Listening Selections: Music, History, and Ideas Exam 1

We will hear 5 listening examples of songs from the case studies heard during class. You will be asked to name the song, the show, and briefly describe how the song supports the production. (1 sentence)

“But, Mr. Adams”

From the musical 1776, “But, Mr. Adams” serves as a pivotal moment where the committee is tasked with writing the declaration of independence, and it shows the process in which they try to avoid responsibility of it, highlighting the internal conflict and reluctance among delegates while silmutaneously setting up Thomas Jefferson as the chosen author due to the others’ excuses. 

“Molasses to Rum”

From the musical 1776, “Molasses to Rum” is sung by John Rutledge in an argument during the writing of the Declaration of Independence, due to the Northerners inserting a clause about abolishing the slave trade, however, Mr. Rutledge found this hypocritical on their part as most of them condoned slavery and owned slaves themselves.

“My Shot”

"My Shot" from Hamilton showcases Alexander Hamilton’s ambition and determination, setting the stage for his relentless pursuit of success and foreshadowing his rise and eventual fate.

“Cabinet Battle No.1”

The song, “Cabinet battle No. 1” from the musical Hamilton, describes the scene in which Hamilton and Jefferson engage in a cabinet meeting to discuss Hamilton’s financial plan, and in this song, Jefferson disagrees with Hamilton’s financial plan as he felt that in the South, they were doing just fine and almost that Hamilton’s plan would just affect that. Hamilton also makes jabs at Jefferson commenting more about his personal life, mentioning that he “went off getting high with the French”

“Wait my Turn”

“Wait my Turn” from the Musical Suffs, is about a black woman called Ida Wells who is fight for the womens suffrage movement and preparing to march on washington for this cause but is being silenced by the white women fighting for this cause as she is told that sometimes maybe she needs to just wait her turn, and this song also touches on how the white women downplay the black womens involvment in this movement which is why Ida clapped back with this song.

“Ladies”

The song “Ladies” from the musical Suffs is a song sung by president Wilson in the musical and is a very tone deaf and ignorant song about how much he loves women and how theyre great and lovely and almost just these sexual beings to him that are meant to be in the kitchen, completely missing the point of equality and what women are fighting for with the suffrage movement.

“The Bottom Line”

“The Bottoms Line” from the musical Newsies, is a song sung by the main antagonist, Mr.Pulitzer, and in here he is singing about how he wants to get to the bottom line and talk and make the decision of raising the prices on his newspapers for the paper boys so that he makes more money but they end up having to work harder to make any money at all or livable wage.

“The World Will Know”

“The world will know” from the musical Newsies, is the song where the newsboys decide to go on strike and rebel against Mr.Pulitzer, who has made their work almost impossible to do because of him raising the prices of his Newspapers, and they are revolting against him.

“How Can I Call This Home?”

“How Can I Call This Home” from the musical Parade is sung by the main character, Leo Frank, who is singing about how out of place he feels being from Brooklyn and having moved to Atlanta, he describes in this song how people don’t get him and how they are the weird ones.

“Big News”

“Big News” from the musical Parade, is about a reporter who had not good stories but finally gets a juicy story to report about due to Leo Frank being accused of being the murderer of a 13-year-old factory worker, in this song the reporter is calling Leo Frank his savior for being able to report something good for once and begging people to tell him more about Frank that acusses him.

“Welcome to the Rock”

“Welcome to the Rock” from the musical Come From Away, is a song where the citizens of Newfoundland who are singing about there home and taking pride in how they are islanders that are unmovable, it is a very empowering song that describes their day to day lives.

“I Am Here”

“I Am Here” from the musical Come From Away is a song about a Character names Hannah who is desperate and determined to get in contact with her son after the events of 911 as she is in Canada and he is in New York, it is a heartfelt desperate cry for help as she tries to reach him.