A Definitive Ranking Of The 15 Best Songs From ‘Hamilton’

Well, Hamilton has finally come to Australia and it’s about bloody time!

The Tony Award-winning musical has toured cities around the world from New York to London and San Francisco to Chicago. But now, it’s Sydney’s turn.

So, to get you ready for the down under production, we thought we’d run you through the 15 essential tracks from the show. Check it out below: 

Here Are The 15 Best Songs From Hamilton:

#15. ‘Farmer Refuted’ 

For a song that’s just under two minutes long, this track sure does have an impact. This is one of the first times that Hamilton gets a little silly. Here, Alexander Hamilton and a farmer get into a vocal argument and can’t stop speaking (well, singing) over each other. The lyrics are just so clever and the punchlines hit so hard, you’re guaranteed to be smiling throughout it. 

#14. ‘Washington on Your Side’

Now, this song isn’t one of the high-production numbers that make up most of the show. But, I guarantee you, that “it must be nice, it must be niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice” is going to be the jingle that remains in your head when you leave the Lyric theatre. The hook is just insanely catchy and for that reason alone, it nabs the #14 spot on this list. 

#13. ‘Cabinet Battle #1’

It’s very fitting that a rap-musical would showcase a rap battle and, as you can imagine, Hamilton did it well. While the instrumental isn’t the greatest, the bars on this track are straight-up fire. 

#12. ‘Burn’

‘Burn’ is the ‘Irreplaceable’ of modern musical theatre history. I said what I said. 

#11. ‘Ten Duel Commandments’

Never has counting been so much fun! It always helps when musical theatre uses melodies to showcase motifs in the show, and this motif is catchy as hell. 

#10. ‘The Schuyler Sisters’

This song has everything a good musical theatre track needs. There’s flirting, there’s innocence, there’s sass – not to mention, there’s also impeccable harmonies and vocals throughout the song. This is the first time we’re properly introduced to Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy and it’s a smash from start to finish. 

#9. ‘Guns and Ships’

Here we are, it’s Lafayette’s time to shine! Not only does Lafayette rap quicker than Eminem during ‘Rap God’, but he raps in French. Which, as you can imagine, makes for an eargasm and a half. 

#8. ‘History Has Its Eyes On You’

Now, as soon as ‘Guns & Ships’ finishes, in comes George Washington with one of the most emotional moments in the show. As Lafayette goes out with a bang, George Washington comes in on a stripped-back instrumental with a powerful vocal performance. Good luck not crying when this comes on. 

#7. ‘Say No To This’

We stan a slutty song! For this track, Peggy from act one has now left and the iconic Maria Reynolds has entered the picture. Here, her sultry voice thrives and suddenly, we hate Hamilton, the lying, cheating bastard. We stan Eliza and Eliza only.

#6. ‘My Shot’

Did you really go to Hamilton if you didn’t buy the ‘I’m not throwing away my shot’ shot glasses? No. 

This song is the first time that Alexander Hamilton gets to show off his rapping ability and it’s a banger and a half. Also, there are so many elements to this song that this track feels like its own mini-musical.

#5. ‘Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story’

In ‘The World Was Wide Enough’, Hamilton’s captivating soliloquy introduces us to the beginning of the end. And if you thought that was emotional, you just wait for Eliza to knock it out of the park. Eliza Hamilton, in true iconic fashion, “puts herself back in the narrative” and pours out her heart and soul onto that stage. This song is guaranteed to give you goosebumps and, all-in-all, it’s a phenomenal way to end the show. 

#4. ‘Alexander Hamilton’

Just as ‘Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story’ was an iconic ending, ‘Alexander Hamilton’ was an equally (if not better) intro. The “BA BABA BA BABA” intro alone drums up so much excitement into each and every audience member. In this song, the entire cast of the show sets up the backstory while also making us aware of the ending – ala Romeo and Juliet style. It’s a sensational opening made even better if you’re chomping down on a choc-top.

#3. ‘Satisfied’

Once you get to ‘Satisfied’ in the Hamilton soundtrack, you go from thinking ‘this is a great musical’ to ‘this is a cultural phenomenon’. There is too much to talk about with this song. The rewind-section of the song is something never been done before in musical theatre. Angelica’s rapping betters that of her male counterparts. The story-telling nature of the lyrics is so poignant. And, the vocals… I just can’t, it’s literally perfection.

#2. ‘You’ll Be Back’

Hamilton is so fast-paced, the audience can barely keep up.‘You’ll Be Back’ is the first time we really get the chance to sit, breathe and take everything in. 

This song strips back everything. There is no choreography, no blocking, no dancing. All there is, is an impeccably dressed king, singing his heart out. It’s shockingly captivating. When I saw this at the Lyric Theatre, a woman in front of me whispered to her friend “He’s the star of the show.” And look, she wasn’t wrong. 

#1. ‘The Room Where It Happens’

‘The Room Where It Happens’ is one of the greatest tunes in modern musical history. In this song, we witness the character of Aaron Burr go through a complete character evolution in the span of 5 minutes. Burr goes from having a ‘slow and steady wins the race’ vibe to a pumped-up, jealous underdog and that’s reflected in the sense of urgency in the song itself.