There's so much detail in this show, like how cast members who are "dead" are dressed in white, already showing from the very first scene that this is all Burr's flashback since he's the only one in his normal costume. In the same vein, during Who Lives, Who Dies Eliza is wearing her standard teal-blue dress...or is she? Actually no, she's wearing a white dress but standing in a blue light. When she steps out of the light to meet Hamilton at the back of the turntable, we're getting a glimpse of the future when she dies and is dressed in white, before she returns to the light to finish the song. And yet, even this song is actually from Burr's perspective, because even though Hamilton is dead he isn't wearing white...he's in the same clothes he was in when he died, showing that his influence lives on after his death in his wife, which is coincidentally what the song is about. This song is simultaneously Burr's greatest regret and his greatest failure, as he wasn't able to defeat Hamilton even by killing him.
I always thought he was in his normal clothes because he had no time to change before Aaron burr sir, and Hamilton gets dressed in the song, so everyone else can change but not them two
@@jjnn2 I mean probably, but if they had wanted a costume change they could've worked it out. Like having his white outfit on underneath the dark overcoat, and stepping into the wings for a second to take it off
This very question has been bugging me for a very long time. Why do the A-Dots stay in their black coats? My theory was that they are fallen angels, kept separate from their angel cohorts because by dueling they were sinners (in the hands of an angry god, well hello there Aaron Burr's grandpop, the fire-and-brimstone preacher Jonathan Edwards) and not worthy of grace. I went back to Chernow and a couple of other sources and this theory checks out at least partially - Hamilton's allies had to search high and low for a priest who could grant spiritual forgiveness (for death caused by illegal duel) so that he could be buried in consecrated ground. Can you imagine?
I love how that the lyrics to hurricane are like “I was was 12 when my mother died, she was holding me, we were sick and she was holding me, I couldn’t seem to die” “*_WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT_*” Because its just epic foreshadowing
Hurricane is truly underrated. Just the line "And when my prayers to God were met with indifference I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance" fills me up with determination and power
Hamilfilm footage is showing how the lighting designer has to know the music inside and out to bring out all these subtleties to the audience (and clearly, the lighting designer agrees with your musical analyses)
I should've called out the lighting designer! I'm also a designer so it's nice when us designers get a bit of the spotlight. (Haha...just realized the irony in saying a lighting designer gets a spotlight.)
Honestly, I only realized that Yorktown and Hurricane had the same music just a couple of days ago, and when I began to hear the resemblance it blew my mind. I always thought that Hurricane was one of those songs that was independent from the rest, with no musical motifs- but I was wrong. And honestly Hurricane is one of the most underrated songs in the musical. People associate it with the moment that Alexander ruins his life, but it's honestly so beautiful and it highlights what Alexander's thinking. He came to glory through his writing, and as he recalls his childhood we come to understand that the only one who has been by Alexander's side his entire time; the only person he can properly confide in, is his writing. He literally can't trust anybody else except himself because HE'S the only one who never would betray him, in his mind. His reasoning is, "I wrote my way out of literal HELL, I'll just write my way out of this too!" And when the Reynolds Pamphlet proved to be more bad than good, he immediately regrets it. Because his writing, the only thing he could truly rely on had betrayed him in his moment of need. There's also the off-broadway workshop version of Hurricane, which I find even more heartbreaking because there's this one line where he says, "The friend who would tell me not to do it is in the ground." while Laurens desperately sings to him to let it go. He's basically saying that the only other person that he could ever confide in was Laurens- and now he's dead. And now he only has his writing. AND LIN DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF EXPRESSING THIS. He may not be the best singer but the emotion he puts into his singing during Hurricane is phenomenal! Anyway, that's all I have to say before I watch the video. (,:
You just made me realize why Hamilton decided to write the Reynolds Pamphlet. I understand him so much more now. Also is the part about Laurens true? If so, I'm gonna go cry my heart out for Hammy
In one of his letters to Laurens, he says something along the lines of, "In short, Laurens, I am disgusted at everything in the world except for you and Meade." and although he was pretty close to Meade, in the biography (I think?) it's stated that he never found a close friend like Laurens ever again in his life.
chinati podeesamer Obviously this makes me look remarkably ignorant, but what exactly does your comment mean (that is, beyond the basic literal meanings of the words which I can comprehend)? Or maybe, what is it about the film that transforms it into a “slime tutorial”?
