When one searches Lin-Manuel Miranda’s name on Google, the following comes up: “award-winning American actor, producer, composer, lyricist, singer and writer.” He’s won Grammys, Emmys, Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize, and at this point, his discography is longer than the list of grievances the American colonists had against Great Britain—in other words, pretty extensive.
What I find most striking about Miranda isn’t just his list of accolades, though it’s definitely remarkable—it’s his pure, unique sound. Every project he touches carries his unmistakable fingerprint, a fusion of hip-hop, culture and an innate love for music that started from a young age. His ability to weave all these elements into such wonderful compositions while also being an all-rounder in cinema is a rare kind of genius. That’s exactly what makes him one of my favorite musicians in the modern world.
Take “Encanto,” for example. Sure, it’s a Disney film filled with bright colors and vibrant animations, but “under the surface” lies a deeply personal soundtrack, one that dances between Spanish and English verses. “Dos Oruguitas” in particular, sung by the amazing Sebastian Yatra, leverages the soulful pull of Spanish to portray a story of love and heartbreak. He even brought the legendary Carlos Vives on board to sing “Columbia, Mi Encanto,” a song that was admittedly written much later than the others but ended up blowing up in popularity. The result is a soundtrack that celebrates identity instead of suppressing it. Miranda incorporates language as an essential color in the emotional palette of the story.
Then, there’s “Moana,” where he immersed himself in Polynesian music traditions. Instead of jumping to impose his style, he first took the time to listen, analyzing indigenous rhythms and collaborating with Polynesian musicians to create something truly authentic, not just shallow and performative. “We Know the Way” is an absolutely phenomenal work; I’m in awe of his artful blend of cultures and his intuition on how to balance them. That respect and the duty he feels to capture the cultural essence of any project he does is what makes his work feel global and personal at the same time.
Of course, I would be remiss to write an article about Miranda without mentioning “Hamilton,” the crown jewel of his creative portfolio. To start with, it’s quite a different concept: a historical musical filled with rap battles and blazing verses. It’s an experiment in sound and representation. He completely reimagined the Founding Fathers and single-handedly transformed Broadway with his unique beat. Now, because of him, children in classrooms all across the United States look at history with a new lens. Not bad for some raps in a musical.
Speaking of keeping the beat, his voice bursts with joy even in smaller works like “Vivo,” with “Keep the Beat” being my favorite song for its upswell of emotion at a turning point in the movie. In this collaboration with Netflix, he steps into Cuban culture with songs blending English, Spanish, clave rhythms and more. He even sings for the titular character as he did for Hamilton, showing he’s not afraid to step outside of his backstage role as a lyricist and composer into a more mainstream image as a singer and producer.
As live action adaptations, his most recent works—“Mufasa: The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid”—are indeed deviations from his usual style, but they nonetheless live up to the Miranda standard. The song “I Always Wanted a Brother” from Mufasa even achieved viral popularity when it infiltrated social media as siblings took to the Internet to show their love in a playful way.
One notable project that felt his absence greatly was “Moana 2.” The sequel is fine—and you can read my full take in this article—but without Miranda’s lyrical prowess, it just doesn’t quite feel the same. The melodies are good for the newcomers, but they just don’t hit the way “How Far I’ll Go” or “We Know the Way” did. Miranda’s knack for layering cultural qualities with emotional resonance is extremely unique and hard to replicate, and it shows. No one can copy the legend.
Miranda once said in a Disney podcast that he’s always been a “Disney kid” at heart, memorizing the entire soundtrack to The Little Mermaid in elementary school. He’s the kid who absolutely idolized Alan Menken’s legendary compositions… and actually ended up working with him later in life.
Maybe that’s the secret.
Beneath all his awards and fame, he’s the same kid who fell in love with animation and music and believed in the power of storytelling. That’s what clearly distinguishes him from the rest of the crowd: his pure authenticity.
Lin-Manuel Miranda doesn’t just compose music; he takes his audience on an emotional journey, bridging worlds with the power of language and meticulous research. In the midst of English and Spanish and rap and hip-hop, he’s the prime example that creativity isn’t about finding a mold and fitting into that genre—it’s about embracing the music, artfully experimenting with elements and retaining that childlike sense of wonder when it all comes together.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is undoubtedly one of the premier, most versatile artists of the 21st century.
