HAMILTON | ITS QUIET UPTOWN | Musical Theatre Coach Reacts

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In this video Musical Theatre Coach Marc Daniel Patrick reacts to Its Quiet Uptown from the hit musical Hamilton currently on Disney+. Featuring Lin Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

[@staceyk4429]

I don't think this number needs hamilton to sound perfect and polished. Lin's performance makes the grief more raw and relatable. When you lose someone the grief clogs your throat and that is what Lin brings to this performance for me.

[@MGDragonfree]

That’s exactly what I think! During that grief it’s absolutely fine to be flat sometimes!

[@tamikas9425]

Exactly it should be broken he is broken.

[@Wiglpupi]

I totally agree. I don't think we need this to be vocally prefect. I feel the emotion from him for sure, but there's still something a bit off at times

[@kiwiparfaits]

yes! i first listened to the album and this song got me really hard. back in december of 2019 i saw hamilton live (not original cast) and the guy playing hamilton went a different route with this performance, focusing more on singing better. and while it sounded good, it just didn't hit me or impact me at all the way lin's performance does.

[@mathildlamarre3726]

His performance hit me sooo hard. When my cousin died my uncle had the same expression on his face, a broken voice from sadness. Loss and death sounds just like that.

[@soph13.h]

I love Lin here. Obviously his vocals are not great in this song, however he literally sounds like he is singing through tears which comes off as more authentic than perfect, smooth vocals to me. The voice cracks and thick tone works for me because if you've ever tried to sing while actually crying, that's what happens.

[@jamiemcclure8937]

Yes! His singing reminded me of how I felt like I sounded when I was struggling to sing through the hymns at my grandma's funeral. The throat feels paralyzed and the sound is all distorted and garbly. That is, IF you can even make a sound at all. When I was in college, the mother of one of my best friend's from high school died unexpectedly and I felt utter devastation and grief for my friend and her dad. He followed the casket into the church and the look on his face was EXACTLY that of Phillippa Soo's. I will never forget it. I remember sitting stone faced through the entire ceremony unable to utter a single sound for any of the hymns. I remember looking over at my parents, who were very good friends with her, and their faces were the same. So the first time I watched this, I TOTALLY broke down here because I've seen those emotions before in real life. This was SO WELL DONE.

[@isabellacarolan3309]

THIS

[@jeffaller3326]

No attention to Lin’s vocal. This number is awful and unbelievably beautiful at the same time. I cannot make it through without weeping. I’ll be the jerk, but have kids, imagine losing them, and then come back to me. It’s so powerful, and makes me so grateful for all that I have. Favorite piece in Hamilton.

[@A.n0neeM0usee]

@@jamiemcclure8937 Thank you for sharing.

[@A.n0neeM0usee]

When I hear Miranda singing this, I think of all the videoes of him, his wife and sons, and hear a father singing about and to his sons. In his words and his voice are the utter fear of loosing them and the empathy for all the parents who have experienced this loss. Miranda's voice becomes secondary to his emotions, which is why I think people love him in this role, it bleeds with emotion.

[@lillynichols9884]

I love the way he has Angelica "narrating" their struggle of what they are going through. Because they, especially Eliza, cannot yet give voice to her pain

[@elizabethmagner2989]

So true. When she steps forward, you're just like, oh shit...the mother. There's THAT pain. Quite literally unimaginable. I lost my sister a year or so ago and my mom wanted this song played at the funeral. I think that says something.

[@n.k.7208]

I’ll forgive LMM for his weaker vocals for the sheer fact that he somehow managed to perfectly describe and tap in to how it feels to lose your child (I know sadly from experience). I can barely get through this song every.damn.time. It always hits hard. I can’t not cry.

[@ms.chuckfu1088]

Hopefully there is healing for you too.

[@n.k.7208]

@@ms.chuckfu1088 Thank you 🙏🏼

[@kellydavis1837]

I'm so sorry for your loss

[@mcarcamo1211]

Exactly, I too know thus pain. The first time I heard this song I bawled for hours. I love his portrayal in this number. I am so sorry for your loss ❤

[@n.k.7208]

@@kellydavis1837 Thank you ❤️

[@jeancaldwell5391]

And when she reaches for his hand, and when she comforts him-oh, the tears come.

[@GarnetJ]

Especially when the chorus sings “forgiveness” and you can see the wave of emotion hit LMM. That moment gets me every time. 😿

[@karmen181]

When Lin drops his head in relief omg tears

[@jacoba4555]

when he says “if i could trade his life for mine, he’d be standing here right now, and you would smile, that would be enough” i die i’ve watched hamilton like 5 times and i cry there everytime

[@suemcm9787]

Every time. And its been dozens of times

[@ptvsupernatural]

told me i wouldn’t sob but that scene makes me breakdown

[@alihalbmaier8575]

I dont think anyone listens to this song for Lin's voice. It's a beautiful, vulnerable, devastating piece. No one cares what his voice sounds like.

[@thisbish]

Right? He's not the best singer, but I think he nailed the emotion and it goes straight to my heart every time.

[@ameliamcleod6750]

Yes yes yes! The song doesn’t need the perfect vocals, it needs the voice cracks and the vulnerability. I think perfect vocals wouldn’t portray the emotions well

[@ellen9575]

I agree. It's the emotion of the moment we feel. I don't hear the voice I feel it.

[@kellydavis1837]

Exactly the voice cracks and emotion feel real to me as a parent, I think a smooth interpretation would take away from the scene

[@steveming2197]

Yeah, maybe people aren't listening on this number for Lin's voice, but I don't disagree with Marc here. Other actors could bring more to this song with better vocals and acting, but would they perform the whole persona and lyrics as well as Lin, I doubt it. This isn't his strongest song. I see how some love his performance here, but I cringe during most of his parts.