Pamela Rosen I can help you out here my dear friend, this is what they meant; so basically there are bootlegs of musicals but the titles say slime tutorials (so it doesn’t get taken down) just look up Hamilton slime tutorial you’ll see what I mean
(I did not think of this i read this somewhere) in the ensemble one of the cast members, Ariana DeBose, is death. She is the first one to die (besides Alexander's mom and the cousin) and after that she litteraly becomes a bullet, death. In "Stay Alive" she is holding a bullet that Flys over Hamilton's Head. In Yorktown she helps Laurns kill a British solder then shakes his hand and Laurns is the next to die, so Laurns is litteraly shaking hands with death. In "Blow us All away" she is the one who tells Phillip where George Eacker is, leading to his death, so Phillip is litteraly flirting with death. In "The World Was Wide Enough" she's the one who stops the bullet slowing down time for Hamilton, then when Hamilton says "My love take your time, I'll see you on The other side" she comes between them killing Hamilton, showing that they are separated by death. Also this is kind of unrealated but I noticed that during "The World Was Wide Enough" when Hamilton is having his "i imagine desth so much it feels more like a memory" speach the ensambe is doing chorography of different songs, like they where doing chorography to "My Shot" and "Right Hand Man" and a lot of others, im not totally sure on this but maybe that symbolizes Hamilton looking back on his life and everything he did and if he had done enough. attention to detail in this musical is incredible
I also saw that in what did I miss she’s in the line up and when Jefferson tries to pass her the cane she backs away. This could possibly be because he missed death being in France
This is off-topic but I just love how you can see the pain in Burr's face when Hamilton chooses Jefferson instead of him. Leslie Odom really did a good job on it and it really made me feel bad for Burr. He was so excited thinking Ham would choose him, you can see him about to cry because He can finally be in the room where it happens(well that's how I see it) but then was shot down by Ham and shot down again by Jefferson(the handshake) feelsbadman. Still can't get over it. 10:14
Honestly Hurricane is so underrated, its always been one of my favourites. I've never realised the link between it and Yorktown before so now I love it even more! Just goes to show what a great writer Lin is
All modern theater notwithstanding, I'm constantly blown away by how every single choice made of this particular musical (and film) was made so deliberately and intentionally. The music, lyrics, book, orchestration, costumes, lighting, sound effects, casting, choreography, set dressing. Everyone involved in every department is so well-suited for their roles. Lin, Lac, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Thomas Kail really made incredible magic here.
@@HowardHoMusic Hey, Howard, just discovered an interesting trivia bit about Hamilton~~ Aaron Burr's motif is written in a rhythm called a 'tresillo' which was introduced to America during the african slave trade. Do you think that's an intentional subtlety on Lin's part, or just a 'happy' coincidence? Anyway, love your vids, they've taught me so much about music theory. Thanks!
The part in hurricane when he said 'i was louder than the crack in the bell' , and a bell sound in the back. I always get chills. This musical is more than that, i can't even explain or put into words all the things that makes me feel. I love the video and all the Hamilton Analysis of you channel, is just amazing. 👏
I can't believe I have never noticed that record scratch. But it got me thinking about the stage. The entire play is done on top of a turn table, with the turntable being used as a means for showing time, especially the slowing down of time (such as in Hurricane when we are focused in on Hamilton's thoughts) or the passage/reversal of time (satisfied). I almost feel like the record scratches and the stage are one. The stage is the record.
OMG! That realization just hit me and gave me shivers :o Thank you for pointing out. I had no freaking idea!!! My head just turns and cannot belive how even an integral part of the stage itself is a reflection of both the story and the music style 😱
I’m really mad that I didn’t notice the hurricane lighting or choreography during Hamilton’s monologue until you highlighted it at 10:58. I just thought to myself, oh that’s interesting I wonder why they had all the light turn blue and the whole ensemble is moving around the stage and bringing boxes and furniture with them, I guess Hamilton just needed a box to stand on for a second.
"I'm releasing this video on July 4th" Me, watching this video 4 minutes after it came out, on the 5th of July. (I'm from the UK iI know t's timezone differences)
Something interesting I noticed on my rewatch yesterday is that in the background of the end of My Shot, Burr is on the balcony with others and dancing. But he isn't singing that I can see. He's just dancing. Doing the motions but not saying the words. It's very Burr-like.
I distinctly remember the use of the hurricane lighting used in another tear jerker song in Hamilton when I saw it in. Chicago a year ago. I can’t remember what song it was for the life of me rn and I either couldn’t tell or it didn’t exist in the New York production. But it wasn’t one of Hamilton’s songs. Now I’m trying to think about it and it’s driving me crazy! Like I need to know the relevance now!
@@Gabriel-zb9sr Bruh, Hamilton did the same thing Potter did. He promised his son that if he did this and that, things will go his way. Harry told his son who was worried of being a Slytherin that if he would just lowkey say "Nah, I don't want to be a Slytherin" to the fucking hat, he'll be put in Griffyndor BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HARRY. Guess what? He got put into Slytherin anyway. Hamilton told Phillip that if he were to shoot up in the sky, it would put an end to the whole affair because if Eacker was truly a man of honour, that's what he would do as well. Phillip, of course, argued that if Eacker shot him, he'd be a goner. What happened to Phillip? He and Eacker stood there after the count and the second Phillip moved his gun, Eacker shot him in fear of getting shot himself. What in the caucasity is this logic-
Something else I noticed about both Yorktown and Hurricane, which is why I clicked to see if it would be mentioned, is how they both have a segment where the ensemble is moving furniture in the air. In Yorktown it’s to highlight the line “the world turned upside down” while in Hurricane it’s to recreate what a hurricane would do; but I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe it’s also a subtle visual reference to Hamilton’s PTSD.
Oh!! This is perfect. I have always heard the reference to his trauma (as the hurricane turned everything upside down - the literal things AND his life) in the singing but did not make the connection to the coreography (more often only listening to the music and only 3 times seen the show - once on Disney+ and twice in Hamburg) So nice to see it now, thanks for pointing it out :D
@@sarahgrin You know what I'm here to do? *I'm not here for you...* I know my sister like I know my own mind You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind And a million years ago She said, "This one's mine," So I... Stood by... *Do you know why?!*
It's crazy to me that Lin tought about all this.All this details,the way he wrote the whole story,the way he put all the things together.He has one of the most creative minds i've ever seen.
