Alexander Hamilton (song)

Last updated
"Alexander Hamilton"
Song by Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Ramos, Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Christopher Jackson, and the cast of Hamilton
from the album Hamilton
Released2015
Genre
Length3:56
Songwriter(s) Lin-Manuel Miranda
Audio
"Alexander Hamilton" on YouTube

"Alexander Hamilton" is the opening number for the 2015 musical Hamilton , a musical biography of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. This song features "alternately rapped and sung exposition". [1]

Contents

History

This song was originally part of a group of songs entitled "The Hamilton Mixtape" and created by Lin-Manuel Miranda as he started interpreting and adapting Ron Chernow's Hamilton biography for the stage. He performed this number live at a White House poetry jam in 2009. The National Review noted "The Obamas and the other guests react with more than a touch of surprise." [2] The New Yorker writes that "Miranda later heard that the President's first reaction was to remark that [then-Secretary of the Treasury] Timothy Geithner had to see this." [3] Miranda has stated that although this song was originally written as a monologue for Aaron Burr, as the project evolved from a mixtape into a musical, he felt it was important to bring the rest of the characters into the opening number, and references the prologue of Sweeney Todd in doing so: "All our characters set the stage for our main man's entrance." [4]

The musical, and this song's YouTube video in particular, have influenced education; Miranda said "I think teachers used just that one clip for the past six years as their intro to Hamilton." [5]

In February 2016, the song was performed live at the Grammys, the first time a song was broadcast live from a Broadway stage for the Hollywood award show. Billboard said they "wowed", [6] while TVLine deemed it "crowd-pleasing". [7] Billboard deemed it the night's fourth best live musical moment, writing "the emotional, enervating retelling of American history was one of the night's standout moments". [8] Rolling Stone also deemed it a highlight and wrote "It's not Hamilton's most compelling set piece, but it's a very solid introduction to the show's characters, cast and themes. For millions that won't be able to make it to Broadway this year, watching it performed on network TV was the next best thing to actually scoring a ticket." [9]

Synopsis

This song is expository, setting up who the main character is and summarizing the first two decades of his life in a "bracingly economical synopsis of Hamilton's early years". [10] It also introduces the other lead and supporting actors in the musical (who play Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, George Washington, Hercules Mulligan, Marquis de Lafayette, Angelica Schuyler Church, and Maria Reynolds), who briefly describe their characters’ relationships to Hamilton. This "prologue" to the story, according to Patheos, "doesn't just bring Hamilton to life, but all of his contemporaries as well". [11]

The derogatory terms used in the number to describe Hamilton, including "bastard", "orphan", "son of a whore and a Scotsman" are repeated throughout the musical in a motif that demonstrates how his upbringing would haunt him for the rest of his life, despite his attempt to escape his childhood misfortunes and climb to the top of the social ladder. This term was "derived from a contemptuous description by John Adams". [3]

For over two centuries both Hamilton and Burr have been well known for their infamous duel, in which Burr fatally shot Hamilton. In the opening number, Burr himself acknowledges this, essentially giving away the ending. Thus, like the musical Titanic , the story becomes more about the journey than the destination. [12]

Analysis

The Atlantic notes that the musical's opening question "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor grow up to be a hero and a scholar?" is answered throughout the following two acts, and essentially becomes "relentless labor", epitomised in Burr's rise to power, Hamilton's written documents, and Eliza's securing of Hamilton's legacy. [13]

Uloop argues that Burr is actually Hamilton's main character, writing that in this opening number "Lin portrays his Burr as one completely knowing of his crime to come, in the style of Jesus Christ Superstar 's Judas, and with the ferocity of Les Mis ' Javert." [14]

Reception

The US Treasury canceled plans to replace "the ten-dollar Founding Father" on the ten-dollar bill in part because fans of the Hamilton musical opposed the change. US10dollarbill-Series 2004A.jpg
The US Treasury canceled plans to replace "the ten-dollar Founding Father" on the ten-dollar bill in part because fans of the Hamilton musical opposed the change.