[@kristikinzel4433]

I love Lin Manuel's interpretation. I don't think he is over-doing the grief. I am seeing guilt layered on top of the grief - just devastating.

[@christymiller311]

I agree. And I understand why LMM might be polarizing as a singer, but his performance absolutely works for me here.

[@Burekka]

Agreeed. How on earth can you overdo the grief of loosing a child, anyways? I LOVE this song. It encapsulate the pain and devastation it is to lose a loved one (having lost a child of my own, I feel every word of this song, every time I listen to it).

[@kaceyharris4111]

Keep in mind, Lin has stated before he hates singing this song because he always cries. he's actually fighting back tears singing this song

[@nebelparder9]

Interesting, I didn'T know so far but it totally makes sense :o

[@ExarchGaming]

i mean you see him break and phillpa soo look over in concern right at the end. I don't think that was scripted, I think he broke down in tears and she had a small break in character to look at him concerned, cause you start to see her face crack too with emotion.

[@mutecryptid]

I like that it’s not focusing on being beautiful, it’s focusing on the grief of the character. That makes it more emotional to me, he’s trying to sing but it’s always twinged with “ugly” sadness. It’s not trying to make grief pretty

[@Whiskypapa]

Kinda similar to many of the songs from the newest film adaptation of Les Mis, with “I dreamed a Dream” in particular. The rawness and imperfections... the audible breathing etc...

[@mariiagellfonde2761]

Exactly!! I think it's natural to feel awkward seeng others' crying faces because your brain just goes "somithing bad is happening here, let's get away from it"

[@Sfr528]

I actually think Lin Manuel's portrayal of someone in despair was spot on. Pushing words out because its physically hard to speak. Trying your best to keep it together and failing over and over, face contorting as you just cry in the middle of the street... or when someone close to you holds your hand... It all felt very real to me, and I personally related to that aspect of grief. I didn't think he oversold it at all. I thought Phillipa Soo was great as well showing another side of how some people grieve. I think they were both fantastic here and it is one of the most devastating scenes I have ever seen in any form of entertainment.

[@terryturner7717]

Yes!!

[@kathleendipace6402]

I agree completely.

[@BellasielBOB]

If Lin's vocals were perfect and crystal clear in this number, it would feel all wrong and false. Hamilton HAS to be fighting tears during this whole number. After what he's done to Eliza and the role he played in Philip's death, he needs to be BROKEN in order for us to forgive him - how else could Eliza forgive him? I wouldn't change anything Lin does here.

[@le0ismyp00kie]

FINALLY SOMEONE SAID IT

[@pgaede]

This is my favorite song.. for many personal reasons.. it is perfect

[@mountainmolly2726]

I always start ugly crying at the line "It's easier to just swim down". That speaks to so many times in my life. As far as LMM's performance, I've seen other, more technically adept singers in the role of Hamilton. Even though they may be able to hit the notes better, they will never inhabit the role better. LMM literally spent years researching and writing the show and living in Hamilton's head. It's almost as if he becomes Alexander when he performs.

[@sprout8426]

holy shit that gave me chills ''its almost as if he become alexander when he performs''

[@tiffanyhamilton5208]

Me too

[@VeracityLH]

Hell, I ugly-cry through most of Act II, but from here to the end I can't even speak coherently for sobbing. I shared this amazing experience with my daughter on Mother's Day and we both boohooed ("Thanks Ma, snot-crying is just what I wanted to do today!" lol) I read the Hamiltome this week and sobbed all the way through just *reading* about this song. My sinuses are completely wrecked. But god, it's so real and true, it's earned every tear.

[@_k_n_]

Same. Every single time.

[@vbvermont]

Objectively, it’s more enjoyable as an audience member to have both. But many viewers are Lin fans first, not musical theatre fans first, and their loyalty will be to him when watching this show, regardless of his pitch.

[@greaterawareness2271]

I've lost my child. He's perfect. You don't want to know how perfect he is.

[@okcdog5439]

Hugs

[@Stitchxavi]

I’m so sorry. Hugs.

[@katrynmantz8835]

You are so right! I have also lost a child. He was 11 when he died. My heart and prayers are with you. I know the pain. Lin is perfect in this moment.

[@Monica_4153]

I’m so sorry 💖

[@victordunson5857]

So very sorry

[@MarkerMurker]

I'm almost sure Lin actually cries through the song. Which is honestly better than pure calculated professional acting

[@dancookflixtures]

You left out that the key to this scene is that Hamilton finally adopts her musical motif... “look at where we are, look at where we started, the fact that you’re alive is a miracle...” and this shows Eliza and the audience that he has finally taken her advice... which is to have “perspective” instead of always striving for an unattainable goal. Likewise, Eliza adapts Hamilton’s new theme of “its quiet uptown.” And when he echos her thematic musical motif, and she echoes his, that’s when we know they are truly right for each other, and that’s when we know that she has truly forgiven him BECAUSE he has been able to adopt her gift of perspective... which he openly has failed to gain from her until this very moment. And then of course she takes his hand. Forgiveness! Because he has finally earned it.

[@ginamartin2361]

Beautifully worded! Part of Lin’s genius is his technical artistry. Moments like this, where the average listener/audience member won’t grasp exactly WHY it works, but subconsciously recognizes the absolute rightness of the Lin’s choice.

[@beckyc8104]

Beautifully put!