Burr narrates beyond the questions that introduce some songs. He narrates us into The Schuyler Sisters (there's nothing like summer in the city), he provides a prologue for Say No To This before backing off to "let him tell it", and of course, "The Room Where It Happened" is his catalyst to start acting on his ambition, but he's also telling the story from his perspective, outside the room.
YES! YES! YES! YOU GET IT!!!! I was always wondering why Hamilton’s monologue in The World Was Wide Enough was my favorite part of the musical when Hurricane and Yorktown were my favorite songs, but you made me realize that it was because of Hamilton’s inner hurricane!! I’ve always loved Hamilton’s psychology in this musical, and this video explains EVERYTHING about why I love it so much!
as I watched this video, i couldnt help myself but to cheer and say YEEESSS at everything you were saying bc its how I saw hamilton too, he was ready to die every day in his life, thats why he writes like hes running out of time and is "non-stop", bc he never know how much time is left for him. thats why in yorktown he is apparently telling the story like hes already lived that, and in hurricane he talks about every near death experience he had, like hes showing the audience that he survive all that but his time has come
While this is not related to the main discussion I would like to point it out. In Hurricane, we hear a bell chiming in the background. While yes this could refer to “I was louder than the crack in the bell”, however I like to imagine it refers to this old proverb, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, for it may toll for you.” This is a reference to bells rung at churches during funerals.
I can’t even begin to think of what Hamilton truly is. To me Hamilton is a lyrical masterpiece that I can’t even begin to imagine how much secrets Lin has in it.
7:22 "He never left; he's still there in the eye of the hurricane, asking death for one more day." -I guess that's why he writes like he's running out of time.-
3:38 I cannot be the only person who thought it sounded like footsteps, like the soundtrack was recorded while the company was performing on stage (ik its not be fbhddvshh)
When he is talking about the ascending bass in Hurricane, right when he says " it heightens and build tensions until" I got an add that started off with WAWA! So I guess it built tensions until WAWA
I don't know if someone already pointed this but, I just noticed that the light arrangement of that "sad" part of My Shot (6:02) it´s pretty similar to the Yorktown and Hurricane ones. Also, in an interview, the designer of hamilton´s set says the wheel in the middle it´s inspired by the hurricane of Hamilton´s childhood. (PS: I´m sorry if there are mistakes, English it's not my mother tongue)
Nice, I was watching through your playlist (some but not all I've seen before) and then as I was watching a new video got added! :D Somehow I'd never made the link between Yorktown and Hurricane before - I love these connections.
All your video's really make me feel like music is a language I don't speak (even though I played clarinet in an orchestra and can read sheet music). Clearly, you are fluent. Your analyses are a real treat. Thank you!
I think something you missed with satisfied (although it’s not exactly the music itself) are the lyrics during the part where Angelica is flashing back. “Skies... Drowning”. This is probably a reference to her own personal hurricane.
Thank you for this video. I saw Hamilton a year ago on stage and Hurricane in particular took my breath away. I knew the choreography was involved enough that I would never see all the detail, and im finding new things on every rewatch.
You help connect so many dots in hamilton and how the music is done its amazing. Coming from someone that has no musical knowledge your videos leave me in awe and I never realized how detailed music can be and what it can symbolize
Great analysis, I like your interpretation of Hamilton always being on borrowed time! For me, the analysis also colors the, "As a kid in the Caribbean, I wished for a war. I knew that I was poor. I knew it was the only way to rise up." line for me. 'Rise up' being a stand-in for "fight against something," of course. It's so much easier to direct your anger against a tangible, mortal enemy, as opposed to a force of nature.
I love these Hamilton videos because i’ve listened to the show and watched it numerous times. I catch the little musical cues and music changes but i don’t know the first thing about music theory. So when i watch this you point out what i myself can’t understand or explain 🙃
Watching all of your Hamilton videos has made me love the show even more. It gives the show so much more meaning to know how much work went into writing the music. Thank you for showing us the depth Hamilton brings.
When you said that Yorktown was flashing back the Hurricane in St. Criox where Hamilton “supposed to die” at the age of 14, my mind blew!!! This might be your most original theory about Hamilton! (don’t take me wrong I like all of them though)
Thank you so much! I have binged all of your Hamilton videos this past week, and well, I'm obsessed. You've taught me so much and I'm so grateful! I have always loved musicals, but I've never understood how they do what they do. I never could fit musical theory classes in, without going into excess hours (Florida charges double for classes past your necessary count to acquire your major/minor.) I keep sharing these with friends. Thank you! Will support when I get back on my feet (lost my job due to covid. ) thank you so much!!!
your videos fascinate me because the talk about chord progressions sounds like absolute gibberish to me (i have no understanding of musik-) yet everything you say makes so much sense
The Eye of the Hurricane was so devastating to watch because he really felt he was going to be able to write his way out, it was like Alexander the Great's death bed scene (such denial)... This musical was such a work of genius, I literary went through all phases of emotions (watching it an 8th time shortly).
And I don’t know if you already talk about it but in The Room Where it Happens when Hamilton sings “you get NOTHING if you WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT WAIT” this is only inside Burr’s mind!!!!
