Summary

• Lin-Manuel Miranda's career has soared with numerous accolades from his work on Broadway, film scores, and as a musical artist.
• Miranda's songs are memorable and varied, from empowering tunes like "How Far I'll Go" to ensemble pieces like "We Don't Talk About Bruno."
• With hits like "In The Heights" and "You're Welcome," Miranda's songs have topped charts and wowed audiences on both stage and screen.

The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda have ensured that his career continues to go from strength to strength. Miranda got his start working on plays, and he went on to create the Broadway musicals In the Heights (2005) and Hamilton (2015). He also worked on film scores and even got to move behind the camera at one point in his career. He won a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Grammy Awards, and he even earned two Oscar nominations. However, he is best known for his talents as a musical artist.

Miranda made his directorial debut with the Netflix film Tick, Tick... Boom! and he co-wrote several songs for movies like Encanto, The Little Mermaid, Vivo, and Moana. This is in addition to his Broadway work, which has seen two of his musicals, Hamilton and In The Heights, turned into movies (or streamable Broadway recordings) over the years. He has written so many catchy songs over his career that it's impressive to hear how different and popular they have all become.

"How Far I'll Go"

Moana (2016)

Every Disney Princess has her own "I want" song. This is a song that both sums up the character and demonstrates exactly what she needs in her story. These songs are a crucial part of the overall narrative arc and have to be memorable and provide a useful amount of momentum for the rest of the film. "How Far I'll Go" is one of the better songs from Disney's Moana. It's not as popular as "You're Welcome," but it is a better song by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

A solo piece, sung by Auli'i Cravalho and covered by Alessia Cara, this song is the starting point for the character to go on her big adventure and, therefore, is an extremely important piece of music. The lyrics are both empowering and show Moana's bravery. "How Far I'll Go" is a song about strengthening people who want to overcome their fears and take on new heights. The song earned an Oscar nomination and won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

"One Of A Kind"

Vivo (2021)

Lin-Manuel Miranda produced a number of incredibly beautiful songs for Netflix's Vivo. "One of a Kind" is truly a perfect introduction to this animated adventure as the movie's opening song. The track explores the bond that Vivo and Andrés have with one another, while also updating audiences on the kinkajou's origins. The song is catchy, with Juan de Marcos Gonzalez's deep bass voice balancing well with Miranda's fast-paced rapping. It is genre-bending, and a great mashup song.

It's a melody brought back into the film further down the line, reminding viewers of this initial dynamic. Vivo's final song acts as a reprise of "One of a Kind," showcasing its emotional importance to the narrative. The piece also allows Miranda to flex some of his trademark fast dialogue as well. The song helped the Vivo soundtrack hit seventh on the US Top Soundtracks charts. The number-one album that week was Moana, which also featured songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda​​​​​​.

"Wait For It"

Hamilton (2015)

Aaron Burr is one of the most complex characters in Miranda's smash-hit musical. With Hamilton highlighting how history has morphed aspects of Burr's own narrative, it does, in some way, go to great lengths to create sympathy for the man who comes to shoot and kill Alexander Hamilton. "Wait For It" is a song designed to really explain how Burr sees the world. As a man who has already faced great hardship, he is not one to take risks, waiting to see instead which way the wind will blow.

While Hamilton believes that he and Burr are similar thanks to both being orphans, Burr knows that they couldn't be more different. Ironically, it is this outlook that costs him the presidency, and consequently, Hamilton his life. Miranda himself believes "Wait For It" and "The Room Where It Happens" are the best songs he's ever written in his career (via Grantland).

"We Don't Talk About Bruno"

Encanto (2021)

Bruno is a pivotal character for Encanto as he is really the key to unlocking the secrets surrounding Mirabel's prophecy. But unfortunately, the Madrigals don't actually talk about Bruno, leading to the much-loved song that acts as an ensemble piece for the family. With each Encanto character providing their own personal account of their interactions with the forgotten seer, the song details both the terrible events and the honest truths that Bruno supposedly unleashed on the community.

With a brilliant hook and a beautiful combination of song and rap, this Colombian-inspired melody has easily become an earworm. The song was massively popular, hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there longer than any other Disney soundtrack song in history. It was also the first song by Lin-Manuel Miranda to top the charts.

