In November of last year, Walt Disney Animation Studios released their latest animated feature to join the long-running Disney Canon. “Encanto” tells the story of a family in Colombia, blessed with a magical home and supernatural powers save for young Mirabel. Despite being “ungifted,” Mirabel finds herself having to save the day when the titular encanto empowering her family begins to disappear. Music fans may perhaps remember this film for having original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame. One song in particular has seen a meteoric rise in the months since the movie’s release, to the point of topping the Billboard Hot 100.

Entertainment Weekly tells us that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a song from the November 2021 Disney animated film “Encanto,” has reached the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 by January 31. This is notable as the only other time a Disney animated film song pulled off this feat on Billboard was way back in 1993, when “A Whole New World” (credits version) from “Aladdin” ruled the chart. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” entered the Hot 100 in January 8, and its making the Number 1 spot dethroned “Easy on Me” by Adele.

It certainly helped that the song, one of several written for “Encanto” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, gained some viral popularity that lasted long after the film’s cinematic run. The Latin beat was a given plus point; so too perhaps the catchy refrain. (“We don’t talk about Bruno, no, no no!”) The context of the song as sung in the movie might also be another reason for its popularity. In the associated scene, the Madrigal Family explains to Mirabel why her disappeared Uncle Bruno is not spoken of within the family, a familiar sentiment perhaps to many.

The ascendancy of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” on the Billboard Hot 100 was very surprising indeed. Listeners took notice when it passed the highest chart position of memorable ear-worm “Let It Go” from 2013’s “Frozen.” This would come as a relief to “Frozen”-fatigued parents as their children find another (less high-note) song to sing repeatedly. “Bruno” also now holds the distinction of having the most credited performers on a Hot 100 top song, as it was performed by seven cast members of “Encanto” (or their singing voice-talents). Elsewhere, “Bruno” also rules the Official UK Singles Chart, and is now on its second week, even.

Image from Variety

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