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Encanto (soundtrack)
Encanto (soundtrack)
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Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
English-language version cover
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedNovember 19, 2021 (2021-11-19)
Studio
Genre
Length114:41
Language
  • English
  • Spanish
LabelWalt Disney
Producer
Walt Disney Animation Studios soundtrack chronology
Raya and the Last Dragon
(2021)
Encanto
(2021)
Strange World
(2022)
Lin-Manuel Miranda chronology
Vivo
(2021)
Encanto
(2021)
The Little Mermaid
(2023)
Singles from Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  1. "We Don't Talk About Bruno"
    Released: November 19, 2021

Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to Disney's 2021 film of the same name. Released by Walt Disney Records on November 19, 2021, the album contains eight original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and produced by Mike Elizondo that were recorded by various singers, and 27 score pieces composed by Germaine Franco. It was released in 44 languages in addition to English and Spanish.

To develop the soundtrack, Miranda and team visited Colombia—the setting of Encanto—to study the country's music. Consequently, the album is rooted in genres such as vallenato, cumbia, bambuco and rock en español, making use of the traditional music instruments of Colombia, and incorporates salsa, tango, reggaeton and bachata styles alongside pop, hip hop, folk and musical theatre elements. In the film, the songs are performed by the Madrigals, who are a multigenerational family with magical powers granted to them by a "miracle"; the lyrical themes revolve around individuality, self-worth, transgenerational trauma and familial love.

The soundtrack album was a commercial success, enjoying widespread popularity after Encanto's release on Disney+. It topped the Billboard 200 chart for nine weeks, and charted all of its original songs on the US Billboard Hot 100. Elsewhere, the album reached number one in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the top ten in various other territories. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by various members of the Encanto cast and "Surface Pressure" by Jessica Darrow have been the album's best-selling tracks; the former topped the UK Singles and the US Hot 100 charts for multiple weeks, while the latter peaked at numbers four and eight, respectively. Encanto became the first Disney animated film to generate multiple Hot 100 top-10 entries. Additionally, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the second number-one song for Disney in the US after "A Whole New World" from Aladdin (1992), and its first-ever original song to reach number one in the UK.

Upon release, Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was met with critical acclaim and received various accolades. Reviews lauded its vibrant Latin music rhythms and complimented Miranda's musicianship. The album received the Annie Award for outstanding music in a feature film; the Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media; and the Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Dos Oruguitas" by Sebastián Yatra), among other accolades.

Development and release

[edit]
Lin-Manuel Miranda speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
American actor, playwright and musician Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the original songs for Encanto

In June 2020, American singer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who had previously worked on Moana (2016), revealed that he had begun to write the music of American animated musical film Encanto, which would have eight original songs in both Spanish and English, and was set for release in 2021.[1] After the film's premiere, Miranda disclosed that he had been writing songs for the film from the very beginning (that is, starting in 2016).[2] Miranda and the filmmakers travelled to Colombia in 2018 to research and study the country, its culture and music.[3] On September 8, 2021, Germaine Franco, co-composer of the songs from Coco (2017), began to score the film.[4][5][6] Composer John Powell was named in the film's credits as a score advisor for the music; this was the first time he had returned to work on a Disney Animation film since Bolt (2008).[7]

Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released to streaming services on November 19, 2021. The film was theatrically released in the United States on November 24, 2021, in RealD 3D and Dolby Cinema.[8] An exclusive CD, including a poster, was made available via Target on December 17,[9] while picture discs were sold by Walmart.[10] The soundtrack was released in a total of 46 languages.[11]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

The soundtrack for download or streaming consists of 44 tracks, 32 of which are present on the CD release.[12] There are 8 original songs and an English-language version of the track "Dos Oruguitas".[13][14] The download also includes instrumental versions of the songs.[15] The download contains 27 score compositions, 23 of which are also present on the CD release.[15][16]

Drawing from the diverse music of Colombia,[17] the soundtrack of Encanto is a Latin-pop album combining bambuco,[18] salsa, tango, vallenato, reggaeton,[19] cumbia,[20] bachata,[21] hip hop, folk, and funk with theatre music.[22] It incorporates the folk instruments of Colombia, such as marimba, accordion, tiple, tambora, guacharaca, caja, maracas,[23] arpa llanera, bandolas, and cuatros.[24] The lyrics are in English and Spanish languages,[note 1] and are about the film's central characters—a multi-generational family called the Madrigals, who wield magical powers gifted to them by "the miracle", except the lead protagonist Mirabel Madrigal who does not possess any gift.[25][26]

Songs

[edit]

The opening song "The Family Madrigal" was inspired by "Belle", the opener of Beauty and the Beast (1991).[2] It is a vallenato tune,[18] sung by American actress Stephanie Beatriz. Mirabel introduces the Madrigals and their unique magical gifts in the song.[27] Also performed by Beatriz, "Waiting on a Miracle" is a bambuco song,[18] written as Mirabel's "I Want" song.[28] During the 2018 research trip to Colombia, the filmmakers noticed that local musicians in Barichara were playing Colombian music on guitars and tiples in a 3
4
waltz time signature.[28] Miranda wrote the song in that time signature to symbolize how Mirabel is in a "different rhythmic universe than the rest of her family".[28]