"You're Welcome"

Moana (2016)

One of Dwayne Johnson's greatest roles is considered to be his voice work on Moana. As the demi-god Maui, Johnson took on quite a different part than what audiences were used to seeing from him. Typically playing the action hero, there's something a little more troubled about this warrior. Upon first meeting Maui, fans are treated to the song "You're Welcome," expertly performed by Johnson.

The song is Maui bragging about his accomplishments and yet is underlined by the fact he can't even leave an island without the help of a human, suggesting he really isn't all he is cracked up to be. This song proves that Miranda had the perfect sound for Moana. The song isn't as emotional as "How Far I'll Go," but it is more catchy and it is hard not to sing along when it starts up. This song is a huge reason the Moana soundtrack topped the US Soundtrack Albums chart and hit number two on the Billboard 200.

"In The Heights"

In The Heights (2008)

It seems fitting that one of the most memorable songs from Miranda's In The Heights is called "In The Heights," which serves as the opening number for the story and introduces audiences to the community living within Washington Heights. While it begins as a solo piece, with Usnavi talking his kids through his regular day, the chorus expands to represent the many different voices, all contributing something to the local area.

It weaves plenty of narratives around one another, many of which later get played off in their own songs that call back to these original lyrics. Just about everyone is part of this song, from the movie's main star Anthony Ramos to Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. It was the first single released from the In the Heights soundtrack and helped the soundtrack hit number one on the US Soundtrack Albums charts and No. 45 on the US Billboard 200.

"One Last Time"

Hamilton (2015)

The song that helped Obama say goodbye to the presidency (and one that he even contributed to in a small way), "One Last Time" is a deeply emotional song that comes at a pivotal point in Hamilton. Sung by George Washington (Christopher Jackson), this piece of music is all about moving on and trying to prepare the country for the future. This is where Washington pushes for term limits for politicians. It's a moving composition and one that feels applicable to a number of situations outside of just Hamilton.

The memorable Hamilton quotes from the President towards the end of the song feature some thought-provoking ideas. The song also plays out as Hamilton's goodbye to his mentor, and it features one of Jackson's most heart-wrenching performances. It was here that Washington sang about knowing when it was time to say goodbye, something that sadly, Alexander Hamilton never learned for himself.

"One More Song"

Vivo (2021)

There are certainly parallels to be made between "One Last Time" and "One More Song," with Miranda playing upon the same thematic beats surrounding the grief of saying goodbye. But this isn't just a melody about remembering a friend. This is also a story about legacy, and the song manages to shift dramatically, building up to a hopeful crescendo that paves the path ahead; Vivo must try to bring his partner's final song to his long-lost love.

The song has great musicianship, with dramatic horns and flair, but Andrés' death really weighs on the lyrics and performance by Vivo. It's a moving number and one gracefully performed by Miranda himself, as he sets out to take that one last song to the woman that Andrés wrote it for, Marta (Gloria Estefan). This is a call-to-action song, and it is one that hits all the right notes in this animated film.

"Non-Stop"

Hamilton (2015)

"Non-Stop" is perhaps one of the most important songs in Hamilton, framing the end of the first act and setting up the second. It brings together a number of stories and characters from throughout the musical, creating a more intense focus for the next half. Miranda has expertly woven together a number of key musical moments from each song in the first half, in order to create a tapestry of lyrics that manage to thematically move his emotional story along to its next beat.

This song was meant to sum up Alexander Hamilton's character, and it kicks off with the death of John Laurens and the possibility of ending slavery dying with him. This leads Hamilton to believe that anyone, including himself, could die at any time, and this explains why he spends the second part of the play running non-stop. He ruins his chances to live a happy life because he knows he can accomplish so much, and he won't stop until he finally dies.

"96,000"

In The Heights (2008)

While there was plenty of debate over whether Hamilton or another musical, like Wicked, should have been the next to get a big-screen adaptation, In The Heights was actually one of the more well-known musicals that took audiences by storm, and once again highlighted the writer's talents. With songs created by Miranda, the musical hit Broadway in 2015, with much of its music continuing to have a life of its own outside of the stage production.

