Hamilton and Motifs: Creating Emotional Paradoxes

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[@MakeStuffStudios]

*BUM BU-BU-BU-BUM BUM BUM WAH WAH WAHHHHH WAH.* (Exposition toss incoming:) If you wanna learn more about the research (there was A LOT) and making of (it was VERY HARD) this vid - and all our other videos - check out the Make Stuff Patreon! Plus there's a million other dope things on there and your support helps me make even more dope things :D www.patreon.com/makestuffstudios

[@ryanedwards7487]

I don't think you can say "the Founding Fathers sucked", when you take the time they lived in into account. For the time they lived in, they were all fairly liberal. But your point is incredibly true: They were not saints, they were men. They were incredible thinkers, flawed and somewhat hypocritical in many ways. However, most of them knew it. Washington in real life did wrestle with the idea of slavery (at least, as I was taught and have read), as did several of the Founding Fathers. Quite a few of them (even members of the Southern planter class / aristocracy) thought we should abolish the practice. Even Abraham Lincoln wrestled with the idea of emancipation in the 1850s and 1860s; it is one of our gravest national sins. One thing I will say in their favor (and something everyone probably should say): They gave us a Constitution that we can change, update, and improve upon as the current and future world requires. They laid a groundwork for a society that allows for dissent, and a free exchange of ideas, and for the people to somewhat govern themselves. At the time, that was looked at by most of the world as utter lunacy: only Radicals could possibly think that would work. History has proven them right, and as time marches on, and elements of our society that perpetually resist change rise and fall like the tides, we move more toward the dream of a free society. We just have to be willing to work AND wait for it.

[@christinastarks9792]

This video was put together so well! Very funny too! 🤣

[@AzzyArtz]

Great video!

[@boricuaangel77]

You did an incredible job with this video.:) you made sense of a lot of points I didn't even realize.

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

I just wanna point out how at the very end of "My Shot", when they all sing "Not throwing away my shot!", it's set to the EXACT SAME rhythm (and octave notes from the orchestra) as BUM BU-BU-BU-BUM BUM BUM. This shows how we already getting a sense of Hamilton's motivational drive to do so much before he even has to spell it out in "My Shot". Therefore, every time an exposition is played after BUM BU-BU-BU-BUM BUM BUM, it's subconsciously reminding the audience of Hamilton's mental drive of "Not showing away (his) shot" which keeps him going with his political rise and influences. Also, notice how in the soundtrack that the last time we here the BUM BU-BU-BU-BUM BUM BUM is with The Adams Administration(the moment where Hamilton cusses out John Adams on paper!), and how soon afterwards he ends up destroying his political career and reputation with the Reynolds Pamphlet. It never comes back after "Adams", hinting that his motivation to "not throw away his shot" is starting to slowly slip away and disappear with the lost of trust from Angelica and Eliza, the death of his son, and the backstabbing to Burr in the Election, till he ultimately DOES throws away his shot during the duel. This is pretty much highlighting how his pride and desire for a legacy of greatness have been bound to clash with his sense of humility(or lack thereof) and love for his family and friends. He's always been going off to do so much and pretty much needed to hit a wall (in his mind, no less) that he couldn't push through to get him to stop, which even then took to realizing the rigid codes of honor in dueling that took his son's life to effectively shut his resolve down for good, at the cost of living too sadly. :( And yet, it's that same resolve that probably inspired Eliza(even as she expressed it more carefully than, yet as resourcefully as, Alex would) to do so much for both her husband's legacy, and those of the other people in his life and beyond. Hinting that even if you have no control over who tells your story, you'd be bless for it to be that one person who knows you the best they could out of everyone, and that they in turn continue to spread both of your collective influence on the world.

[@Mellytriestoshine]

Oh my God i just realized when Eliza is teaching Phillip to count shes teaching him to count to 9 (as you would in a duel, like in the ten duel commandments). So when he dies and says 'im sorry for forgetting what you taught me', he means counting, because the man who shot him shot on 8 and he thought he had miscounted!

[@najavestergaard9612]

I know...😭😭😭 it is so sad😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@hamiltonstan9331]

maybemae OHHH

[@davidwarjri5642]

Awh fuck

[@maddox7040]

I wish the musical was exactly like what really happened

[@delimellark664]

that would just be random strangers running across the stage yelling yet i'd go watch it

[@annabeljustice9087]

It’s cool how Hamilton also says “Just YOU wait” all the time too. It shows the difference between the two characters. Hamilton: Just you wait. Burr: Wait for it.

[@sprinkslol7758]

holy my that’s- that’s so brilliant

[@nickmcguinness7016]

Burr is happy to sit on the side and watch what happens, before acting. Hamilton is always acting first, with little to no actual thought, and refusing to stop and think.

[@natm2443]

I guess the main difference with those is that Alexander says "Just you wait" to other people: he tells them to shut up and see how great he is. Aaron says "Wait for it" to himself: he holds himself back.

[@alexfraze12087]

Yeah, I agree. Hamilton's saying, 'I expect you to wait and watch what I do.' Burr's saying, 'I can't act yet so I expect you to first.' They could have been great partners, it's sad how Burr allowed himself to be corrupted with the idea of gaining power and Hamilton corrupted with the idea of keeping it.

[@bagesys7227]

I wish that there had been a song called just you wait so we could have a mashup and name it just you wait for it

[@fern5505]

Another great motif is the actress who plays the bullet, Ariana DeBose, is the first person we see die and from then on she’s sort of an omen of death. she hands Hamilton the quill he uses in your obedient servant, Philip flirts with her in blow us all away (literally flirting with death), and she’s the last person seen with Laurence.

[@Fluvienne]

I see her as part of the “shot” and “death” motifs, but instead of using the words, L.M. uses her very presence, proximity and sometimes glances between her and characters who will later get shot. There is one scene where she passes a phantom bullet slowly over Alexander’s bowed head just before he looks up from his desk. I can’t recall the exact context - whether he was writing a check to Reynolds or writing one of his letters to Burr. In any case, she is signaling that what he is penning could be the death of him while also suggesting that he may be able to dodge it. Interestingly, she is not identified in the film credits as death or the bullet - simply as “ensemble.” She is however named by herself, apart from the rest of the ensemble. I wonder how it appears in the theater playbill. Funny how we are so used to death being a grim shrouded male figure, but L.M. is like nah, let’s make death a beautiful young woman.

[@shyguy2656]

@@Fluvienne I just went on a search of this girl, Ariana DeBose, and she is so interesting! When I saw the show on Disney+ with a friend when it came out, during the hamilton/burr duel I pointed out the bullet girl. I asked "isn't that the same girl that held the bullet during Philip's duel?" I'm not sure if it was, but either way, I remembered her. Turns out it goes a lot deeper than that! I love the motif of her showing up as an omen of death. Every day I learn more and more about the genius that is this musical.

[@xenoswarrior6900]

@@Fluvienne another part where she does the same is before Hamilton is sent home by George Washigton for participating in the duel with Charles Lee, Burr, and Laurens. This follows the death motif for many reasons. First, Hamilton is in war, so he is always dodging a bullet by just surviving, this is why a red coat fires the phantom bullet. Second, this is also a foreshadow for Charles Lee being shot. And Third, him literally "dodging this bullet" is important because Washington sends him home so he can see his son and not die. Pretty cool scene.

[@IanaBelleGE.]

Oh wow, thats is so crazy cool. I keep seeing her and wondering what is up with that dancer she is a focal piece, kinda important to the plot but very subtle but I'm not sure what for?! So THANK YOU!!!

[@MeboDotExe]

she dies between you’ll be back and right hand man, as the first death. she flies a bullet that narrowly misses hamilton in the beginning of stay alive. laurens shakes her hand. laurens is the next death. she tells philip where to find eacker. eacker shoots philip. she hands burr the quill to write one of multiple letters which lead to the duel in which hamilton dies.

[@FoxgloveWanderer]

One thing that will forever impress me is how Leslie Odom, Jr.'s live voice is somehow exactly as high-quality as his soundtrack voice.

[@arvindpennathur]

mostly everyone's voice is tbh - I was completely blown away by Renée Elise Goldsberry's performance in Satisfied in the film, and don't even get me started on the amazingness that is Chris Jackson in One Last Time :O absolutely stunning

[@ard1805]

Everyone was amazing, mostly. I’ve spent the last couple weeks trying to rationalize going forward when people like Leslie odom jr exist... It’s absurd how talented that guy is.