[@VeracityLH]

Then look at historical!Eliza and what all she had lost and would go on to lose. She had lost her sister Peggy earlier in the year, she lost her eldest son in 1801, her eldest daughter had a complete mental breakdown over that death, Eliza lost her mother in 1803, her husband and father in 1804, and her beloved sister Angelica in 1814. That very fact that this woman had the strength to draw breath for decades after all that loss is astounding.

[@delcapslock100]

"Forgiveness....Can you imagine? Forgiveness" The song doesn't expect the audience to forgive Hamilton; just to reflect on the possibility. Brilliant.

[@pgaede]

I love this part - her grabbing his hand shows forgiveness and how they can lean into each other to heal., it’s so very relatable on so many levels.. this song is amazing

[@shanigribben9158]

I'm sure Phillipa herself would have researched this, but what some people might not realise is that Peggy died not long before Philip and then Eliza's father died just a few months after Hamilton, and all of this happened within less than 5 years

[@MamaDee_83]

Thank you for sharing that. I did not know about her painful side.

[@BurnItUpp2009]

Poor Eliza 😔

[@miram4279]

Oof... 🥺

[@VeracityLH]

Her mum also died the year before her husband. Angelica, who must have been Eliza's mutual mainstay through all this grief, only survived Alexander by 10 years. How Eliza had any strength to go on is astounding.

[@cantthinkofafuckingusernam7534]

Also, If I'm not mistaken, Alexander and Eliza's oldest daughter went crazy after Phillip's death and had to been taken care of her whole remaining life, meaning that they essentially lost two children at the same time

[@andreacollins3204]

Never judged lins voice. I think he captured this absolutely perfectly. I mean he seems genuinely devastated. He did give the role away. He was the perfect Hamilton

[@debra333]

I've watched three other videos of HAMILTON groups, with different Hamiltons. Better voices than Lin's? Yes. More charismatic or moving? Absolutely not. I love him. 🤗

[@jojoh8067]

He’s a genius. And lovely. I adore him.

[@debra333]

@@jojoh8067 Perfectly written. 100% agree!🤗

[@VeracityLH]

Nailed it, m You nailed it, nailed it. He embodies the moment, screw the pitch.

[@jessireuter]

Not only do I appreciate Lin’s struggle in this song but thinking of Hamilton as a whole character... he’s always busy. He’s always moving, always doing SOMETHING. So to see him hardly moving in this number, but see his mind still grappling with how to fix things with Eliza, how to handle his grief, and how to just keep moving forward. I think Lin’s vocals lends itself to someone who is both grieving and dealing with a busy mind. He’s distracted and consumed by emotional all that the same time. It’s raw and real and powerful.

[@LemonToGo]

Spot on

[@BTheTrue]

you mean the man is nonstop? sorry. couldn't help it.

[@eyescandeceive]

i had the honor of seeing LMM and Pippa on Broadway in May of 2015. His reaction when she says "It's quiet uptown" and takes his hand was more pronounced than in this filmed version. In the moment when the chorus comes in with "forgiveness", he... i don't even have words to describe it. It was five years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. It seemed as though the whole of his upper body collapsed in on itself, as if he were exhaling after a long time of holding his breath. But then there was no corresponding inhale. His mouth was open but no sound came out--the look of a person overwhelmed with pain but unable to make a sound because the pain is so great. Perhaps he has been holding back his grief to avoid triggering her but now the full grief of losing his son suddenly embodies him. And yet at the same time his head is tilted slightly upward as if thanking God for a blessing he had desperately longed for but thought might never come. He has lost his son but he will not lose his marriage too. Eliza has forgiven him. God has forgiven him. He does not deserve it, and will never deserve it. Yet by pure grace it is his. It is too much for him to bear. And then he bends over, a deeper bow than he does in this version and Eliza steps closer and "lifts him up" just as shown here. That moment was, I kid you not, in a show of peak moments on top of peak moments, the gut punch high point of the entire show for me. It grabbed me in my heart and soul to the point where I am almost crying to remember it now. It was the most nakedly raw emotional expression I had ever seen an male actor do on stage or film (Tom Hanks crying after he loses Wilson in Cast Away comes close). People criticize Lin's singing and his acting, and compare him to I don't know who else they thought could do better in the role, but he made me FEEL that big moment without making it seem like "acting" (and I am sharp-eyed and unforgiving about that kind of thing). It didn't have a trace of artifice. It didn't feel forced. It was capital T true. Again, I have never seen anything like it. I wept more there than during the final duel or the final song. In my profession I spend a lot of time with grieving people whose grief is intertwined with equal parts of despair and regret. Over the decades I have seen that look on many faces in real life. When I came back to myself, and realized LMM has never lost a child or even a parent, and yet could pull off a scene like that with utter realism, I thought damn, a man who has the ability and the confidence to let it all hang out like that, even for a moment, in front of an audience, eight times a week, has got to be something very very special. No matter what "acting teachers" and "performance coaches" say. A musical role is about a lot more than the ability to sing. To paraphrase Yo Yo Ma, hitting the right notes is much less important than whether you are communicating something memorable. And I will never EVER forget that moment. It was the cherry on top of the icing on the cake of the best live ensemble performance I have ever seen. The musical is awesome, and LMM deserves all the accolades he has received for that, and I saw an excellent cast in Chicago, but I am incredibly ridiculously fortunate to have had the chance to see the OBC. A miraculous theatrical marvel that will never come again.

