Satisfied Lyrics – The Hamilton Mixtape

Song Overview

Personal Review

When I first heard Sia's take on "Satisfied," I wasn't prepared for the way she'd strip away Broadway's theatrical flourishes and rebuild them as something entirely her own. This isn't just another cover from The Hamilton Mixtape - it's a complete emotional transplant that somehow honors Lin-Manuel Miranda's original while creating space for three distinct voices to tell Angelica Schuyler's heartbreaking story. The song captures the essence of unrequited love through the lens of 18th-century social constraints, where a brilliant woman must sacrifice her desires for family loyalty and societal expectations.

Song Meaning and Annotations

"Satisfied" operates on multiple levels of musical storytelling, functioning both as a standalone pop song and as part of Hamilton's larger narrative tapestry. The track opens with Sia's ethereal delivery of what sounds like a wedding toast, but the lyrics immediately signal something more complex brewing beneath the surface celebration. This is Angelica Schuyler's internal monologue, rewinding through a pivotal moment when she first met Alexander Hamilton and felt an immediate intellectual and romantic connection. The genius of this particular arrangement lies in how each artist embodies different aspects of Angelica's psyche. Sia handles the reflective, almost ghostly portions - the wedding toast that bookends the song, the painful admission of never being satisfied. Her voice carries years of regret, wrapped in that distinctive tremolo that makes every word feel like it's floating between dream and memory. When she sings about that first meeting with Hamilton, there's a vulnerability that cuts through her usual powerhouse delivery.

"I remember that night, I just might / Regret that night for the rest of my days"

These opening lines establish the entire emotional framework. We're not just hearing about a missed romantic opportunity - we're experiencing the weight of a decision that will haunt someone forever. The repetition in the lyrics mirrors the obsessive nature of regret, how certain moments replay endlessly in our minds. Miguel steps in during the dialogue portions, embodying Hamilton's charm and intellectual magnetism. His smooth R&B styling transforms what was originally rapid-fire Broadway patter into something more intimate and seductive. The conversation between Angelica and Alexander becomes a dance of minds, each testing the other's wit and ambition.

"You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied"

This line cuts to the heart of both characters. Hamilton recognizes in Angelica a kindred spirit - someone whose intellectual hunger matches his own ambition. The word "satisfied" becomes loaded with multiple meanings: sexual, intellectual, social, and spiritual fulfillment. Queen Latifah's rap break represents the most dramatic departure from the original, transforming Angelica's internal analysis into something more urgent and contemporary. Her delivery crackles with intelligence and wit, capturing the thrill of meeting someone who can match your intellectual pace.

"So this is what it feels like to match wits / With someone at your level! What the hell is the catch?"

Latifah brings street credibility to 18th-century drawing room politics. Her rapid-fire delivery mirrors the original's complexity while adding a modern vernacular that makes Angelica's internal struggle feel immediate rather than historical. When she describes Hamilton as "flying by the seat of his pants," she's translating period-appropriate observations into language that resonates with contemporary listeners. The production itself deserves recognition for how it balances these three distinct vocal styles. The synth-pop foundation provides a modern framework that allows each voice to shine without competing. The "rewind" effect that opens the song creates an immediate sonic parallel to the musical's staging, where the action literally rewinds to show the same events from Angelica's perspective.

Verse Highlights

Verse 1

The opening verse establishes the central tension between desire and duty. Angelica recalls the social gathering where she first encountered Hamilton, describing the other young men as "soldier boys / Tripping over themselves to win our praise." This sets up the contrast - while others fumble for attention, Hamilton commands it effortlessly through intelligence rather than desperation.

Chorus

The recurring theme of never being satisfied becomes a character study in itself. For Angelica, satisfaction represents not just happiness but a kind of completeness that seems impossible within the social constraints of her world. She's too intelligent for most men, too independent for marriage expectations, and too loyal to pursue her genuine desires. The song's most devastating moment comes in the bridge, where Angelica imagines confessing her feelings to her sister Eliza: "If I tell her that I love him she'd be silently resigned / He'd be mine / She would say, 'I'm fine' / But she'd be lying." This hypothetical scenario reveals Angelica's deep understanding of her sister's nature - and her own inability to cause such pain, even for her own happiness.

