Who isn't a fan of the sensational Disney musical film Encanto?! Directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, with a musical score written by Germaine Franco and an original soundtrack composed by Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto celebrates Colombian culture in a family-friendly fashion that ceaselessly continues to take the internet by storm. The film's music contains a worldwide fanbase across streaming platforms, with the viral "We Don't Talk About Bruno?" Billboard hit single played on repeat across car stereos and household speakers.
That being said, do you believe that the movie soundtrack is worth all of the hype? Which of the eight featured Encanto songs are your favorite, and which ones fail to measure up to the greatest Disney songs of all time? Vote below for your favorite tracks from the 2021 animated musical film; and if you're looking for more recent Disney music to add to your next playlist, then check out the best Disney songs of the past decade as well!
Who hasn't heard the Billboard number one hit single "We Don't Talk About Bruno"?! Featuring the entire Encanto cast over dynamic call-and-response melodies, the song highlights Lin-Manuel Miranda's signature sound in a high-energy telenovela fashion. Unlike his last animated film hit song "How Far I'll Go" from Moana, the Encanto track fuses diverse hip-hop musicals styles and afrolatino influence from the Tony Award-winning composer's previous works (Hamilton, In The Heights).
Sung by the incredibly muscular older Madrigal sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow) towards Mirabel, "Surface Pressure" highlights her complex mental health in the form of a rhythmic pop ballad. The playful instrumentals throughout each verse and chorus powerfully align with the emotional lyrics about living up to everyone's expectations as the strongest person across town while also navigating her personal identity and overall well-being.
"The Family Madrigal" represents the Disney movie's introduction to the cast's colorful characters, aka the Madrigal family members and townspeople. The fast-paced lyrics sung by Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) in a narrative style immediately grab the audience's attention while setting the stage for the rest of the film's story.
Frustrated with her perfectionist persona and family's esteemed expectations, Isabela Madrigal (Diane Guerrero) breaks into song with younger sister Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) after creating an unexpected cactus in a meadow of magenta flowers. The sisterhood duet slightly reflects a Wicked "For Good" dynamic mixed with Frozen's Anna / Elsa harmonies.
Nominated for the 2022 Academy Award for Best Original Song, "Dos Oruguitas" captures the film's sentimental essence and Madrigal origin love story. Sung by reggaetón superstar Sebastián Yatra with anthemic acoustic accompaniment, the song marks a pivotal moment in Abuela Alma's reminiscence of her romance with Abuelo Pedro. The title "Dos Oruguitas" translates into 'two little caterpillars,' representing the youthful love-smitten Madrigal couple as they develop into butterflies and form a future together.
"Waiting On A Miracle" is the predictable, yet essential, protagonist-identity-crisis theatrical ballad by Encanto's leading lady Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz). The teenage leading lady expresses her internal emotional breakdown over a dramatic 6:8 melody that begins with acoustic spoken vocals (and inter-mittant sad heavy breathing) that gradually transitions into dynamic orchestral buildups. This significant song marks the beginning of Mirabel's inspirational journey towards self-discovery.