[@pauloalmeidda9427]

Yes, we all know he can't sing. But i REALLY cannot say this is bad acting. He just breaks my heart every time. I love the overenunciation, like he knows that if he doesn't use his whole face to be able to talk, he won't get the words out. There's so much heart in this performance. Great composer, great writer, great actor! That's it. And I think this is EXACTLY what we need in the role. There are great singing characters in the show. Hamilton was not written as a extraordinary singer, his songs do not need that (probably because Lin always knew the role he wanted).

[@jamiemcclure8937]

Agreed on the enunciation - when you try and speak through grief, your face feels numb and it's hard to speak without slurring like you're drunk, so you over-enunciate. At least that's my experience.

[@legacyjai9003]

He Actually Can Sing I Suggest You Look Up “Cheering For Me Now” By LMM

[@SS-rk2me]

@@legacyjai9003 He said that all the rehearsals for Mary Poppins returns made him a better singer and this was recorded after that. He sounds amazing in that song!!

[@tracyroweauthor]

This scene is heartbreakingly beautiful. I adore Lin Manuel, and in his work you can see how much he loves musical theater and being a part of it. As far as his voice and his acting, well... he can be uneven and he is often outshined by the other, more trained and vocally talented members of the cast. BUT, no one pours more of their heart and soul into what they're doing than he does. This whole scene, he's there, he's living that pain and you feel it. How can you not? When he breaks down, as a jaded theater professional I should think, oh yeah, he's just using a trick (he admits to thinking about what if it was his son) but the moment, the music, the lyrics, it's all so powerful you can't help but break down with him. When Eliza takes his hand, it's such a simple but such a moving moment. Everything you need to know is right there. Lin Manuel is, dare I say it? a genius. So, we forgive him some of his rather minor faults.

[@MamaDee_83]

I 100% agree! Lin is a genius. He is one person I would LOVE to meet!

[@tracyroweauthor]

@@MamaDee_83 my best friend and her daughter got to meet him about a year and a half ago. Her daughter was singing with a jazz group in NY and he was there in the audience sitting right next to my friend! He turned to her and said "that girl's voice is amazing!" My friend was like, 'that's my daughter!" She has pix, so it did happen lol. She said he is the nicest guy you'll ever meet.

[@MamaDee_83]

I can only wish. Bucket list worthy...eh.... it'll never happen.

[@tracyroweauthor]

@@MamaDee_83 you never know. He's pretty accessible

[@MamaDee_83]

I don't want to know how you met him.... the less I know, the better off my sanity will be.

[@shiftfocus1]

Some songs are made great by the performance. And some songs are just great on their own. I’ve heard Renée Elise Goldsberry speak in awe of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrics in this song, and how he was able to express such deep grief with intimate authenticity, in spite of not knowing the pain of losing a child himself. And she’s right. The moment when Eliza takes his hand, his face breaks, and the chorus sings “Forgiveness” does me in every time.

[@PattyKollias]

When she takes his hand in It's Quiet Uptown, as opposed to pulling her hand away from him after Phillip dies at the end of Stay Alive (Reprise) is another subtlety that I missed seeing it live in the theatre. It gets me every time.

[@tamikas9425]

The moment he breaks I break every time cause you know it took a lot for her and ment the world to him.

[@sprout8426]

yes its so emotional god

[@mollypocrass4562]

I sob every time at that moment

[@xedra]

OMG same! That moment breaks me every time.

[@madonnakilpatrick8804]

I can tell you there's no way to sing "perfectly" when death has ripped your heart out of your chest and crushed it in front of your face. LMM's pain is convincing and real and true to life in this number. This is the vocal performance version of "ugly crying." The pleading in his voice when he's trying to rouse Eliza from her grief? The sob when she finally thaws to him? Are you joking when you criticize him in this number? I legitimately cannot even look at his face in this number without bursting into tears. This performance grips my heart, hard.

[@bellasmini]

To me, Lin represented grief exactly the way it should be. Broken. Depleted. Grasping for air. Bravo to this extraordinary production. It literally is the best in every way.

[@pgaede]

It makes me wonder what he is focused on to get to this point of grief - that he shows so perfectly!?

[@armaniartist6185]

Lin Manuel is perfectly un-perfect for this role and this song... he is so broken, his voice and his emotion reflect that, and I love it... especially in contrast to Renee’s hauntingly beautiful and powerful conviction... she is singing truth, and the reality is pounding Hamilton leaving him shattered... 💔

[@happymama4976]

Ok, so I agree that Lin is not the strongest performer. But I think we have a really unique situation here in musical theater where the writer wrote for himself and did it with such utter brilliance that you cannot separate him from the role. Imperfect though his performance may be, it can't be topped because he is Hamilton. Like the real founding father, he's both brilliant and flawed.

[@janakubova4967]

I agree 100%

[@hanaeve__]

Well said 👏

[@JulioCesar-xr5vv]

Amazing observation.

[@jeanninebello9415]

I love Lin’s performance in this song. His voice isn’t the best I will admit but there is such an emotional element to it. He is BROKEN in this number. He is starting to realize everything he’s lost. It’s a beautifully written song but there’s so much emotion in the singing.

[@Livelythesinger]

I make fun of Lin’s default to “cry-singing” like it’s my job, but damn if this performance doesn’t get me every time. I’m in tears just watching the reaction video. In any other song the cry-singing seems like a cop out since he likely knows he doesn’t have much range, but here it just works. It works so well.

[@MarkerMurker]

I've read that he actually was crying

[@katherinepollock]

I think Lin did a perfect performance for this song - the emotion really impacted me, especially Phillipa Soo's single "it's quiet uptown" line.

