Now for the sake of saving more reading time, I'm going to go ahead and say that all of Act 1's songs are equally amazing. They are all catchy and have lyrics that can be easily memorized in about 3-4 days or so if you keep the songs on endless repeat.
What'd I Miss- If I had to choose between Lafayette and Jefferson, I'd definitely go with Jefferson. He might have had issues and questionable opinions/motives, but as far as the musical goes, his wit and sass is just too funny to go unnoticed. Daveed Diggs is a class act and perfectly embodies Thomas Jefferson, so I'll definitely tip my hat off to him :)
Cabinet Battle 1 & 2- I'm pretty sure that a lot of people have said this already, but if cabinet meetings were structured this way then politics would be a lot more interesting. I also have to say that Daveed's personality is just the icing on the cake in these rap battles as he spits out great comebacks towards Alex (and vice versa). It's hilarious and makes for a more enjoyable experience.
Take A Break- As of right now this song resides as my top favorite mainly because of the pure talent that Phillipa, Anthony, Renee and Lin have. Plus the little rap that Phillip Ham has is just too cute and funny!
Say No to This- When it comes to this soundtrack overall, my favorite songs always change. However, this song comes in second place. And despite most fans' criticisms of Maria Reynolds' character, I think her role in Alexander's life had to happen for a reason. We all need to learn from our mistakes and realize what's most important in life, and in Alex's case, that would be making time for his family.
The Room Where It Happened- First off, I just need to say that Leslie Odom Jr. is such a talented man! I think he was perfect not just for the role of Aaron Burr, but also for being the narrator for Alexander's story in this musical. Can we also take a moment to notice the parallels that this song has in comparison to "My Shot"? The accompaniment may be more tailored to suit Leslie's vocal style, but it still holds the same theme. If it wasn't for Alexander, Burr may have never taken his shot to go for a position in politics.
Cabinet Battle 1 & 2- I'm pretty sure that a lot of people have said this already, but if cabinet meetings were structured this way then politics would be a lot more interesting. I also have to say that Daveed's personality is just the icing on the cake in these rap battles as he spits out great comebacks towards Alex (and vice versa). It's hilarious and makes for a more enjoyable experience.
Take A Break- As of right now this song resides as my top favorite mainly because of the pure talent that Phillipa, Anthony, Renee and Lin have. Plus the little rap that Phillip Ham has is just too cute and funny!
Say No to This- When it comes to this soundtrack overall, my favorite songs always change. However, this song comes in second place. And despite most fans' criticisms of Maria Reynolds' character, I think her role in Alexander's life had to happen for a reason. We all need to learn from our mistakes and realize what's most important in life, and in Alex's case, that would be making time for his family.
The Room Where It Happened- First off, I just need to say that Leslie Odom Jr. is such a talented man! I think he was perfect not just for the role of Aaron Burr, but also for being the narrator for Alexander's story in this musical. Can we also take a moment to notice the parallels that this song has in comparison to "My Shot"? The accompaniment may be more tailored to suit Leslie's vocal style, but it still holds the same theme. If it wasn't for Alexander, Burr may have never taken his shot to go for a position in politics.
One Last Time- Finding powerhouse songs that are sung by men is kind of hard, but this song is definitely one to be noticed and recognized. With Christopher Jackson taking the front seat here (along with Lin provided extra dialogue and background vocals), it's impossible to not bask in his talent.
I Know Him- Like the other 2 songs that Jonathan Groff sings on this soundtrack, I just can't help but think that he perfectly brings out the madness in King George III. Like seriously, could just you picture him giddily prancing around the room, laughing like a maniac when he finds out that John Adams is the president? It's hilarious!
The Adams Administration- This song in my opinion really isn't a song; it's an act of public animosity between two important people in the early political system. There isn't much said about former president John Adams in the musical, but you can probably guess that Hamilton didn't like or agree with a lot of things that the man said or did back then. Not much has changed with politics since then knowing how opinionated some Americans are today.
We Know- Yet another song that is full of wit and nonstop talking on Hamilton's part. Alexander is a man who could speak a million words a minute without breaking a sweat and the people would just sit there with their jaws wide open. And while Alex may have felt the need to be like that given the situation in this particular song, I think his point was well past proven.
Hurricane- If you have any doubts about Lin's singing ability, this song will put those concerns at ease. While he has this tendency to mix his rapping with his singing, Lin does it well and is still able to capture the right emotions.
Burn- It's no lie that Phillipa Soo is very talented. She was definitely able to capture the right emotions in this song and delivered them spot on.
It's Quiet Uptown- In my personal opinion, I would say that this song sits at the top of my list as one of my favorites. Yes, it's a slower song than the rest of the tracks, but there has to be some balance needed when a lot happens throughout the show. The heartbreak and yearning you hear in Alex's lines when asking his wife for forgiveness may be a little much to handle for some people, but for me, it just makes me want to reach out and hug him tight.
The Election of 1800- "Dear Mr. Hamilton, your fellow Fed'ralists would like to know who you'll be voting"? If it wasn't for the talent of the background actors, I don't think I'd be singing this song at the top of my lungs all that often, haha! Can you just sense the commotion going on in the New York City streets at that time? Kind of makes me want to join in and be part of the crowd.
Burn- It's no lie that Phillipa Soo is very talented. She was definitely able to capture the right emotions in this song and delivered them spot on.
It's Quiet Uptown- In my personal opinion, I would say that this song sits at the top of my list as one of my favorites. Yes, it's a slower song than the rest of the tracks, but there has to be some balance needed when a lot happens throughout the show. The heartbreak and yearning you hear in Alex's lines when asking his wife for forgiveness may be a little much to handle for some people, but for me, it just makes me want to reach out and hug him tight.
The Election of 1800- "Dear Mr. Hamilton, your fellow Fed'ralists would like to know who you'll be voting"? If it wasn't for the talent of the background actors, I don't think I'd be singing this song at the top of my lungs all that often, haha! Can you just sense the commotion going on in the New York City streets at that time? Kind of makes me want to join in and be part of the crowd.
Your Obedient Servant- This song brings a whole new meaning to passive-aggressiveness as Hamilton and Burr keep arguing over an insult that Alex made towards him. But what insult is Burr talking about in the first place? Does that really matter? The tension grows and you pretty much know what's going to happen next: a duel.
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story- Eliza's accomplishments in the following years of her husband's death should definitely be told about, so I'm glad that Lin highlighted those in this song. What I find to be weird though is that Eliza indeed accomplished more after Alexander's death than she did before. Nonetheless, this song is just amazing and makes you feel so many emotions at once.
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story- Eliza's accomplishments in the following years of her husband's death should definitely be told about, so I'm glad that Lin highlighted those in this song. What I find to be weird though is that Eliza indeed accomplished more after Alexander's death than she did before. Nonetheless, this song is just amazing and makes you feel so many emotions at once.
Final thoughts/recap: Hamilton isn't just another musical; it's a work of art based on true life events that happened in history. I love the music and especially hope to one day see it if not on stage, then at least in the movie theaters. It's just that good. It'll move you to tears. This masterpiece that Lin has created will re-define the lessons we continue to learn in life and help us to realize that tomorrow is never promised.
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