The third track, "Surface Pressure", is a reggaeton song with a synth-line, performed by American actress Jessica Darrow.[25] Luisa Madrigal, one of Mirabel's elder sisters, expresses her insecurities and the stress she feels from her family in the song,[27] describing the weight of responsibility. Miranda stated he wrote the song inspired by his elder sister.[29] "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is an ensemble number, featuring verses by Pepa, Félix, Dolores, Camilo and Isabela Madrigal, who are Mirabel's aunt, uncle, cousins, and elder sister, respectively. It is sung by Colombian singers Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo, American singer Adassa, American actor Rhenzy Feliz, and American actress Diane Guerrero, respectively. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" fuses various genres,[17] such as salsa,[18] guajira, Cuban folk, hip hop, and dance styles.[11] It sees the characters list their perspectives of Mirabel's uncle, Bruno Madrigal,[30][27] who became ostracized from his family after sharing unsettling visions.[17]

"What Else Can I Do?" is a "Shakira-esque" rock ballad.[25] Mostly sung by Guerrero, the song shows Isabela free herself of the "need to be perfect".[27] "Dos Oruguitas" is a violin-driven acoustic ballad.[17] Miranda stated it was the hardest song to write and that it became his first song written entirely in Spanish-language.[2] To make it sound like an authentic Colombian folk song, Miranda insisted on writing the song first in Spanish, rather than writing first in English and translating into Spanish later.[2] It was recorded by Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra. Miranda looked to songwriters like Joan Manuel Serrat and Antônio Carlos Jobim for the song's inspiration.[2] "Dos Oruguitas" plays when Alma Madrigal, Mirabel's maternal grandmother ("Abuela") and the matriarch of the family, loses her husband Pedro while fleeing gunmen involved in an armed conflict. It is regarded as the emotional centerpiece of the album.[27] "All of You" is the final musical number, sung by the entire cast. It is a culmination of melodies and musical sections from all of its preceding songs. "Colombia, Mi Encanto" is a non-diegetic track sung by Carlos Vives.[27] It is an upbeat, radio-friendly dance-pop tune intended as a tribute to Colombia. It is played twice in the film: when Antonio Madrigal, Mirabel's cousin, gets his gift and again from the film's closing scenes to the ending credits.[30]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[31]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[32]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[33]
FilmtracksStarStarStarStar
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[34]

Receiving widespread acclaim,[35] the soundtrack was a critical success and was often acclaimed in the film's reviews. Mark Kennedy of Associated Press,[36] Edward Porter of The Sunday Times,[37] John Lui of The Straits Times,[38] Mini Chibber of The Hindu,[39] Declan Burke of Irish Examiner,[40] Whelan Barzey of Time Out,[41] Katie Walsh of Los Angeles Times,[42] Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun Times,[43] Mark Feeney of The Boston Globe,[44] Caroline Siede of The A.V. Club,[45] Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph,[46] and Chris Hewitt of Star Tribune have identified the music as one of the best aspects of the film.[47][48] The songs have been praised for helping youngsters understand intergenerational trauma and the damage caused by repressing truth.[49]

Sebastián Yatra singing at a 2018 concert in Babahoyo, Ecuador.
Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra performed "Dos Oruguitas", which has been named by critics as the album's best song.

Variety writer Davis Clayton reviewed the soundtrack as "a quintessential sensation" by "all measures".[50] Jeremy Crabb of Screen Rant wrote "Encanto's soundtrack vividly sets the mood for this film's heartfelt, animated story", bolstered by its bold ballads and quiet, reflective songs, and picked "We Don't Talk About Bruno" as the best song.[27] Billboard critics dubbed "We Don't Talk About Bruno" as the most memorable track, but picked "Dos Origuitas" as the best track for being a heartfelt ballad with "emotional resonance and beautiful sentimentality".[51] TheWrap's Drew Taylor also ranked "Dos Oruguitas" as the best song, and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" as the runner-up.[30] Francesca Steele of i stated Encanto boasts a "dizzying" soundtrack "deeply woven into the characterisation". Steele appreciated Disney for embracing a different musical direction and complex ensemble pieces and dubbed it their best music since Frozen (2013).[19] The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey opined that many of the tracks are characteristic of Miranda's work in his musicals In the Heights or Hamilton, where "melodies will weave in and out of each other to reach a dizzying, final climax".[52] Luke Goodsell of the ABC said the songs are Miranda's "seemingly inescapable" sounds and "vibrant musical numbers", displaying the diversity of Latin music.[22] On the contrary, Stephen Thompson of NPR felt the songs were lackluster.[53]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was a huge commercial success.[35] The album and its songs topped several streaming and record charts around the world. According to Rolling Stone, the unexpected success has "largely boggled critics, who have approached its resounding popularity like a riddle they've been asked to solve."[24]

Albums charts

[edit]