[@anitacornelius6208]

Even more heartbreaking is the fact that Eliza Hamilton was pregnant with her 8th child when Phillip died. The baby that was born 6 months later was named for his older brother.

[@kacilinromans2152]

As someone who has experienced 'the unimaginable ' his vocals and interpretation of the level of grief a parent feels is spot on.

[@jimmalou1978]

I am so sorry. It is beyond devastating.

[@mmonse_np]

The moment the chorus sings 'forgiveness' I STAR BAWLING

[@eggsandgreenham]

When they say "forgiveness, can you imagine" it gets me every time.

[@sayrawr_]

I think the reason he did it, even if he’s not perfect in hitting the notes like Renee or Leslie is that that’s what Hamilton was. He was this rugged character who didn’t belong and flourished despite it and he got hate for it. I think the contrast of Leslie and Lin when it comes to vocal performance is on purpose. Leslie is melodic and can be interpreted as calculated but Lin is rugged and sporadic. I think this casting is perfect.

[@amandajohnson1906]

This is the way I look at Lin’s performance as Alexander. I think it is fitting to have him in this role. AH is an underdog fighting for what he wants out of life. He’s not as polished as his higher class friends and acquaintances, but he fights, puts in the work, and doesn’t give up. I think it’s perfect that he stands out from the rest of the performers.

[@stevekay9182]

You are spot on!

[@thenursecoach3156]

So WELL SAID!!!

[@eyescandeceive]

THIS! I have been saying exactly this ALL ALONG!

[@yunamchill9169]

Exactly. As he says, he's "a diamond in the rough", still unpolished but giving it his all. Being perfect at being imperfect is his whole schtick.

[@homerkenobi1914]

Wow I never thought of that. That’s super super insightful.

[@lexmc8419]

I always cry at this song, the writing, the stillness, the expressions (or lack thereof) it’s just perfect

[@scrapperk8399]

When I first heard/experienced it, I ranked it by my number of used tissues. So painfully perfect, indeed.

[@alexismuermann9603]

I sob every time.

[@amywright9169]

When Lin says “That would be enough” that was the same thing that Eliza had been saying throughout the show. Which is a brilliant technique.

[@lelekahalepuna-wong9902]

This scene is truly heartbreaking. I've cried every time I've watched this and I personally couldn't care less about LMMs vocals. The heartbreak and devastation on his face tells the audience all they need to know. And the fact that he seeks Eliza for comfort by asking to be by her side its as if he's realized the errors of his past behaviors along with the loss of their son and silently seeks forgiveness... Ughhh... So good.

[@klwtiger]

Having lost a son his performance is raw and real!! His forced half talking singing pushed notes through grief and tears… having seen 2 traveling troupes, this is the BEST rendition of this song!!

[@ajjay457]

He’s genius. His grief and his pain is remarkably present in this performance. He’s perfect for it.

[@hoessandrea]

I think the imperfection is perfection. This song and the performance of them all brings me to tears every time.

[@melissabeaudry1944]

I think Linn is perfection in this number. Personally, as a parent who has ALMOST lost a child, it was pure anguish. I've never experienced a greater heartbreak (and he lived.) It cut me to my core. I wouldn't expect him to sing technically perfect in this song because the character is going through such gut-wrenching grief. It is very heartfelt and natural to me. It isn't polished, but that's the beauty and power of it to me because it's raw!

[@michellekim5341]

I was sitting in a box seat right next to the stage, streaming tears throughout this number. And then I let out the biggest sob, which wouldn't have been as bad if it didn't happen to be a moment when it was totally silent and I swear you could hear it reverberate across the stage.

[@philip-mansurabdur-rahman2642]

"It's Quiet Uptown" is one of my favorite performances in the show. Lin and Phillippa did exactly what the moment called for their respective characters, after having lost their son. Now Alex is expressing his sorrow for his failures, his love for Eliza, his willingness to give her time to work through the unimaginable while letting her know I will be here if you still want me ... then, she takes his hand ... forgiveness ... beautiful moment. And the background vocals are perfect, with perfect tone and harmony letting us know that Eliza and Alex are going through the unimaginable, but they stay together, knowing that life can be unpredictable and chaotic at times, they still have their love for one another. It's simply a beautiful moment.

[@StanWagnerRedThreadCreative]

A great expression of the meaning....

[@stevebullington1197]

I lost my son almost two years ago and the emotion of Lin's voice demonstrates the crushing loss that I felt then and that still lingers within me today.

[@tirkdiamond]

Can you please do "Who lives, who dies, who tells your story"?

[@ameliamcleod6750]

Yes that’s one of my favourites!

[@tirkdiamond]

@@ameliamcleod6750 well... what isn't? :P At any given time, I have at least 10 favourite Hamilton songs...

[@anabelpuntau9]

Yesssss

[@deniswesley7364]

Yes, please 😍

[@isaacmatthews8033]

HE NEEDS TO DO THIS ONE!!!!!!!!

[@ms_scribbles]

In my mind...to hell with perfect vocals. His vocals ARE perfect. For the scene, that is, and partly for the character. I love that his vocals are a bit rougher than everyone else's. It kind of fits to portray how Hamilton is not a part of the high aristocratic society that all the other characters come from. They all have super-trained, immaculate voices, and he's more rough around the edges. Now, add to that the soul-crushing pain he's in, and his vocals are perfect for the song. Period. To be fairly honest, I think if he'd had more of a classically trained singing voice, it would have sounded SO off and wrong for Hamilton. Can you imagine that? A character that's a poor orphan who's clawed his way to high rank and who's still being slapped down by a lot of the aristocracy that he's now surrounded by, still mocking his immigrant and orphan status....and then he comes out with this highly polished, aristocratic-sounding singing voice? It just would not work. It's kind of why I've avoided watching/listening to other Hamilton casts, because I just know that the other casts hired some highly-trained dude to play Hamilton now, and it would just not work for me.

