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Lin-Manuel Miranda has gifted us with an incredible musical legacy filled with catchy hooks, emotional ballads, and groundbreaking lyrical storytelling. From powerful Broadway anthems to beloved Disney hits, join us as we celebrate some of his most memorable and beloved songs, bringing his unique blend of hip-hop, Latin rhythms, and heartfelt emotion to both stage and screen.
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00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda's all-time greatest hits
00:12for the stage and screen.
00:19Number 30. I Always Wanted a Brother, Mufasa, The Lion King.
00:23The Lion King is well-known for its iconic soundtrack, so Lin-Manuel Miranda had big shoes to fill when
00:29he took on the 2024 prequel.
00:40This playful song ended up being a standout, with its catchy hook making it undeniably popular.
00:53He since shared that the title line immediately stood out to him in the script, and it inspired him to
00:57start writing the first track for the film.
00:59The number follows Mufasa and Scar as Lion Cubs, allowing Miranda to create his own modern version of the youthful
01:06energy in I Just Can't Wait to Be King.
01:08Now we rely on each other, one season after another. Hey, Mufasa!
01:14Yes, Tucker!
01:14I race you to the other side! Race you to the other side! Race you to the other side!
01:21Number 29. What the Heck I Gotta Do, 21 Chump Street, The Musical.
01:26Long-time Lin fans will recognize this song from one of his earlier productions, which was based on an episode
01:31of the radio program This American Life.
01:33She said she moved with her mother to Florida from New York, where dreams are made.
01:40Well, so did I. So I said hi.
01:43The short musical only features five numbers, and Miranda narrates alongside some familiar faces on stage.
01:50What the Heck I Gotta Do follows a lovesick high school boy trying to capture a classmate's attention, and in
01:56one standout moment, the chorus is reimagined as a hilarious text conversation.
02:11Some of his greatest writing comes from those unexpected twists, and the back-and-forth banter in this show was
02:16a precursor to much more lyrical comedy to come.
02:19She'll think about it. She'll think about it. She'll think about it. She'll think about it. She'll think about it.
02:28Yes!
02:29Number 28. One of a Kind, Vivo.
02:32Not only is Miranda the songwriter on this animated Netflix film, but he also voices the main character, Vivo.
02:38Ladies and gentlemen, I am evil, the kinkajou. Oh, what's a kinkajou? Oh, baby, I think that you're ready to
02:43learn a thing or two.
02:44Watch me swing as I sing it to you. Every single thing I can think of to make you scream.
02:48In this scene, his signature style is immediately recognizable as the kinkajou puts on a rap performance in the plaza.
02:55With Spanglish lyrics over Latin guitar, the song introduces the animal's backstory and culture,
03:00while also setting the stage for the musical adventures to come.
03:03All I remember was being hungry and running from somebody even hungrier, chasing me up this very tree.
03:07But guess who came to the rescue with his dress? Andres, yes. And he blessed me with his melody.
03:12Working with Alex Lacamoire, the two wanted to honor Cuban music with a fun and vibrant children's movie.
03:18And Vivo's soundtrack gives their storytelling and lyricism a fresh new spin.
03:22You and I, we are one of a kind. We are one of a kind. Keep in time. Every time.
03:32Right on time. Right on time.
03:39In 2024, Miranda and Issa Davis released a concept album for a musical adaptation of the cult classic film, The
03:47Warriors.
03:48Survive the night.
03:52Warriors, come out to play.
03:56Starring a gender-swapped female gang, this song turns a gathering call into his signature hip-hop musical theater style.
04:03North of the Bronx, you can properly greet our highness.
04:05There's guilty behind Cyrus, that you're spreading like a virus.
04:07At the south end of the line, it's Tony Allen's most notorious.
04:10Clap your hands if you're ready to meet the world.
04:12Without the limitations of a physical production, he and Davis were able to bring in an all-star cast from
04:18Busta Rhymes to Billy Porter.
04:19And they even had music legend Lauryn Hill sing the incredible If You Can Count.