"96,000" is considered one of the best and includes some of Miranda's signature spoken word compositions focusing on how each of the characters would spend a potential lottery win ($96,000). It's perhaps the main hook that enchanted fans the most when hearing it. This song had everyone once again performing, including Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Gregory Diaz IV, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Corey Hawkins, Stephanie Beatriz, and Dascha Polanco

"Shiny"

Moana (2016)

It may have been strange to suggest that Jemaine Clement would have been perfect to play a giant crab. However, after the sad passing of the legend David Bowie (who was originally supposed to take on the role), it was deemed that Clement was a perfect alternative. "Shiny" is the song associated with the evil Tamatoa and is one of the more beloved additions to the Disney villain's playlist.

Depicting his ego and his love for shiny things, this song presents Tamatoa as a genuinely frightening threat to Moana. Of all the Lin-Manuel Miranda songs in Moana, this is the most playful. While the song was never released as a single from the Moana soundtrack, it remains one of the most known, most sung-along with songs, and shows Miranda offering up some of his more rambunctious lyrics in this specific movie.

"My Shot"

Hamilton (2015)

The thematic driving point of Hamilton, "My Shot," really is one of the defining songs of the show and one of the most complex sets of lyrics to handle. Giving the audience both the history of Hamilton's life, as well as setting out his future ambitions, the production centers around the success of this song. It's called back to many times, with Alexander Hamilton obsessed with taking his best shot and trying to cement his own legacy.

This is not only the "I Want" song of Hamilton for Alexander Hamilton, but it is also the "I Want" song for his friends, Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan. They all sing about what they hope the revolution will present to each of them when it ends. They all want a better life. It combines a Broadway chorus and the hip-hop styling of the singers. It's certainly a memorable moment in the show, which has huge consequences for every scene thereafter.

"Love Make The World Go Round"

The Today Show (2016)

"Love Make the World Go Round" is a slightly different Lin-Manuel Miranda song, but one designed for a television audience in mind. He, alongside a number of other famous musicians, created an incredibly catchy song that would work as a charity single and be performed on The Today Show. Miranda sings the song with Jennifer Lopez, and he shares writing credits with Lopez and several other talents, including Nelson Kyle, Melody Noel Hernandez, John Mitchell, Mike Molina, Jordan Johnson Marcus Lomax, and Stefan Johnson.

"Love Make the World Go Round" was written and recorded for charity with proceeds donated to the Hispanic Federation's Somos Orlando fund to help victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016. This track hit number nine on the US Digital Songs chart in its first week. That was Miranda's very ever appearance as a solo artist on the charts (via Yahoo Music). The song is considered one of Miranda's best-written songs outside of his Broadway and big-screen productions.

"Satisfied"

Hamilton (2015)

Angelica and Eliza are fan-favorite Hamilton characters, but each of them holds Alexander Hamilton in their heart. "Satisfied" beautifully demonstrates this romantic betrayal from Angelica to her sister Eliza. It's a theme that is played on time and time again, with Angelica always stepping back for her sister's happiness. It's also a song that has become celebrated as one of the most recognizable moments in the Hamilton soundtrack.

"Satisfied" is the best song on the Hamilton soundtrack and one of the best songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda in movies or on Broadway. The complexity in the song is also comparable to the choreography that goes along with it in the play. What makes this song stand out is that it combines every emotion imaginable into its lyrics, as it is a love song and a tragedy, and it supplies one of the best plot twists in the entire play.

"Surface Pressure"

Encanto (2021)

Mirabel has to find a way to connect to her family once more, but despite feeling the pressure of never receiving a gift, it's her older sister who might actually be having the toughest time. "Surface Pressure" perfectly encapsulates that feeling of not being good enough. Luisa's miracle might be that she's super strong, but that also means that she has to carry the weight of the family upon her shoulders.

This continued strain is starting to wear on the worker, who is terrified of what might happen if her gift was to vanish. The song plays with the tempo and rhythm, subverting expectations much like the character, combined with lyrics that hit hard about her situation. This is possibly the catchiest song in the entire movie, which is saying a lot, and it is one of the best songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda in any movie. It isn't as popular as "We Don't Talk About Bruno," but it is the best song in the movie.