[@Coffee-ve8ub]

I know right, for broadway shows I think many people don’t have as much auto tune added because it’s all done as live shows while being filmed, even with modern technology when they can add in the other songs recorded in the background of a different song the way the do in “Satisfied”. They still stick to their real voices and those voices are just so amazing that they never even need to add anything extra, it’s just so raw and beautiful the way they are naturally.

[@VaughnDingus]

I saw him do a jazz show and he did Wait For It and it was just as pristine. He's truly amazing.

[@TheGrossDemon]

Well when you think of it Broadway actors have to nail it Everytime, so they gotta be at top shape to not only sing well but do it while moving, dancing, and acting. And mind you he had to do all that jumping and was even sitting at one point. Imagine how long someone would have to practice to master their craft like that.

[@selimelgarhy2090]

So many Hamilton fans feel and recognize these motifs, but aren’t able to explain them to each other. YOU DID!

[@MarieParks18]

Yaaaass

[@Doctor_Straing_Strange]

This video was amazing. You should also check out this video:kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6HPoI1oqtefrdE It's in Spanish but there are captions in English.

[@eluskamfr5416]

So trueee. I was so frustrated because i did not know what they were called then this video came 😍

[@celesteruiz3082]

This is so true AHHHHH

[@bobbluered8984]

That's what art does.

[@lonnyworthamii9805]

"There's no saints in this show." *Squints a little harder at Eliza.*

[@robh5974]

And Peggy

[@stroopwafelfalafel]

and Laurens

[@lukawuka]

And Philip

[@cassidytrujillo8813]

@@robh5974 waiiiiit i see what you did there

[@graceandhaezel5197]

AND PEGGY! they literally had nothing on her so she was just and Peggy. it’s so exciting😂

[@KrislynShumard]

Hamilton: I couldn't seem to die... Burr: Wait for it... BRO I NEVER NOTICED THAT

[@francoisnze-maure5084]

THIS IS SO TWISTED omg I-

[@whitewallace2232]

Yeah me too! It gives me goose pimples.

[@Jadorelainie]

RIGHHHHHHT????!!! I was just like Alex when he realized fucked it up with Mariah! FUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKK hahahah

[@beccag2758]

I didn’t either, I feel stupid now😂

[@denawilliams7706]

Me either! I had to go back and listen again.

[@Dctr-mg8km]

Something else to note about Philip singing the 10 count from 10 Duel Commandments is that, from 1-6, he and Eliza are singing in unison. But on 7, 8, and 9 Philip splits off into a harmony. So he deviates from what Eliza taught him on the 7. Then, during Blow Us All Away, Ecker doesn’t wait for the 10 count to finish to shoot Philip. He shoots him at the 7th count.

[@tea.earl.grey.hot.45]

And then he dies when Eliza says seven

[@PopsJoe]

Also...the way they split up is also amazing. Philip's notes rises up like his dad always says, while Eliza's goes down as a way to "play it safe".

[@laluenbaires]

That's incredible! He also dies in the 19th song cause he was 19 when he died.

[@r.fdraws4138]

Another cool thing: Phillip deviates from the major key to minor. Eliza kept insisting on going back, but Phillip is stubborn. Like his dad, he wants to go his own way. Pave his or path. And because of how caring and loving Eliza is, she ends up duetting with him anyway, because she's always there to help. To support her family.

[@larissaprates1384]

R.f Draws “she’s always there to help her family” I just had a moment now watching the title song when Alexander takes off his coat and gives it to burr (!) and ELIZA puts another coat on him (!!!!!!!!!!!) AS A SIGN OF CARING AND PROTECTING ALEXANDER!!! I’m having a moment hahaha my mind literally just 🤯

[@soapthesoap]

Then you realize that the cover of the album is literally showing Hamilton pointing at the sky (as if he was aiming his gun for the sky), therefore foreshadowing his death.

[@vincedanc3911]

Isn't he just pointing up?

[@lilros3851]

For me he has a pen in his hand, but you can interpret it like that too

[@soapthesoap]

@@lilros3851 I like your interpretation. That's really cool.

[@shaanmughal9801]

BROOOO

[@samanthavialpando4050]

*mind explodes*

[@lvlyflrs3736]

I just love the evolution of how when Lin first sang it, the audience laughed (whether that's what he intended or not) and when he sang it again in 2016, the audience applauded.

[@mountainhun]

I mean the general knowledge just had Alexander Hamilton as a relatively obscure historical figure; and the idea of making a huge play and hype song for him was indeed a little ridiculous. But just like with almost every person, living or dead, if you sit down and listen to their story they will probably surprise you.

[@Phelie315]

Also how amongst that audience in the white house were the Obamas who would later go on to introduce the show at the Tony Awards :)

[@sleepingdogpro]

Of course they laughed; in 2009, the idea of making a Tupac-style hip hop Broadway musical about a founding father was funny. Honestly. It was. Hamilton shouldn't work, it's Lin's ability to make connections and write witty, human stuff that makes it work. But it really is an absurd idea. Just look at the the HBO John Adams series the year before Lin sang at the White House. Stuffy guys in wigs yelling about tax codes at each other. Connecting that with freestyle rap is, at first glance, too jarring to be anything but funny. It still kind of is - it could still make a good Funny or Die sketch, for instance, if you take the idea at face value and no further. Lin just did it so completely well; he's human and empathetic and as witty as Hamilton could be, and he understands how both rap and the Founding Fathers were scrappy, pissy, daring little motherfuckers, and he writes about them in such a way that he makes you fall in love with them for that. That's hard to do.

[@nancyderek7129]

I think most people are misinterpreting this. I believe they laughed because they did not expect/realize that Lin was portraying two different characters in the song. It was shocking to see him turn around and answer his own question of "what's your name man?" I'd wager that he and his group were invited to the white house because the president and others knew that the show was special. The majority of the audience expected the show to be great and were not laughing at Miranda or Hamilton.

[@burke615]

@@nancyderek7129 I disagree. Back in 2009 there was no show, and in that version of the song it was sung only by Burr. If you notice in the clip, he says, "...his name is Alexander Hamilton," not, "...my name is Alexander Hamilton." Lin was performing at the White House Poetry Jam, and had just explained to the Obamas (and everyone else, I guess 😉) that he was working on a "concept album about the life of someone I think embodies hip hop, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton." That line drew laughs as well. The concept that this guy was performing a piece about Hamilton was what was funny. When he mentioned the name in the song, it was a reprise to the previous laugh line, and a reminder that, yes, they were actually listening to a hip hop song about Hamilton - arguably the most obscure person who appears on our money. Even when they aren't laughing, the crowd shots show everyone grinning at the silliness of the whole thing. You can see the introduction and performance at watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE.

[@matteyles3814]

interesting thing I noticed during the bullet scene is how hamilton unloads 10 different motifs and gives us all of the emotions associated with them, while Burr only says one word and gives us the same emotional flood that the rap before did. Kinda speaks to how much hamilton has to say during the entire show vs. how Burr says very little, but they are arguably equal in their intentions and humanity.

[@Axb2774]

Talk less, smile more

[@zairekrieger2328]

That 'Look Around, Look Around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now' motif is constantly repeated by Eliza. At some point Hamilton says that same phrase and uses it against her to justify him leaving her. And it stung even me tbh.

[@ericstahmer720]

Hamilton can’t resist throwing people’s words back into their own face no matter how hard it will eventually come back to bite him.

[@paigeryan2676]

Girl same

[@francoisnze-maure5084]

@@ericstahmer720 In the ass. In a red dress

[@larissaprates1384]

It stung but her response was just as harsh as his. I’d say she won that argument. Eliza: Alexander- Ham: I gotta go Eliza: Alexander- Ham: they’re asking me to lead. Eliza: helpless (motif with a different meaning! I’ve always loved this one. It feels like she’s saying two things: 1. She was trying so hard for years and she was helpless; 2. He was stubborn and so helpless) Ham: look around look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now. Eliza: Isn’t THIS enough? Ouch.

[@doctorwholover1012]

Eliza's use of it to mean "look at the life we've carved out for ourselves, our home life, our marriage, our family, friends, our little universe together." Vs Hamilton's use of it to mean "look at every opportunity the world has available to us! Look at everything to do, to learn, everyone to talk to, fight for, debate, engage, places to travel, how much of the world is available to us!"

[@ArkangelYT]

"It's full of contradictions-" "So is independence!"

[@alizeica519]

Okay not to be that person but **so is the bible my dude**

[@sixela6]

@@alizeica519 yeah but I believe in independence

[@sleepingdogpro]

SO GOOD. Ugh. God.