04:24The lyrics and composition honor the history of hip-hop in a modern way.
04:27And the well-received soundtrack is now looking to head to the stage.
04:30You dig it, you dig it, do you count, do you count, do you dig it?
04:39Number 26, Carnaval del Barrio, In the Heights.
04:44Many of the songs from In the Heights keep up with the characters' fast-paced lives and relationships.
04:48But this act two number takes a moment to let the musical's heart sink in.
05:01From the very first note, Daniela rallies the cast for an all-out celebration.
05:06Packed with pride, humor, and dance breaks, the track's Spanish lyrics speak to the diversity of Washington Heights.
05:20With themes of finding home and joy through hardships, it all builds to Usnavi's stripped-back verse where he delivers
05:26the powerful battle cry.
05:37Number 25, Waiting on a Miracle, Encanto.
05:40I can't move the mountains, I can't make the flowers bloom, I can't take another night up in my room.
05:52Disney musicals are well-known for their female solos, from Part of Your World to Miranda's own How Far I'll
05:58Go.
05:58And this song is Mirabel's shining moment in Encanto.
06:01As the world around her is frozen in time, the number gives a voice to the young heroine's worries that
06:06she'll always be an outsider.
06:08I would heal what's broken.
06:11Show this family something new.
06:15Who I am inside, so what can I do?
06:20The true magic from this movie comes from the healing power of family.
06:23And the lyrics show that not only does she have her own hopes and dreams,
06:26but she's also determined to prove her worth to the Madrigal she loves so dearly.
06:31Bless me now as you blessed us all those years ago.
06:35When you gave us a miracle.
06:39Number 24, Non-Stop, Hamilton.
06:42This song is the musical's first act finale, and it tells the story of Alexander Hamilton throwing himself into his
06:48work and climbing his way to the top.
06:50Even though we started at the very same time, Alexander Hamilton began to climb.
06:56How to account for his rise to the top?
07:01From taking a stand at the Constitutional Convention to writing the Federalist Papers,
07:05the track highlights the young founding father's impact and ambition.
07:09However, Miranda also takes the moment to introduce the negative effect this has on Hamilton's relationships by tying in themes,
07:16lyrics, and melodies from other numbers.
07:28As he reprises his earlier lines, his character development becomes clear when his words suddenly carry a brand new meaning.
07:48In this scene, Louisa Madrigal shares the pressure she feels as an older sibling with superhuman strength.
07:54I move mountains, I move churches, and I glow cause I know what my worth is.
07:59Miranda shared that he wrote the song to honor his own older sister,
08:02and the lyrics about staying strong for family resonated with people from every walk of life.
08:17The track followed We Don't Talk About Bruno into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100,
08:22making Encanto the first Disney movie to ever have multiple songs in the top 10.
08:26Not only is the number catchy, but it also gives Louisa a new level of dimension
08:30by showing just how complicated familial roles and expectations can be.
08:35Give it to your sister and never wonder
08:37If the same pressure would have pulled you under
08:40Who am I if I don't have what it takes
08:43No cracks, no breaks
08:46No mistakes, no pressure
08:49Number 22. It's Quiet Uptown, Hamilton
08:52One of the most emotional scenes and songs in the entire musical.
08:56It's Quiet Uptown follows Alexander and Eliza as they process the grief of losing their son.
09:01There are moments that the words don't reach
09:04There is suffering too terrible to name
09:07You hold your child as tight as you can
09:11Miranda helps create the feeling of indescribable sadness
09:15by trading wordiness for more straightforward lyrics.
09:18And that simplicity is mirrored by the hushed chorus singers and stripped back strings.
09:29Even in a more modern arrangement, the mixtape cover also became a hit thanks to Kelly Clarkson's powerful vocal storytelling.
09:36Both tracks show the writer's incredible ability to tap into the universal human experience through song.
09:41And you would smile and that would be enough
09:49Number 21. We Don't Talk About Bruno, Encanto
09:53When Encanto was released in 2021, this ensemble song became a viral sensation.
