Last week was an ordinary week for many. The sun rose, the sun set, people bought Christmas gifts, fires ravaged the South, and yet the world turned. Just a typical gray, winter week. Then something amazing happened, the "Hamilton Mixtape" was released.
What we did to deserve this amazing gift, I'll never know. But for some reason we have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams, and for those of us who will likely never see the musical on stage, the "Hamilton Mixtape" left us (for a short time) completely satisfied. The album features artists you know and artists you don't. Talent was pulled from every media source imaginable for the collective project. Below you can get a review of some of my favorites (all of them if I'm being honest), and a better understanding of how amazing the creative project was to pull off:
Wait For It - Usher.
Aaron Burr is by far my favorite character in the entire show. Shocked? Don't be. Not only is Leslie Odom Jr.'s voice melted butter being poured over a vat of sweet, sweet musical popcorn but his character is incredibly relatable. Imagine living in a time filled with revolutionaries, men who rose so far above the standard of success that even if you were an above average man you fell short. No matter how hard you tried, how hard you worked, your mountain of accomplishments would never be as much as a handful of others. Ouch. Burr's internal struggle and self-doubt culminates into the beloved song, "Wait For It". Now Usher and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but Usher's relationship with Justin Bieber is eerily similar to Burr's short-lived mentorship of Hamilton. Usher is still popular, but he's no longer in the center spotlight. How do you negotiate your success with a lack of media attention? You wait for it. Well done, perfect homage to the original, what other gems does the "Hamilton Mixtape" have in store?
Satisfied - Sia, Queen Latifah, Miguel.
"Satisfied" sits at the top of the list for most haunting songs in "Hamilton". (Maybe not number one, but it's up there. I mean Renée Elise Goldsberry won a Tony for Christ's sake.) Despite the literal centuries standing between Angelica Schuyler Church and the modern woman, "Satisfied" was able to bridge the endless gap of time. Sia has mastered the art of loneliness and the complexities of relational dynamics, so it's only natural for the Schuyler torch to be handed down to her. Queen Latifah's verse was surprising, but equally powerful. Latifah's voice rapping about the roles of women and familial duty added racial subtleties that even Lin-Manuel Miranda couldn't have woven into the original version. (Hey buddy, maybe get her in a casting call? Just a suggestion.) Of all the songs on the "Hamilton Mixtape", this is the one I'd love to see in a music video adaptation.
It's Quiet Uptown - Kelly Clarkson.
For those of us that remember bawling our eyes out to "A Moment Like This", get ready for the sequel! Clarkson's shining moments have always been emotional ballads with a full-choir back up. Reminiscent of her first solo album since "American Idol", Clarkson's rendition about forgiveness sends listeners back to her roots. You go girl.
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) - K'NAAN, Snow The Product, Riz MC, Residents.
The best one-liner in the whole darn show gets its OWN SONG. My comments are as follows: yes yes yes, yes yes, yes. Making this statement the centerpiece for its own song is an incredible power play for the show. Immigration is given a headline, a platform, a focal point, a testament to its importance. More than a one-liner, more than a joke made off-hand, this song is a subtle commentary on America's current policies and perceptions regarding immigrants. Or maybe it isn't so subtle. Fine by me, kuddos!
You'll Be Back - Jimmy Fallon, The Roots.
Pure hilarity, just a bucket full of laughs. Fallon is a natural fit for this cover, and history majors everywhere can continue to revel in the historical accuracy of this song. Despite the smile stretching my face while listening to this song, it sticks out like a sore thumb to me. The covers that populate the "Hamilton Mixtape" are heavy and pack a punch. "You'll Be Back" is more like a petty slap to the face in comparison. This is true in the original musical as well, but it just feels different in an album than a full-on production.
Burn - Andra Day.
Move over world, the perfect break-up song has arrived and there is no way we were emotionally ready for it. Day's voice has a sultry, almost dry characteristic that crackles like the flame consuming Eliza's letters. Her level-headed performance compared to Eliza's original emotionally-charged one is debatedly even more powerful. Her steadiness throughout the song just furthers the stand that she refuses to let anyone get a rise out of her. A true testament to the strength and the stone-faced mask that only a betrayed wife can wear. Get your tissues ready.
All in all, there's no way I can give the "Hamilton Mixtape" anything less than an A-. I just can't, I'm sorry. It's too good! I've fallen in love with the show all over again, even more so the music. Lin-Manuel's creation has been immortalized by mainstream music, and now there's no turning back. Happy listening!
