Happy Sunday!

I think you’ve seen this around, but HAMILTON IS NOW ON DISNEY+.

AAAAHHHHHHHHHH.

For those of you who don’t know, Hamilton is my all-time favorite musical. I got into it almost two years, and I . . . never really stopped listening to it. XD except for the last few months because anime openings exist

But if you’ve considered watching this fantastic musical, but haven’t yet, here are some reasons why you should spend almost three hours watching people sing on stage.  XD



When I started listening to Hamilton for the first time, way back in November of 2018, I would get songs stuck in my head for DAYS. (You have no idea how long My Shot was in my head. It was insane.)

The story is all told through song and rap. I will admit, when my history teacher first told us that tidbit of info (she was the one who started me on it - she constantly nagged our class to listen to it), I was extremely doubtful. After all, rap? Every single rap song I’d ever heard just annoyed me.

I don’t know why Hamilton is different. Maybe it’s because its songs aren’t as . . . crude . . . as the more mainstream rap songs. Maybe it’s because these songs tell a story in a really creative way. Either way, this is the ONLY sort of rap I will listen to.

I find it really funny how fast this GIF goes

When you listen to Hamilton, it’s clear that the writer put a lot of thought into the character growth. Alexander grows from a rash teenager, to one of America’s Founding Fathers, to a man whose life has crashed down around him. Burr grows more impatient throughout the musical. Washington just gets more and more irritated (XD just kidding). Eliza changes from a lovestruck young woman to a heartbroken wife unsure of how to keep going.

The only major character who doesn’t really change is Jefferson. And that’s just fine.

This has nothing to do with this point. I just find it great.

Hamilton doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of bad actions. Alexander does really, really stupid things throughout his life. He gets involved in multiple duels, one of which ends up killing his son. He cheats on his wife and tries to cover it up through any means necessary. And he openly admits to cheating on his wife by writing a HUGE PAMPHLET ABOUT IT AND RELEASING IT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. (I facepalm so hard during the Reynolds Pamphlet because GOSH HE’S AN IDIOT.)

But the musical SHOWS that these things had horrible consequences for Alexander’s life and the lives of those around him. It shows us that these things were wrong to do. And, leading in to the next point, it teaches some very important things in the process.

Excuse me while I yell at a historical figure now

Hamilton shows us that we need to think things through before we do them. So many of the problems Alexander goes through could have been solved if he didn’t just jump into them headfirst. I mean, come on. You really thought sending your son into a duel was a good idea? *sigh*

It also leads us to question what we’re doing in our lives. So many times we put off doing things and procrastinate. But Hamilton reminds us that we don’t know when we’re going to die, and we don’t know when others are going to die. We need to show love for others now. We need to actively start pursuing God now. And we can’t just say we’re going to change the world. We have to actually do it.

So we can’t throw away our shot.

It hurts me to put this GIF here. PHILIP :_(

I find stories are always more powerful if they’re true, and the same goes for musicals. Sure, Anastasia is moving in its own way, but it’s most definitely fiction. Wicked (which I don’t entirely agree with) has a powerful, inspiring friendship, but it’s fiction. Hamilton shows the consequences of actions and courage in war - and it does so by telling a true story.

Now, I’m not denoting that fiction is powerful. The stories that have changed my life the most are fiction. But it’s a different experience to look at such an incredible life story, like Hamilton’s, and think, “All this was actually true.” It’s crazy.

“The Room Where It Happens” is a particularly good song

I’m seriously not kidding. The last two tests of my U.S. History class were about Hamilton’s time - the first test basically covered Act I and the second one covered Act II. In fact, the second test’s material basically stopped after Hamilton’s death.

Did I really study for the tests?

No.

But did I listen to the musical while “studying”?

HECK YES I DID.

(It must be said here that I was also reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton at the time, and some of that material did correspond with the test material. That biography also helped me pass. But Hamilton did cover most of it.)

Also, if you tell your History teacher that you listen to Hamilton, you’ll either get extra points in her book - or she’ll think that you’re one of THOSE people. *shrugs*

My history teacher when she learned I now listen to Hamilton

LAFAYETTE IS THE BEST EVER.

Seriously. His song “Guns and Ships” is one of the most fun-to-sing songs on the entire soundtrack. (Don’t believe me? I rapped to it here.)

In addition, he’s one of the most interesting people of the Revolutionary War era. I read his biography, Lafayette, and found it really good. Highly recommended!

Immigrants. WE GET THE JOB DONE.

Content Warning: admittedly, there is quite a bit. I recommend listening to the clean version, as it censors most (but not all) profanity. Some reoccurring words were d***, f***, w****, s***, and h***. God’s name is taken in vain several times (but I really like how Alexander ends up turning back to God towards the end). A major part of the plot is that Alexander cheats on his wife. Drinking is mentioned in several scenes, and sex is mentioned in one or two songs. There’s also a few bad messages, but I think the good outweighs the bad in this case.

If you want a complete list of the content in each song, ask me down in the comments, and I’ll draft something up for you!

I also have a playlist on my Spotify that does not include the heart-wrenching songs or (some of) the most vulgar songs. (“A Winter’s Ball,” for instance, literally makes my blood curdle.) Here it is, if you’re interested.


Again, I really hope you at least try Hamilton. It’s definitely not for everyone, but as someone who doesn’t like rap music or bad language, I LOVE it.

Hope you guys have a great day!

-Nicole <3


*all GIFs from GIPHY