09:59We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no
10:03We don't talk about Bruno
10:06With lyrics brimming with mystery,
10:08Miranda takes the track to the next level by giving each Madrigal family member their own individual themes.
10:14Originally, the character now known as Bruno was named Oscar,
10:18but it was later changed to incorporate the clever wordplay in the chorus.
10:30Not only did the single break records on the charts,
10:33but it was also performed at the Oscars and awarded a Grammy.
10:36The number showcases some of Miranda's greatest strengths, clever lyrics, character-driven storytelling,
10:42and incorporating an infectious Latin instrumental.
10:45Why did I talk about Bruno?
10:50I never should have brought up Bruno
10:54Number 20. It's All Happening, Bring It On, the Musical
10:59Imagine the night, imagine the people, imagine us in the middle of the crowd, imagine the fame, imagine the fortune,
11:07it's all happening.
11:09Along with fellow composers Tom Kitt and Amanda Green,
11:12Miranda brought one of our favorite early teen comedies to the stage.
11:16Brittany, this is not a democracy, it's a cheerocracy.
11:18I'm sorry.
11:20It might not be the most well-regarded of Lynn's musicals, but Bring It On has some really great tunes.
11:26We love the determination of one perfect moment, but It's All Happening really gets us moving.
11:32Living that one moment, I know, that if I can just stick the landing.
11:45As Campbell tries to form a cheerleading squad at her new school, she must lie to get her classmates to
11:50join.
11:50She makes false promises to Danielle to get her to form a Jackson cheerleading team, just in time for nationals.
11:57Although they lose the competition, they come together and learn that they've got each other to lean on.
12:08Lynn's famous sound doesn't go unnoticed in this catchy tune, completed with his distinct rap verses and a fun dance
12:15number featuring the main cast of the show.
12:25We may not yet have reached our glory, but I will gladly join the fight, and when our children tell
12:34their story...
12:36A gorgeous song and one for a good cause? Sign us up!
12:39While Found Tonight wasn't totally written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, it's so gorgeous we couldn't leave it off.
13:00The song combines lyrics from Hamilton's The Story of Tonight and You Will Be Found from Pasek and Paul's Dear
13:07Evan Hansen.
13:08On the track, Lin is joined by Ben Platt, who donated a portion of his earnings from the song to
13:13March For Our Lives.
13:15The student formed Anti-Gun Violence Initiative.
13:17The songs blend extremely well together, and the combination of both sets of lyrics makes for a powerful number.
13:24The story of tonight.
13:36Number 18, Byrne, Hamilton.
13:39I saved every letter you wrote me.
13:43From the moment I read them, I knew you were mine.
13:48It feels like as soon as Hamilton came out, everyone and their mom had this pegged as their next audition
13:53song, and for good reason.
13:56Byrne is a powerful evocative piece that gives the actor interesting emotions to parse.
14:01Yes, the music is gorgeous, but the lyrics really do the heavy lifting.
14:06I'm erasing myself from the 90s.
14:12Let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted when you broke her heart.
14:20There aren't too many first-hand accounts of Eliza Skyler's reaction to Hamilton's infidelity, and Lin points to that fact
14:26throughout the song.
14:27Eliza ruminates on narratives and what her role in this part of history will be, ultimately coming to the conclusion
14:34that she simply won't have one.
14:36The world has no right to my heart.
14:38The world has no place in our bed.
14:41They don't get to know what I said.
14:44It's a thoughtful route to take in a show that's so much about legacy.
14:48I hope that you are you.
15:00Number 17, Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton.
15:03How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore, and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
15:12in the Caribbean.
15:14Come on, sing it with us and snap along. We know you want to.
15:17The beginning lines and simple beat of Alexander Hamilton, and Hamilton the Musical, might be some of the most memorable
15:24of the show.
15:26That theme repeats throughout the musical, but the full-body chills that you get from that first time are unparalleled.
15:32Get your education, don't forget from which you came, and the world's gonna know your name.
15:38What's your name?
15:40Alexander Hamilton.
15:42The song is so good, in fact, the cast was invited to the White House to perform it for President
15:47Obama.
