Top 10 Underappreciated Songs Written By Lin-Manuel Miranda
#10: “It Won’t Be Long Now” “In the Heights”
We first meet Vanessa during the opening number. But this song provides a little more backstory for the character. Vanessa doesn’t have the easiest home life and dreams of leaving Washington Heights. She sings about it in this uptempo merengue style number, which incidentally, is one of the freest forms of Latin music - perhaps emblematic of her desire to break free from her current life. The song’s catchy and relatable to anyone with their eyes set on a goal. But we simply can’t get over the genius partnership of the rhythm and narrative. “It Won’t Be Long Now” should definitely be on your LMM playlist.
#9: “What the Heck I Gotta Do” “21 Chump Street”
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One of Miranda’s lesser-known musicals, this 14-minute long one-act play is based on a real story that was shared on the radio show, “This American Life”. It explores the convoluted relationship between substance use and law enforcement. In this song, teenage honors student Justin Laboy meets Naomi Rodriguez, and quickly falls for the new student. Little does he know that she’s actually an undercover cop. It’s funny, entertaining, and definitely has the power to keep us hooked as we wonder how this love story will play out. Things get even more complicated during the equally underrated, “The Money”. If you haven’t yet, we’d totally recommend checking out this musical.
#8: “Take a Break” “Hamilton”
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With an eclectic jam-packed soundtrack, some numbers will inevitably get overlooked. “Take a Break” marks the quiet before the storm in Hamilton’s narrative. He neglects his family while throwing himself into his work and, well, all remember what happens next [1]. Also, the beautiful harmonies sung by the Schuyler Sisters are attention-worthy alone. Of course, this scene leads to a string of tragic events, including the death of his son, Philip. The subsequent, “It’s Quiet Uptown” is another number that deserves more time in the spotlight (xref). With a stirring melody and poignant lyrics, it explores love, loss, healing, and forgiveness in an eloquent and affecting manner.
#7: Tony Awards Recap Rap “65th Tony Awards” (2011)
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The Emmy-Award winning opening number of the 2013 Tony Awards is certainly legendary. But, it wasn’t Miranda’s first writing stint for the theatrical awards show. In 2011, he was keeping a close eye on the event from backstage of the Beacon Theatre. He and Thomas Kail accumulated the evening’s biggest highlights and turned them into an epic rap number for host Neil Patrick Harris to perform at the end. For a rap written in a few hours in real-time, it’s pretty impressive. And, NPH does a stellar job of bringing it to life. It might not be all glitz and glamor, but it deserves “Bigger” appreciation.
#6: “One Perfect Moment” “Bring It On: The Musical”
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Following cheerleading tryouts, new captain Campbell reflects on the challenges that her position holds. This dulcet “I Want” song outlines her longing to be perfect. She repeats this desire in several of the following numbers, but this one really hones in on the pressures of perfection. It’s also a nice moment where the action fades away and we see what’s actually going on in her mind. If you’re not familiar with the musical, then the act two opener, “It’s All Happening” is another must-hear. By contrast, it’s upbeat, energetic, and a lot of fun. It has that quintessential Lin-Manuel Miranda sound that we’ve come to love.
#5: “Sunrise” “In the Heights”
This song is so underappreciated that the version we know from the musical didn’t appear in the 2021 film adaptation. In the musical, this tranquil act two opener serves to juxtapose the chaotic events of the act one finale. We see Nina and Benny engage in a rather intimate Spanish lesson. While the events of the night before aren’t discussed explicitly, they’re hinted at through their bilingual exchange. Another number that was also sadly cut from the movie was Nina’s emotional solo, “Everything I Know”.
#4: “Hurricane” “Hamilton”
For a song titled after a storm, it didn’t really manage to create one. Even so, this number comes at a pivotal moment in Hamilton’s story. He contemplates the events that have befallen him and reflects upon how the written word has always been his salvation. This song arguably shows Hamilton at his most vulnerable as he opens up about his tragic past. But despite its hauntingly stirring melody and cleverly layered lyrics, it often gets overshadowed by the events that follow. However, this is the catalyst for it all, as Hamilton tries to write his way out of the eye of the storm once again.
#3: “One More Song” “Vivo” (2021)
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Sandwiched in this maestro’s busy 2021, was “Vivo”, an adorable Netflix animation about a musical Kinkajou. Not only did Miranda pen the songs, but he voiced the titular character, too. This heartbreaking song occurs shortly after Vivo’s companionAndres passes away. It’s a gorgeous expression of loss set to a spine-tingling melody. Later, while journeying off-the-beaten-path with Gabi, a fearful Vivo recalls his old buddy and remembers the purpose of his journey. The song “Keep the Beat”, is about finding strength when times are tough, something we can all relate to. “Vivo” is definitely one of Miranda’s more underappreciated works and definitely worth checking out.
#2: “What Else Can I Do?” “Encanto” (2021)
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Flowers might be Isabela’s thing, but her song didn’t blossom quite as much as her sisters’ - although Miranda divulged that this was one of his favorite tracks to write. The song, which Miranda described as a “90s Rock en Español throwback” celebrates the beauty of imperfection. You may notice that its sound somewhat deviates from the rest of the soundtrack. This could be symbolic of Isabela’s longing to break free from the constraints of her gift. It’s a great moment of character development that deserves its time to shine. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “We Know the Way”, “Moana” (2016) A Spiritual Awakening That Sets Moana Back on the Right Path “Inside Your Heart”, “Vivo” (2021) Gloria Estefan & Lin-Manuel Miranda? How Did We Drop the Ball on This One? “Champagne”, “In the Heights” A Stunning Song Where Usnavi Struggles to Release the Cap on His Feelings for Vanessa “Colombia, Mi Encanto”, “Encanto” (2021) A Fitting Celebration of “Encanto”’s Colombian Roots “We Ain't No Cheerleaders”, “Bring It On: The Musical” They Might Not Be Cheerleaders, but More People Need to Cheer for This Song
#1: “I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors)” “Moana” (2016)
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In Moana’s darkest moment, she’s visited by the spirit of her grandmother, who guides her back to the light. Moana takes comfort in this and finds a renewed sense of self and purpose. Listening to our heroine rebuild her confidence and get empowered leaves us with chills. And of course, the music’s stunning as well. Who among us hasn’t belted out the end alongside Auliʻi Cravalho either? There’s so much to love about this song that it’s hard to believe that it often gets eclipsed. But we’ve put it as our #1, it shows just “How Far [We’ll] Go” to give it the love it truly deserves.
