, to say the least, especially when it comes to LGBT+ representation, so I'll just put that out there up front. However, I still think that it's worth watching, if only for their friendship and the music. I unironically have like eight of the songs from this show on several different Spotify playlists. Watch it if you want a lighthearted anime with good music.

3. Cobra Kai (on Netflix)

I only recently finished this series, because it was just released to Netflix this past weekend. I knew it used to be a YouTube original (one of the only good ones, so I heard), but I had never taken the time to actually watch it until it hit Netflix. After binging it all in a couple of days, I have to say... I get the hype. Cobra Kai follows the story of the original Karate Kid franchise by telling the story of Johnny Lawrence, the former bully in the original Karate Kid. After losing the biggest karate tournament of his life almost 35 years ago, he decides to reopen the Cobra Kai dojo in spite of his rival, Daniel LaRusso. This show is good, even if you haven't seen the original Karate Kid. It provides just enough context for old and new viewers alike to enjoy.

2. Sorry to Bother You (on Hulu)

I'm just gonna just say it: this movie is WEIRD. It might not start off that way, but trust me, it gets there. Despite that, though, I liked it a lot. Sorry to Bother You is the kind of movie that gets you thinking about the system, and how it's inherently built to oppress those who are disadvantaged. You may or may not remember the advertising for this movie years ago when it mentioned having a "white-voice?" Well, that was honestly just the beginning of how bizarre and macabre this movie gets. I can guarantee you won't see the twist coming.  

 

1. I Am Not an Easy Man (on Netflix)

This one is probably my most controversial on the list, because not only is this movie a French film, but it is also a film about the patriarchy and how much it sucks. This movie is meant to be a romantic comedy, and for the most part it delivers, up until the ending which I didn't particularly care for at all. Nonetheless, I Am Not an Easy Man (translated from the original French title) followed a male chauvinist as he is transported into a world in which females have all of the power instead of men. This movie is a little touchy because I know that some men will be offended by this concept, even, but I found it to be remarkably refreshing to see all of the things that women have to go through on the daily pointed out so blatantly in a film. By flipping the script, it highlights how ridiculously sexist society truly is overall. I would recommend watching it if you like subtitles, but even if you don't- Netflix has a dubbed version in English.

Alrighty. So there's my list of movies and shows to watch that will (hopefully) lift you out of the funk that is currently 2020. On the bright side, there's only three months left in the year, and then it'll be over. Hopefully by 2021 we can all collectively forget that 2020 was such a horrendous shit storm and we can all get vaccinated and go outside again.

Let me know if you've seen any of these shows/ movies already, and what you think. And feel free to recommend some more content for me to watch, because God knows I need something to distract myself from the chaos of the world right now.

Stay safe out there, everybody.