15:47Talk about being recognized for your good work.
15:51I'm the damn fool that shot him.
15:54There's a million things I haven't done.
15:57Just you wait.
16:00What's your name?
16:02Alexander Hamilton.
16:05Number 16.
16:06We Know The Way.
16:08Moana.
16:18Here's another co-write for you, but one we definitely couldn't leave out.
16:23When Moana came out in 2016, we were all ready for some more great tunes from Lin.
16:28And We Know The Way did not disappoint.
16:30Keep our island in our mind.
16:33And when it's time to find home, we'll know the way.
16:38Oh, way, oh, way.
16:39We are explorers reading every sign.
16:42The song comes at a moment when the titular character Moana is discovering the history of her ancestors and their
16:48times at sea.
16:49Lin co-wrote the song with Opataya Fawaii, a Samoan composer and frontman of the oceanic group Tevaka.
16:55The song combines English and Samoan lyrics and features a thriving beat and a melody that gracefully rises and falls,
17:04just like the ocean.
17:05Oh, way, oh, way.
17:07Then they look in my living.
17:10I ain't no happy.
17:12We know the way.
17:26You say the price of my love's not a price that you're willing to pay.
17:34Hamilton is chock full of songs that show off Lin's ability to mix hip-hop with more traditional musical theatre
17:40stylings.
17:41But in King George's number You'll Be Back, we get a taste of how deep Lin's love of music goes.
17:47You'll be back. Soon you'll see. You'll remember you belong to me.
17:55Penned as a breakup letter to the colonies, You'll Be Back has a plucky British pop vibe,
18:00one that actor Jonathan Groff absolutely nails with his posh accent and over-enunciation.
18:06And when push comes to shove, I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love.
18:20What can we say? The man has a lot of spit.
18:23Lucky for us, we get to hear this plummy tune not once, not twice, but three times throughout the show.
18:29Awesome. Wow.
18:32Everybody, da da da da da, you know how it goes.
18:48Number 14. Shiny, Moana.
18:52In song form.
19:01Sometimes it's the weirdest ones that are our favourites.
19:05This strange little ditty is sung by one of the many monstrous creatures in Moana, Tamatoa the Crab.
19:11In the song, the villainous crab flaunts his gorgeous sparkling shell, taunting Moana and Maui before he decides to eat
19:18them.
19:18I'll never hide, I can't, I'm too shiny. Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough.
19:25Strap my stuff, my stuff is so shiny.
19:29Unfortunately for Tamatoa, he falls into that familiar villain's trap and monologues a little too hard before getting on with
19:36evil plans.
19:37But fortunately for us, that comes in the form of this groovy, strange little song.
19:42Remember, don't hide your shine.
19:44You wish you were nice and shiny.
19:51Hey!
19:52Number 13. The Schuyler Sisters, Hamilton.
19:56There's nothing rich folks love more than going downtown and slumming it with a boar.
20:00Bring on the Destiny's Child vibes.
20:02Other than the fact that Miranda managed to tell history in a whole new way,
20:06we're also happy that the Schuyler Sisters got their own power anthem in the musical.
20:20Angelica, Eliza and Peggy all shine through this empowering performance for women everywhere.
20:26Lynn rewrites history, shedding long overdue light on the women that helped the more famed historical figures.
20:31When discussing the declaration, Angelica even says that she'll prompt Thomas Jefferson to include women in the sequel.
20:38We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.
20:42And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, I'ma compel him to include women in the sequel.
20:47Talk about girl power.
20:49In the greatest city of the world.
20:55Number 12. Blackout. In the Heights.
21:12When you think of your favorite act one closers of all time, Defying Gravity and A New Argentina may come
21:18to mind.
21:19Well, we're here to say you should go ahead and add Blackout from In the Heights to that list.
21:36The song takes place while most of the main characters are at a club, when all of a sudden a
21:41blackout hits New York City.
21:43As you can imagine, that moment is filled with a lot of chaos and confusion.
21:48And the song captures that perfectly.