You are awesome! I don’t know music, so much, but I know others that do!! Can’t wait to share this video! And I’m watching Hamilton, later today! Been listening to people RAVE about it, for years!!! Super excited to see it! Your explanations will help me understand it sooooo much better! Happy day to you! Sing on!!! 🎶
Just started watching this video - LOVE your musical analysis videos! Just wanted to comment, in case there's confusion, that July 4th, 1776 was the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The Battle of Yorktown which culminated in Cornwallis sending his second in command to surrender to Washington in 1781, happened on this day in history (Oct. 19th). The Revolutionary War didn't officially end until Sep. 3rd, 1783, with the signing of the "Peace of Paris" agreement.
You should talk more about Obedient Servant! It's really brilliant! You can feel how furious Burr is and how sarcastic the whole tone of the song is, and the one point where Burr says "duel at dawn, guns drawn" the music stops, and then starts back up again with the "I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, A. Ham" It also starts up with a record scratch 🤔
I've always read the ascending bass at the end of Hurricane being dissonant and not resolving because the situation with The Reynolds' Pamphlet had only just begun and was NOT resolved, thus the same with the music. I really love your dives, thought you might like that little take :)
There's so much detail in this show, like how cast members who are "dead" are dressed in white, already showing from the very first scene that this is all Burr's flashback since he's the only one in his normal costume. In the same vein, during Who Lives, Who Dies Eliza is wearing her standard teal-blue dress...or is she? Actually no, she's wearing a white dress but standing in a blue light. When she steps out of the light to meet Hamilton at the back of the turntable, we're getting a glimpse of the future when she dies and is dressed in white, before she returns to the light to finish the song.
And yet, even this song is actually from Burr's perspective, because even though Hamilton is dead he isn't wearing white...he's in the same clothes he was in when he died, showing that his influence lives on after his death in his wife, which is coincidentally what the song is about. This song is simultaneously Burr's greatest regret and his greatest failure, as he wasn't able to defeat Hamilton even by killing him.
I always thought he was in his normal clothes because he had no time to change before Aaron burr sir, and Hamilton gets dressed in the song, so everyone else can change but not them two
@@jjnn2 I mean probably, but if they had wanted a costume change they could've worked it out. Like having his white outfit on underneath the dark overcoat, and stepping into the wings for a second to take it off
@@Phyrre56 Im crying reading this. Is the theory yours?
This very question has been bugging me for a very long time. Why do the A-Dots stay in their black coats? My theory was that they are fallen angels, kept separate from their angel cohorts because by dueling they were sinners (in the hands of an angry god, well hello there Aaron Burr's grandpop, the fire-and-brimstone preacher Jonathan Edwards) and not worthy of grace.
I went back to Chernow and a couple of other sources and this theory checks out at least partially - Hamilton's allies had to search high and low for a priest who could grant spiritual forgiveness (for death caused by illegal duel) so that he could be buried in consecrated ground. Can you imagine?
@@Phyrre56 oh my goodness, your theory just gave me the best kind of goosebumps ever.
Miranda is probably going “this guy gets me”.
Don't forget Alex Lac!!
"you're like me"
You’ll never be satisfied.
i get him
The way the Hamilfilm footage makes these videos even better
Makes it a lot easier too!
The world is going back to its hamilton phase and i *love it*
Ahhh yes as do I
If you go on Twitter quite a lot of people are (sadly) hating on it.
Back? I never left-
sucks to be back, I memorised every single song and now they’re stuck in my head again
Dr Ghost Duck Whyy?!?
I love how that the lyrics to hurricane are like
“I was was 12 when my mother died, she was holding me, we were sick and she was holding me, I couldn’t seem to die”
“*_WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT_*”
Because its just epic foreshadowing
Hurricane is truly underrated.
Just the line "And when my prayers to God were met with indifference I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance" fills me up with determination and power
Hamilfilm footage is showing how the lighting designer has to know the music inside and out to bring out all these subtleties to the audience (and clearly, the lighting designer agrees with your musical analyses)
I should've called out the lighting designer! I'm also a designer so it's nice when us designers get a bit of the spotlight. (Haha...just realized the irony in saying a lighting designer gets a spotlight.)
Honestly, I only realized that Yorktown and Hurricane had the same music just a couple of days ago, and when I began to hear the resemblance it blew my mind. I always thought that Hurricane was one of those songs that was independent from the rest, with no musical motifs- but I was wrong. And honestly Hurricane is one of the most underrated songs in the musical. People associate it with the moment that Alexander ruins his life, but it's honestly so beautiful and it highlights what Alexander's thinking.
He came to glory through his writing, and as he recalls his childhood we come to understand that the only one who has been by Alexander's side his entire time; the only person he can properly confide in, is his writing. He literally can't trust anybody else except himself because HE'S the only one who never would betray him, in his mind. His reasoning is, "I wrote my way out of literal HELL, I'll just write my way out of this too!" And when the Reynolds Pamphlet proved to be more bad than good, he immediately regrets it. Because his writing, the only thing he could truly rely on had betrayed him in his moment of need.
There's also the off-broadway workshop version of Hurricane, which I find even more heartbreaking because there's this one line where he says, "The friend who would tell me not to do it is in the ground." while Laurens desperately sings to him to let it go. He's basically saying that the only other person that he could ever confide in was Laurens- and now he's dead. And now he only has his writing.
