Playlist & Listening Guide: Inside the Mind of Aaron Burr
Playlist
- Billy Joel. “Vienna” from The Stranger. Columbia Records: 1977.
- Leslie Odom Jr. “Wait For It” from Hamilton. Atlantic Records: 2015.
- “Man of the Hour” (feat. Jevon) from New Gen. 2017.
- Leslie Odom Jr. “Ja Burr!” from Hamilton Apocrypha. #HAM4HAM. 2016.
- Olivia Rodrigo. “Lacy” from GUTS. Geffen Records: 2023.
- Linkin Park. “In the End” from Hybrid Theory. Warner Bros: 2001.
Listening Guide
With over 5 million streams on Spotify, “Wait For It” is definitely a hit from the musical Hamilton. But what makes it resonate with so many people? Is it the catchy pop melody and composition? The beautiful and powerful vocals that Leslie Odom Jr. sings? The lyrical depth that Lin-Manuel Miranda fabricated? Maybe it’s because Burr’s internal struggle feels familiar to many of us—the way we at times hold back, hoping for the moment we finally accomplish something and leave our legacy. Out of the songs on the Hamilton soundtrack, “Wait For It” is one that gives direct insight into the character of Aaron Burr and his thoughts on the world. Though the musical isn’t named after him, Burr is a pivotal character who grows in a way that is deeply emotional and personal, especially surrounding his relationship and constant comparison with Alexander Hamilton. His story is filled with the impacts of love, death, and trying to live life while not rushing to climb to the top. He remains cautious, reflective, and calculated when Hamilton is driven by ambition but still gets ahead. This playlist will take you through Burr and Hamilton’s relationship through the lens of Burr. You’ll be able to hear his willingness to wait twist into envy, bitterness, and rage. While experiencing his emotional unraveling, this listening guide will draw connections from the musical and lyrical elements of each song to “Wait For It.”“Vienna” by Billy Joel is first in this playlist because it represents the beginning of Burr and Hamilton’s relationship in the early stages of the musical. While there are connections to “Wait For It” musically, there are more character and lyrical connections that can be discussed. Burr’s initial character is portrayed as cautious and reserved which reflects the calm and reflective mood of “Vienna.” There are many lyrical references to the musical but one that sticks out is “You’ve got your passion, you’ve got your pride / but don’t you know that only fools are satisfied / Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true.” It feels like something Burr would say to Hamilton, especially as Hamilton looks up to Burr when they initially meet. Parts of Burr’s view of Hamilton is shown in the lyrics of “Wait For It” during the bridge: “Hamilton doesn’t hesitate / He exhibits no restraint.” This lack of patience is what the messaging behind “Vienna” and what Burr advises against. One interpretation of “Vienna” is to slow down and be present when growing older. “Wait For It” contains hints of that theme by repeating the sentence “I’m willing to wait for it.” Now, for the musical connections, the piano in “Vienna” is calm and steady. “Wait For It” is fast paced in comparison, however it uses a repeating piano melody that gives off a calm and steady vibe in a completely different way. Both songs have a strong vocal performance. Billy Joel’s voice has a similar strength and control as Leslie Odom Jr.’s, connecting to the sentiment that even as Hamilton outpaces Burr at the start of the musical, Burr remains steady and strong enough to continue ahead.
Next, is the focal point of this playlist: “Wait For It.” This song sets the tone for the rest of the songs, and marks a slight shift towards Burr’s increasing frustration when comparing himself to Hamilton. The song is in the dancehall and pop ballad genre and only uses piano, guitar, bass, drums, and strings as its instruments. It is a repetitive song in terms of the notes and rhythm, but there is an increase in tempo and dynamics especially when the bridge hits and the percussion and ensemble join in. When listening, focus on the progression in terms of musical composition, addition of instruments, and also the story behind the lyrics. These elements will give context to Burr's upbringing and reveal his hesitancy with Alexander Hamilton which we will dive into further down this playlist. Even though the context might be unclear removed from the rest of the musical, there is something stand-alone about the song. Fans of Hamilton have even noted that "Wait For It" could be heard as a radio hit.