21:50With the cacophony of instruments and multiple vocal parts overlapping each other at once,
21:55the audience has no choice but to feel as lost as the characters.
22:00In Washington Heights.
22:04Number 11. Guns and Ships. Hamilton.
22:07Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting French.
22:11Hey!
22:11Lafayette!
22:12I'm taking these toys for the reins, making red coats when every blood stays.
22:15Lafayette!
22:15And I'm never gonna stop it till I make them jump or burn them up.
22:17It's got a lot of a main time!
22:18For this to succeed, there's someone else we need.
22:21And that someone had better have a way with words.
22:24When we first meet Lafayette at the beginning of Hamilton,
22:27he's still working on his mastery of the English language.
22:30But by the time Guns and Ships rolls around, he's got it down.
22:34I'm gonna grab some more funds!
22:36I come back with more guns!
22:38I'm Ships!
22:39And so that ballad shift!
22:41Saying this is the fastest rap we've ever heard doesn't really cover it.
22:45It takes an amazing rapper and actor to nail down the precise rhythms,
22:49get all the words out in time,
22:51and do it all while maintaining a believable French accent.
22:55Well, this to succeed, there is someone else we need.
22:57I know.
22:58So he knows what to do in a trench,
23:00and you know it if it blew it in French, I mean.
23:02So you're gonna have to use him eventually,
23:03what's he gonna do on the bench, I mean!
23:05Hamilton!
23:06Davi Diggs absolutely nails it,
23:08and shout out to all the amazing actors who are able to get it down.
23:12You want to fight for your land back?
23:13Hamilton!
23:14I need my right-hand man back!
23:16Hamilton!
23:16Get your right-hand man back!
23:17You know you gotta get your right-hand man back!
23:19I mean, you gotta put the button to the ladder,
23:21but the sooner the better than get your right-hand man back!
23:22Number 10, Bigger, 67th Tony Awards.
23:27We might go bigger.
23:32That's right, it's bigger.
23:35It's Broadway's greatest night, and we're raring to go.
23:39As if Neil Patrick Harris alone wasn't enough to make us love the 2013 Tony Awards opening,
23:44Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt had to swoop in and write yet another great song that's won for the
23:49ages.
23:49They barely come up to your knees, but God, they're singing like MVPs,
23:52and they're the reason this whole season seems to look like Chuck E. Cheese,
23:56and geez, it's bigger.
23:57That's right, it's bigger.
23:58It's bigger!
23:59Is there a Tony daycare where all of you go?
24:02It was Harris's fourth time presenting,
24:04and just like the title of the song, they decided to go bigger than ever.
24:08We get out of breath just watching him spit out funny lyrics
24:10as he dances alongside hundreds of dancers in this over-the-top number.
24:15There's a kid in the middle of nowhere who's sitting there living for Tony performances,
24:17singing and flipping along with the Pippins and Wickets and Kinkies, Matillas and Mormonses,
24:21so we might reassure that kid and do something to spur that kid,
24:25because I promise you all of us up here tonight, we were that kid.
24:29It's no surprise that the performance earned a standing ovation from the audience,
24:32filled with our favorite stars.
24:41Number 9. My Shot, Hamilton.
24:53There are many things we love about Hamilton, namely every other song in it.
24:58But this song's exciting chorus succinctly outlines what the show is all about,
25:02Hamilton's relentless efforts to get what he wants.
25:05I'm past patiently waiting to passion and to smash it.
25:08Every expectation, every action's an act of creation.
25:10I'm laughing in the face of casualties of sorrow.
25:13For the first time I'm thinking past tomorrow.
25:15And that is not doing my shot.
25:18This song is the pinnacle of Miranda's mastery of wordplay and double entendre.
25:23For instance, Shot here references Hamilton's ultimate demise at the hands of Aaron Burr,
25:27Hamilton's ambition, as well as the alcohol he shares with his newfound cohorts at the beginning of the show.
25:33This song took Miranda years to write.
25:35But ultimately, we can safely say that it was well worth it.
25:48Number 8. In the Heights, In the Heights.