The soundtrack topped the US Billboard 200 chart for nine weeks as the second longest-reigning number-one album of the 2020s decade, behind Dangerous: The Double Album (2020) by American singer Morgan Wallen.[54] It was the first Disney soundtrack since Frozen II (2019) to reach the top spot, and marked the sixth time an animated film's soundtrack topped the chart in its history, following The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1995), Curious George (2006), Frozen (2013) and Frozen II, all of which are Walt Disney productions except Curious George.[55] Billboard reported that the soundtrack is only the third album in history to debut in one of the last four spots of the Billboard 200 (197–200) and eventually make it to number one, the others being Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin II (1969) and the Monkees' Headquarters (1967).[56]

It debuted at number 197 on the Billboard 200, rose to number 110 the next week, and eventually climbed to number seven on the chart.[50][57] The soundtrack reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart dated January 15, 2022, dethroning Adele's 30 (2021) by earning 72,000 album-equivalent units, which comprises 88 million streams and 11,000 album sales.[23] The next week, it slipped to number three following the debuts of Gunna's DS4Ever and the Weeknd's Dawn FM at the top two spots, before ascending to the number one spot once again in the following week with 104,000 units.[58] It earned its highest consumption in its third chart-topping week—115,000 units—consisting of 19,000 sales and 138.51 million streams.[12] Furthermore, the album topped the US Independent Albums and Soundtrack Albums charts,[59] and the UK Compilation Chart for multiple weeks.[60]

Elsewhere, the album has reached number one in Australia,[61] Canada[62] and New Zealand,[63] number five in Austria,[64] the Netherlands,[65] Norway,[66] Spain[67] and in the Belgian region of Wallonia,[68] number eight in Belgium's Flanders,[69] number nine in Denmark,[70] number 11 in Switzerland,[71] number 14 in Germany,[72] number 18 in Finland,[73] number 25 in France,[74] number 27 in Italy,[75] and number 54 in Lithuania.[76]

The soundtrack placed 17th on Billboard's 2024 year-end Soundtracks chart and 18th on the 2025 year-end Soundtracks chart.[77][78] On Billboard's 2025 year-end Kid Albums chart, the soundtrack ranked 10th.[79]

Songs charts

[edit]
Stephanie Beatriz speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International, for "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
American actress Stephanie Beatriz, the voice of the protagonist Mirabel Madrigal, contributes vocals to five songs.

"We Don't Talk About Bruno" was the soundtrack's most popular song, surging on various digital music platforms. It reached number one on the Spotify Top 50 US chart on January 10, 2022,[50] ahead of the tracks from the Weeknd's Dawn FM, which was released that week,[23] and eventually topped YouTube, iTunes and Apple Music charts.[80] USA Today called the song "the first breakout hit of 2022" and a "Frozen-style phenomenon". According to Slate critic Chris Molanphy, "the organic nature of the audience landing on 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' really is the marketplace picking the single and that's quite unusual, especially for an animated film".[81]

All of the album's original songs appeared on the US Billboard Hot 100, led by "We Don't Talk About Bruno", which first appeared at number 50 and rose to number one,[82][83] surpassing Frozen's "Let It Go" (2013) as the highest charting Disney song since 1992.[84][85] "Surface Pressure", reaching number eight, made Encanto the first Disney animated film to have generated multiple top-10 songs on the Hot 100.[82][83] "The Family Madrigal" peaked at number 20, "What Else Can I Do?" at number 27, "Dos Oruguitas" at number 36, "Waiting on a Miracle" at number 48,[83] "All of You" at number 71,[86] and "Colombia, Mi Encanto" at number 100.[87] Buoyed by the chart performances of the soundtrack and its songs, Miranda topped the Hot 100 Songwriters chart for the first time in his career.[88]

On the UK Singles Chart, "We Don't Talk About Bruno", "Surface Pressure" and "The Family Madrigal" charted at numbers one, four and seven, respectively.[89] "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the first-ever original Disney song to top the chart,[90] while Encanto becomes the first animated film soundtrack to simultaneously place three songs in the chart's top ten.[89]

In Ireland, "We Don't Talk About Bruno", "Surface Pressure" and "The Family Madrigal" peaked at numbers one, eight and 19, respectively, on the Irish Singles Chart.[91]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

The soundtrack, and its tracks "Dos Oruguitas" and "Colombia, Mi Encanto" have been nominated for various awards. Miranda and Franco were also nominated individually. The film's music received two Academy Award nominations at the 94th Academy Awards: Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "Dos Oruguitas".[92] It also won the 2022 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production.[93]

Impact

[edit]
Maluma interviewed by MTV at the red carpet of 2018 MTV Video Music Awards
Colombian singer Maluma is featured on the track "All of You" as the voice of Mariano Guzman.

