As a lover of the arts and more specifically Hamilton, I was overjoyed when I found out Hamilton was going to be close to me. I did not want to throw away my shot (punny, right?) to get to see it.
I have listened to every song, watched numerous interviews of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and imagined what each scene would look like.
The performance was unbelievable. I immediately had chills, and there were several times that I shed some tears. I was blown away by it all.
If you don't know much about Hamilton, it's the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton. How often do we actually hear about Alexander Hamilton? In my experience, not very much.
Hamilton does not consist of traditional theatrical music. It is made up of rap, R&B, soul, and then a little bit of what you would expect to hear in a Broadway musical. Because of the different styles of music, the actors are required to have precise articulation skills and unbelievable breath control.
So what was my favorite part? It's too hard to pick just one, so here are my top 5 favorite parts (not ranked).
1. "My Shot"
"My Shot" is probably one of the most quoted songs from Hamilton. I mean I have a personalized planner, and the quote I chose was from this song. "I will not throw away my shot" is such an inspirational line that everyone can take a note from.
Take chances. Don't let opportunities go to waste.
2. "Satisfied"
Giphy"Satisfied" is AMAZING! It's the beginning of Eliza and Hamiton's love story, but it's from Angelica's point of view.
Guys, if you're reading this, take a note. "If it takes fighting a war for us to meet it will have been worth it" is Alexander's hook, line, and sinker for Eliza. And why would it not be? I was swooning just watching.
For us girls, we can relate a lot to this song because even though Eliza didn't know it, Angelica was also falling for Alexander. She sings "but when I fantasize at night it's Alexander's eyes, as I romanticize what might have been if I hadn't sized him up so quickly." Wow.
I know I try to figure people out before I get to know them so maybe I shouldn't do that anymore. I might regret it one day.
3. "Burn"
So if you know about the life of Alexander Hamilton, you know about him cheating on Eliza with Maria Reynolds. Long story short, he ended up coming clean by writing a pamphlet (The Reynolds Pamphlet) and publishing it for the public to read. That's how Eliza found out.
"Burn," in the musical, is Eliza's reaction. It's a very powerful scene, and not going to lie, a tear might have fallen down my cheek. The actress did an amazing job showing those painful feelings.
My favorite line from "Burn" would have to be "you forfeit all rights to my heart." Eliza is just letting it all out at that point, and everyone can really feel it in the audience. It's very moving and heartbreaking at the same time.
4. "It's Quiet Uptown"
"It's Quiet Uptown" will really hit you in your feels. It gave me chills.
This song follows the death of Philip Hamilton which is the son of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton. At this point, Eliza is very cold towards Alexander, but he is still trying to gain her forgiveness because he knows what he did with Maria Reynolds was a mistake. I believe Eliza also blames Alexander for the death of their son.
Alexander stays by her side even though she doesn't want him there. He does what he should've done to begin with. Be there. That's all Eliza ever asked of him. She just wanted him to be present.
The most moving line in this song would have to be "forgiveness, can you imagine." That line follows Eliza taking Alexander's hand and trying to forgive him.
5. "The World Was Wide Enough"
Giphy"The World Was Wide Enough" is sung during the dual between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.
Aaron Burr was jealous of Alexander Hamilton pretty much from the moment they met. Hamilton continued to be promoted by George Washington. While Washington was focused on Hamilton, Burr's jealousy built up more and more, eventually leading to their dual.
SPOILER: Burr kills Hamilton, but before Hamilton dies, he has a soliloquy which reflects on his life.
The soliloquy is very moving. Hamilton asks himself, "legacy, what is a legacy?" Leaving a legacy consumed most of Hamilton's life. He reminds himself that a legacy may not be seen in his lifetime, so he looks on. He knows that when he dies, he will be with his son, his mother, George Washington, and John Lawrence again.
So when he passes, Burr realizes that Hamilton wasn't going to shoot him. He says, "Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes." This line hits home with everyone. Death affects all of us.
For Burr, it hurts a little bit more because he is the one that took the shot, leaving Eliza widowed and all of the Hamilton children fatherless. Burr feels that although Hamilton died, he is paying for it himself through all the shame and blame. If only he could have realized the world was wide enough for both of them.
So, these are my top five picks although it was a very hard decision. I also loved "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story." It is just so hard to choose favorites.
If you ever get the chance, go watch Hamilton. Its history told through modern music. It's the history we think we know a lot about, but we really don't.
Hamilton pushed me to research the life of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and so many other important characters in our nation's history.
Hamilton, you blew us all away. I'm so glad I did not throw away my shot to see you. You impacted me for the rest of my life, and for that, I thank you.
