Encanto (Soundtrack)

**Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)** is the soundtrack to the 2021 film Encanto. It was released on November 19, 2021.

## History

### Development

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 computer-animated musical film Encanto, which would have eight original songs in both Spanish and English, and was set for release in 2021. 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). Miranda and the filmmakers travelled to Colombia in 2018 to research and study the country, its culture and music. On September 8, 2021, Germaine Franco, co-composer of the songs from Coco (2017), began to score the film. Composer John Powell was named in the film's credits as a score consultant for the music; this was the first time he had returned to work on a Disney Animation film since Bolt (2008).

### Music and Lyrics

The soundtrack consists of 44 tracks, comprising eight original songs, their instrumental versions, an English-language version of the track "Dos Oruguitas" and 27 score compositions. Drawing from the diverse music styles of Colombia, the soundtrack of Encanto is a Latin-pop album combining bambuco, salsa, tango, vallenato, reggaeton, cumbia, bachata, hip hop, folk, and funk with theatre music. It incorporates the traditional music instruments of Colombia, such as marimba, accordion, tiple, tambora, guacharaca, caja, maracas, arpa llanera, bandolas, and cuatros. The lyrics are in English and Spanish languages, 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.

## Charts

### Year-end Charts

 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
 US Billboard 200

## Release

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. The soundtrack CDs were later made available via Target, while picture discs were sold by Walmart. The soundtrack was released in a total of 46 languages.

## Reception

### Critical Response

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

Variety writer Davis Clayton reviewed the soundtrack as "a quintessential sensation" by "all measures". 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. 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". TheWrap's Drew Taylor also ranked "Dos Oruguitas" as the best song, and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" as the runner-up. 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). 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". Luke Goodsell of the ABC said the songs are Miranda's "seemingly inescapable" sounds and "vibrant musical numbers", displaying the diversity of Latin music. On the contrary, Stephen Thompson of NPR felt the songs were lacklustre.