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This is why ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ wasn’t nominated for an Oscar

Despite being one of the country’s biggest songs of the year, the song didn’t get an Oscar nomination.


Senior Writer
MARCH 27, 2022 2:14 PM EDT

We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was the number 1 song in the US for weeks. Played on TikTok clips and everywhere you paid attention to, the song from the Disney movie “Encanto” was a surprise hit and the first Disney song to climb the Billboard charts since “Let It Go.” Surprisingly, it wasn’t nominated for the Oscars.

Despite the song’s incredibly success, it wasn’t nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards, the most prestigious recognition for songs featured in films. There’s a reason behind this. Disney decided to submit “Dos Oruguitas,” written by Lin Manuel Miranda and performed by Sebastian Yatra, a more emotional song and thus more likely to win the coveted prize.

Disney had to submit their songs for Oscar consideration by November 1st of last year, two weeks before the release of “Encanto.” The company had no way of predicting the success that “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” amassed over the past couple of months.

The song’s success was a big surprise for everyone involved. “The fact that the ensemble song that is incredibly plot-heavy and almost requires having seen the film to fully understand is the one at the top of the charts is one of the most delightful and hilarious surprises … of my life!” said Lin Manuel Miranda, writer of the song, to the LA Times.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is performed by Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, and Stephanie Beatriz. It became the #1 song on Spotify’s Top 50 U.S. chart; #17 on the Top 50 Global; #1 on the Global Viral, and; #1 on the U.S. Viral charts.

The 94th Academy Awards will air today, March 27th. Despite the song not being nominated for any awards, the show will feature the first live performance of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Cast members will be joined on stage by Becky G and Luis Fonsi for the special performance.