Song Credits

• Featured: Queen Latifah & Miguel
• Producer: Tony Esterly & Mike Elizondo
• Composer: Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Release Date: December 2, 2016
• Genre: Synth-Pop, Musical Theatre, Contemporary R&B
• Instruments: Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards, Guitar, Programmed Drums
• Label: Atlantic Records
• Mood: Melancholic, Reflective, Dramatic
• Length: 5:08
• Track: #6 on The Hamilton Mixtape
• Language: English
• Album: The Hamilton Mixtape
• Music Style: Pop ballad with hip-hop elements
• Poetic Meter: Mixed meter with spoken word elements
• Copyright © Atlantic Records & Hamilton Uptown Limited Liability Company

Songs Exploring Themes of Unfulfilled Love

"Satisfied" belongs to a tradition of songs that explore the ache of loving someone you cannot have, but few handle the theme with such psychological complexity. While many unrequited love songs focus on external obstacles, this track dives deep into internal conflict and moral choice. Adele's "Someone Like You" shares similar DNA in its exploration of accepting loss while simultaneously refusing to let go. Both songs feature protagonists who understand intellectually that they must move on, yet remain emotionally tethered to what might have been. However, where Adele's narrator seeks closure through confrontation, Angelica finds her resolution through sacrifice and distance. The vocal delivery in both tracks carries weight beyond the words themselves - Adele's rawness matching Sia's ethereal pain. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton's "Jolene" offers an interesting parallel in its exploration of female rivalry and sacrifice, though from the opposite perspective. Where Jolene's narrator pleads with her rival not to take her man, Angelica actively facilitates her sister's happiness at the expense of her own desires. Both songs feature women grappling with their own powerlessness within romantic triangles, but Angelica's choice comes from love rather than desperation. The country storytelling tradition that Parton represents finds its modern theatrical equivalent in how "Satisfied" uses narrative structure to reveal character. In contrast, The Weeknd's "The Hills" explores similar themes of wanting someone unavailable, but from a more cynical, purely physical perspective. While both songs deal with forbidden desire, "Satisfied" elevates the stakes through emotional intelligence and moral complexity. The Weeknd's narrator pursues his desires despite consequences, while Angelica's entire journey revolves around choosing not to pursue hers. This difference in moral framework transforms similar emotional territory into completely different artistic statements about love, duty, and self-sacrifice.

Questions and Answers

Why did Sia choose to cover "Satisfied" for The Hamilton Mixtape?

Sia was specifically approached by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the project, and "Satisfied" represented an ideal match for her artistic style. The song's themes of internal struggle and emotional complexity align perfectly with Sia's tendency toward introspective, emotionally intense material. The original's theatrical nature also provided space for her distinctive vocal interpretation while maintaining the narrative structure.

How does Queen Latifah's contribution change the song's meaning?

Queen Latifah brings a contemporary urban perspective to 18th-century social dynamics, making Angelica's intellectual prowess feel immediate and relatable. Her rap delivery transforms what could have been purely historical commentary into something that speaks to modern experiences of intelligent women navigating social expectations. Miranda specifically sought her involvement because he wanted to hear her rap again, recognizing her influence on his own artistic development.

What makes this version different from the original Broadway recording?

While maintaining the song's narrative structure and most lyrics, this version strips away theatrical orchestration in favor of synth-pop production. The three-voice approach allows for more intimate vocal interplay, while the modern production techniques create a dreamlike quality that emphasizes the song's introspective nature. Some lyrics are subtly altered, and the overall pacing is adjusted for radio-friendly consumption.

How successful was The Hamilton Mixtape commercially?

