I'm a firm believer that everyone should listen to the musical Hamilton at least once in their lives. It's fairly new, having only been released in 2015, and it may seem like a very inconsistent creature when described, but this musical is the one thing you didn't know you were missing in your life. Here are 5 reasons you should listen to this witty musical by up-and-coming playwright and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda.
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda is amazing!
In case you didn't know, this former high school English teacher is seriously talented. In his short amount of time composing and writing, he's racked up a Pulitzer, a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Tony. And if his name sounds slightly familiar, it may be because he co-wrote and performed in the music for Disney's Moana, and he's slotted to write some new songs for the upcoming live-action Little Mermaid.
2. Everything you remember from History class: in a rap.
Think History is boring? Think again! You may have fallen asleep in History 201, but I can guarantee your professor never sang, dance, acted, and rapped about the Continental Congress and the Battle of Yorktown.
3. It's not just rap, though.
The musical is pretty flexible like that. With hip-hop, R&B, rap, pop, and a few soulful ballads there's something in Hamilton for everyone. My favorite piece is King George singing to what sounds like a Beetle's song. (Hamilton also has the fasted recorded rap on Broadway, with Daveed Diggs using a French accent on top of that!)
4. The lyrics are funny and clever!
For example:
-"The ten-dollar founding father without a father."
-"I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love."
-"I'm a trust fund, baby, you can trust me."
-"Don't modulate the key and not debate with me."
-"I'm a general- wheeeeeee!"
These are just a few of my favorite lines, and they're even better in context!
5. There is a rap battle between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
Yes, you read that right, and no, it's not in your imagination. The second President of the United States and the First Treasury Secretary hate each other so much, they have a rap battle in front of George Washington.