[@harper7875]

Archangel964 we have to start somewhere

[@emilyelizabeth5911]

Savannah Banana no, no way

[@ClownOwO]

I don’t think the “WAIT-“ In the world was wide enough hit me quite as hard until you pointed out the motif in its association to wait for it. Like god damn

[@BabyDinos95]

Same here I love this video for bringing yet ANOTHER hidden message in Hamilton into the light

[@dynamicloss1492]

I watched a musical analysis of Hamilton before listening to the musical so I got that WAIT- (Burr doesn't even wait for the phrase to end, he doesn't have time to say "for it", it leaves the motif uncompleted and it's all the more powerful for it), but they didn't prepare me for the "paid for it", because the melody was the exact same one, and he said the consequences of not waiting for it, it just reinforces the regret meaning, he paid for not waiting in the end just like he did for waiting before. It's an amazing musical.

[@carternesbittscartoons9771]

yeah... I wish I had synesthesia, then I would have pointed that out a lot sooner.

[@luvauti]

Yes! And in both ways, he was never satisfied, he will never be satisfied. (Ik its late)

[@dynamicloss1492]

@@luvauti Satisfied is such a wonderful motif too, like it's the one where Angelica and Alexander like each other but later Angelica throws it in his face when he writes the pamphlet (You will never be satisfied, God I hope you're satisfied!) because the "never being satisfied" was their thing, Angelica understands that, but their approaches are different, she stands back and plays her role because she loves her family, Alexander keeps pushing and pushing until he breaks his own family and like damn Lin good job with those feels

[@peblezQ]

People wanting to "cancel" Hamilton don't realize that he already cancelled himself with the publishing of The Reynolds Pamphlet.

[@silver5962]

Lol

[@johnlaurens1803]

Ha

[@mecat559]

Lol

[@chilloha6464]

Ha

[@carternesbittscartoons9771]

boom myth busted

[@inasaira8380]

another motif is alexander "imagines death so much it feels like a memory" which is why he writes "like hes running out of time" its almost like hes been having an existential crisis since he was a teenager. he feels like he shouldve died with his mother and so death constantly feels like its on his heels because he cheated death so he feels the need to work and secure his legacy before it finally catches up to him and the irony is that his first step in the pursuit of his great legacy is to introduce himself to the man who ultimately kills him.

[@soccchesterrevived]

he’s in non-stop fear

[@0blbe1]

wow

[@huishi819]

i love your words as well. not only because of the interpretation, but also the way you deliver the clarification

[@headcanon6408]

When people are giving spoiler warnings for history…

[@friday8644]

But if you aren't from the US you have no reason to know this. I had never heard of the majority of these people before I heard of "Hamilton".

[@not_blomstz]

Anonymous Closet I live in the US and didn’t hear about Burr or Hamilton until I listened to Hamilton.

[@justeundonut-moi.7979]

@@friday8644 Well Im french and I learnt a lot about the U.S history from Hamilton.

[@crocuslament9680]

I live in Ontario and my first thought was "Why is there an award winning musical about that one city whose name I've heard a few times?"

[@svbrother9949]

It's almost like that's the joke

[@portella2509]

My favorite foreshadow in Hamilton is how Burr sings in Dear Theodosia, "I'll do whatever it takes", and later on in The World Was Wide Enough, he sings, "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!". He really did whatever it took him to so he could protect his daughter. He killed Hamilton so his daughter wouldn't be an orphan. Even greater when you think about the line, "I'm still alive when everyone who loves me has died," Burr knows exactly how terrible it feels to see everyone who loved him pass away, and doesn't want his daughter to feel the same. I just love that.

[@Imeatingchocolate]

And then a couple of years later, Theodosia died. Burr defines tragedy.

[@ChristineT314]

I have to say that Lin Manuel-Miranda singing Hamilton and getting laughed at is one of the most inspirational things to me. Seeing where Hamilton started and where it got to.

[@BlessedBeyondCompare]

I didn't see it the same way though. The audience laughing... I think it's because it was unexpected. People laugh at the unexpected too, not necessarily trying to mock. But the difference is still amazing because people went from surprise to being like, "YASSS! Right on!!!" haha

[@pedrobutelli8431]

@@BlessedBeyondCompare Exactly

[@seanfinley2069]

Seconding that the audience was laughing with LMM, there. He presented it as the nerdy, out-of-left-field project it was at the time ... and in that light, those bars building up to the name "Alexander Hamilton" is, deliberately, a really funny twist.

[@insertepiknamehere2648]

@@seanfinley2069 You really took your time typing that reply xD

[@doctorjay8673]

Look at where you areeee, look at where you started

[@Mandyn8868]

Something that was pointed out to me once was that "helpless" is basically Eliza's motif and she is the only one who uses it throughout the show except when it is used during "I can't say no to this". After it is used by Maria and Hamilton in relation to the affair, Eliza never uses it again

[@irene2251]

Hamilton sings that in helpless

[@Mandyn8868]

Irene the only time i can think of is when he’s talking about how eliza feels and i don’t even think he really says it there (i think ppl finish the line for him), but still he’s not referring to how he feels

[@irene2251]

Amanda Noe ok, he doesn’t say it, but in the sentence: I’ve never felt so helpless He is talking about his feelings, but is the company who says helpless, you could say instead, that is only used to describe Eliza, or her relationship with alex, till say no to this

[@BlessedBeyondCompare]

She took herself out of the narrative...

[@Angie-ji7be]

And after word of the affair came out, the "that would be enough" motif carried them through to forgiveness, (I know I don't deserve you Eliza, but hear me out, hat would be enough) the rest of their marriage (come back to bed, that would be enough), and even the mission Eliza makes for herself to keep Hamilton's legacy alive after he's gone (I live another 50 years, it's not enough)

[@BasilFitzgeralder]

another thing i noticed is that Eliza's motif "would that be enough" is a contrast to angelica's "He will never be satisfied"

[@jennhoff03]

Ohhhh, that's good!!! I never noticed that!

[@doctorwholover1012]

Eliza is begging Hamilton to let her be enough, and Angelica is asserting that she's aware that (had she married him instead) he would never had been satisfied with the home/family life/his wife, bc his entire personality is striving for more(and so is Angelica's "im the one who has to social climb")

[@rasheedahking3197]

@@doctorwholover1012 Angelica and Hamilton understand each other. Hamilton and Angelica both married for status, but neither were satisfied in the marriage.

[@Coffee-ve8ub]

I never thought of that before! I mean I heard it but I never made the connection because I always looked at the satisfied references in a political aspect but his home life and with the affairs and workaholic tendencies that Eliza asks him to take a break from it makes sense

[@MsClaudiaDuran]

🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@floraice11]

Oh my god I just realised. "The Room Where it Happens" is the turning point for Burr's character, the point where he stops waiting and effectively chooses the path that leads to Hamilton and him becoming enemies (Schuyler Defeated is right after) and ultimately Hamilton's doom in the duel. During The Room Where it Happens, Hamilton's death becomes inevitable. That's why the song ends in the sound of a gunshot...

[@averyewright]

wow, i realized that the song was a turning point for Burr, but i didn't even realize the gunshot thing *round of applause*

[@samanthavialpando4050]

I heard that and noticed it too. This is why Burr is my favorite he has the best character arc and you can see where he changes and it’s so surreal

[@thelaw4203]

Fiona how did you not notice until now. Unless you only listened to the music and didn’t watch the play

[@dejabradragon3790]

Dang!

[@cashmerenerd]

​@@thelaw4203 isn't that most people? I didn't watch the play, because I have no way of watching it. I know there are pirate versions circulating, but that's also not something everyone does. I personally don't like to watch handcam versions of theater, and that's not even touching the ethics and legality of it. and it's sort of what it made for. not just for that, and I'm not saying the theater production and the visuals are not amazing; but I think LMM actually stated that it was important to him to write a musical that is completely comprehensible from just the soundtrack, for this exact reason, that people who cannot afford to see it don't miss as much. when he was a kid, they rarely could afford to actually go to the theater.

[@theresa4194]

My favorite change of a motif in this show is when Eliza sings “Helpless” during “Nonstop”. It’s sad. It’s anger. She’s lost the love and excitement she used to feel for him

[@BlessedBeyondCompare]

YESSS! That impacted me hard too!