The Hamilton Mixtape debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with 187,000 equivalent album units, making it the largest sales week for a compilation album since 2012. It marked the first compilation album to reach number one in over two years, demonstrating the continued commercial power of the Hamilton brand beyond Broadway.

What role does the "rewind" concept play in both versions?

The rewind concept is central to the song's narrative structure, representing how memory and regret function in real life. In the original musical, this is achieved through choreography and staging that literally moves backward, while Sia's version uses audio effects to create the same temporal displacement. This technique allows the audience to experience Angelica's psychological state directly through the music itself.

Awards and Chart Positions

While "Satisfied" itself didn't chart as a standalone single, its parent album The Hamilton Mixtape achieved remarkable commercial success. The mixtape debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 187,000 equivalent album units in its first week. This represented the largest sales in a week for a compilation album since Cruel Summer by GOOD Music in 2012, and was the first compilation album to reach number one in over two years. The success of the mixtape helped solidify Hamilton's cultural dominance beyond Broadway, proving that the musical's appeal extended far beyond traditional theater audiences. The album beat out The Weeknd's Starboy at number 2, demonstrating the crossover appeal of reimagined show tunes. This commercial performance validated Lin-Manuel Miranda's vision of Hamilton as a multimedia cultural phenomenon rather than simply a stage production.

How to Sing?

Performing "Satisfied" requires mastery of multiple vocal techniques across different genres. Sia's sections demand exceptional breath control and the ability to sustain notes while maintaining emotional vulnerability. Her signature vibrato should be used sparingly - the power comes from restraint rather than showmanship. The vocal range spans from low, conversational tones in the spoken portions to soaring high notes during the climactic moments. Queen Latifah's rap section requires precise diction and rhythmic accuracy. The rapid-fire delivery must remain intelligible while maintaining the intellectual wit that drives the character. Breath management becomes crucial during the longer verses, requiring strategic pause placement that doesn't disrupt the narrative flow. Miguel's contributions sit in a comfortable mid-range but require smooth transitions between conversational delivery and more melodic passages. The key lies in maintaining Hamilton's charm and confidence without overshadowing the central focus on Angelica's internal struggle. Vocally, the biggest challenge lies in the ensemble sections where all three voices must blend while maintaining their distinct characters. The tempo shifts require careful attention to musical direction, particularly during the "rewind" sections where timing becomes deliberately disrupted.

Fan and Media Reactions

The response to Sia's "Satisfied" was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the respectful yet innovative approach to the source material. Rolling Stone described it as a "striking, bombastic synth pop rendition" that maintained the original's rapid-fire complexity. The publication noted how both Sia and Queen Latifah "dutifully recreate" the challenging vocal performance originally delivered by Renée Elise Goldsberry. Lin-Manuel Miranda himself expressed excitement about the collaboration, particularly regarding Queen Latifah's involvement. He stated: "You are one of my favorite MCs, full stop. Angelica exists because you were a voice in my ear growing up. I wanted to hear her rapping again so badly!" This personal connection between Miranda and Latifah added authenticity to the recording that fans immediately recognized.

"Sia's voice brings such haunting beauty to Angelica's pain. You can feel every regret in her delivery." - Sarah M. (YouTube Comment)

"Queen Latifah absolutely kills the rap section. She brings so much personality to it while staying true to the character." - Marcus T. (YouTube Comment)

"This version made me understand the song in a completely different way. The synth production is gorgeous." - Jennifer L. (YouTube Comment)

"Miguel's voice is perfect for Hamilton. He captures that smooth confidence perfectly." - David R. (YouTube Comment)

"I never thought I'd prefer a cover to the original Broadway version, but this is absolutely stunning." - Amanda K. (YouTube Comment)

Miranda also revealed the emotional impact of hearing the completed track, sharing footage of Jonathan Groff's reaction: "They turned it in… and, like, our hair blew backwards. I have footage of playing it for Jonathan Groff for the first time backstage and him just crying in our dressing room." This behind-the-scenes glimpse demonstrated how even those intimately familiar with the original material found themselves moved by this reinterpretation.