Encanto’s Hit Song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Didn’t Get An Oscar Nomination, Here’s Why
Oscar nominations were announced on February 8, and Disney’s Encanto received a number of nominations, including Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. However, the song that was nominated for Best Original Song was not the incredibly popular “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”. Instead, it was the beautiful and heartbreaking song, “Dos Oruguitas”. The song was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and performed by Sebastian Yatra.
Many were shocked to learn that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was not nominated. The song has shot to number one on the Billboard charts and has proven more popular than “Let It Go” from the 2013 film Frozen. It has even surpassed Disney’s most successful song ever, “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas. However, there are very simple reasons that the song did not believe a nomination that many thought it deserved.
Film studios submit films, songs, writers, etc., that they think should be considered for an Oscar. Disney chose to only submit “Dos Oruguitas” for Best Original Song, and not “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”. The song was a sleeper hit that Disney seemingly had no idea would blow up the way that it did. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is also not the type of song that Disney usually submits for consideration.
While successful songs from animated movies tend to be pop-centered and become the ultimate earworm, Disney — and a number of other production companies — tend to submit more serious songs and ballads. One of the few exceptions to that rule would be “Under The Sea” from The Little Mermaid — which won best song at the 1990 Oscars. The film also won the Oscar for Best Original Score.
Here are just a handful of Disney songs that have won the Oscar for Best Original Song:
- “When You Wish Upon a Star”
- “A Whole New World”
- “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
- “Colors of the Wind”
- “Beauty and the Beast”
Encanto was not the only Disney film that was nominated for an Academy Award this year. Luca and Raya and the Last Dragon were also both nominated for Best Animated Film, alongside Encanto. Cruella was also nominated for both Best Costume Design and Best Hair and Makeup. Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: No Way Home are also both nominated for Best Visual Effects.
If you would like to do a Disney Oscar binge before the ceremony on March 27, Encanto, Raya and the Last Dragon, Luca, Cruella, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are all available to stream on Disney+.