[@filafever_88]

Oh my goddd YES IVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TOO!! I think it also refers to the little verse Alexander sings during "Helpless". He ends the verse with "As long as I'm alive, I swear you'll never feel so helpless." Which is ironic, because as Eliza sings "Helpless" in "Non-stop", she is literally the embodiment of helpless and sad because of Alexander. Something he HIMSELF swore he'll never have or make her feel.

[@mosspetal7835]

Y’know, something that is REALLY cool is that in Yorktown, the line is “I am not throwing away my shot until the world turns upside down” is really foreshadowy. As Hamilton says, Burr is his first friend, and his enemy. So especially with the paradoxical nature of the motif “Wait for it” Hamilton really did throw away his shot when the world turned upside down. Which is really cool.

[@landonhoward9492]

Dang that’s deep

[@logix6649]

Plus Hamilton and Burr kinda swapped ideologies, Burr stops waiting for it and acts, Hamilton stops acting and waits, which would add to the world “turning upside down”

[@arshiamazumder9724]

"there are no saints in this show" me: THE ORPHANAGE! ELIZA ESTABLISHED THE FIRST PRIVATE ORPHANAGE IN NEW YORK CITY!

[@charliebenevolo7652]

Arshia Mazumder I do believe Eliza is showed as a saint in the musical. But not always. In my shot, she decides to convince Hamilton to stay with her instead of doing a great job he wants, she also decide to go against everything Hamilton believed in in burn, by destroying documents ( even if it’s just his letter ) when Hamilton’s only wish was to leave a trace. She knows how to act mean even if it’s justified.

[@ILoveYou-bv7mf]

@@charliebenevolo7652 ...yeah, that's right i didn't really like it when she wanted him to stay by her side but she just wished for her husband and the father of her son to stay together with her and form a beautiful family, you can't call this splendid selfishness as mean, it's also just her worrying over what might happen to the love of her life if he goes to war, your family too would be really sad and worried over you going to war, isn't it something obvious and totally normal ? Well this is at least what i think, and it's HER letters so she can do what she wants with it, even if it's the reason why i liked your comment in the first place, since if we take Alex's perspective on this matter, he really just want to let a trace of his existence, yet again when you just learned that the person you love most in the world cheated on you, you don't really think of politics and of how "History has its eyes on you"~ lol Hah, anyway, no one is black, nor white, just shades of grey and stuff haha, have a nice life !

[@MehrGills]

hey, at least love doesn't discriminated

[@daniellerodgers8037]

Everyone's a shade of grey, I just think we can all agree Eliza is the lightest shade of grey in the history of ever

[@calamaria9624]

Okay tell me this what did Eliza,Lafayette,Philip,and or Laurence do TO NOT BE SAINTS?!?!

[@lianagonsalves120]

Favorite mini motif is when Burr and Hamilton say "I'll see you on the other side of the war" during The Story of Tonight (Reprise), and then end up on opposite sides during their duel, with Hamilton finally crossing to the "other side" at the end.

[@Imeatingchocolate]

Dang Girl! Nicely done!

[@danieldavid3766]

And during Yorktown, Hamilton tells Lafayette, "I'll see you on the other side!"

[@Aquamarine-jt1cc]

@@danieldavid3766 and then the next time Lafayette's name makes an appearance is when Jefferson mentions him upon coming home to America, and knowing that Jefferson is opposed by Hamilton, you could say that Ham did indeed see him on the other side the next time they met

[@kevandre]

Daveed's words about how he respects and dislikes Jefferson and the rappers he listens to remind me of this excerpt from Drew Hayes's Super Powereds. "...I know this is hard to understand right now, but we humans are multi-faceted beings. For example, I can bake an excellent soufflé, but I am utterly incapable of writing poetry worth reading. See the conflict?" . "Actually no, not really." . "Good, because there isn't any. Baking has nothing to do with writing, just as me being a criminal doesn't mean I don't love and worry about my son. It is possible to be a bad citizen and a good father."

[@oryanstudios2252]

Good correlation

[@isabellamyhre636]

I love this "It is possible to be a bad citizen and a good father." the opposite could also be true like how in legend of Kora it was confirmed Aang was one of the greatest Avatar's to live but he was a horrible father.

[@amandalong220]

How did I never notice that Burr's yells "WAIT" as he takes his shot?! AND that Hamilton /literally/ throws away his shot at that moment?! Loving this deep dive!

[@BlackieSootfur]

it never occurred to me that the second burr realizes hamilton throws away his shot... he yells *wait.* i realized that and my jaw hit the fucking floor. i wanted to clap at the end of this it was a roller coaster and i loved every second of it

[@janesdead6802]

It hadn't affected me when he said "wait" until now when I saw the actual on stage video And I have been hit by an emotional train that ran on the rails of realization

[@doomdoomdoom023]

FR I FREAKED OUT WHEN I REALIZED BURR DIDNT WAIT FOR IT

[@cathyfmash]

This.

[@Zalintis]

Amazing delivery on it too. Feel the desperation

[@Maddy-dl7pt]

Damn I never thought about that. The whole Musical Burr is just waiting for what he wants, but the ONE time he just acts on his thoughts, it ruins his life. Poor guy.

[@kupoflupo3346]

Maddy 248 The same can be said for Hamilton

[@jadecutter1760]

I think the primary difference is that when Hamilton "acts," it's almost always with not only his own glory but something bigger than himself in mind. Burr acted only for himself and it ruined him. When Hamilton acted just for himself, he was ruined too (Reynolds Pamphlet).

[@lucianne9010]

Maddy 248 Lin said that in an interview.

[@hecko-ck6kh]

sniff

[@nieveangeletti1271]

"Hamilton is about to do the stupidest thing in his life" Y'know, besides... ACTUALLY cheating on his wife.

[@arsein3342]

true true

[@kikuoisthebestandnoonecant1915]

true true

[@newbcrimson]

true true

[@MrBottomLine305]

Nah

[@arsein3342]

@@MrBottomLine305 how dare you

[@laurazhou1229]

Another observation, burr really acts and tries to become president, literally taking Hamilton’s advice, but when he loses because of HAMILTON himself. He doesn’t even become Vice President. The first time he acts, chooses to be like Hamilton he fails.

[@gabbyparr6099]

Burr was Jefferson’s VP for his first term. The show doesn’t make that very clear, but there’s a nod to it from Hamilton when they’re writing letters back and forth and he calls him “Vice President”. He had one term as VP.

[@UdoADHD]

He is VP but Jefferson doesn’t like him

[@user-cn3uq7gf8q]

and the first time hamilton waits/hesitates to act (chooses to be like burr) he gets shot

[@digitool5944]

he was VP till he shot Hamilton, well he finished his term, but yes, Hamilton did get killed by the Vice President of the US also Hamilton was not the only person to try and ruin him, Jefferson himself did enough as well, as well as Burr's succesor George Clinton (no direct relation, since Bill was not born a Clinton)

[@CoFFee-uw5sv]

Thats how I few it too they became reversed with burr taking a stand and being outspoken late into his life in contrast to hamilton's quieter and docile nature in later life (reynolds pamphlet fucced up his rep)

[@PopularNobody]

"He aims his pistol in the sky!" "WAIT!!!!" Jesus Christ now this part is even more powerful than before.

[@defsouul3127]

HOW DID I JUST GET THIS

[@sophiawang752]

It was powerful before. Now it's been given too much power.

[@tiffanysimmons6044]

FFFFUUUUU&#$*#&*$@*#$@!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@ifeolorunlogbon4199]

Sophia Wang “Alexander emerges with unprecedented financial power, a system he can shape however he wants”

[@donnahamid741]

The one times he acts, he wishes he waited 😭

[@hales233]

Anyone else just watch this and think. *”D A M N this is pretty f***in deep”* Or was it just me?

[@samdunn6745]

I thought the contrast between between the first time he sang Hamilton and the time in 2016 was awesome and totally proved his point about my motifs change over time.

[@oliviaphillis1585]

Oh it was very deep

[@jodyjansa3207]

“There’s no saints in this show, not a one” Eliza is rolling in her grave right now

[@stevenbobbybills]

AND PEGGY

[@monagozokorie8546]

why did i try to picture eliza frantically rolling inside her casket

[@yunamchill9169]

Laurens not?

[@jodyjansa3207]

Yuna McHill tbf Laurens did kill people lol

[@yunamchill9169]

@@jodyjansa3207 Everybody kills people in wars, but I get what you mean.

[@caitlyn86]

Hearing "heres a glass to freedom" is so tear jerking since hes talking about the other side and him telling eliza to take her time :(

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

"Drink with me" from Les Miz...anyone? lol

[@msdawnikin2]

@@officialmichaelcarrasco I have seen in interviews where he talks about seeing his mother cry as they listened to that cast album and what an impact that made on him. I think that is his intentional nod in appreciation of all that brought him to where he is today.

