Have you ever picked up a history book and gone: Wow, this would make a great rap album? No? Me neither.
For Lin Manuel Miranda, on the other hand, it seemed like a no-brainer. To him, the life of our first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton was modern music just waiting to happen. With songs like Guns and Ships, Right Hand Man, and My Shot, Miranda gave us a way to connect to our American roots in an unconventional and frankly genius way. By bringing it to the stage, he pulled the characters from the pages of dusty old volumes and made them new and exciting once again. His masterpiece? Hamilton: An American Musical. Before listening to Hamilton, I knew what everyone else knew about the Revolutionary War. I knew about “no taxation without representation” and General George Washington. I knew about The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, The Boston Tea Party, the redcoats. However, I never really thought much about it. The founding of our country never interested me because I could never connect to it. Hamilton changes all of this. Through 46 songs, the story of our country is illustrated in a way that appeals to a larger audience while still remaining true to the majority of the facts. This is highlighted by the fact that Hamilton is, as of January 6th, number 8 on iTunes list of most sold albums of 2016, over a year after the album was released. The new Hamilton mixtape, a collection of Hamilton themed songs and covers by famous hip hop artists, is number 25 on the same list. As more proof of its popularity, the musical won 11 different Tony Awards, which is just short of a record amount. One record it did break, however, was the amount of Tony nominations the musical had, which was a mind blowing 16! The tale of America’s early years is accessible and relatable in the retelling that is Hamilton. One reason for it being such a popular phenomenon is the fact that the cast is made up of people of all different races. In Lin’s words, it’s “America then played by America now.” This allows us to see the founders of our country in a different way because instead of white men in wigs, we see people that we could pass on the street. The musical also addresses themes that are important in today’s world as well as in Alexander Hamilton’s. For one thing, mortality is a heavier theme that takes its place in the musical, as evidenced by the repetition of the line “I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.” This theme will always be relevant, because it is an unavoidable truth that all things eventually die, and we as a species will always view the subject with some sort of foreboding. Whether we wonder about it as often as Hamilton did or never really think about it, it is an inevitable fact of life. Another related topic, and perhaps one explored more in depth, is the idea of legacy. Alexander Hamilton was obsessed with what he would leave behind in the world once he had departed from it. To him, it was important above almost all else. A line from the song The Room Where it Happens evidences this. “God help and forgive me, I want to build something that’s gonna outlive me.” Hamilton was an ambitious man. What people thought of him, especially when he was gone, mattered greatly to him. Throughout the show, he proved this over and over. He also proved that anyone can make their way in the world. Hamilton did this by being “non-stop.” He was completely relentless in his pursuit to “rise up” in the world. He did this through writing, fighting, and often a combination of both. They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, but for Hamilton, having one wasn’t enough. He fought under George Washington during the war, took his part in quite a few duels, and wrote about practically everything all the time. This was very true to historical facts. The real Alexander Hamilton left us novels and novels worth of essays, letters, and other documents. Hamilton: an American Musical showcases our country’s story, spanning the years and creating a bridge between then and now. It gives us insight into the lives of our forefathers in a creative and inventive way that is enjoyable for all listeners. By: Sarah Hayward -- Staff Writer Comments are closed.
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June 2019
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