Some of our favorite musicals have cut songs, so on this once a month Hamilton journey for the tenth anniversary of one of my favorite musicals of all time, let's venture into that area. The Hamilton Mixtape features plenty of these cut songs, such as a Valley Forge number, a third cabinet battle, the open letter John Addams, and many great easter eggs among the remixes and amazing covers in this great album which I have covered before, and I am sure will talk about again.
Congratulations was set to take place during "The Reynolds Pamphlet" or in that general area of the show, where instead of a couple lines Angelica gets a whole song absolutely ROASTING Alexander. I guess this was removed because we couldn't have someone killing Alexander before Burr does and trust me, if words could, it would of all ended here. The lyrics cut so hard, letting him know the weight of his mistake, recounting her love for Alexander and her marriage she settled for, her cutting him off from support, supporting Eliza, and all with great instrumentation.
Lyrics such as "You invented a new kind of stupid, a damage you could never undo kind of stupid, an open all the cages in the zoo kind of stupid..", and "Eliza, is the best thing in our life, so never lose fact that you've been blessed with the best wife.". Also some great lyrics and instrumentations that call back to "Satisfied". I love this song and wish it was put in the show, I feel like it could of been placed in, or shortened and made a part of "The Reynolds Pamphlet". Perhaps it seemed that this ruined the pacing of the show, but I think it could of fit.
This is a very short song and it would be fun to give Angelica a little bit more. Her big story elements seem to be pining for Alexander and then telling him to take a hike, but I wish the moment of her telling him off hit harder then just a couple lines. She of course sings along with the ensemble as many characters do when the character is not in the scene or even before they are introduced. There is even recording of the Broadway actress of Angelica doing this song during previews before they moved up to Broadway so it was cut very late.
This song just hits right, it is a break up song but from an outsiders perspective. It is someone being hurt on someone else's behalf, and has become a song from the perspective of a friend or loved one, standing up for someone who got hurt by love. This song has amazing lyrics, it may be short but it packs a punch. I love this song and love showing it to my friends. I love the words, the instrumentation, the flow of it, and it does not overstay its welcome.
The lyrics are packed with anger but real emotion. Emotion I could see working in the confines of the show and the scene. Don't get me wrong "The Reynolds Pamphlet" is a fun song, it is catchy and I love singing along to the "never gonna be president now" lyrics. But I think this is just as good and could of fit alongside it, as a part of it, or even replacing it as a whole. That being said I think the best case scenario is just putting it back in the show, or making it part of the song. "The Reynolds Pamphlet" harkens back to "Satisfied" while not taking up as much space, and still delivers the same message in a shorter span, but I still very much enjoy this song. I am thankful it was placed in the mixtape and acknowledged as part of the shows history, because a song this good should be remembered. Who knows if we get a "Hamilton" movie it could be included in it, especially if it takes the "Wicked" route and is a part one and two. Or even included in the show proper perhaps, "Wicked" stage productions have been taking a couple cues and adding versions of songs we know from the movie.
This song is amazing, go and listen to it. It is short but powerful, packed with emotion, great lyrics and is just a fantastic listen. The version in "The Hamilton Mixtape" is a great listen. I highly recommend it, this song works alongside "Burn" as not only calling Alexander out for his faults but showing him how much Eliza and even Angelica has given up for him and his dreams. Leaving not only with his mistake but with a "congratulations", showing him that all of this could have been avoided. All of this could have been just a nightmare, but he refused to take a break, he refused to listen, and now his legacy has been redefined in a way that could never be undone. The song equivalent of "You have made your bed, now lie in it", and one that I love singing along to, every single time.
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