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

@@msdawnikin2 So awesome!

[@sarahp6512]

Didn't notice that the wait for it in Hurricane was foreshadowing... that's amazing

[@MK-hj9de]

and in nonstop

[@holly3330]

My other favorite motif in Hurricane is the “history has its eyes on you” one since it literally talks about something that is known to be one of his a greatest failures.

[@annes3305]

Dude when he said it I gasped

[@bcdenton]

Incredible video. Thank you.

[@LRibeiro97]

It's funny... Hamilton IS THE hurricane. When the hurricane devasted his home place, it's like it passed through him, and left in him a built-in hurricane energy. And so, wherever Hamilton went, he brought that energy with him. I mean, if you look at the musical and see his history, that's really what happens. He quickly grow in success and fame. He "writes non-stop", and the things he writes have a huge devastating effect (good or bad) (federalist papers, reynolds panphlet, endorsement for Jefferson, etc.) The guy helped to found a contry, was able to get married to a girl from a rich family, fought in the war, went to work in politics, worked his brain off to the point of cheating, exposed everything to protect his political legacy, experienced the death of his son and pissed off his friend to the point of being killed by him. If there's one word I's use to describe him: intense. Just like a hurricane.

[@Too_Tall_Tales]

Video: “...and bows there’s a second emotion attached to the motif” Me: “anger” Video: “Anger.” Me: “Nice”

[@ryekrash_0323]

Tommy Tallman I did the same exact thing

[@mynx5993]

Same

[@kirikake5414]

Same lol

[@user-qc2ts4zf9j]

Video: “... second emotion attached to the motif” Me: Hate ? Video: Anger Me: Fuck

[@jaredcortes366]

Lol same! HAHAHA

[@Bumblexo]

I’ve seen the Disney plus version 12 times, and Burr’s “WAIT” near the end of the video made me tear up, I never realized how much that word holds in the show. It’s insane 😭 Lin is so smart

[@shmittle]

In the end, Hamilton throws away his shot and Burr didnt wait for it.

[@alojous]

Eliza wanted Hamilton to be happy with what they had. She said “And we could be enough.” At the end of the play she says “I live another 50 years. It’s not enough!”

[@ellaeverett2288]

I just gotta say the line that hit me the most was Hamilton’s last line of “Raise a glass to freedom” considering that was Lauren’s first line in Story Of Tonight.

[@mellymoore8390]

It brings you right back to the beginning of the musical when they were young and had so much potential before them, and reminds you why you've been rooting for Hamilton despite the flaws that plague him in Act II.

[@godiraonasetlhabi7992]

Laurens:"I may not live to see our glory..."

[@mellymoore8390]

@@godiraonasetlhabi7992 Exactly. Because you don't get to see your legacy, you just have to trust that what you do matters. ALSO crazy: Hamilton was obsessed with creating a legacy, and the Reynolds Pamphlet was written to secure that legacy. However, its publication led to George Eker's comments about Hamilton's reputation, which led to the duel with Philip... Hamilton destroyed his *real* legacy, his child, by trying to protect it. On the other hand, Burr was so focused on protecting the legacy his parents left for him that he made nothing of himself, and so destroyed what they tried to create. All of this is framed within the founding of the United States, which in itself is a legacy. The play revolves around this theme that what we do now directly affects those we leave behind when we're gone. Will they tell our story? Will they reap our rewards? Will they use that power to surpass us, "blow us all away," or will they let the flame go out? "If we win our independence, is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants? Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?"

[@nnemrac]

He puts his hand up to “raise a glass” then the song goes “he aims his pistol at the sky” it’s a perfect transition to raise his arm like he’s giving a toast then to him raising his glass to throw away his shot

[@thatonethere7621]

it is also Lauren's last line

[@KKoakOOakoAA]

did anybody else just realise that the wind blowing during Hamilton’s soliloquy in The World Was Wide Enough was symbolism for being in the eye of the same hurricane that destroyed his home?

[@hadleyobryan3571]

ZeAwesome “i’ll wait here and see which way the wind will blow”

[@keilime7]

Yes! And every time a “hurricane” comes along, it turns his world upside down, which triggers him to write- except where that chain of events in his youth led to his rise (getting fame, coming to the US, being Washington’s right hand man), in his older years it leads to his demise (the Reynolds Papers)

[@mariahhenderson1470]

I was thinking about that

[@Justice237]

Demon voice: *dayum*

[@maelstromania7233]

Wait, what?

[@nbriggy]

You can’t blame Burr for his actions. From his perspective, Hamilton did ruin his life. When Burr finally decided to go after everything he ever wanted, Hamilton stood in his way at every turn. Burr wanted to be Washington’s right hand man, the position goes to Hamilton. Burr switches party to finally join the government, and Hamilton asks him what hes doing. Burr runs for president, Hamilton backs Jefferson. Burr did exactly as he was told to do by Hamilton and is punished for it at every turn.

[@hailmuse]

I mean I do, cause for a quiet man he sure didn't self reflect enough

[@wesleywallace4426]

Except that even after Hamilton died, Burr's life didn't get any better. It just kept getting worse. Burr should have accepted his dreams weren't going to come true, killing Hamilton wasn't the answer.

[@eclipseshetheyneos588]

Even after killing Hamilton the Hamilton name still ruined his life with his son being the lawyer for burs ex wife if the devorce case

[@kerstinschwarz5222]

Another thing with "Satisfied": It takes Angelica's regret in the first time you hear and turns it into Angelica's wish regret UPON Alexander through the anger in the second one, like a twisted reflection.

[@ddietz8778]

Oh that’s good. I’ve never been able to pick out the exact words the line conveys, but that’s exactly it.

[@rubygln4696]

The only word that can accurately describe Leslie Odom jr. *Smooth*

[@roses62096]

"Burr, you disgust me" "Ah, so you've discussed me! I'm a trust fund, baby you can trust me!" 😎So😎damn😎smooth😎

[@victoriabell9546]

That is the most truest word to describe him. Have you listened to his self-titled album? It is *S M O O T H*

[@pandakso3365]

Thought you were going to say *wait for it*

[@Fluvienne]

When he slowly sings “smile more”... When he slowly smiles. When he sings “Dear Theodosia” and poor Lin Manuel has to try and pair his voice up to those melodic tones.

[@literallyagodactually9763]

Is it 2019? Yes. Am I still watching this for the first time? Yes. Do I regret waiting for it before joining the fandom? Absolutely.

[@sumaya8291]

Riannie Kenn I can relate SOOO MUCH

[@sumaya8291]

THIS IS SOOOOOOO SOO FRICK RELATABLE

[@Sen-tu8lr]

Just wait for it

[@aleesabarker8352]

There’s an animatic version of Hamilton on YT, luckily I watched it before I saw this :)

[@Lucy-mb8ux]

Riannie Kenn I only joined the fandom like 2 or 3 weeks ago, although I was like, 8 or something, maybe 9 when Hamilton like, existed.

[@chrispy0111lol]

Fell back into a Hamilton hole in anticipation of the Disney+ release and oh my god, this video was incredible. I got teary halfway through and then was full on crying by the end. I can't believe how much of this flew over my heard. Or rather, how much of it I understood emotionally but never put into words or tried to think about critically. Seriously, thank you so much for making this!!

[@anniegoldberg6438]

I love how Hamilton in Hurricane was like “I couldn’t seem to die” and burr is like “oh you wanna die? I got you bro” 😂

[@kiapet286]

So funny story, I accidentally skipped the song "Wait For It" in my first listen of Hamilton, and proceeded to spend the rest of the musical wondering why everyone kept repeating "wait for it" around Burr...

[@tomasroque3338]

Kiapet 2 How does that happen?

[@kiapet286]

The KZbin channel I was listening to it from either uploaded Wait For It out of order or got it taken down. I noticed the gap in the numbering but reasoned from the lack of missing plot occurrences that it couldn't have been that important. It was only when I went back and listened to the missing song that I realized my error...

[@tomasroque3338]

Kiapet 2 The first time I listened to Hamilton was through a 2:30h long video with the entire musical, which I then downloaded and listened to almost every day for months until it was legally available in my country.