[@lauragagalutton593]

I think LMM literally layers so many parts with the character of Hamilton, in this song particularly. You can feel his grief, guilt, regret, hurt, anger at himself, disappointment in himself and the adoration, concern and love he has for Eliza despite his past transgressions. The flawed and flat and sometimes broken sound of LMM coupled with the clear and rich tone of REG and the soft but sweet angelic harmonies from the chorus is just breathtaking. The choreography is beautiful and Philippa Soo's one line and entire stance and facial expression just breaks me everytime at this moment. As a mother of 4 this is one musical theatre song that breaks me every single time.

[@michelleduggan6602]

Hearing hamilton crack and be defeated is what brought me to tears here. That's why I don't mind the messiness of this.

[@corinnecivish7673]

Lin's voice is so strong, steady, confident, and loud previously in the play. Here is is diminished and broken, his confidence gone he's at his most vulnerable.. His voice reflects that. It's a deeply felt performance.

[@bartwatts1921]

I always end up crying as she reaches for his hand and utters “it’s quiet up town”. I think his voice is emotional...he mostly speaks his lines through tears, and hat’s why, for me, the performance is so powerful.

[@mshalo1822]

I've seen bootlegs of several different Hamiltons- and NONE of them hit as hard as this one. It's raw, it's heartfelt, it's broken- just as it should be. And especially in this particular scene, Lin is brilliant in his complete lack of polish. IMO, it's perfect.

[@donnayarborough9130]

Lin's emotions were very real and I felt his pride, disappointment, pain and love which all showed in his face.

[@chloe_3787]

Lin and Pippa’s chemistry in this is absolutely beautiful. I can’t get over it.

[@tinellisss]

I actually love Lin in this piece. He’s vulnerable, heartbroken, feeling guilty and fighting for his marriage. I think the fact that he’s not as strong vocally as some of the other characters is the strength of this piece. Every time I watch it I cry. When Eliza takes his hand and he smiles then breaks down crying showing him broken is powerful.

[@michaelsnow3]

This song always gets me 😢 I do agree with your point on LMM. He may not be the strongest singer/actor but for me HE IS Hamilton.

[@vickiekunau5154]

Obviously, he is doing a fine job because this song wrecks me every single time.

[@delightfulsj9458]

As someone who tried to sing while in deep grief... this feels so authentic. It is so hard to push sound out or to sing on key without a cracking voice when you are in that kind of despair. I would have hated a more polished performance here. The scene always brings me to tears which means it’s performed exactly as it should be. Everything about it is perfect.

[@jamesa901]

I think this song is perfect. It couldn't be more perfect. It stands alone, as a song, perfectly. It integrates with musical perfectly. The cast is perfect. The other singers are just so good, so emotional, their singing so powerful and incredible. It's simply magical. And then... then Lin sings. His vocals are so... imperfect. So human. This amazing creator, playing this amazing character in this amazing musical, and yet it's not perfect. Lin's imperfect - like us all. I'm not sure he planned it, but Lin's vocals brings this perfect thing to a relatable level. He's one of us. We make mistakes. We beg forgiveness.... I think this song is perfect, but it's when Lin sings that I start to cry. Every time.

[@jojoh8067]

It makes me bawl. So I’m going to say he (and the rest of the cast) played it exactly right. (When I’ve got this on at home, my 12 year old rolls his eyes when this comes on “mum are you going to start wailing again?)

[@hayleywinner7044]

The way Lin sings this song is so heartbreakingly beautiful. It comes from the emotion you feel through grief. I love the way he sings this song. It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch this. And makes me hold my 5 year old son tighter. Hello from Australia 🇦🇺

[@mollymollie6048]

This is one of my favorite songs in the show…so stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking, I always think of when I was 19 and my mother told us she was dying of cancer…there are moments that the words to reach, there’s a grief to terrible to name…No, LMM is not an accomplished Broadway tenor, but he brings such personality to the character of Hamilton, and as we see who Hamilton is, we can see that he has difficulties with showing grief, with realizing his mistakes and rectifying them, and I think LMM did this brilliantly. I’ve never seen another actor do it, but despite some of his singing (not rapping) shortcomings, he conveys such intensity, imo, and his internal struggles, and his fears of another death, another loss, and potentially losing his wife over this, after he’s already lost his son. Hamilton’s history is that he just had to move on from the death, from the grief, his mother, his cousin, the hurricane, deaths in the Revolution, loss of his reputation, loss of Washington…that it seems natural that he is just ground down to nothing nearly at this point, and he doesn’t know how to express grief to someone else, but he tries…he’s nearly broken at this point, maybe he is broken at this point, and all he has left is Eliza. I think it is one of the most powerful songs in the show, and I think Renee Goldsberry, Phillippa Sou, and LMM, do an absolutely amazing job at showing how devastating it is to lose someone you so dearly treasure, and trying to repair the hurt you feel you caused, the tremendous guilt you feel. When LMM cracks and cries a bit on ‘You knock me out, I fall apart’ is heartbreaking. I can’t imagine anyone doing it better, maybe a better singing voice, but, he’s so authentic, I think in who he is playing in this part, I think he does a great job. Thank you for this analysis!

[@alexismuermann9603]

But are you crying? Then who cares about his vocals? 😂 Actually, he's gotten a LOT better. His version of Found/Tonight with Ben Platt is phenomenal.

