Helpless (Hamilton song)

"Helpless" is a song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Hamilton. It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Synopsis

This song sees Eliza Schuyler fall in love with Alexander Hamilton.

Style

Huffington Post described the song as "equal parts Cole Porter and Ja Rule, a sweet Pop/R&B tune".[1] Phillipa Soo said that inspirations for the song include Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Etta James.[2] Musical director Alex Lacamoire explained "The Beyoncé reference is 'Stressin'! Blessin'!' sounds like 'Houston rocket!' [in "Countdown"]. We asked the girls to deliver it like that."[3] Slate said the "big R&B love song" drew inspiration from Beyoncé’s “Countdown” due to its "half-rapped, half-sung cadences", and added that the lyrics "the boy is mine” is a lyrical reference to a song of the same name by Brandy and Monica.[4] According to NPR, the song also includes a hip hop reference in the form of a lyrical nod to Trina and Mannie Fresh's song "Da Club."[5] GCAdvocate notes that in "Satisfied," Eliza's "assertive, clever sister Angelica Schuyler raps and remixes “Helpless".[6] The LA Times said the song had "the flair of Destiny's Child".[7] The Man Eater also likens Eliza's vocal stylings to "the style of Beyoncé".[8]

Critical reception

The Huffington Post wrote that the song "manages to combine banter, storytelling, and Alexander mentioning again how smart he is".[1] GCAdvocate was impressed that "Soo’s repetitive 'I do'’s in the pop song foreshadows their wedding" which occurs at the end of the song.[6] The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "'Helpless' measures up to the most irresistible pop songs about love at first sight in the way it captures the sheer giddiness and joy of a romantic thunderbolt".[9] The Washington Post said the song was "a divinely refined girl-group treatment of Hamilton’s courtship of Eliza".[10] The American Conservative said the song is "a gorgeous song where helplessness is a child’s terror but also a lover’s rapture".[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "I Have an Opinion on Every Song in "Hamilton"". The Huffington Post. 1 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Esther Zuckerman (25 September 2015). "Phillipa Soo Alexander Hamilton Hip Hop Musical". Refinery29.
  3. ↑ "Nerding Out With Hamilton’s Musical Director -- Vulture". Vulture.
  4. ↑ "Hamilton’s hip-hop references: All the rap and R&B allusions in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical.". Slate Magazine.
  5. ↑ "Review: Cast Recording, 'Hamilton'". NPR.org. 21 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Racializing the American Revolution Review of the Broadway Musical Hamilton - The Advocate". The Advocate.
  7. ↑ Los Angeles Times (4 November 2015). "Review: 'Hamilton' is a watershed musical that sets a Founding Father's tale to hip-hop - LA Times". latimes.com.
  8. ↑ "‘Hamilton’ is a cast album to remember – MOVE Magazine".
  9. ↑ David Rooney (31 August 2015). "Critic's Notebook: Why 'Hamilton' Counts as a Legitimate Game Changer". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ↑ Peter Marks (6 August 2015). "‘Hamilton’: Making ecstatic history". Washington Post.
  11. ↑ "‘Hamilton’ and the Romance of Government". The American Conservative.
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