The soundtrack of Encanto was a viral phenomenon, enjoying widespread popularity on the internet. Far Out called it "Encanto-mania" and a "crossover pop phenomenon".[94] The TikTok videos tagged with the hashtag "#encanto" have received more than 27.7 billion views in total, as of June 20, 2022.[50][29] Billboard editor Jason Lipshutz compared "We Don't Talk About Bruno" to the "meteoric rise" of Olivia Rodrigo's breakthrough single "Driver's License" in January 2021. He said "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is propelled by high Spotify streams and trending TikTok videos like "Drivers License" and explained that audiences "look for the next big thing following the usual glut of Christmas music and fall releases from major artists".[81] In agreement, Mikael Wood, the pop music critic of Los Angeles Times, made the same comparison and stated Encanto becoming "2022's first widespread cultural phenomenon" has turned Miranda into a pop star and an "increasingly powerful showbiz figure". Wood also remarked Miranda's will for "cultural representation".[95]

Patrick Ryan of USA Today cited RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) reports on Latin music revenues, which grew for a fifth consecutive year in the US in 2020, and highlighted the presence of "Colombian hitmakers" Maluma and Sebastián Yatra featured on the soundtrack, summarizing "it's no wonder that Encanto has enjoyed crossover appeal".[81] /Film's BJ Colangelo called the soundtrack "The Biggest Thing In The World" (on January 10, 2022),[59] while CinemaBlend writer Rachel Romean stated the album "has proven that it can stand on its own two feet even outside of the film".[96] Associated Press journalist Jake Coyle called it a pop culture sensation, saying "the music of Encanto was suddenly everywhere. Everyone was talking about Bruno".[29]

Johanna Ferreira of PopSugar wrote that the success of both the film and the soundtrack speaks to "not just the importance and significance of this type of representation in animated films, but also how movies like this are really changing how Latinx stories are being told".[97] Variety said the film "cut through the cultural clutter, producing a series of resounding hits that are forever ingrained on the psyche of children, their parents and anyone who just happened to be in the general vicinity while the film was playing."[35]

On October 28, 2022, it was announced that the Encanto Live-to-Film Concert Experience at the Hollywood Bowl taking place on November 11 and 12 would be filmed for Disney+ and released as Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl and released on December 28.[98]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs are written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. All scores are composed by Germaine Franco.[16]

Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) both in download and on CD
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."The Family Madrigal"Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Merediz & cast of Encanto4:18
2."Waiting on a Miracle"Beatriz2:42
3."Surface Pressure"Jessica Darrow3:24
4."We Don't Talk About Bruno"Adassa, Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Rhenzy Feliz, Carolina Gaitán, Diane Guerrero & cast of Encanto3:37
5."What Else Can I Do?"Beatriz & Guerrero3:00
6."Dos Oruguitas"Sebastián Yatra3:35
7."All of You"Adassa, Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Merediz, Maluma & cast of Encanto4:39
8."¡Hola Casita!" 0:47
9."Colombia, Mi Encanto"Carlos Vives2:56
10."Two Oruguitas"Yatra3:35
11."Abre Los Ojos" 3:17
12."Meet La Familia" 2:09
13."I Need You" 2:28
14."Antonio's Voice" 2:15
15."El Baile Madrigal" 2:51
16."The Cracks Emerge" 1:23
17."Tenacious Mirabel" 1:36
18."Breakfast Questions" 1:26
19."Bruno's Tower" 0:53
20."Mirabel's Discovery" 2:57
21."The Dysfunctional Tango" 2:43
22."Chasing the Past" 2:27
23."Family Allies" 1:16
24."The Ultimate Vision" 2:11
25."Isabela La Perfecta" 1:21
26."Las Hermanas Pelean" 1:18
27."The House Knows" 1:29
28."La Candela" 3:21
29."El Río" 1:28
30."It Was Me" 1:21
31."El Camino De Mirabel" 2:10
32."Mirabel's Cumbia" 2:49
Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) only in download, not on CD
No.TitleLength
33."The Rat's Lair"1:22
34."Tío Bruno"2:24
35."Impresiones Del Encanto"2:30
36."La Cumbia De Mirabel" (featuring Christian Camilo Peña)2:47
37."The Family Madrigal" (Instrumental)4:18
38."Waiting on a Miracle" (Instrumental)2:42
39."Surface Pressure" (Instrumental)3:23
40."We Don't Talk About Bruno" (Instrumental)3:36
41."What Else Can I Do?" (Instrumental)3:00
42."Dos Oruguitas" (Instrumental)3:35
43."All of You" (Instrumental)4:54
44."Colombia, Mi Encanto" (Instrumental)2:55
Total length:114:42

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[124] Platinum 20,000
Canada (Music Canada)[125] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[126] Gold 10,000
France (SNEP)[127] Platinum 100,000
Italy (FIMI)[128] Gold 25,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[129] Platinum 15,000
Spain (Promusicae)[130] Gold 20,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[131] Platinum 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[132] Platinum 300,000
United States (RIAA)[133] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

[edit]

Footnote

[edit]
  1. ^ The album was originally written in English and Spanish languages, but has been translated, recorded and released in 44 other languages.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album accompanying Disney's 2021 animated feature film Encanto, featuring eight original songs written primarily by alongside a score composed by . Released digitally by on November 19, 2021, with a physical edition following on December 17, the album integrates Latin American musical influences reflective of the film's Colombian setting.
The soundtrack achieved substantial commercial success, surging to the top of the chart for its debut week dated January 15, 2022, and accumulating nine nonconsecutive weeks at number one, marking it as one of the longest-running animated film soundtracks at the summit in history. Standout track "We Don't Talk About Bruno," performed by the film's ensemble cast including and , propelled much of this performance, reaching number one on the and generating billions of global streams. In the United States, the album has been certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments exceeding one million units.
At the in 2023, the soundtrack secured three wins: Best Song Written for Visual Media for "," Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Franco's composition, and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, highlighting its critical acclaim in integrating narrative-driven songwriting with orchestral elements. These achievements underscore the album's role in revitalizing interest in film soundtracks amid streaming dominance, though its viral ascent via platforms like also drew scrutiny over algorithmic amplification rather than organic cultural penetration.