[@floraice11]

you missed the best song rip you

[@Nugcon]

lmao

[@cypalmer7425]

Can we just talk about how Lin decided to use helpless in Say no to this ? I mean, we are used to associate this word with Eliza's love towards Alexander... We can hear it in helpless (which is perfectly named) Satisfied, (at this point, the word becomes kind of bittersweet), Non-stop (in which the word becomes even more bittersweet) but all of this time, it is still tied up to how Eliza love Alexander more than anything... And then, when he is literally cheating on her, we hear this word again. It reminds to us how much Eliza love him and how much this is wrong. We want to scream to him to stop what he is doing and think of his wife. But he doesn't. And he left us here, with the anger and the love and the sadness that we associate with this word By sleeping with Maria, by using the word that describe Eliza and Alexander's love, he didn't only cheated on her... He cheated on us. On our feelings... And for that, Lin is a flipping genius

[@MakeStuffStudios]

lou lunatique FANTASTIC observation! I think what’s just as impressive is the fact that Lin can so thoroughly break my heart like that, and then Eliza turns around and takes Alexander back AND I ACTUALLY TOTALLY BUY IT AND AM OKAY WITH IT?? SOMEHOW??? (Also the fact that this musical is puppeteering my heartstrings so hard that just reading your comment about it put a big ol’ lump in my throat >___

[@evariste_galois]

i took foreeeever to realize that in take a break eliza sings where you can *STAAAAAYY* in the same way maria does in say no to this

[@jewelv1652]

beatriz b m OMG MEH HEART IS _SHOOK_ AND *BROKE* AND IT'S N O T O K A Y !

[@rinan9598]

I literally think about this every fucking day. I was so angry at Alexander for "Say no to this" and a lot of my anger stemmed from when he used Eliza's "Helpless" in a song with his mistress and just shit man. I literally just sit and think about this at least once a day and it hurts me😭😭😭

[@seignee]

lou lunatique yesss

[@sharkbyte8650]

Honestly, I would of thought it would be the word “Wait” in general because something that always stick out to me is like the way in the first song “Alexander Hamilton” Hamilton himself says “Just you wait” telling the watcher to wait for his greatness but then The Ensemble bear the end of the song “Non-Stop” as Hamilton is like “I’m not gonna throw away my shot” they respond with “Just you wait” and it goes back and forth a couple of times. It’s funny, he says he’s not going to throw away his shot and the “just you wait” foreshadows that he actually threw away his shot against Burr

[@rwingate5304]

Also, "Planting seeds in a garden you never get to see." The use of the word garden is probably a callback to It's Quiet Uptown and meant to fill you with that feeling of loss and uncertainty that the Hamilton's felt after (spoiler alert) Philip died

[@ethereal.pi.ratttttttt.e6497]

yall notice that the first verse of wait for it has the burn melody as part of the piano part burn is the song that shows how hamilton should have waited for it

[@alissawilliams3435]

AwakeTilMorning I did!

[@monniebrown8581]

I noticed that too. I've seen a lot of Hamilton videos (Howard Ho mostly), and there has never been anyone talking about that fact. I hope someone maybe talks about that one day.

[@kk8490]

Dude, *_holy shit_* :o

[@connorlipbite455]

Another motif that was in Hamilton's dying speech was "I wrote some notes for a song someone will sing for me..." It could be related to the line "Alexander Hamilton, when America sings for you..." Maybe not a motif, but they are definitely related in some way.

[@lesliewolfe7643]

Wow I never noticed that! Thanks for pointing it out!

[@ocarina82_43]

Can we take a second to appriciate the editing in this video?? Not only the helpful graphics, but how each song that is being introduced plays in the backround as his voice fades out right when it needs to... I don't know why this stuck out to me, but I felt like I needed to say something about it.

[@Anna-sv1ic]

can we appreciate that "burgundy and teal and brown," is a motif in a video essay about motifs, plz tell me I'm not the only one to notice this.

[@Rosiexproductions]

So..you could say Hamilton threw away his shot (aimed at the sky) when the world turned upside down (Ham becoming the one who waits, Burr becoming the one who acts)! "I'm not throwing away my shot till the world turns upside down" - Yorktown ;)

[@keilime7]

Rosie Howe 😳

[@stephaniekrutzler7895]

Omg u did it u craked the code!

[@archaicfalcon4898]

shoot i didn’t even realize

[@pegasus_mind4803]

omg this is crazy

[@ThirdRhombus978]

Brooo

[@houston-coley]

Where should I start on how much I'm grateful for this video? Man, I can't tell you how much these thoughts have been clattering around inside my own head for the past 2 years, and I've never been able to completely synthesize them. This video is SPOT-BLOODY-ON - can't thank you enough for finally articating the brilliant complexity of this show.

[@Milliorn.]

HoustonProductions1 this comment is spot on

[@ameera7999]

Totally agree!!! Fantastic video

[@visethdong5043]

HoustonProductions1 you gave me a new and better perspective of an aready amazing musical

[@yourmomgae2764]

Spot bloody on

[@devorrahtester5439]

I couldn't agree more. This video was fukn' brilliant!

[@stopitpj2318]

hamilton is always running. no matter what he is running, so when burr says "why do you write your youre running out of time, are you running out of time?" in non stop, its likely referring to the first song where it discusses how hamilton runs to america to be a new man, and how he runs into the war and relationships and everything. hamilton and burr are constantly running, hamilton runs to, while burr runs from

[@Fluvienne]

You seem to be pushing for a “running” motif but nowhere in the script does it say that Hamilton runs to anything. As Burr says “Hamilton doesn’t hesitate, He takes and he takes and he takes.” And Burr himself doesn’t run from anything; he just doesn’t rush headlong after his desires. “I’m not falling behind or running late.” “I’m not standing still, I’m lying in wait.” It’s not fair to describe Burr as “running from” when in fact Hamilton was desperately trying to catch up with him in the beginning of the story. Burr took two years to graduate from college instead of four. He led troops in the Revolutionary War. He went to George Washington with a proposal for more aggressive tactics. He ran successfully for the senate. He actively ran for President, campaigning door-to-door. He served a full term as Vice President, despite Jefferson not wanting him there. Hamilton’s position in government was by appointment whereas Burr’s government positions were by contested election. Nobody could say the man wasn’t a go-getter. He was just more of a gentleman about it.

[@TheGrossDemon]

I think the change of audience reaction is so telling. I mean for one the mood change is kinda funny out of context and alone like that. Especially considering the look her shot the room probably knowing the mood change from build up to soft somber tone would come off as funny. But when you think of the context of it, "my name is Alexander Hamilton, and there's a million things I haven't done, just you wait". Considering all he did with this musical, and possibly the way he's affected musical theater, story telling, history, movie production, and society as a whole, he certainly did show everyone what he was capable of. It's kinda poetic in a way.

[@whisperingcrown591]

"Isnt this enough?" And "how lucky we are to be alive right now" are my two favorite motifs in this

[@ThirdRhombus978]

Yes! I would love to see other versions of this video with different motifs

[@jkeirejejhehehehe6796]

One of my favorite motifs is wait for it

[@gracemckeown2785]

My fav is "history has its eyes on you" but they're all SO GOOD 🤯

[@Timelordvainglorious1]

Or the I imagine death so much it feels like a memory

[@jkeirejejhehehehe6796]

Harry Woodcock I also like the my shot melody

[@CSPRING101]

“There’s no saints in this show” PEGGY WOULD LIKE A WORD

[@rongneezy41]

Peggy made Alex cheat. Don't fool yourself.

[@sixela6]

She changed her dress and slept with hamilton

[@godiraonasetlhabi7992]

Peggy in the streets Maria in the sheets!!!

[@awesomesaucepk]

Godiraona Avery holy geezus

[@nullwood6630]

*Eliza has entered the chat*

[@mishapenmoonmoth]

the counting foreshadowing between anthony ramos’ characters is THE single most heartbreaking motif in the entire show it just about kills me

[@etta5487]

The way I have been listening to the hamilton sound track for 4 years (literally a quarter of my life) and am still learning new meanings and picking up on things i never noticed. Lin is a goddamn genius and will go down in history as such.

[@dropjoy5695]

😋

[@elianarose4264]

When I first clicked on this video I didn't expect much, but I was just looking at every Hamilton video I could find. I expected a lesson on what a motif is and how it can apply to Hamilton. By the end, though, I had chills by the intensity and amazing message this sent. This was so amazing and every part of this video was just a masterpiece.

[@jackguhl4556]

Eliana Rose so true (I know I’m late but I just keep coming back to this video I can’t stop

[@InvisibleGeometry-ow6ny]

Same

[@Umbral_Data]

“Burgundy, teal, and brown” hey is that a motif?

