We Don’t Talk About Bruno (Song)
The song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” actually comes to us via a Disney film. Anyone familiar with such movies would know that sometimes, such tracks are very specific to the plotline itself. Such is actually the case with this particular song.
“Encanto”
Bruno himself is a character from said movie, Encanto. The various vocalists on this song depict other fictional figures from the film, i.e. Bruno’s family members and neighbors. So on the surface, the lyrics don’t possess any type of general applicability outside of the flick. But still, there does seem to be something like a universal message contained therein.
Encanto is a film that revolves around a South American family with magical powers. One of the senior members of the family, the Madrigals, is the titular “Bruno”.
For the sake of simplicity as far as the Western ear is concerned, let’s say that the Madrigals are mutants, i.e. each member of the clan possessing a different superpower. As for Bruno Madrigal, his ability is being able to perceive the future.
Bruno, the Doomsday Prophet
So one of the plot points of Encanto is that Bruno has actually been ostracized by the rest of the Madrigal family. The reason being, as relayed in this song, is that initially everything would be cool but then Bruno would come along, drop some sort of a doomsday prophecy, and sure enough what he predicts comes to pass.
So for instance we have Pepa (Carolina Gaitán) and Felix (Mauro Castillo), a married couple belonging to the Madrigal clan who hold down the first verse. And as relayed, on their wedding day “there wasn’t a cloud in the sky”. Then came Bruno, “with a mischievous grin”, foretelling rain. Afterwards, just like that, the pair ended up getting “married in a hurricane”.
So let’s say that Bruno’s predictions are for the most part centered on unfortunate events. Or at least that’s how he has come to be perceived by the Madrigals and townsfolk, as someone who would say ‘your fish would die’ for instance, and the next day they’re gone.
So not only has he been cast out of the ‘hood but he has also been demonized. He is depicted as someone who has “rats along his back” and what have you.
Takeaway
Now, we have not yet seen Encanto and therefore do not know the fine points of the film or the types of messages it is meant to relay. But in terms of a more general applicability, this song is based on sort of a kill-the-messenger type of motif.
For instance, in the abovementioned cases, it isn’t like Bruno caused it to rain or made the fish die. So what this piece actually speaks to is the human tendency to resist entertaining unfavorable prophecies, especially as far as our personal lives are concerned.
In other words, even if what Bruno predicts does come true, which apparently it does, his people don’t want to hear them.
In fact it appears that even uttering his name has become taboo, and the only reason it has come up on this occasion is because Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the main character of Encanto and Bruno’s niece, has apparently been inquiring about her uncle.
So it is her curiosity that this song is meant to satiate, i.e. others explaining to Maribel why they “don’t talk about Bruno”.
When was “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” released?
The official release date of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was on 19 November 2021. It is part of the soundtrack to an animated Disney film that came out that same month entitled Encanto. Owing to this, the label behind this track is Walt Disney Records.
Credits
This song was written by accomplished theatrical musician Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Miranda produced this track with Mike Elizondo. Many would recognize Elizondo as a behind-the-scenes’ man who worked extensively with Eminem and co. back around the turn of the century.
Who sings “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”?
Below are the singers that contributed vocals to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”:
- Carolina Gaitán
- Mauro Castillo
- Stephanie Beatriz
- Diane Guerrero
- Rhenzy Feliz
- Adassa
Achievements
In January, 2022, this song hit number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. In doing so, it became writer, Lin-Manuel’s first song to ever achieve that feat. Also, it is the second song from a Disney animated film to hit the number 1 spot on the said chart. The first Disney movie song to reach the top spot of the Hot 100 was 1992 hit “A Whole New World” from the hit animated film “Aladdin”.
In addition to enjoying a phenomenal level success in the US, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” replicated a similar feat in the UK (where it was also a chart-topper).
FYI
To note, the aforementioned “Bruno” is voiced by Hollywood vet John Leguizamo. According to the Disney Fandom wiki, this character was named “Bruno” due to the fact that said name fit nicely into this song.
What is the meaning of “Encanto”?
It is actually a Spanish word. When translated into English, it can mean any of the following:
- spell
- charm
I am not sure if I am the only one, but I think the song has a sample or at least is similar to the chorus to Flo Rida ft T Pain’s Low.
Down below is the lyrics but you can look further into it if you want.
We Don’t Talk About Bruno: We don’t talk about bruno no no no no
Low: Next thing you know Shauty got low low low low low
So in the movie, it’s literally about family issues, that’s literally the whole movie.
This song is driving me crazy, when I first heard it I thought the words were just written to fit the melody of another song because it seems like something I’ve heard before, but I cant figure out what, I thought maybe it was an ABBA song, like maybe
Fernando. I know i’ts supposed to be an original, however I can’t stop thinking Manuel was heavily ‘enfluenced’ by another song when he wrote Bruno…..cuz I’ve definitely heard Bruno before it was Brumo!
Actually encanto may also mean charming, and that is actually a more common meaning