The hit Encanto song, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is joining the ranks of "Colors of the Wind" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" as one of the highest-charting songs in Disney history. The earworm has become a viral hit since the film's theatrical release last November and subsequent Disney+ release on Christmas Eve, inspiring YouTube covers and even an WandaVision mashup on TikTok while raking up millions of streams across multiple platforms. Like the rest of the Encanto soundtrack, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the brainchild of Hamilton composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who incorporated Columbian musical technique in the song's composition.
For those who haven't seen the film, or much less had the pleasure of getting the chorus stuck in their heads, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is essentially Encanto's villain song. But unlike other Disney villain numbers, in which the bad guy serves as the main soloist, the Madrigal family performs the song as an ensemble, introducing audiences to their mysterious relative named Bruno, who disappeared years ago. The Madrigals particularly dislike Bruno for his ability to predict the future, as most of his premonitions don't necessarily wind up favorable for the family.
While the Madrigals may not like talking about Bruno, audiences certainly like listening to it. As reported by The Wrap, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" has moved from No. 5 to No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100, becoming Disney's highest-charting song since 1995. Pocahontas' "Colors of the Wind" previously held that post, and The Lion King's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" also charted at No. 4 the year prior. That means "We Don't Talk About Bruno" has also surpassed Frozen hit, "Let It Go," which peaked at No. 5 in April 2014.
Encanto's soundtrack has all the makings of a classic Disney musical, with a big opening number ("The Family Madrigal") and lead female solo ("Waiting On A Miracle") which one would assume would become the film's big hit. The melancholic "Dos Oruguitas" seems to be popular within the awards circles, getting nods from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. But when it comes to the fan-favorite track, audiences gravitated toward "Bruno," a surprise not only because it's the villain song but also because of the complicated nature of its songwriting.
Aside from the repetitive "we don't talk about Bruno" line, the song is rather wordy and features multiple voices overlapping one another, a common characteristic of Miranda's musical work. However, those conventions didn't deter audiences from catching on, putting their own spin on the song and perpetuating its popularity on social media. Encanto's "We Don't Talk About Bruno" proves that the Disney formula doesn't always guarantee surefire hits; sometimes, doing something different leads to successful surprises.
Source: The Wrap