Hamilton Mixtape Singles: A Review | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Hamilton Mixtape Singles: A Review

15
Hamilton Mixtape Singles: A Review
Hypable

Hamiltonis probably THE Broadway show of the decade. It won a Grammy. It won 11 Tonys after being nominated for a record-breaking 16. It is the ninth musical in 100 years to win the Pulitzer prize. It makes at least $600,000 every week, and it's sold out for the rest of our lives. Needless to say, it's an astoundingly successful show with amazing music, and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda would be well within his rights to rest on his laurels.

Of course, he isn't.

The next part of the Hamilton saga is the Hamilton Mixtape, a collection of pop/hip-hop songs by mainstream artists including Kelly Clarkson, Sia, and Usher. The songs are either covers of musical numbers from the show, they're original songs that sample pieces of Hamilton, or covers of cut songs. The mixtape has been in the works for a while, but Miranda only recently announced a release date for the album: December 2nd. Pre-orders began November 4th, and the public has been bombarded with incredible singles ever since. Even better, this mixtape is only volume one. Another album with more covers is expected some time next year.

Here are some of my favorite singles so far:

1. "Satisfied" -Sia feat. Miguel and Queen Latifah

"Satisfied" is probably my favorite song from the musical, so I knew that this cover was either going to be incredible or awful. I will also admit that Sia wasn't the first artist I thought of when I thought of a mainstream artist performing this song. I was hoping for Beyonce and Nicki, if we're being honest.


However, Sia was who we got, and she did not disappoint. She's definitely a different sound compared to Renee Elise Goldsberry, but there's no doubt that she has the pipes to carry the song. Her "to your UNION" thrums deep in the listener's bones the same way Goldsberry's rendition does.

Jonathan Groff, who plays King George in the Broadway production, reacted pretty much the same way I did. (Seriously, watch that link. It's worth it. Groff is a cinnamon roll).

Sia's vocals were great, and she's also a passable rapper, though she does leave the second verse (which is basically RG rapping at the speed of sound) to Queen Latifah who, of course, kills it. Miguel is only around for Hamilton's cheeky tête-à-tête with Angelica ("You strike me as a woman who's never been satisfied"), but...hoo boy. I always thought there would be no way to add more intent into an opening line like that, but Miguel managed it.

I'm not going to lie. I'd still gnaw off my left arm for a Beyonce/Nicki cover of this song, but Sia, Miguel, and Queen Latifah were fantastic.

2. "It's Quiet Uptown" -Kelly Clarkson

This was another one of my favorite songs from the show, and it's another one where Renee Elise Goldsberry casts a huge shadow. It was also a really important song for a number of reasons. It's pivotal to the plot, and it deals with heavy themes like reconciling after years of estrangement and dealing with the loss of a child. When I first heard this song, it took months for me to be able to listen to it without crying.

Kelly Clarkson ruined that record.

Her cover is very different from Goldsberry's original. The music is in a different key and doesn't seem to use a piano, so it creates a very interesting song. YouTube reviewers, Two Gay Matts, likened the sound to being underwater, and it's an apt comparison. It's a strange comparison, but it works. In fact, the differences make this version good. Clarkson's not trying too much to recreate Goldsberry, Miranda or Soo's parts. She shows off her own vocal range, and there's a vulnerability in her performance that I haven't heard from Kelly Clarkson in a long time, if ever. It's heartbreaking in the best way.

3. "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)" -K'NAAN, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC, Residente

This one's basically an original song that samples "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)," and...holy hell, guys. That is the simplest way to describe my reaction.

"Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" is a number in the show that narrates the final battle of the American Revolution, and it contains the line "Immigrants, we get the job done!" It's spoken by Lafayette, a French citizen who helped provide the French reinforcements that won us the battle, and Hamilton, a Scot who grew up in the Caribbean. The song is really important plot-wise, it has that very important message about immigrants shaping our country, and it's just a really cool song. It never fails to get people pumped. However, it's not one of my favorite songs from the show, because it has a noticeable lack of Renee Elise Goldsberry and/or Phillipa Soo.

With those feelings, I wasn't expecting "Immigrants, We Get The Job Done" to be one of my favorite singles. I knew it would be objectively good, and it was for the first minute and a half. Then, Snow Tha Product's verse started, and my entire life changed. Unlike the previous verses, which have something of a wry tone, her verse is tense and assertive, letting the listener know that she knows exactly what she's talking about, and she'll make you listen if she has to. She has that kind of hungry sound that's apparent in a lot of rappers' earliest (and often best) works, and she does not pull ANY punches, for example:

"You claim I'm stealing jobs. Old Peter Piper claimed he picked 'em, but he just underpaid Pablo."

Holy SHIT, guys, this line was like being slapped.

I mean that in the best possible way. It shocks the listener out of apathy and makes them realize that this isn't a nifty Broadway cover song. This song is lifestyle and politics and human condition packed into a couple of minutes. I had to start the song over again to appreciate it the way this song deserves to be appreciated. It also gets even better from there. Residente, of the famously political Calle 13, has a verse as well, and he, of course, kills it.

There are more singles that this review doesn't cover, but it's running a bit long. The point is, if these singles are anything to go by, there is one damn good album coming out.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

938
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less
Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.
Jenna Pizzi

There is always a time in the semester when you have about three papers, four tests, five assignments and two projects due within the same time period. Isn't that just the best?

It's almost as if the professors all plot against you just to make college even more stressful than it already is. No matter how many people try to make you feel better, no one ever compares to your mom. Moms always know exactly what to say.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Jobs Your Roommate Has

She's got your back with everything that college throws at you.

1203
Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.

If you are anything like my roommate and I, you have a friendship with your roomie. You’re lucky to have gotten a roommate that is easy to get along with and more importantly cool to live with. Whether you found her on Facebook or went random, a roommate is a big part of life in college. This list goes through some of the jobs that a roommate has that help you get through college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

35 Things I Wish I Learned In My Freshman Year Of College

Just some relatable college student advice! Yes, you aren’t the only one!

1135
Towson University
YouTube

Freshman year can either be the greatest year, or the roughest year. It depends on your transition and how you adjust. For me, freshman year in college was one of the best years of my life. However, looking back, there are a few things that I wish I learned.

Now that I am a sophomore, I can finally do things a little differently. Here are a few things that I wish I learned my freshman year of college!

Keep Reading...Show less
Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.

Being single can be great and awful at the same time. Yeah, it's awesome to have time to yourself to figure out who you are and make your own decisions. It would also be nice to have someone to go through life with, but it needs to be the right person. I haven't found that person yet and here's a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments