Obsessed with Hamilton

 

Guys, I’m late. Super late. But, still, I have to share. You see this summer I fell in love with all things Hamilton.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway play Hamilton is everything my soul has been searching for in pop culture. A new musical. And not just a “musical” but a pop cultural phenomenon that celebrates intellect! It’s judgmental for me to say this–wait, I’m in my thirties now so I’m going to say it anyway–but our country dropped our character bar sometime when the Kardashian family stepped into entertainment. Now, I don’t know much about this family of drama and fashionistas but considering they’ve been around for umpteen thousand years it’s hard for me to notice that the longer they are around the more superficial the news and social networking becomes. I’m not saying there is a direct correlation or anything, but hey… [Insert obvious issues here]. Right?

You see, our society was due for Hamilton. Over due. The placenta’s of our minds (hang in there with me, my background is from a birth center) were providing the last sustaining burst of energy and nutrients as we entered our forty third week of pregnancy type over due ness.

Then God plucked Hamilton from Lin-Manuel’s mind and gave birth to a movement. Seriously, thank God for Hamilton.

Oh Hamilton. How you make me think! How you’ve challenged the world with your musical styles, callbacks, rhyme schemes, references, and the delicious view and diverse portrayal of history as we are now. As I dig in my heals and try to figure out exactly where I fit in this world, My Shot has become my theme song.

We’re at the point where my kids wander around the house constantly singing “I’m not throwing away my shot!” and “…the greatest city in the world!” We’re up contemplating how our founding father’s and mother’s would view the upcoming election and issues weighing on our country. Agreeing and disagreeing, both with them and sometimes with one another.

Beautiful conversations. Delicious conversations. The types of conversations you imagine your grandparents had over their dessert coffee and brownies on a Sunday night after the kids went to bed.

The type that makes marriages stronger. Last longer.

My husband and I dove headfirst into Hamilton podcasts, biographies, every You-tube video about Hamilton the person and Hamilton the play, the PBS Liberty Series (remember that from middle school?), and HBO’s John Adam’s mini-series. We’ve watched them all.

And–yes, I’m late to the game–but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t spread how wonderful this musical is to my little corner of the blogosphere. Hell, even my younger brother (think engineer type) loves the soundtrack.

Go buy it. Get the script from B&N while your at it. And if you fall head over heals buy Ron Chernow’s biography as well.

And to those who are wondering, my current favorite character from the play is Aaron Burr because his voice makes me drool and he’s insanely complicated.

And my favorite historical figure? (Because obviously you were asking) It’s Eliza Hamilton. My goodness that woman knows how to work and do HARD things. I think Lin needs to write Part 2 and focus on all the kick ass things Eliza did during her husband’s career and after her husband’s death to shape and change our country. And peeps, I’m not just saying this because I not only share the same first name as this lady and we both have XX chromosomes, but because she really is that amazing.

Anyway, don’t let Hamilton slide past you. Buy it. Love it. Devour it. Then pass it along. Maybe we can improve this country with a few rap battles between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.