People all over the world,
It’s time to get down
TSOP The Sound of Philadelphia
(Known as the Soul Train theme song)
Before Hamilton my knowledge of Alexander Hamilton was as thin as a $10 bill. Where was Lin-Manuel Miranda when I was struggling through American History my junior year of high school? Oh, that’s right, he wasn’t born yet.
Back in 1979 I was much more interested in movies, music, playing football and baseball, and girls than learning about The Founding Fathers of the United States. The cherry tree, wooden teeth, powdered wigs— yeah, yeah, yeah.
At least I was fascinated by the American west of the 1800s and did my final report on that and was able to pass the class. The following year Lin-Manuel Miranda was born. But I really wish I’d seen Hamilton before I took that 5th grade field trip to Disney World where they made us sit through the Hall of President exhibit. (Hamilton is now on Disney+ with a PG13 rating and I’d suggest you watch it first and decide what age is appropriate if you‘re watching it with them. But Miranda leading 5th graders on a tour of Disney’s Hall of Presidents would be interesting.)
In school I couldn’t connect past history with my future. Even in college, I dropped the first film history I took because I did not find the topic engaging. Writing, shooting, directing and editing my first 8mm film (set to Michael Jackson’s “She’s Out of My Life”) that semester was exciting. Sitting in a class with over 100 people listening to lectures about black and white movies was less than exciting.
Two years later a passionate film professor walked the class through A Place in the Sun and a light shined in the darkness. By him walking through choices George Stevens made through his directorial choices I had a new appreciation for what I could learn from the past. (Film school sidebar. Watch how George Stevens takes just a few second and a few words to establish chemistry between Montgomery Cliff and Elizabeth Taylor. And her line “I see you had a misspent youth” replaces about 100 pages of exposition from the novel.)
And watching The Civil War, A Film By Ken Burns in 1990 awakened my desire to know more about American history. Better 10 years after high school than never. Then in 1998, Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan gave me a hunger to know more about world history.
In 1999 I backpacked across nine countries in Europe which was like walking through history. Twenty years ago you could still see bombed out churches that were remnants of World War II. After that trip I appreciated Casablanca on a whole different level.
All that set the stage to finally experience Hamilton just two weeks ago. I won’t be the last one to get on the Hamilton train, but getting on in 2020 (five years after its Broadway debut) is pretty much jumping on at the caboose.
Actually the analogy of a train fits well. Back in 1979 when I was avoiding studying for my American history class, a Saturday tradition for me was watching Soul Train and American Graffiti back to back. That was one hour featuring the hit music of the day and young people dancing (the leaders of the future).
Disco was at the end of its run then, and the first time I remember hearing rap music was 1981. It was in the locker room at the University of Miami where I was a walk-on football player. I don’t remember any of the songs, but I remember asking what kind of music it was and thought someone said it was “rat music.” (To my defense, the music was loud.) They clarified that it was “rap music.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda was born into a world where rap and hip hop emerged and then matured. And along the way its given voice to many artists who Miranda not only pays homage to in Hamilton, but Miranda has the stroke of genius to give that voice to men and women circa 1776. And he has the talent to pull it off. With the twist of using less powdered wigs and more people of color.
Within the first few beats of the opening song I was hooked. More on that in tomorrow’s post.
P.S. And speaking of Soul Train, a little shout-out to the composers Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff for writing what is known as the theme song for Soul Train technically called “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia).” It was a number one hit in 1974. It was recorded by MFSB (a team of musicians in Philly) and featured the vocals of The Three Degrees (perhaps best known for their hit song When Will I See You Again).
P.P.S. If Lin-Manuel Miranda is looking for another unusual story to transform, I’d suggest the ESPN/Billy Corben film The U (on the Miami Hurricane football team). Somehow I think he’d make it a fine musical.
[…] Related posts: Before Hamilton (The Successes and Failures That Paved the Way) Hamilton as an Emotional Journey Finally Getting on the Hamilton Soul Train […]