Sometimes, people just get obsessed with things. Whether it’s a song, a show, a movie, or a book, it just happens. Sometimes you just can’t resist Kevin Bacon or Jessica Chastain or whoever. Sometimes that song you thought was dumb but still super catchy draws you in and suddenly you’re listening to the garage-recorded first album of the band you now know everything about.
In my case, it’s the Broadway show "Hamilton." Now, I know "Hamilton’s" been out for a while, and I have no idea why it took me until now to listen to it, but good Lord — I’m glad I did. It all started with the Tony’s, hosted this year by the amazing James Cordon. I never watched the Tony’s, but I saw a clip of his opening act, and from there I just went through some performances. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ”Hamilton” won 11 Tony’s.
They performed “History Has It’s Eyes On You” and “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” and I was sold. I mean, who doesn’t love a hip-hop account of the Founding Fathers? There’s gun duels, a flamboyant King George played by Jonathan Groff, scandals, war and Cabinet meetings in the form of rap battles.
After seeing that clip in a news article, I immediately went and looked up the soundtrack, which can be found both on Spotify and Soundcloud, and went to town. Two hours and twenty-two minutes later, I was a new person.
Since then, I've listened to the soundtrack another five times from start to finish, and my favorite songs through the day, whenever I felt like it.
Yesterday, I decided I was obsessed when I found myself checking for tickets for next June in London. I can't even plan what I'm doing today, and I'm already looking for tickets a year in advance? (They're sold out, by the way.)
Having a sudden obsession is a blessing and a curse. At least this way I'm learning more about Alexander Hamilton than I ever would have otherwise.
Another added benefit of this, is that this is enticing more and more students. They're inspired to participate in theatre because it's beyond the typical Shakespeare plays we've been seeing since the sixth grade. This is hip hop and history. It's got character. It's got a very, very talented cast. Seriously, just look at these goofballs.
Even if you're not a Broadway person. Just give the soundtrack a listen. By the end of it, you'll want to be in the room where it happens.