AND LIN DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF EXPRESSING THIS. He may not be the best singer but the emotion he puts into his singing during Hurricane is phenomenal! Anyway, that's all I have to say before I watch the video. (,:
100. So beautiful to see and hear it all play out too.
I LOVE YOU FOR THIS COMENT... I JUST... LOVE YOU.
I agree, Hurricane has always been one of my favorites and definitely an underappreciated Hamilton song.
You just made me realize why Hamilton decided to write the Reynolds Pamphlet. I understand him so much more now. Also is the part about Laurens true? If so, I'm gonna go cry my heart out for Hammy
In one of his letters to Laurens, he says something along the lines of, "In short, Laurens, I am disgusted at everything in the world except for you and Meade." and although he was pretty close to Meade, in the biography (I think?) it's stated that he never found a close friend like Laurens ever again in his life.
Ah, yes. The Hamilfilm, the slime tutorial to end all slime tutorials.
This is the best comment and it deserves recognition
We need the other slime tutorials too now lol
I need myself a slime tutorial
chinati podeesamer Obviously this makes me look remarkably ignorant, but what exactly does your comment mean (that is, beyond the basic literal meanings of the words which I can comprehend)? Or maybe, what is it about the film that transforms it into a “slime tutorial”?
Pamela Rosen I can help you out here my dear friend, this is what they meant; so basically there are bootlegs of musicals but the titles say slime tutorials (so it doesn’t get taken down) just look up Hamilton slime tutorial you’ll see what I mean
(I did not think of this i read this somewhere) in the ensemble one of the cast members, Ariana DeBose, is death. She is the first one to die (besides Alexander's mom and the cousin) and after that she litteraly becomes a bullet, death. In "Stay Alive" she is holding a bullet that Flys over Hamilton's Head. In Yorktown she helps Laurns kill a British solder then shakes his hand and Laurns is the next to die, so Laurns is litteraly shaking hands with death. In "Blow us All away" she is the one who tells Phillip where George Eacker is, leading to his death, so Phillip is litteraly flirting with death. In "The World Was Wide Enough" she's the one who stops the bullet slowing down time for Hamilton, then when Hamilton says "My love take your time, I'll see you on The other side" she comes between them killing Hamilton, showing that they are separated by death. Also this is kind of unrealated but I noticed that during "The World Was Wide Enough" when Hamilton is having his "i imagine desth so much it feels more like a memory" speach the ensambe is doing chorography of different songs, like they where doing chorography to "My Shot" and "Right Hand Man" and a lot of others, im not totally sure on this but maybe that symbolizes Hamilton looking back on his life and everything he did and if he had done enough. attention to detail in this musical is incredible
Yeah, she’s the most underrated character in the whole musical!
I saw a post about her in the FB group lol. FYI, her name is Ariana DeBose!
@@yutazenrenchin9701 thank you, I'll edit my comment!
I also saw that in what did I miss she’s in the line up and when Jefferson tries to pass her the cane she backs away. This could possibly be because he missed death being in France
@jadc08 i see i am going to have to rewatch many many times :)
This is off-topic but I just love how you can see the pain in Burr's face when Hamilton chooses Jefferson instead of him. Leslie Odom really did a good job on it and it really made me feel bad for Burr. He was so excited thinking Ham would choose him, you can see him about to cry because He can finally be in the room where it happens(well that's how I see it) but then was shot down by Ham and shot down again by Jefferson(the handshake) feelsbadman. Still can't get over it. 10:14
I just wanted to give Burr a hug throughout that entire song. THE MAN JUST WANTED A HANDSHAKE!!
so the Bb in Hurricane is "He took it too far" represented literally
Perfect!
Honestly Hurricane is so underrated, its always been one of my favourites. I've never realised the link between it and Yorktown before so now I love it even more! Just goes to show what a great writer Lin is
Hurricane is my favorite scene in the Hamilfilm. The choreography is breathtaking.
Your music teacher must be proud. Not only do you teach this musical language, but you also apply it.
I love how the stage lights make it seem like Alexander is actually standing in the eye of a hurricane
This channel is pure Hamilton gold
All modern theater notwithstanding, I'm constantly blown away by how every single choice made of this particular musical (and film) was made so deliberately and intentionally. The music, lyrics, book, orchestration, costumes, lighting, sound effects, casting, choreography, set dressing. Everyone involved in every department is so well-suited for their roles. Lin, Lac, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Thomas Kail really made incredible magic here.
That moment when you realize King George's theme is Yorktown backwards bcuz he's getting whupped
LOL
@@HowardHoMusic Hey, Howard, just discovered an interesting trivia bit about Hamilton~~
Aaron Burr's motif is written in a rhythm called a 'tresillo' which was introduced to America during the african slave trade. Do you think that's an intentional subtlety on Lin's part, or just a 'happy' coincidence?
Anyway, love your vids, they've taught me so much about music theory. Thanks!
WHAT?! THAT'S CRAZY! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!
Listening to LMM talk about his process, no, I don't think this was accidental at all! 😀
The part in hurricane when he said 'i was louder than the crack in the bell' , and a bell sound in the back. I always get chills. This musical is more than that, i can't even explain or put into words all the things that makes me feel. I love the video and all the Hamilton Analysis of you channel, is just amazing. 👏
I can't believe I have never noticed that record scratch. But it got me thinking about the stage. The entire play is done on top of a turn table, with the turntable being used as a means for showing time, especially the slowing down of time (such as in Hurricane when we are focused in on Hamilton's thoughts) or the passage/reversal of time (satisfied). I almost feel like the record scratches and the stage are one. The stage is the record.
Yup, and the stage has not just one turntable but two of them, just like in hiphop!
OMG! That realization just hit me and gave me shivers :o Thank you for pointing out. I had no freaking idea!!! My head just turns and cannot belive how even an integral part of the stage itself is a reflection of both the story and the music style 😱
It is CRAZY that Lin is so genius and think of these things to add detail to the story. Now I know why it took 6 years to write.
Am I the only one who doesn't understand this videos but loves it anyways??
I’m really mad that I didn’t notice the hurricane lighting or choreography during Hamilton’s monologue until you highlighted it at 10:58. I just thought to myself, oh that’s interesting I wonder why they had all the light turn blue and the whole ensemble is moving around the stage and bringing boxes and furniture with them, I guess Hamilton just needed a box to stand on for a second.
Leslie Odom jr. is great as burr
I think hes honestly the best Burr between all the different actors who've played him
the original cast will always be the best!
I wonder why his stage voice is so different from his album voice though
@@ghostpixie822 not necessarily!
It might just be me, but he sounds a bit annoyed in the film compared to the ost
"I'm releasing this video on July 4th"
Me, watching this video 4 minutes after it came out, on the 5th of July.
(I'm from the UK iI know t's timezone differences)
it's July 5th all in the US too lol
Same in France
same in japan lol
Its July 5th here too
He lied to us
7:10
Im absolutely shook
I sobbed so much while creating that.
Something interesting I noticed on my rewatch yesterday is that in the background of the end of My Shot, Burr is on the balcony with others and dancing. But he isn't singing that I can see. He's just dancing. Doing the motions but not saying the words. It's very Burr-like.
Oh wow, never noticed that. Yeah, so many details I couldn't talk about before!
I was wondering how long after the release you’d find something awesome to say about it.
Colour me impressed.
man, didn't even realize Hamilton was this good
Giving you a socially distancing approved hug! I was marathoning your vids after the Hamilfilm came out!
I distinctly remember the use of the hurricane lighting used in another tear jerker song in Hamilton when I saw it in. Chicago a year ago. I can’t remember what song it was for the life of me rn and I either couldn’t tell or it didn’t exist in the New York production. But it wasn’t one of Hamilton’s songs. Now I’m trying to think about it and it’s driving me crazy! Like I need to know the relevance now!
Love that in Satisfied, right after the "Rewind", you can hear the boys' voices echoing "LADIES!" from winters ball
Nevermind I am a pleb, never noticed it in the cast recording despite my million and one hearings of it. Needed to actually see the staging to hear it
Hamilton already faced death and he won
Hamilton is Harry Potter, i knew it!
He's the boy who lived!
@@Gabriel-zb9sr Bruh, Hamilton did the same thing Potter did. He promised his son that if he did this and that, things will go his way.
Harry told his son who was worried of being a Slytherin that if he would just lowkey say "Nah, I don't want to be a Slytherin" to the fucking hat, he'll be put in Griffyndor BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HARRY.
Guess what? He got put into Slytherin anyway.
Hamilton told Phillip that if he were to shoot up in the sky, it would put an end to the whole affair because if Eacker was truly a man of honour, that's what he would do as well. Phillip, of course, argued that if Eacker shot him, he'd be a goner.
What happened to Phillip? He and Eacker stood there after the count and the second Phillip moved his gun, Eacker shot him in fear of getting shot himself.
What in the caucasity is this logic-
I have no choice but to binge watch all your Hamilton videos. They're just so good!
Thanks for the binge!
my jaw DROPPED when u talked about the record scratch 7 minutes in OMG
Something else I noticed about both Yorktown and Hurricane, which is why I clicked to see if it would be mentioned, is how they both have a segment where the ensemble is moving furniture in the air. In Yorktown it’s to highlight the line “the world turned upside down” while in Hurricane it’s to recreate what a hurricane would do; but I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe it’s also a subtle visual reference to Hamilton’s PTSD.
Oh!! This is perfect. I have always heard the reference to his trauma (as the hurricane turned everything upside down - the literal things AND his life) in the singing but did not make the connection to the coreography (more often only listening to the music and only 3 times seen the show - once on Disney+ and twice in Hamburg) So nice to see it now, thanks for pointing it out :D
Ah okay. Orange theme. Cool . coolcoolcoolcoolcoolcoolcoolcool. good analysis! great analysis , of the _orange_ theme ;
Haha...I have to work hard to keep you happy.
Howard Ho sorry if I’m a broken record lol, I was just “huh?” since you specified in the last convo that grey theme would be “soon”
2:42
FEDeralist
FED up
(I don't make much sense, but hey)
LOL...or maybe it's just cause he was hungry.
@@HowardHoMusic Probably. Man's too young, scrappy and hungry
@@kaizimierz And hes not throwing away his shot!
*I came as soon as I heard.*
All the way from London. **damn**
@@sarahgrin
You know what I'm here to do?
