Several blog posts ago, I mentioned how music can help energize you and totally change your mood. I would add that it can also inspire you to create something that did not exist before.
I was recently lucky enough to see Hamilton, the new hiphop musical that’s all the rage on Broadway. One person, Lin-Manuel Miranda, wrote the music, the songs, and well, the whole musical. He also plays Hamilton. This is one of the best musicals you will ever see. It’s revolutionary in many ways. It’s also an interesting amalgam of the political (the founding of our nation) and the personal. Alexander Hamilton’s life was filled with drama.
For a taste of the musical, here are a few songs:
- This is the signature song
- A breakup song from King George III
- Introducing Jefferson: What’d I miss? The characterization is a riot. I love how the music style morphs.
- Washington on your side
I adore the way this musical brings history alive. Our founding fathers no longer seem so dry and dusty. Part of the credit for that should go to Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography of Hamilton that the musical is based on. Part should go to Miranda for creating this extraordinary musical that uses modern vernacular to give history a pulse. And lots of credit must go to the cast.
Although your business, work, and other creative projects may be quite different from this musical, I hope you’ll find it as inspiring as I do. It took Miranda 6 years to create it. I think writers will especially relate to this. As Miranda notes, Hamilton embodies the word’s ability to make a difference. Here’s a song from the concept album that Miranda shared at a performance at the White House.