Production

Development

The development of the Encanto soundtrack began alongside the film's conceptualization in 2016, with attached from the project's early stages to write the original songs. , known for his Broadway successes including Hamilton and prior Disney collaboration on Moana, was selected for his ability to blend theatrical musical storytelling with Latin American cultural elements, drawing on his Puerto Rican heritage to adapt influences. To ensure authenticity, and Disney filmmakers conducted research trips to , immersing themselves in the country's musical traditions, history, and folk instruments such as the and gaita, which informed the soundtrack's rhythmic and melodic foundations. Germaine Franco was enlisted as the score composer for her demonstrated expertise in Latin music orchestration, building on her contributions to Disney's Coco where she co-wrote songs and handled arrangements to evoke Mexican cultural sounds. Franco's selection emphasized a commitment to regional accuracy, involving extensive study of Colombia's diverse genres like , , and bambuco to create an instrumental backdrop that complemented Miranda's vocal tracks without overpowering the narrative. Pre-production faced challenges from the , which disrupted global film workflows and prompted to adopt a hybrid release strategy, premiering Encanto simultaneously in theaters and on on November 24, 2021, rather than a traditional theatrical window. This shift, while not halting animation or scoring—much of which predated widespread lockdowns—reflected broader industry adaptations to ensure accessibility amid theater closures and production pauses.

Composition and recording

Lin-Manuel Miranda composed eight original songs for the Encanto soundtrack, drawing on Colombian musical traditions such as and while incorporating rhythmic elements reminiscent of hip-hop in tracks like "." His songwriting process involved iterative demos created at to capture specific moods, followed by lyrical refinement in Spanish to ensure rhythmic flow and cultural , with early work beginning around 2019 and intensifying in 2020 amid pandemic-related remote collaboration constraints. The songs were recorded primarily in Los Angeles studios, including Sunset Sound Studio 2, by the film's voice cast such as Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel and Carolina Gaitán as Pepa, with production handled by Miranda alongside Mike Elizondo, who focused on final mixes to blend vocal performances with layered instrumentation despite lockdown isolation for remote participants. Germaine Franco composed 27 score pieces, immersing herself in Colombian music through research into rhythms like bambuco and instruments including the gaita , marimba, accordion, caja vallenata drums, guacharaca scraper, arpa llanera harp, and tiple guitar, which she integrated with modern orchestral elements recorded in sessions featuring Colombian choirs and musicians to maintain authenticity. This approach prioritized causal fidelity to regional sounds via expert consultations and pre-recorded ethnic elements, compensating for the production's remote limitations during the 2020-2021 period by avoiding generic approximations in favor of verifiable traditional sourcing.

Musical content

Style and influences

The Encanto soundtrack integrates traditional Colombian folk genres such as bambuco and with modern Latin styles including , salsa, and , creating a pan-Latin fusion layered with pop and Broadway musical theater conventions. This blend draws from Colombia's diverse regional sounds, as researched by composer , who immersed herself in local music to incorporate authentic rhythms without relying on generic tropes. 's contributions further hybridize these elements with ensemble structures and rhythmic complexity akin to his work on Hamilton, evident in multi-vocal tracks that evoke theatrical patter songs adapted to salsa grooves. Instrumental choices underscore the cultural specificity, with Franco employing traditional Colombian tools like the tiple and bandola to evoke bambuco's lilting pulse, contrasting Miranda's electronically inflected reggaeton beats in select songs. This approach yields accessible, hook-driven arrangements that prioritize melodic familiarity and rhythmic drive over intricate harmonic innovation, contributing to the album's broad appeal through empirical earworms rather than theoretical depth. While praised for revitalizing Disney's musical formula with grounded Latin authenticity, critics have noted derivations from Miranda's prior scores like Moana, where similar folk-pop syntheses risked formulaic repetition despite cultural shifts.