*I'm not here for you...*
I know my sister like I know my own mind
You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind
And a million years ago
She said, "This one's mine,"
So I...
Stood by...
*Do you know why?!*
Angelicaaa
PUT WHAT WE HAD ASIDE IM STANDING AT HER SIDE YOU WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED, GOD I HOPE YOURE SATISFIED
NEVER GON BE PRESIDENT NOWEEE
It's crazy to me that Lin tought about all this.All this details,the way he wrote the whole story,the way he put all the things together.He has one of the most creative minds i've ever seen.
Burr narrates beyond the questions that introduce some songs. He narrates us into The Schuyler Sisters (there's nothing like summer in the city), he provides a prologue for Say No To This before backing off to "let him tell it", and of course, "The Room Where It Happened" is his catalyst to start acting on his ambition, but he's also telling the story from his perspective, outside the room.
YES! YES! YES! YOU GET IT!!!!
I was always wondering why Hamilton’s monologue in The World Was Wide Enough was my favorite part of the musical when Hurricane and Yorktown were my favorite songs, but you made me realize that it was because of Hamilton’s inner hurricane!! I’ve always loved Hamilton’s psychology in this musical, and this video explains EVERYTHING about why I love it so much!
Howard: hear that difference?
Me who heard absolutely no difference: ah yes the difference was very clear
Crank up the volume!
@@HowardHoMusic instructions unclear, i can no longer hear
Wow after a million times of listening to the soundtracks there are still a lot of things to unpack
Right?!
Non-Hamilton content? Is that true? I wasn't aware that's something a person could do...
I’m perplexed.
@@sleepy8343 ~are they going to keep on replacing whoever's in charge~
@@laurabuxel2718 if so who’s neeeeeeext!?
Steel City Productions there’s nothing else in this fandom that looms quite as large
How to unhear King George |||'s voice?
Yesssss I just got done watching Hamilton looking forward to all your analyses
as I watched this video, i couldnt help myself but to cheer and say YEEESSS at everything you were saying bc its how I saw hamilton too, he was ready to die every day in his life, thats why he writes like hes running out of time and is "non-stop", bc he never know how much time is left for him. thats why in yorktown he is apparently telling the story like hes already lived that, and in hurricane he talks about every near death experience he had, like hes showing the audience that he survive all that but his time has come
While this is not related to the main discussion I would like to point it out. In Hurricane, we hear a bell chiming in the background. While yes this could refer to “I was louder than the crack in the bell”, however I like to imagine it refers to this old proverb, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, for it may toll for you.” This is a reference to bells rung at churches during funerals.
Oh yeah, totally.
These are my favorite parts of each act, so thank you for explaining why I love these parts so much better than I ever could!
I can’t even begin to think of what Hamilton truly is. To me Hamilton is a lyrical masterpiece that I can’t even begin to imagine how much secrets Lin has in it.
I am so happy the recording is finally out!!!! This is going to benefit these videos so mucn.
7:22 "He never left; he's still there in the eye of the hurricane, asking death for one more day."
-I guess that's why he writes like he's running out of time.-
3:38 I cannot be the only person who thought it sounded like footsteps, like the soundtrack was recorded while the company was performing on stage (ik its not be fbhddvshh)
When he is talking about the ascending bass in Hurricane, right when he says " it heightens and build tensions until" I got an add that started off with WAWA! So I guess it built tensions until WAWA
LOL...
@@HowardHoMusic thanks for replying lol, love your videos
I don't know if someone already pointed this but, I just noticed that the light arrangement of that "sad" part of My Shot (6:02) it´s pretty similar to the Yorktown and Hurricane ones. Also, in an interview, the designer of hamilton´s set says the wheel in the middle it´s inspired by the hurricane of Hamilton´s childhood.
(PS: I´m sorry if there are mistakes, English it's not my mother tongue)
You can hear all this background music on the Hamilton Instrumentals. I just realized those existed.
Nice, I was watching through your playlist (some but not all I've seen before) and then as I was watching a new video got added! :D Somehow I'd never made the link between Yorktown and Hurricane before - I love these connections.
All your video's really make me feel like music is a language I don't speak (even though I played clarinet in an orchestra and can read sheet music). Clearly, you are fluent. Your analyses are a real treat. Thank you!
Ugh my parents just started playing Dear Theadosia to lure me out of bed. 😞
Tell me how to say no this.
Wow, parenting is different now.
I- don’t know how to say no to this
Steel City Productions in my mind im trying to go. then her mouth is on mine and i dont say NO
i shouldn’t tell my parents about this technique
I need to tell my parents about this technique. It might just actually work!
"My love, take your time. I'll see you on the other side."
Raise a glass to freedom...
I think something you missed with satisfied (although it’s not exactly the music itself) are the lyrics during the part where Angelica is flashing back. “Skies... Drowning”. This is probably a reference to her own personal hurricane.
I was looking for something to watch, thank you!
Hamilton is the best musical ever and I’m tired of pretending it’s not
In the Heights is better.
Okay, but this channel deserves so much recogniction for his talent
Thank you for this video. I saw Hamilton a year ago on stage and Hurricane in particular took my breath away. I knew the choreography was involved enough that I would never see all the detail, and im finding new things on every rewatch.