25:51Oye, oye, oye. The streets were made of music.
26:01As the opening song of this early career musical, this number introduced the world to Lin-Manuel Miranda's songwriting and
26:07rapping skills.
26:08And what a promising effort this was.
26:10Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day.
26:13I wake up and I got this lil' punk I gotta chase away.
26:16Pop the grape at the crack of dawn.
26:19Sing while I wipe down the awning.
26:21Hey, y'all. Good morning.
26:22Ice cold piragua, palcha, china, cherries.
26:26The song details the character's regular everyday lives in Washington Heights through a very fun, upbeat sound.
26:31Yeah, I'm a street light choking on the heat.
26:34The world spins around while I'm frozen to my seat.
26:37The people that I know will keep on rolling down the street.
26:41But everyday is different so I'm switching up the beat.
26:43Miranda manages to present most of the main cast right off the bat,
26:47through cool unique harmonies that his fans have since grown to love.
26:50Seriously, In the Heights was bound to win the Tony Award for best musical straight from the start.
26:55So turn up the sage lights, we're taking the flight.
26:58Two couple of days in the light for what it's like.
27:01In Washington Heights.
27:04Number 7. You're Welcome, Moana.
27:07Okay, okay. I see what's happening, yeah.
27:12You're face to face with greatness and it's strange.
27:15You don't even know how you feel. It's adorable.
27:19It's the song that made us fall in love with Maui.
27:22And remember just how much we love the rock.
27:24The song introduced the overconfident demigod and Dwayne Johnson's singing chops to the world.
27:29And we can't help but say thank you.
27:45Miranda's uplifting lyrics will have you tapping your feet and singing along to the fun verses in no time.
27:50The tapestry here in my skin is a map of the victories I win.
27:54Look where I've been, I make everything happen.
27:56Look at that me, me, me, ma, we just...
28:01The song was slowed down and covered by both Jordan Fisher and Lin-Manuel Miranda for the Moana soundtrack.
28:07Still making for an equally great song.
28:10Miranda's lyrics never fail.
28:12You're welcome.
28:13You're welcome.
28:15You're welcome.
28:16And thank you.
28:18Number 6.
28:19Satisfied.
28:20Hamilton.
28:21All right, all right, that's what I'm talking about!
28:25Now everyone give it up for the maid of honor, Angelica Schuyler!
28:31Don't worry viewers, we listened.
28:33We know you all would not be satisfied without this one on the list.
28:38There's a moment in the first act of Hamilton that combines three songs into one long scene.
28:43A Winter's Ball, Helpless, and number 6 on our list, Satisfied.
28:48So this is what it feels like to match with someone at your level, what the hell is the catch
28:52is?
28:52The feeling of freedom, of seeing the light, it's been Franklin with a key and a kite, you see it
28:56right?
28:56We love the first two, particularly Helpless, but Satisfied is the clear standout.
29:03Satisfied takes everything that's happened in the first two songs and turns it on its head.
29:07I'm the oldest and the wittiest and the gotcha, and New York City is insidious, and Alexander is penniless.
29:13That doesn't mean I want him any place.
29:15Elizabeth Schuyler, it's a pleasure to meet you.
29:18Combining gorgeous melodies, intense raps, and wonderful lyricism,
29:23the song provides our first real look at what's going on in Angelica's head,
29:27and why she makes the choices she does.
29:30He will never be satisfied, I will never be satisfied.
29:38Number 5. Breathe in the Heights.
29:49Miranda's first Tony-winning musical is filled with incredible songs inspired by his Puerto Rican origins.
29:54In this song, his roots appear in the beautiful melody, highlighting Nina's struggles to explain to her family the reason
30:00she dropped out of Stanford.
30:01With my eyes on the horizon, just me and the GWB, asking G, Nina, what'll you be?
30:16Mindy Gonzalez's voice and Lynn's heartfelt lyrics are enough to make us understand the character's nostalgia as she finds herself
30:22back in Washington Heights.
30:23Smile, wave goodbye, and parade to the sky, oh God.