[@marshdidit1676]

Yes. 'Cause this video is a piece of art.

[@hritikasharma8740]

Marsh - Inator Just... No.

[@leah7348]

@@hritikasharma8740 just... Yes.

[@RRavineiscool]

It's cool. But who cares.

[@d43imoet]

Maria Reynolds, Eliza, and Angelica??

[@amandalong220]

Wow, I never noticed Burr singing "Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it" in the background after Hamilton sings "I couldn't seem to die" in Hurricane. There are so many layers!

[@rafafinhass]

Every now and then I come back to this video and the comments cause I absolutely love the amount of details this musical has and how it changes us.

[@Pummpkinn]

My sister lost her mind when she realized there were 10 motifs counting up to the shot in the World Was Wide Enough. She listens to the soundtrack all the time but never noticed until this video.

[@alissawilliams3435]

OMG WHAT

[@kittenmimi5326]

How does one not notice unless it's mindless listening not looking or paying attention to give secind thought to the lyrics- I would have never been able to explain these motifs even a teeny tiny bit as well as this video does but... idk I def got the motifs

[@crocuslament9680]

@@kittenmimi5326 See there are three stages of Hamilton. Stage one is you're hearing for the first time or just listening with your brain off. You don't really pick up on all the leitmotifs, probably just the more obvious ones. Stage two is you're repeat listening, and you start to pick up on the little nuances. Here's where you'll really catch the stuff like all the Wait for Its. And then Stage three is repeat repeat listening. You've listened to the soundtrack a hundred times, or you're studying it, or you're listening to someone else make a video on it, and you realize all of the different miniscule nuances. In between stages two and three is where you get this disconnect, this leap you have to make. For example, you'll have noticed that Philip sings the ten duel commandments, but you won't have realized that he and Eliza start singing different parts in their French practices at the exact same point that the gunshot cuts of their duel. Or, in the World Was Wide Enough, you'll have recognized all the individual leitmotifs but you won't have made the connection of there being ten of them and then all of a sudden you snap into stage three and there's this moment of clarity.

[@lovelisascooking7640]

@@kittenmimi5326 , This musical is a work that is so beautifully layered, that one discovers something with MULTIPLE viewings. One can view , listen, and think about it and realize with the next viewing how much one missed in the last 25 viewings!

[@lovelisascooking7640]

@@crocuslament9680 , When one adds viewing to listening, one really gets how much there is to pick up, notice, turn around, absorb, understand again or anew... An actor is taught that acting is REacting to everything going on even when one has no lines. It is being fully present in the moment, 8 shows a week. Whenever I watch and listen I discover characters in places and REacting to what is going on in ways and places I had completely missed the time before. You can see their minds working. They are truly listening to one another. When actors cease to be present once their lips stop moving, it is often distracting and may pull attention from the story being told. Often some of the most important moments in a piece are those witnessing the moment, feeling that moment, and being able to show the audience (Without pulling focus) those feelings and actions through one's thoughts, which change one's body language and facial expression even if only for a blink of an eye.

[@nahicorua]

I won't be able to hear Satisfied without thinking about "Hamilica" and "Angelatin" ever again thank you very much...

[@lynettemiller7912]

OMG! I HOWLED AT THAT!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!

[@n.k.7208]

I’m late but I just came across this video and I have to say: This is one of the best video essays I’ve seen on Hamilton PERIOD. It was eloquent and elegant, succinct and persuasive.... (sorry couldn’t help it!) But seriously you were intelligent and funny and brought up some points I hadn’t realized after 100s of times listening to the soundtrack. Thank you!

[@pinkajou656]

Agreed. Absolutely agreed. This is my favourite review I’ve ever seen.

[@thelonelyarchon]

The “WAIT!” In 14:58 made me gasp when I realized Burr actually yelled this when shot Hamilton. I literally gasped (no, like really REALLY gasped)! I had just watched the movie of Hamilton and I just remember this and now I’m slowly dying once more. Ps. I found another motive that they frequently use “Time”. Especially near the end of Hamilton (Act 2). It’s like they keep on reminding us how much time is left for Hamilton. And the way before Hamilton dies, he says “Take Your Time” to Eliza and then on Who lives who dies who tells your story it appears again and then by that point we realize that Time (50 years more) was given to Eliza and what was taken for Hamilton. I don’t know if there are other more motifs with the word time but i guess this is what’ve got so far.

[@caitlyn86]

The way you pointed it out... like it was a heat of the moment type of duel and the one time he didnt wait... he regretted it

[@thelonelyarchon]

Caitlyn oh god. now i’m bawling my eyes again. huhuhu

[@Fluvienne]

There ARE more time motifs. Burr asks “Why do you write like you’re running out of time?” Eliza at the end says “You really DID write like you’re running out of time.” When Angelica does the wedding toast in Satisfied, the utterance of the word “satisfied” takes her back in time - rewind, rewind - to when she met Alexander then brings her gradually forward through her memories back to the present moment. In hurricane, there’s a visual representation of time as everything whirls clockwise around Alexander, virtually suspending him in time as he looks back on all the times when his writing had brought him triumph or salvation, then looks forward to the prospect of writing himself out of his predicament. As for how much time Hamilton gets, he says “I never thought I’d live past [twenny]. Where I come from, they get half as many.” He is constantly aware that he may run out of time, and that’s why he was so preoccupied with his own death. Death is another motif, but we don’t have all day. This play’s motifs have motifs.

[@thelonelyarchon]

Fluvienne oh god now i’m crying all over again!😭

[@aluriius]

THIS IS THE REASON I TRY TO GET PEOPLE INTO HAMILTON. I swear people are missing out

[@TamannaDas]

Aahah ikr

[@elizahamilton3481]

for reals tho

[@swissclaire]

Fuzzy Spoof the likes are 69... noice

[@jaredcortes366]

True man. Have trying to influence my siblings for quite a while. Hahaha

[@justinelegaspi9359]

Definitely true.

[@nancyke3571]

"and the worlds gonna know your name, what's your name man?" "Alexander Hamilton" I got GOOSEBUMPS EVERYWHERE. Hamilton will always be THE BEST MUSICAL.

[@burke615]

My mother was super into theater, and so I grew up listening to all kinds of Broadway cast recordings: West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Fiddler, etc, and later shows like Cats and Phantom as they came out. I have always loved musicals. Hamilton blows them all away.

[@al3459]

I Really love your profile picture

[@alexandranoellemuliadi6488]

Hamilton has like 50 songs, that's a bonkering amount of songs in one musical

[@charlotterhodes7359]

@kirby Techniqually theres 47 songs coz of Lauren's interlude but that's not included on the soundtrack or cast recording. Yes the musical is about 2 hours 35 minutes because of small moments and pauses between songs, and the interval is after Non-Stop halfway through the musical

[@burke615]

@@ShinyToken Yes, pun most definitely intended! :)

[@BeAfraidOfJozie]

I got actual chills at the end when you said “You just have to wait for it” in regards to the crowds response to Hamilton

[@contentwatcher00]

When I showed Hamilton to my best friend who had never seen it before, once “wait for it” came he said “I feel like it’s just this guy’s (Odom’s) concert and everything else is just support for him” lol

[@kisakid.pinili9351]

The line "my love take your time" just hits me like a slap to the face 😭😭😭

[@peanutbutter_pancake]

And then Eliza uses that time that (I like to say that Alex gave her) to help continue his legacy

[@YXURGXDDESSS]

Seoirsa the way he said it makes me cry every time!

[@Imeatingchocolate]

I'd never seen footage of that part - Now I get why Stephen Colbert cried over Hamilton.

[@zoomzoomchoom]

Damn didnt think id be crying over hamilton again in 2019 but here we are

[@squares757]

ikr

[@uwussquad_1696]

I keep crying NON-STOP

[@cranberri1484]

Soon it'll be 2020... and I'll be crying then too so don't think it's gonna stop anytime soon

[@godiraonasetlhabi7992]

This is ms right now! I cry everytime I watch it!

[@gracegarn3349]

Sirius Black here we are

[@indorock]

I think all these sad fools who are currently talking about cancelling Hamilton need to watch this, especially from 22:25 onwards.

[@mr.whatislove3620]

Yes, also they could actually, you know, watch the musical and try to understand what it is about. Cancel Hamilton? Why? Are those people insane?

[@haileygiabiconi8830]

Like cancel as in cancel culture?