You help connect so many dots in hamilton and how the music is done its amazing. Coming from someone that has no musical knowledge your videos leave me in awe and I never realized how detailed music can be and what it can symbolize
Ok the hurricane deja vu point blew my mind. Holy moly.
love love love loved Hurricane, the staging was gorgeus!!!
Great analysis, I like your interpretation of Hamilton always being on borrowed time! For me, the analysis also colors the, "As a kid in the Caribbean, I wished for a war. I knew that I was poor. I knew it was the only way to rise up." line for me. 'Rise up' being a stand-in for "fight against something," of course. It's so much easier to direct your anger against a tangible, mortal enemy, as opposed to a force of nature.
I love how you included a little bit of footage from Turn: Washington's spies haha
I love these Hamilton videos because i’ve listened to the show and watched it numerous times. I catch the little musical cues and music changes but i don’t know the first thing about music theory. So when i watch this you point out what i myself can’t understand or explain 🙃
Thank you for doing the bulk of the hard thinking work for me so I can just listen to this and appreciate this musical even more.
Watching all of your Hamilton videos has made me love the show even more. It gives the show so much more meaning to know how much work went into writing the music. Thank you for showing us the depth Hamilton brings.
When you said that Yorktown was flashing back the Hurricane in St. Criox where Hamilton “supposed to die” at the age of 14, my mind blew!!! This might be your most original theory about Hamilton! (don’t take me wrong I like all of them though)
Thank you so much! I have binged all of your Hamilton videos this past week, and well, I'm obsessed. You've taught me so much and I'm so grateful! I have always loved musicals, but I've never understood how they do what they do. I never could fit musical theory classes in, without going into excess hours (Florida charges double for classes past your necessary count to acquire your major/minor.) I keep sharing these with friends. Thank you! Will support when I get back on my feet (lost my job due to covid. ) thank you so much!!!
On July 4th died Thomas Jefferson and John Adams...
That's true.
@@HowardHoMusic 1780 a WiNtErS bAlL
Howard Ho: 1780, A wInTer’s BaLl AnD ThE ScHUyLeR SiStErs ArE EnVy Of aLl
also died James Monroe, albeit 5 years after the two above
Adding on to this, it is said that Adams' last words were "Jeffersom still lives", when Jefferson had actually died about three hours before.
You're tempting the hell out of me to do a how does choreography work in Hamilton video...
I love hurricane. When i saw it live i was blown away by the scenery and lighting. Amazing
It really just keeps proving how talented Lin-Manuel Miranda is to have written such a complicated but understandable musical. ♥️♥️♥️
your videos fascinate me because the talk about chord progressions sounds like absolute gibberish to me (i have no understanding of musik-) yet everything you say makes so much sense
Oh yay! This has been a long while and I am happy to have it back~
The Eye of the Hurricane was so devastating to watch because he really felt he was going to be able to write his way out, it was like Alexander the Great's death bed scene (such denial)...
This musical was such a work of genius, I literary went through all phases of emotions (watching it an 8th time shortly).
Could you make a picture of how all the songs are tied together like through common musical and lyrical themes?
I was originally trying to do that with the way I color-coded them. But there's way more nuance needed.
Ugh, your last statement about Alexander Hamilton really made me make peace with the fact that he has to die that way. Thank you.
Yorktown and hurricane are like my favorite songs so thank you so much!
Great job! I love these deep dives!
And I don’t know if you already talk about it but in The Room Where it Happens when Hamilton sings “you get NOTHING if you WAIT FOR IT WAIT FOR IT WAIT” this is only inside Burr’s mind!!!!
Finally!! I think i’ve watched the other videos too many times to mention..
Howard: You see, there’s a crackle there!
Me, who just thought it was the actor’s footsteps:
Deyyyym. That is sooo good. I cried at the last line. 😭
You are awesome! I don’t know music, so much, but I know others that do!! Can’t wait to share this video! And I’m watching Hamilton, later today! Been listening to people RAVE about it, for years!!! Super excited to see it! Your explanations will help me understand it sooooo much better! Happy day to you! Sing on!!! 🎶
Just started watching this video - LOVE your musical analysis videos!
Just wanted to comment, in case there's confusion, that July 4th, 1776 was the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The Battle of Yorktown which culminated in Cornwallis sending his second in command to surrender to Washington in 1781, happened on this day in history (Oct. 19th). The Revolutionary War didn't officially end until Sep. 3rd, 1783, with the signing of the "Peace of Paris" agreement.
I absolutely love your videos, it just makes me appreciate and love music and Hamilton so much more, which is already high enough as is!
The How Hamilton Works playlist is great!
You should talk more about Obedient Servant! It's really brilliant! You can feel how furious Burr is and how sarcastic the whole tone of the song is, and the one point where Burr says "duel at dawn, guns drawn" the music stops, and then starts back up again with the "I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, A. Ham"
It also starts up with a record scratch 🤔
I've seen the live show a few times now and *no one* has matched Burr's murderous rage at the beginning of Your Obedient Servant.
I always wondered what the heck Yorktown was doing in Hurricane. Now I know!
this video gives me chills and Oh God! I'm gonna watched it again for it!!
YAY this is so great. Brilliant as always.
I've always read the ascending bass at the end of Hurricane being dissonant and not resolving because the situation with The Reynolds' Pamphlet had only just begun and was NOT resolved, thus the same with the music. I really love your dives, thought you might like that little take :)
I waited so much for this vid