[@amytucker1902]

Feel the same about the Hamildrop Cheering For Me Now. His singing is so much better for it. I'm pretty sure he had vocal lessons for Mary Poppins Returns

[@august1837]

Yes, that performance really shows his vocal improvement

[@kathrynsteele4543]

@@august1837 is it his vocal improvement, or is it that the recording was edited to sound better?

[@legacyjai9003]

@@kathrynsteele4543 go watch it and make your own conclusions

[@kathrynsteele4543]

​@@legacyjai9003 I have watched it, and I have made my own conclusions. That's not the point of the question I asked. I asked that question to point out that anyone can sound good or better when there's someone to edit their voice. That doesn't mean they've improved vocally. It just means they have a good sound guy.

[@spillers8615]

The simplicity of the harmony compared with the other songs allows that raw grief to come through. This song breaks my hearts and makes me think of my parents who lost their daughter 18 months ago. Trying to get out simple lines is heartbreaking. This is the most beautiful interpretation of bereavement on stage, for me.

[@margieperez544]

I really think his performance was spot on. Its raw, emotional and heartfelt. Perfect vocals would not work here because the character is broken and it shows perfectly in this performance. Lin Manuel is hands down one of the most talented people I have ever seen.

[@michellegarcia8055]

I literally couldn't breath un the theater during this song...my heart felt every word...uncontrollable tears.

[@chrissycurtis4152]

I love his performance, his voice is broken, he is a broken man and its represented so well here. Its imperfect, he looks real and human here, it hits me hard because when I'm sad and cry my face turns to a smile so it feels even more raw and real

[@taylorcarmen5336]

I've always loved how broken Lin sounds here. It's clear that in real life he has a big heart and cries easily. I genuinely get the sense that this is hurting him.

[@remustsukinoouji5959]

Quiet Uptown and Alabanza (in in the heights) are no joke among Lin's best performances. His raw grief is amazing, and he brings it every every time

[@carlyhansen4547]

I love how LMM uses musical motifs for plot and character development. In this number we finally see Alexander break down the wall he's always had up between him and Eliza. By remembering a conversation from early in their marriage, it shows that, however delayed, Eliza's input would impact Alexander in a way he could never appreciate until now. All she wanted was to be a part of the narrative, and we finally see that happening.

[@starfallKL]

As a bereaved parent myself through a sudden, traumatic loss, it's spot on. Sometimes grief is numb. Sometimes all you can do is stand there and breathe. Sometimes you are angry, and sometimes you crumble. They portrayed this very beautifully, and it's hard, but cathartic, to watch.

[@helenbarrett9535]

I think this is where Lin comes into his own. He is such a naturally emotional person and I think he is being so genuine here and really feeling it and conveying that.

[@dccarlos15]

Can I just say, having Philippa stand there while Lin sings "that would be enough" is so powerful! When I'm mad at someone and they're trying to apologize, I get silent and don't want to look at them and that's exactly what she was doing. Then she takes his hand even though she's mad and grieving because she still loves him and comforts him anyway.... 😭😭😭 #NoDryEyes

[@Psychol-Snooper]

If you want your musical theater filled with flawless divas (and divos) there is opera.

[@chloepedley8268]

I think Lin nails this, the held back cry in his voice, the raw emotion.... I don't think it needs the polish, I think it's perfect as it is.

[@HaleyHinman]

I've never been a musical theater person, aside from a brief flirtation in high school, but Phillipa's acting in this scene is among the best i've ever seen on stage or on screen. If you've ever had to truly forgive someone, watching her do that here is - as Mark Daniel says - devastating.

[@savrukk]

I have a two sons and I cry every time. Just, the sheer thought of losing either one. Drives me crazy. I feel for all the parents that lost a child.

[@earthboundmother205]

Lin is best boy for this number. When a writer can filter their art in the most authentic way possible, it’s just groundbreaking... AND heartbreaking. I ALWAYS CRY

[@peechy]

in a way i love imperfectly perfect Lin's potrayal of Hamilton is. he's this character that's confident despite everything thrown his way, he's always moving, always going to the next thing, his songs are usually upbeat and fast. and now it's just him with absolute sadness and silence. asre there better singers? yeah, but he captures the grief incredibly well. especially the moment when eliza just takes his hand and he breaks down in tears. that silent forgiveness. that resonates with me so much, even with not much in terms of dialogue from the characters (the lyrics on that moment was from the company/choir) i think here his acting shines through, watched it many times and the subtle gestures he did (the chuckle in midst of him talking to nobody, him nervously talking to eliza) it's so beautiful in a way can only be potrayed when it's "imperfect"

[@pink_alligator]

Lin being able to allow himself to sound "ugly" or "bad" (alto I'd call it raw) is what gives this scene a large part of its strength and its emotional punch In general I feel Lin's performance as Hamilton not being the best or more importantly not the most refined singer is a big part of what gives Hamilton a lot of his characterization. It makes him stand out and shows even in their voice that he is different from everyone else, "a diamond in the rough" as they literally state in a song "A lot of brains but no polish" so "fixing" the flaws would actually remove something crucial from the portrayal and leave it lacking

[@aprilk963]

I love how Phillipa's face slowly changes as Hamilton talks/sings to her. Like his words slowly make her come around and not hate or blame him so much. Just so subtle, but absolutely beautiful.

