Hamilton: 10 Differences Between The Disney+ Recording & The Original Broadway Soundtrack

In what might be the biggest streaming event of all-time, a full recording of the original cast of Hamilton performing the show in 2016 is now available in perpetuity on Disney Plus. One of the most sought-after Broadway phenomenons of all-time, Hamilton is now accessible to all people with the ability to sign up for a Disney Plus subscription.

For those who have listened to solely the soundtrack for years, though, there are a few differences they’ll want to keep an ear out for when watching the Disney Plus recording. It’s fun to have some surprises, after all!

10 Southern Democratic-Republicans

One of the major concerns Hamilton fans had when it was first announced that Disney acquired the rights to the recording was the profanity. As it turns out, two uses of f— have been censored, with one being left unedited.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Fuuu…” in “Say No to This” will stay in. However, the use of it in “Washington on Your Side” has been changed. Instead of “southern motherf—ing Democratic-Republicans,” the lyric will now be “southern (record scratch sound effect) Democratic-Republicans.”

9 Hercules Mulligan

The other difference between the soundtrack and the recording, as it pertains to profanity, comes in “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down).” In the Hercules Mulligan verse, Okieriete Onaodowan exclaims, “Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction. When you knock me down I get the f— back up again!”

On Disney Plus, to keep the show accessible to all, the f-bomb will be omitted entirely. It’s not the most ideal scenario, but it does allow the show to be presented to as many people as possible (and perhaps in some classrooms!).

8 Applause And Laughter

Hamilton on Disney Plus is a composite recording of a couple different performances of the show, some with live audiences and some without. This allows for the show to maintain a distinctly live vibe with applause after every major musical punctuation mark.

There’s also some laughter that comes following some lines that soundtrack enthusiasts might have never considered to be played for humor before. “Can we get back to politics?” “Please.” will remain funny across all mediums forever, though.

7 Take A Shot

In “My Shot,” one of the show’s breakout numbers, Hamilton takes a brief moment to down a shot. On the soundtrack, the recording is done as flawlessly and seamlessly as possible. On stage, though, there’s a bit more room for some acting-based interpretations to the moment.

One of these comes when Hamilton takes a shot and sings through the forced effect of “swallowing liquor.” Lin-Manuel acts out the burning, mouthful sensation, making the lyrics sound just slightly more different on stage.

6 The Bullet

Anyone who’s listened to the soundtrack is quite familiar with the vocal talents of Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Phillipa Soo. However, Ariana DeBose might not be well-known to all Hamilton fans.

DeBose is a part of the dancing company of the show, but in moments with gunfire, she uses her fingers to pinch where the bullet is on stage. It’s a completely hidden character available only to those who can now visualize the play.

5 Intermission

Just like when fans would see Hamilton in person, there is an intermission between the two acts. On Disney Plus, though, the intermission is just one minute long. (It’s likely to send families and friend groups scrambling for ice cream pints and glasses of water.)

On the soundtrack, however, there is no break. (Unless a listener gets an ad on Spotify at the proper moment.) It just leads right from “Non-Stop” into “What’d I Miss.”

4 King George’s Intro

Another fun theater element that made its way to the recording is Jonathan Groff’s introduction to the show, in character as King George. He tells attendees to silence their phones and it’s a fun, hype-inducing moment to a show that allows viewers to be in the room where it happens.

Keep an eye out for Groff’s committed, scene-stealing performance as the king, too. There’s tons of saliva that was also not present on the soundtrack.

3 The Roots

When Hamilton concludes on Disney Plus, it transitions into the credits (which feature a ton of beautiful character art). Over the credits, “My Shot (Rise Up Remix)” by The Roots plays.

This is actually found on The Hamilton Mixtape and not the original soundtrack, but it is a part of the Disney Plus experience. The astounding track also features Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and Nate Ruess.

2 Eliza’s Scream

Immense, story-centric spoilers ahead for the rest of the article! When Philip Hamilton dies, the song just ends on the soundtrack. In the recording, the song ends with Eliza’s visceral scream.

It’s a haunting, chilling moment that Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted about wanting fans to see before they ever heard it. It’s probably for the best that it’s omitted from the soundtrack because it would make re-listens all the more gutting.

1 John Laurens

Another moment omitted from the show (and it stands as the most incredible difference between the soundtrack and the recording) comes in the form of a song that can only be heard in the stage version and not on the soundtrack.

It is the song, “Tomorrow There’ll Be More Of Us,” slotted in between “Dear Theodosia” and “Non-Stop.” That’s right! There is a hidden song! Sadly, it is a tragic song that centers around the death of John Laurens. But it’s still a moment that alone makes the Disney Plus subscription worth it.

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