Lyrics and themes

Lin-Manuel Miranda's lyrics for the Encanto soundtrack employ varied rhyme schemes and rhythmic structures to mirror character psychology and familial tensions, such as ABCB patterns in verses that evoke conversational flow amid escalating pressures. These elements prioritize syllable-dense phrasing for memorability, with songs like "Surface Pressure" featuring internal rhymes and multisyllabic matches—averaging 10-12 syllables per line—to convey the compressive weight of obligation, though critics note this can yield predictable resolutions favoring emotional catharsis over structural innovation. Miranda drew from Colombian folklore and personal family observations, stating the songs blend magical realism with intergenerational living to explore how past losses causally propagate expectations that stifle individuality. Thematically, the lyrics dissect family dynamics through a lens of causal accountability, portraying intergenerational trauma—stemming from Abuela Alma's displacement—as a chain of unaddressed burdens that demands utility from members, contrasting collectivist harmony with individual agency. Songs highlight how magic symbolizes conditional worth, critiquing normalized pressures that equate personal value to service, as in lines questioning self amid failure to perform roles. This avoids romanticizing dysfunction by resolving conflicts via direct confrontation and mutual vulnerability, exemplified in "All of You," where acceptance of imperfections fosters growth without excusing prior impositions. Dissenting analyses argue the portrayal oversimplifies cultural structures, potentially understating dependency dynamics or elder in Latin American contexts by emphasizing youthful over hierarchical repair, thus risking a narrative that burdens children with . Others contend it celebrates at community expense, framing abuse as resolvable through personal epiphany rather than systemic accountability, though empirical parallels affirm the causal role of unhealed trauma in perpetuating cycles. Such views, from outlets like , underscore tensions between the soundtrack's optimistic realism and critiques of cultural essentialism, prioritizing evidence of relational causation over idealized victim narratives prevalent in some media interpretations.

Songs and score

The Encanto soundtrack comprises eight original songs written by and performed primarily by the film's voice cast, including as , alongside guest artist on "". These songs total approximately 30 minutes in duration, with individual tracks ranging from 2:41 for "Waiting on a Miracle" to 4:17 for "". The accompanying score, composed by , includes 27 instrumental cues that integrate Colombian folk elements such as and rhythms with orchestral arrangements to support scene transitions and emotional beats. "We Don't Talk About Bruno", a 3:36 ensemble piece, employs overlapping vocals from family members including Pepa (), Dolores (), and Camillo () to convey multiple perspectives on Bruno's prophetic visions, thereby revealing interpersonal conflicts that propel Mirabel's investigation into the family's miracle. Its layered structure, building from whispers to chaotic , mirrors the narrative escalation of suppressed tensions. The track's modular verses facilitated widespread adaptation on , where users isolated sections for lip-syncing and choreography, contributing to the film's post-theatrical popularity surge. "Dos Oruguitas", a Spanish-language acoustic ballad performed by and lasting 3:44, accompanies Abuela Alma's recounting of the family's origins, using to underscore generational perseverance and serving as an emotional fulcrum before the climax. Franco's score complements the songs by weaving leitmotifs, such as the recurring "" theme in variations for familial unity, while employing dissonant harmonies in cues like those depicting visions to heighten suspense and foreshadow revelations. These elements causally link musical cues to plot progression, with the score's regional providing continuity amid the vocal tracks' stylistic shifts.

Release

Marketing and promotion


Disney initiated marketing for the Encanto soundtrack with the release of teaser single "Colombia, Mi Encanto" on July 8, 2021, integrated into the film's first trailer and performed by Colombian singer Carlos Vives to underscore the story's cultural setting. The soundtrack album followed on November 19, 2021, days before the film's theatrical debut on November 24, aligning promotion with a 30-day exclusive cinema window before Disney+ availability, a strategy adapted to pandemic-era streaming dominance that prioritized digital platforms for broader reach.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songwriter, conducted interviews highlighting the music's roots in Colombian traditions and the pride in representing Latino heritage, such as immersing in local sounds to authentically capture familial and magical themes. These efforts, combined with Disney's platform-specific pushes like integrations and billboards, fostered early online engagement over conventional radio ads, which were deferred until late January 2022. Post-release visibility relied on social media amplification, where Disney's targeted campaigns encouraged user sharing amid streaming shifts, yielding organic virality; for example, trailer and song clips garnered initial traction, setting the stage for broader buzz without aggressive traditional promotion. This approach capitalized on pandemic-driven digital consumption, enabling songs to spread via platforms like through family-oriented content rather than paid media saturation.

Formats and editions

The Encanto original motion picture soundtrack was initially released digitally by Walt Disney Records on November 19, 2021, featuring 44 tracks that include both original songs composed primarily by Lin-Manuel Miranda and score by Germaine Franco. A physical compact disc edition followed on December 17, 2021. The album is available for streaming on major platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music without noted region-specific alterations beyond language options for select tracks. Special physical editions include a vinyl LP released on May 27, 2022, offered in standard black, , and limited-edition green colored variants exclusive to retailers like Amazon and . A deluxe edition, compiling the full tracklist, was also distributed through retailers such as Amazon. International variants incorporate Spanish-language tracks like "" performed by , with full Spanish versions of songs available digitally alongside the English primary release. No major reissues tied to events like the 2023 Grammys were documented beyond ongoing vinyl availability.
FormatRelease DateLabelNotes
Digital download/streamingNovember 19, 202144 tracks; available on ,
Compact discDecember 17, 2021Standard edition; deluxe variant available
Vinyl LPMay 27, 2022Black, picture disc, green limited edition

Track listing

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1"", & cast4:17
2"Waiting on a Miracle"2:41
3""3:22
4"", Mauro Castillo, , , , & cast3:36
5"What Else Can I Do?" & 2:59
6""3:34
7"All of You", , John Leguizamo & cast4:13
8"Colombia, Mi Encanto"Carlos Vives2:23
The album also includes 36 instrumental score tracks composed by .