New Gen’s “Man of the Hour” connects to “Wait For It” primarily because of the musical composition. It interpolates “Wait For It," meaning that it includes a re-recorded portion of the underlying composition of “Wait For It” instead of directly sampling it. This can be heard in the repeating notes at the beginning of “Man of the Hour” which echo the piano notes of “Wait For It” but with a different, almost peppy tone. The song is minimalistic with its beat and stays consistent throughout the entirety. However, it is hip-hop with raps and laid-back vocals. This is closer to the other hip hop songs in Hamilton—not “Wait For It” which has a pop-ballad feel and structure. Though the genres differ slightly, both songs share a consistent rhythm that builds tension through repetition. One theme of “Man of the Hour” is rising up in status and overcoming obstacles to achieve success. This relates to Burr's desire to have more social and political power. However, as we'll encounter soon, there is something holding him back.
In January 2016 when one of the broadway Hamilton shows was canceled due to snow, Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Kurt Crowley uploaded a mash up of “Wait For It” from Hamilton and “Stars” from Les Miserables on YouTube titled “Ja Burr!” These two songs combine beautifully in part because both characters that are singing hold onto their own philosophy: Burr holds onto waiting for his moment to be successful and Javert holds onto his sense of justice. The songs are able to portray the character's desires to achieve something of themselves. Due to Burr's commitment to his way of thinking, the mash-up is placed near the middle of the playlist. Musically, the only accompaniment to Odom’s singing is piano which makes the song softer and easily transitioned into and out of “Stars.” The song starts with the beginning notes of “Wait For It” on the piano and the beginning lyrics of “Stars,” creating a seamless overlap. A key moment to listen for is the transition from the softer singing of “Stars” into the chorus of “Wait For It” at 1:07 where the piano picks up and the vocals get louder.
“Lacy” by Olivia Rodrigo encompasses intense, deep feelings of envy and resentment, progressing the playlist to align with the decline of Burr and Hamilton’s relationship. As Burr watches Hamilton succeed (as shown from the “Wait For It” bridge), he is left wondering how Hamilton is able to get so far ahead. The lyrics “I linger all the time / Watching hidden in plain sight” reflect this notion. There are many lyrics in the song that connect to the parts in “Wait For It” that are about Hamilton: “I’m losing it lately / I feel your compliments like bullets on skin,” “I care, I care, I care,” “You got the one thing that I want,” and “It’s like you’re out to get me / You poison every little thing that I do.” The frustration and obsession that is deep in these lines is similar to what Burr feels. Musically, both songs use strings to build tension, specifically before the bridges, connecting to the growing intensity of the characters’ emotions. Like “Wait For It,” “Lacy” has repeating notes throughout the whole song which makes the song sound soft and haunting, adding to the feeling of jealousy and fixation.
“In the End” by Linkin Park serves as the final breakdown of Burr’s relationship with Hamilton. The notes at the beginning of the song sound like a darker, more ominous version of those in “Wait For It,” which have a more upbeat, pop vibe. In the playlist, this change symbolizes the deterioration of Burr’s patience and what leads to the end of the musical: when Burr confronts Hamilton and they duel. In “Wait For It,” Burr holds onto restrained ambition which later in the musical is replaced with jealousy and rage. The lyrics in “In the End” illustrate this shift by showing the pointlessness in trying to hold onto control as time moves on and life unravels around you. Lyrics in the song like “It doesn’t even matter how hard you try” and “I wasted it all just watch you go” (“it” refers to time) takes the ideas planted in “Wait For It” to the next level. They show the most extreme version of what Burr’s line of thinking leads to.
This playlist tracks the story of how Aaron Burr falls in relation to Alexander Hamilton. It’s supposed to show how his philosophy changes from being more cautious and patient into jealousy and resentment. The order of the songs gradually reveals the darker, more intense feelings that push Burr to the edge. In the same way that “Wait For It” had a lasting effect on listeners everywhere, there are stories and themes about life that people can’t easily forget. Connecting “Wait For It” to the music and stories of others can make someone listen to it in a new light with new perspectives and contexts.
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