[@PMarie-sm8vi]

Helpless is probably my favorite motif. I really enjoy in particular how in 'Helpless' it has such a happy, carefree feel. But immediately after in 'Satisfied' it has this horribly sad realization of Angelica's romantic martyrdom. It's beautiful.

[@fufumccuddlypoops5502]

Another great example of motifs and foreshadowing is in non-stop Hamilton says “I am not throwing away my shot” then the ensemble says “Just you wait”

[@adrian7032]

Fu Fu Mc Cuddly Poops okay, I had to listen to the end again to get that but like WHAAAAAAT THE- THATS SO COOL

[@sunnysideofthings]

also "I couldn't seem to die" in Hurricane, then Burr says "Wait for it". I think everyone knows that though

[@becca287]

KSKSK WHAT

[@ryandaley4984]

The creator of this did an amazing job. So F-ing well done, the analysis, insight, comentary, graphics, musical integration, humor. Everything! You did NOT throw away your shot and should be absolutely satisfied with yourself! Fufu good on you absolutely right he took contradictory motifs there and juxtaposed them with such ironic foreshadowing, as the audience knows from history books going in that in the end he will wait, he will hesitate Burr will not and their applicable motifs flip as this creator pointed out in the poignant plot twist we all know is coming at the end. I agree with Ari and Mari (lol those rhyme right?) Yes Mari's example was indeed covered in this vid.

[@Meldarium]

Ryan Daley Und

[@amabellam.3172]

"How long will Burr wait for it until he realizes it's actually hurting him?" Me: "Forever. And ever. And ever and ever and eveeeerrrrrrr"

[@Justice237]

Feels like he could go on for forever this way ... Sorry, wrong musical (not sorry)

[@charlesstephens5834]

Justice237 when he died I guess you could say all he saw was light...

[@TheRenegade...]

Forevurr.

[@dinoboy4662]

Video: Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

[@Hungry_Hufflepuff_]

@Justice237 two friends, on a perfect day

[@chanteyrose]

It's July 3, 2020, and Hamilton has just been released for streaming on Disney+. I have listened to the soundtrack for years, and even had the immense privilege of seeing the touring production last year. I didn't find your video in the KZbin algorithm until today. Thank you for putting into words why "Wait for it", "The Room Where it Happened", and "Hurricane" have been my favorite songs this whole time. I didn't consciously know why they moved me so much - only that they did - and you putting together the connection for us and voicing the utter genius of their layered construction was the light bulb moment I had been missing.

[@ameliabeattie6688]

i love the parralels between hurricanes wait for it- burr advising hamilton to think before he makes the biggest mistake if his life-and the world was wide enough's wait which is burr trying to stop himself from his biggest mistake

[@rvrlrvy]

goddammit i thought i was done crying over hamilton and lin's musical talents and then you make me feel all these feelings

[@jackimoo6645]

SAME, IKR?! CAUSE I REMEMBERED THAT LAURENS HAD A MOTIF THAT WAS HAMILTONS LAST WORDS IN THE PLAY.

[@isabellaaguilar5534]

lin: there are NO saints eliza: *learns to forgive her husband for cheating on her, speaks out against slavery, defends her husband's works even AFTER he died, raises funds for the washington monument, and establishes the very first private orphanage* yeah i agree

[@crystalebarnicle9628]

Yeah but she didn't allow bastard children in that orphanage

[@Fluvienne]

You don’t get to be a saint by honoring the sinners. As for speaking out against slavery- hah! She was raised in a family of slave owners. Are we to suppose her father didn’t pass any slaves on to his daughters? Was it even remotely likely that she paid servants to lace her into corsets, tend to her hair and wardrobe, personal hygiene, housekeeping and manual labor needed for all the times her husband was absent? Who would do that when they owned slaves? Just how late into her long life did she speak out against slavery? Come on, people.

[@QGonline]

Correction: the first private orphanage in New York, orphanages were a thing well before the Revolutionary War

[@theturtwig50]

@@Fluvienne You do realize one can HATE slavery while still sadly being in a society that normalizes the use of slaves, right?

[@Axb2774]

Rumia for real. Did they expect her, a woman w/o the right to vote, to single-handedly end slavery? The men couldn’t even do it w/o starting a war... and they had half the country on their side lmao

[@sab.ela.p819]

That part when you said that he was not a good man, but he was a great man, really hit me. I'm from Spain, so I didn't know that Hamilton, the Schuyler sisters, George Washington... all of them had slaves, so when I read it on Wikipedia I just felt like someone cheated on me. I mean, I saw that people like heroes after the musical, and then, I just found that they weren't as I thought, so I start feeling bad. Why would someone make a musical about bad people? About people who had slaves! And now, I know why. Because in the musical, they are not shown as someone kind, or polite, or politically correct, they make them look like someone who changed the history of America, who make changes, great changes! And now I know that there are bad people, who make incredible things, so you need to separate the acts from the people who make it because maybe they are bad, but without them, America wouldn't be as we know now.

[@user-sf4zm6yk2b]

Yeah, but Eliza was an abolitionist actually so-

[@Coffee-ve8ub]

Hurricane is also a motif, sort of. Because it mentions the hurricane hit at the very beginning and then again in Hamilton’s version of “wait for it” he mentions the hurricane again and there’s the metaphorical hurricane of the drama and corruption that’s going on in his life and career. There’s also the line “which way the wind will blow” that references both his marriage and career as well as being a reference to a storm like a hurricane.

[@deadaccount2212]

My dad says that he doesn't want to see a musical that "puts a man like Hamilton on a pedestal", except... it doesn't. It paints him as a worse man than I thought about before.

[@mmaridsy7382]

the musical doesn't put him on a pedestal nor make him worse, it paints him as a rounded person with mistakes, regrets, and achievments just like everyone else

[@52andattitude48]

How can he even say it puts Hamilton on a pedestal without seeing it lmao that’s weird

[@alexgough2121]

It definitely puts Hamilton on a bit of a pedestal lol. Having flaws doesn't change that. It omits his large involvement in the slave trade (even going so far as to throw in little bits where he proclaims that he wants to end slavery) and his relationships with child rapists

[@whkrause]

Tell your dad that Hamilton's never going to be president now.

[@theturtwig50]

It kinda does and it kinda doesnt. The best way to put it is that it dramatizes and romanticizes his life.

[@Abcdefgun32]

"He wasn't always a good man but he was always a great man" It's like when your mom tells you "you always have to love your siblings even if you dont like them"

[@jaimeparra2040]

Little Miss Dysthymia sad truth

[@dbgr9875]

25:07 That was a freaking motif to your own video

[@Hamiltonbutgayer]

Bro just taught me a whole midlife lesson that'll carry with me through adolescent years with a Hamilton video 🥲

[@charlotte_742]

“Alexander Hamilton” Audience Laughs. “Alexander Hamilton” Audience goes crazy. I think Lin posted that but I want to show that it’s important lol

[@dededanielle2370]

Oh lord. I appreciate this musical so much more now. It's like an onion, so many layers. Holy shit.

[@alissawilliams3435]

Dede Danielle Ogres are like onions...

[@cameronscott9399]

@@alissawilliams3435 THEY HAVE LAYERS

[@Anna-md9jf]

also makes you cry lmao

[@wanderlingsapling1434]

Hamiltrash omg I just realized that hahahah

[@idlesun1645]

@@alissawilliams3435 so Hamilton is... An ogre

[@zanzabarosu]

i think my favorite part about the ten duel commandments motif is that in philips actual duel it gets cut off halfway, representing philips life was cut drastically short

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Hamilton and Burr are opposites of each other that have the same goals.

[@rhys4827]

also: "there is no beat, no melody..." "is it like a beat without a melody?" (my shot)

[@mmaridsy7382]

and the most obvious thing is that it was outright said without a beat or melody

[@oldmanspidey]

This is also a Fugees reference. "Me without a mic is like a beat without a snare" - Lauryn Hill's verse of How Many Mics. There's also a lot of old school rap references throughout the show, and LMM was definitely influenced by Hill and other rappers of the time.

[@connor-petri]

damn nice catch

[@sanaathegreat2324]

I didnt realize the foreshawdoing in Hurricane. My mind is blown. My weave is snatched. My boots are quaking. I love this video so much and i found it so late. EDIT: I just watched the whole thing and I REALLY APPRECIATE this video you have know idea. The editing and voiceover are amazing! Plus all the thought and knowlege that went into this. WOW.

[@narwhal6112]

I just realized in "The world was wide enough" the line "planting seeds in a garden" is a motif from Cabinet Battle #1 said by Thomas Jefferson