Reception

Critical reviews

The Encanto soundtrack garnered acclaim for its vibrant fusion of Latin American rhythms and Broadway-style songcraft, with critics highlighting Lin-Manuel Miranda's integration of Colombian folk traditions like and bambuco alongside salsa, rock, and pop elements. Reviewers praised the cultural authenticity and infectious hooks in tracks such as "," which captured ensemble dynamics and narrative tension effectively. The album's score by was commended for its rhythmic groove and emotional depth, contributing to the project's recognition as a milestone in Disney's animated musical output. This positive reception was underscored by three Grammy Awards at the 65th ceremony on February 5, 2023: Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for the overall album, Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Franco, and Best Song Written for Visual Media for Miranda's "." AllMusic assigned it a rating of 7.3 out of 10, noting its appeal within the genre despite familiar compositional tropes. Critics offered mixed assessments on the melodies' memorability and originality, with some viewing them as overly reliant on Miranda's signature rapid-fire lyricism and ensemble choruses at the expense of standalone innovation. initially deemed the songs "lackluster" and secondary to the film's visuals, later conceding catchiness in select numbers like but questioning their lasting artistic substance beyond viral appeal. Dissenting voices highlighted a perceived shallowness in thematic execution through music, arguing that the Broadway-derived structure prioritized plot advancement over melodic distinction.

Audience response and controversies

The Encanto soundtrack garnered significant audience engagement through social media platforms, particularly , where users created numerous duets and challenges featuring songs like "We Don't Talk About Bruno," contributing to its viral spread and cultural permeation beyond traditional listening. This fan-driven interaction amplified the tracks' reach, with duets allowing participants to harmonize or reenact scenes, fostering a sense of communal and familiarity with the . The album's appeal spanned generations, resonating with families through its multigenerational family dynamics and relatable themes of pressure and heritage, which encouraged shared viewing and discussion among children, parents, and elders. This broad draw was evident in its chart performance across demographics, distinguishing it from more youth-targeted releases. However, some audiences noted superficial treatment of familial trauma, arguing that depictions like the exclusion in "" risked normalizing avoidance rather than resolution. Controversies arose over cultural authenticity, with pre-release discussions questioning Lin-Manuel Miranda's Puerto Rican heritage in crafting for a Colombian-set story, prompting debates on whether non-native perspectives diluted regional specificity. Critics highlighted the absence of primary Colombian lyricists, suggesting the soundtrack's "diffuse charm" blended influences without deep immersion, despite consultations with local musicians. Representation behind the scenes faced similar scrutiny, as limited Colombian creative input was seen to produce a generalized Latin American portrayal rather than a precise one, though the film incorporated elements like and rhythms. The song "" drew specific backlash for ostensibly glorifying and , with psychological analyses interpreting it as endorsing family of a prophetic figure to preserve , potentially modeling unhealthy dynamics for young viewers. These concerns contrasted with the track's commercial dominance but underscored audience divisions on whether such narratives reinforced cultural pressures or critiqued them inadequately.

Commercial performance

Album charts

The Encanto soundtrack debuted at number 197 on the US chart dated December 11, 2021, before climbing to number 1 on the January 15, 2022, edition, displacing Adele's 30 after six weeks at the summit. It accumulated nine nonconsecutive weeks at number 1 through March 2022, the longest reign for a soundtrack since Frozen II in 2019 and the first for a Disney animated film soundtrack in over two years. Internationally, the album reached number 1 on Australia's ARIA Albums Chart dated March 11, 2022, after an 11-week ascent from its debut. In the , it topped the Official Compilations Chart for seven consecutive weeks starting in early 2022. The soundtrack's chart dominance coincided with the film's Disney+ release on December 24, 2021, which generated over 1.4 billion streaming minutes in multiple weeks per Nielsen measurements, fueling renewed album consumption through tied audio streams and downloads.

Singles charts

"We Don't Talk About Bruno" became the standout single from the Encanto soundtrack, debuting on the on January 15, 2022, and surging to number one by the chart dated February 5, following the film's release on December 24, 2021. It held the top position for three nonconsecutive weeks, marking the longest-running number-one single from a animated film since "" from in 1993 and surpassing "" from Frozen as the biggest hit on the chart by multi-metric consumption. In the , the track rose to number one on the Official Singles Chart dated January 21, 2022, becoming the first original song to achieve this milestone and accumulating four weeks at the summit. "Surface Pressure," performed by Jessica Darrow, entered the Hot 100 at number 54 on January 8, 2022, before climbing to a peak of number eight the week of January 29, representing the second Encanto track to enter the top ten. "Dos Oruguitas," sung by Sebastián Yatra, debuted on the Hot 100 at number 83 on January 15, 2022, eventually peaking at number 36, while reaching number four on the Hot Latin Songs chart—marking Yatra's highest position on that tally—and number two on Latin Streaming Songs.