30:29And what will my parents say? Can I go in here and see?
30:36Paired with Spanish and English lyrics, the song takes us back to her early memories growing up in this neighborhood,
30:42making for a powerful and emotional tune all around.
30:45Just breathe.
30:55Number 4. Yorktown. The world turned upside down. Hamilton.
31:00The battle of Yorktown. 1781.
31:05Open your history books. Or maybe just listen to this song.
31:09Miranda brings us through the battle of Yorktown in 1781, led by George Washington, who defeated the British.
31:16Immigrants, we get the job done.
31:18In an upbeat tune, the cast of Hamilton presents the Revolutionary War won by the Americans and the French,
31:24as Alexander Hamilton struggles with coming home in time for his expecting wife.
31:29Take the bullets out your gun. Take the bullets out your gun.
31:31We move undercover and we move as one. Through the night we have one shot.
31:35To live another day, we cannot let a stray gunshot give us a weapon.
31:39Through fast rap verses, we get to know those fighting along Hamilton,
31:42such as Hercules Mulligan, John Lawrence, and of course, Lafayette.
31:46How did we know that this plan would work?
31:48We had a spy on the inside. That's right. Hercules Mulligan.
31:52Damn, it's fighting on the British government. I take the measurements, information, and then I smuggle it.
31:56The line, Immigrants, We Get the Job Done, even inspired the single on the Hamilton mixtape.
32:01The world turned upside down.
32:08Number 3. 96,000. In the Heights.
32:1296,000.
32:1596,000.
32:1696,000.
32:1796,000.
32:19What would you do with 96,000 dollars?
32:22After Usnavi finds out they sold a winning lotto ticket at his bodega,
32:25the characters in In the Heights all start to wonder what they would do if they were the ones to
32:29win the money.
32:30If I win the lottery, you'll never see me again.
32:39Damn, we only joking. Stay broke then.
32:41Their answers are all different, and so are their verses, as they all come together in the end for an
32:46incredible blend of melodies.
32:59This song leaves the audience wondering how one brain could have possibly come up with this complex mix of voices
33:05in the performance.
33:0596,000.
33:07We'll get the going.
33:09Once we get going, we'll never want to stop.
33:1293!
33:14No. 2. How Far I'll Go. Moana.
33:18I've been staring at the edge of the water, long as I can remember, never really knowing why.
33:28Nominated for an Oscar at the 89th Academy Awards, Aline Cravalho delivered this song beautifully in the film and on
33:35stage.
33:35As Moana longs to sail across the waters, she discovers that she must take matters into her own hands in
33:41order to follow her dreams.
33:43The line where the sky needs to see it calls me, and no one knows how far it goes.
33:53Miranda's lyrical style seamlessly transitions from stage to a Disney film, giving us a window into Moana's passion for the
34:00ocean and her longing to sail.
34:02The emotional power behind the song, as well as any time the motif returns, really shows off Miranda's ability to
34:08set character development to music.
34:21Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest
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34:36Number 1. Wait for it. Hamilton.
34:47If we had to pick one role in Hamilton that might be the meatiest and most exciting to play, we
34:53would have to go with Aaron Burr.
34:55Not only does he get raucous numbers like The Room Where It Happens, but he shoulders a lot of the
35:01show's complexity.
35:02I've got to be here . I got to be here . I gotta be. I gotta be here .
35:10He's charming, but also calculating. And nowhere is that more visible than Wait For It.
35:16Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and we keep living anyway, we
35:23rise and fall and we break and make our mistakes.
35:26During the song, Burr contemplates what all has led him to this point in his life, ruminates on Hamilton's successes,
35:32and resolves to keep biding his time until his moment.
35:35I'm not falling behind or running late, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
35:41I'm not standing still, I am lying, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
35:46The first two verses and chorus are fairly quiet, but once that bridge hits, the song bursts with life and
35:52determination, just like Burr.
36:10With so many hits to choose from, which of Miranda's songs is your favorite? Let us know in the comments
36:15below.
36:16We'll see you next time.
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