Why Encanto’s best song just outdid Frozen’s “Let It Go.” Encanto released in theaters in November 2021 and its central song, written by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, has been making its way onto the music charts. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” hit number one on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, the first Disney song from an animation to do so, and number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing “Let It Go,” which peaked at number five in 2014.
Encanto follows the Madrigals, a Colombian family whose members each have powers bestowed upon them by a magical candle. In her bid to find out why she’s the only one without powers, Mirabel Madrigal investigates and realizes she needs to talk to her uncle Bruno, who has visions of the future, only to realize no one wants to discuss him at all. This leads to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a song that has been catching on with audiences domestically and globally, having been recreated in 46 languages. On the music charts, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno" — one of eight songs in Encanto — not only swept past Frozen’s “Let It Go,” but is the first Disney animated song to reach number four since Pocahontas’ “Colors of the Wind” in 1995. The latter is a position previously held by The Lion King’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” in 1994.
The success and popularity of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which features the ensemble cast of Encanto, can be attributed to its uniqueness and Miranda’s involvement in writing the song. However, there’s certainly much more to it than that. The songs from Encanto don’t sound like the ones audiences are used to from other Disney animations. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is less of a show tune and more of a mixture of musical genres. There’s a clear Colombian influence on the song and it blends various other genres, including dance, hip-hop, and Cuban folk. The Disney animation's song is obviously catchy and features elements of pop, giving each of the Madrigals a moment to sing while advancing the storyline. A big part of the song’s appeal is also its central mystery about Bruno, which heightens the intensity of the music as it escalates.
Considering Bruno is one of the best characters in Encanto, it makes the audience want to know all the more about him. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is also relatable because it involves storytelling, gossip, and family secrets that add depth to the dynamics between the Madrigal family. From an audience standpoint, the best Encanto song can be sung by many versus a single person, which adds to its appeal. Whereas Frozen's “Let It Go” is very obviously a power ballad that could’ve easily been at home on Broadway, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is less defined stylistically, which is what makes it so engaging and fun. (The song is especially popular with TikTok users.) Every verse changes in rhythm to match that of the character singing before each of these elements is combined in the final part of the song.
The fact that the song has already reached the number four spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 is impressive considering Encanto was only released two months ago. Frozen’s “Let It Go” took longer to get to the number five spot on the charts. And while Menzel’s famous ballad will always be a part of the pop culture lexicon, Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” speaks to audiences on a different level, offering a fresh sound that is less like that of past Disney songs, which makes it stand out on its own.