Sales figures and certifications

In the United States, the Encanto soundtrack was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA on September 19, 2024, representing 2 million album-equivalent units comprising sales and on-demand audio/video streams. The "We Don't Talk About Bruno" earned 6× Platinum certification from the RIAA, equivalent to 6 million units, reflecting its dominance in streaming with hundreds of millions of plays across platforms by mid-2022 and sustained playback into subsequent years. Globally, reported soundtrack sales exceeding 8 million units by April 2024, driven primarily by streaming equivalents rather than physical or digital purchases alone, with no evidence of reliance on paid promotion but rather viral organic sharing via and family viewing.
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)Platinum20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)Platinum80,000‡
France (SNEP)Gold50,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)Platinum10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)Silver60,000‡
United States (RIAA)2× Platinum2,000,000‡
‡ Sales + streaming equivalents. Certifications reflect data up to 2024, with streaming contributions forming the bulk of units post-2022, maintaining relevance through 2025 without significant decline.

Awards and recognition

Grammy wins

At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 5, 2023, the Encanto soundtrack secured three wins in visual media categories. It received the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, credited to various artists with production by Mike Elizondo, Tom MacDougall, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Composer Germaine Franco won Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for her original score, marking the first time a Latina composer claimed this category. Additionally, Lin-Manuel Miranda won Best Song Written for Visual Media for "We Don't Talk About Bruno," which outperformed nominees including Beyoncé's "Be Alive" from King Richard. These victories occurred in a competitive field featuring soundtracks from films like Elvis and Top Gun: Maverick, underscoring the soundtrack's strong industry recognition despite broader genre diversity.

Other accolades

The Encanto soundtrack earned the Annie Award for Music in an Animated Feature Production, shared by and , at the ceremony on March 12, 2022. At the on May 15, 2022, the album won the Top Soundtrack category, recognizing its commercial dominance on .

Cultural impact

Viral phenomenon

The soundtrack's track "We Don't Talk About Bruno" experienced a rapid ascent fueled by TikTok trends in late 2021 and early 2022, where users created over 800,000 videos lip-syncing its ensemble structure and plot-revealing lyrics, propelling the song from lower chart positions to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending February 5, 2022. This marked the first No. 1 hit from a Disney animated feature since "A Whole New World" in 1993 and surpassed Frozen's "Let It Go," which peaked at No. 2 in 2014, as the highest-charting Disney animated song in 26 years. The song's layered vocals and narrative buildup, including multiple character perspectives and a surprise chorus twist, aligned particularly well with short-form video platforms, amplifying organic shares among users. Encanto's availability on Disney+ starting December 24, 2021, correlated directly with streaming spikes, as the film garnered 2.2 billion viewing minutes in its first full week and 1.51 billion in the following week of January 17–23, 2022, sustaining soundtrack plays amid holiday home confinement patterns exacerbated by ongoing restrictions. This home-viewing environment facilitated repeated family watches, with analytics showing cross-generational engagement through parent-child duets and reaction videos on , broadening appeal beyond child audiences to include adults familiar with Lin-Manuel Miranda's style. While the virality drove measurable metrics—such as the soundtrack's jump to No. 1 on the for five nonconsecutive weeks starting January 15, 2022—some observers critiqued the phenomenon as prioritizing algorithmic hype over musical depth, noting the songs' catchiness derived more from repetitive hooks and momentum than innovative composition. Critics like those at highlighted initial dismissals of the tracks as "forgettable" prior to the surge, suggesting the explosion reflected platform dynamics and pandemic isolation rather than timeless artistic merit, with the success even surprising industry insiders.

Long-term legacy

The Encanto soundtrack has maintained significant streaming longevity, ranking as the fifth most-streamed film of 2024 with 6.61 billion minutes viewed, and continuing strong performance into 2025, including over 2.2 billion minutes in its initial tracking periods on platforms like Disney+. This endurance reflects ongoing audience engagement with its Latin-infused tracks, particularly "," which achieved 6× Platinum certification for over 6 million units sold by October 2025. However, absent major promotional revivals or live adaptations by late 2025, its presence relies on organic playback rather than orchestrated campaigns, underscoring a plateau in active cultural momentum post-2022 viral surge. In terms of musical influence, the album contributed to heightened global awareness of Colombian genres like and through collaborations with artists such as and , integrating them into Disney's animated musical framework. This elevated Latin pop's visibility in mainstream family entertainment, yet critiques note its blends as more commercially adaptive than innovatively transformative, drawing from established traditions without pioneering new fusions in subsequent Disney projects like Wish (2023). Colombian audiences have expressed pride in the positive portrayal of national and family dynamics, fostering interest and cultural exports, though some observers argue the impact remains surface-level, amplifying stereotypes of vibrant but ahistorical rather than deep ethnographic accuracy. Claims of the soundtrack sparking a "representation revolution" have been overstated, as its success stems primarily from relatable themes of intergenerational pressures and resilience—universal elements grounded in causal structures—rather than identity-driven novelty, with empirical limits evident in Grammy wins for visual media compilation (2022) that failed to spawn genre-defining shifts. Scholarly analyses highlight how portrayals occasionally reinforce model-minority ideals among Latino characters, prioritizing aspirational harmony over nuanced socioeconomic realities, a pattern common in market-oriented media despite authentic cultural consultations. As of October 2025, a sequel remains in early story development per actor , with no confirmed release, suggesting Disney's cautious extension of the franchise amid broader animation challenges rather than assured enduring dominance.

References

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