[@shinobusora]

I didn't expect to be nearly sobbing before I had my coffee, but here we are. As for Lin as Hamilton, Lin has said that he knows he's not the best singer. When he's going up against the extreme vocal talent of the rest of the cast, it's easy to tell when he's off by even a little bit. The thing for me is that how he played the role was so perfect that it almost didn't matter that his vocals weren't spot on, which is really weird to say about a Broadway musical. I also think that, compared to everyone else in the show, Hamilton is probably one of the more unpredictable characters, not having been raised in settings that would give him the same upright social etiquette of propriety that many of the characters he dealt with did. He is scrappy and his vocals portray that. Like others have pointed out, if he'd sung this song perfectly, it would have felt disingenuous. At this point, he's lost a lot, a good portion of it because of the things he's done. His imperfect, off-key vocals perfectly portray what it's like to be decimated by both grief and the consequences of your own actions. Imperfect vocals, perfect performance.

[@Karen-Campos]

Lin is a master with words & emotions. I cannot watch/listen to this song without tearing up. Renee (Angelica) has lost a child (as have i) and the empathy in her voice is gut-wrenching. Elizas ability to forgive Alexander twice borders on the unimaginable. And Lin has made us care about these people who lived 200 years ago as if they were our friends down the street.

[@Hatska2wolf]

Personally I feel that Lin’s choice to sing the way he did was to demonstrate just how knocked down from his usual easy and free flowing inner voice. The grief and pain he is experiencing in that moment is reflected in his inability to make it through his words without wavering, the song is about some of life’s most brutal struggles and the fact that even the song is a struggle shows just how far he has fallen. Meanwhile Angelica who represents a strong resilient touchstone for her sister sings clear and strong, her grief and emotion is still present but her song is clear and rings out above all else as she is close to the storms in the family but is also attempting to be a support and a guide. Elisa’s only line so clearly resonates as her finally being able to use her voice again after such a difficult struggle, her mind is made up she has chosen her path but the ground is still rocky as her addition is so short she is cautious in her part. I’m probably thinking was too much into this but that’s my thoughts on it.

[@tinaw94]

Why did I just sob through this whole video

[@pinkasaflingmango]

"The moments when you're in so deep it seems easier to just swim down" hits me right in the feelings every time

[@paulfrank4551]

I had a very dear, close loved one die a few days before first listening to this song. The moment this song started I instantly became connected with everything about it. It speaks volumes. Leaves nothing out. So true to life. It reminds me of how I feel when I think of my friend. No other song I have heard has made me feel like I am not alone in my sadness and loss of my favorite person that I miss deeply in such an unimaginable way, as this song. Life is so precious.I hear this song reminds me of my appreciation that the closeness my friend, whose life is over , gave me

[@SS-rk2me]

It's not about being perfect. It's about cracking, and being off key, and losing his composure. It's MEANT to be that way and Lin brings his own emotion into the performance. It's perfect the way it is.

[@ChelseaBit1112]

One thing I love about this song is the lighting, the whole stage is blue while there's only a single light on Lin. To me, kinda symbolizes the loneliness that anyone who goes through grief can feel, regardless of how many people they can be surrounded by. Just adds to the powerful nature of the song too in my opinion.

[@kellicvred]

Honestly his lack of polish around the singing in this song gets me even more. Grieving and begging for forgiveness isn’t pretty in life. We’ve done devastation a million times in musicals, and I cry, but the two of them plus Renés in this scene makes me full on weep every time. Renee is the polish and the poise, he is the outward unpolished (ugly?) verbal grieving, and Phillipa is the shut down broken version of grieving. Also, his look of deep sadness, relief, love, and gratitude all at one when she grabs his hand…it really gets me. I can’t really call him a mediocre actor then feel that moment so deeply. I love that he knows his abilities and creates balance with the talent around him, same with In the Heights. That’s my take at least.

[@jenniferdundr451]

In Ron Chernow's biography ALEXANDER HAMILTON he writes... "As he approached the grave, the faltering Hamilton had to be propped by friends...after Phillips death Hamilton tumbled into a bottomless despair. Though no stranger to depression, he had never lapsed into the lethargy that usually accompanies it. No matter how grief-stricken in the past, he still pumped out papers and letters....now the well-oiled machinery of his life ran down...four months passed before he could even acknowledge the many sympathy notes he received.... For a long time, Eliza was inconsolable" (656-655). That is exactly what is reflected on stage. His imperfections are perfect for this moment. Hearing a well-oiled machine of a singer would not have the same impact, in my mind. Hamilton was broken and that is what we all feel when watching this performance.

[@williamnovak3200]

It’s Quiet Uptown is more hopeful than devastating. The power of forgiveness!

[@MiguelSilva-ty5do]

This happens to be my favorite song from the whole show because it emotes so much emotion. Unlike Burn where you just hate Alexander, this song just shows his guilt and how both are going through the unimaginable. It falls in the category where no parent should bury their child.

[@dvinemrsshay]

I love the subtly of Lin Manuel's singing throughout. I love he isn't perfect pitched and polished...the rawness of his vocal and the way he can weave his voice in and out with the other singers is what makes him so outstanding.

[@kristinelantz6311]

The most powerful song in the entire show

[@nycartist3421]

I think Lin is in his own category. It could very well be, that he's written something that exceeds his own vocal talents. He brings the heart, and soul to this role,(to this show!) AND he's smart enough to surround himself with stellar vocal talent. Whatever he's doing , I'm there for it. Just my 2 cents, I'm no expert.

[@antoniom7194]

This song is so emotional..it is hard to not be in tears just listening to it. It draws the audience in and lets everyone weep together. This kind of emotional solidarity carries this show.

[@blusunra]

I can't EVER make it through this song without ugly crying!