Encanto: We Don't Talk About Bruno's Success Surprised Lin-Manuel Miranda
Encanto composer Lin-Manuel Miranda says how the film's breakout song «We Don't Talk About Bruno» was a surprise for him, as he didn't expect it to become the success it has. Fresh off his directorial debut with Tick, Tick...Boom!, Miranda has become one of the most in-demand songwriters following the cultural behemoth of Hamilton that he wrote and starred in on Broadway back in 2015, having contributed songs to Moana, Vivo, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Encanto follows the Madrigal family who have been granted magical powers by «the miracle» that's in their house. In the film, the titular Bruno is the family's black sheep, having been shunned by the family for his ability of clairvoyance, disappearing years earlier. The song is seen as a metaphor for complex family relationships, a prominent theme in Encanto. The song is an ensemble number, with every singer having their own cadence and rhythm, fusing musical styles such as guajira, Cuban folk, hip hop, Broadway, and dance music.
Related: Encanto: What Abuela's Gift Is — Theory Explained
In an interview with Bloomberg, Miranda talks about how the song became a breakout hit, reaching number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100. He attributes the song's success to its shifting melody and catchy tune, as well as its portrayal of complex family dynamics, something he says a lot of people have experienced after being in lockdown for two years. He also talks a bit about his process in writing the songs, producing several demos for them before finalizing the composition. Read his quote below:
“I was saying to a friend: I think this is my ‘Send in the Clowns,' 'Send in the Clowns’ was Stephen Sondheim’s only chart-topper. Who would have guessed out of the millions of songs he
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