5 Disney Songs You Didn’t Know Lin-Manuel Miranda Wrote
You might know him best from the hit musical “Hamilton,” but Miranda also has a growing repertoire of Disney work.
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an award-winning songwriter, actor, playwright, and filmmaker. You might know him best from the hit musical “Hamilton,” but he also has a growing repertoire of Disney work.
If you love these and can’t get enough, you can listen to plenty more Disney tunes on SiriusXM’s Disney Hits channel.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from “Encanto”
Have you had this song about the ostracized member of the Madrigal family in your head since “Encanto” was released in 2021? Well, you have Lin-Manuel to thank for that! The “family gossip song,” as he describes it, proved to be a viral hit. As the writer and lyricist, he truly achieved the complete opposite of the song’s purpose: everyone is talking about Bruno.
“You’re Welcome” from “Moana”
Who can forget the song that had many of us saying, “Wow, Dwayne Johnson can sing!”? 2016’s “Moana” has a fantastic soundtrack, all courtesy of Lin-Manuel’s collaboration with Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i. “You’re Welcome,” led by the demi-god Maui as he brags about his achievements, has us face to face with greatness, and it’s not strange at all.
“Jabba Flow” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Lin-Manuel gave his own musical twist to a beloved part of “Star Wars” — “Cantina Band” from “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Lin-Manuel had the difficult task of helping “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams write a new piece of music for the sequel’s cantina scenes. Written in Huttese, he described the song as a “Shaggy intergalactic remix,” and it’s hard to disagree!
“A Cover Is Not the Book” from “Mary Poppins Returns”
Lin-Manuel doesn’t just work behind the scenes: you can see him in the flesh in the sequel to the Disney classic “Mary Poppins.” This upbeat tune brings back the iconic tuxedo penguins for a colorful, joyful moment, allowing Lin-Manuel to perform alongside a flurry of animated companions. Open it up and take a look!
“We Know The Way” from Moana
“We Know the Way” was the first song to be written and composed for “Moana,” and it sets the film’s tone perfectly. The number carries the powerful message of finding your way to the place where you truly belong, a key theme throughout the film. Fun fact: Lin-Manuel’s voice wasn’t supposed to feature on the track. That version was an early demo, but his vocals made it all the way to the official soundtrack.