The song has received critical acclaim. The Huffington Post argues that the song's wordplay and self-awareness elevates it above other opening numbers that rely on this "sung exposition" technique. [12] Pitchfork explains that the song sets the musical tone by incorporating rap while being "still essentially in musical-theater territory". [10] With Burr acting as the narrator of this number, the Los Angeles Times comments: "fitting, somehow, that the man who jealously slew Hamilton in a duel is the first to take up the mystery of his story". [16] In an interview with Vulture , rapper Talib Kweli effusively praised the song as an exemplar of hip-hop, saying, "My heart swelled with pride after I heard this song, because I was like, 'This right here is hip-hop.' Hip-hop has no boundaries and no limits, and Lin-Manuel and his crew are proving it". [17] Ricordia described it as "the anthem of a man that changed the world", and argued it should be the anthem of all listeners too. [18] Hitfix notes that the song's opening stanzas "have this sort of great simple stripped down quality, just demonstrating how dense the rhyme schemes are, and conveying a lot of information, including a reminder that Hamilton is a face we see every day and rarely consider. [19] Vibe wrote that the song has "booming instrumental, which features dramatic pauses and guitar strings". [20]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
US Rolling Stone Top 100 [21] 98

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [23] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lin-Manuel Miranda</span> American songwriter, actor and playwright (born 1980)

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American songwriter, actor, filmmaker and playwright. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015), and the soundtracks for the animated films Moana (2016), Vivo, and Encanto. His numerous accolades include three Tony Awards, three Emmy Awards, five Grammy Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards, an Annie Award, a MacArthur Fellowship Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a Pulitzer Prize.

<i>Hamilton</i> (musical) 2015 biographical musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Hamilton is a sung-and-rapped-through biographical musical with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Based on the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, the musical covers the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his involvement in the American Revolution and the political history of the early United States. Composed over a seven-year period from 2008 to 2015, the music draws heavily from hip hop, as well as R&B, pop, soul, and traditional-style show tunes. It casts non-white actors as the Founding Fathers of the United States and other historical figures. Miranda described Hamilton as about "America then, as told by America now."

<i>Hamilton</i> (album) Album of the stage musical Hamilton

Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) is the cast album to the 2015 musical Hamilton. The musical is based on the 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton written by Ron Chernow, with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The recording stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos, Okieriete Onaodowan, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Jonathan Groff. The ensemble features Jon Rua, Thayne Jasperson, Sydney James Harcourt, Ephraim Sykes, Ariana DeBose, and Sasha Hutchings. The musicians on the album are Alex Lacamoire, Kurt Crowley, Andres Forero, Robin Macatangay, Richard Hammond, Benny Reiner, Jonathan Dinklage, Erin Benim Mayland, Anja Wood, Mario Gotoh, and Laura Sherman. It achieved the largest first week sales for a digital cast album and is the highest-charting cast album since 1963. It was the highest-selling Broadway cast album of 2015 and peaked at number one on the Rap Albums chart, the first cast album to ever do so. After being certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2023, Hamilton became the best-selling cast album of all time.

"The Schuyler Sisters" is the fifth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

"Satisfied" is the eleventh song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. The song is sung by the character Angelica Schuyler, originally performed by Renée Elise Goldsberry.

"Wait for It" is the thirteenth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. It speaks of Aaron Burr's undying determination in the face of Hamilton's swift rise to influence and power. Vocally, it covers a baritenor range of Ab2 to Ab4.

"The Room Where It Happens" is a song from Act 2 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. The musical relates the life of Alexander Hamilton and his relationships with his family and Aaron Burr. The book, music, and lyrics of the musical, including this song, were composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The song describes the Compromise of 1790 from Burr's perspective.

"Say No to This" is the fourth song from Act 2 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. In this song, "Hamilton's eye begins wandering", as he has an affair with Maria Reynolds.

"It's Quiet Uptown" is the eighteenth song from Act 2 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. The song takes place in the second act of the musical, as the characters Alexander Hamilton and his wife Eliza grieve over their son's death.

"Dear Theodosia" is a 3-minute song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. The song is sung by the character Aaron Burr, originally performed by Leslie Odom Jr., and Hamilton, originally performed by Miranda.

"Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" is the finale song of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

"Helpless" is the tenth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

"You'll Be Back" is the seventh song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. It is sung by Jonathan Groff in the show's original cast recording. Within the context of the musical, it is performed by King George III lamenting the anti-royal machinations of the rebelling American colonists. It covers a vocal range of D3 to A4 and is written for a tenor voice.

"My Shot" is the third song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

<i>The Hamilton Mixtape</i> 2016 album

The Hamilton Mixtape is a 2016 mixtape album featuring assorted songs from the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton performed by various artists, as well as some deleted songs from the musical. It was widely well-received by critics.

"The Story of Tonight" is the fourth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

"Cabinet Battle #1" & "Cabinet Battle #2" are songs written for Act II of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the songs.

"Ten Duel Commandments" is the fifteenth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

"Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)" is the twentieth song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song. It recounts the story of the Battle of Yorktown.

<i>The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda</i> 2019 play

The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda is a play by American writer Ishmael Reed. It critiques the acclaimed historical musical Hamilton (2015) through a depiction of a fictionalized version of Hamilton's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is visited by several historical figures missing from the musical in a style similar to Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The play echoes many critiques made by historians, such as the whitewashing of Alexander Hamilton.

References

  1. ↑ Donelson, Marcy. "Hamilton: An American Musical [Original Broadway Cast Recording]". AllMusic .
  2. ↑ "National Review Online". National Review . 6 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 Mead, Rebecca (9 February 2015). "Hip-Hop Hamilton – The New Yorker". The New Yorker .
  4. ↑ Miranda, Lin-Manuel; McCarter, Jeremy (2016). Hamilton: The Revolution. New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing. p. 16. ISBN   9781455539741.
  5. ↑ Schonfeld, Zach (February 9, 2016). "'Hamilton' Biggest Thing Broadway Being Taught Classrooms All Over". Newsweek .
  6. ↑ "Hamilton Cast's 2016 Grammys Performance: Alexander Hamilton – Video – Billboard". Billboard.
  7. ↑ Roots, Kimberly (16 February 2016). "[VIDEO] 'Hamilton' Cast Performs 'Alexander Hamilton' at Grammys 2016 – TVLine". TVLine .
  8. ↑ "2016 Grammys Performances Ranked From Worst to Best". Billboard.
  9. ↑ "Grammys 2016: 20 Best and Worst Moments". Rolling Stone . February 16, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Various Artists". Pitchfork.
  11. ↑ "Hamilton The Musical: An Album Review". Monique Ocampo Writes. 14 October 2015.
  12. 1 2 Logan, Elizabeth (1 October 2015). "I Have an Opinion on Every Song in "Hamilton"". The Huffington Post .
  13. ↑ Kornhaber, Spencer (17 December 2015). "Why the 'Hamilton' Cast Recording Is the Best Album of 2015 – The Atlantic". The Atlantic.
  14. ↑ Dunham, Trevor (September 25, 2015). "Hamilton Album Review: Starting a Revolution Pt. 2". Uloop.
  15. ↑ Viagas, Robert (April 20, 2016). "It's Official: Alexander Hamilton Will Stay on $10 Bill". Playbill . U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced April 20 that founding Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's portrait will remain on the front of the $10 bill . . . . Fans of the Broadway musical Hamilton had clamored to keep the man described in the show as the 'ten-dollar Founding Father' on the note.
  16. ↑ McNulty, Charles (4 November 2015). "Review: 'Hamilton' is a watershed musical that sets a Founding Father's tale to hip-hop". Los Angeles Times .
  17. ↑ Charlton, Loretta (October 20, 2015). "Talib Kweli Analyzes Hamilton". Vulture .
  18. ↑ "Ricordia : Hamilton Soundtrack Review". Ricordia . Archived from the original on 2018-07-15. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  19. ↑ "Hamilton slays at the Grammys as Lin-Manuel Miranda accepts an award in style". HitFix.
  20. ↑ Woods, Monesha (October 20, 2015). "Going H.A.M.: A Track-By-Track Review Of The 'Hamilton' Soundtrack". Vibe .
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Songs, July 3, 2020 - July 9, 2020". Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Odom Jr/Ramos/Diggs/Onaodowan – Alexander Hamilton". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF HAMILTON – Alexander Hamilton". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 1, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.