How Many Songs Are in Encanto: A Clear Tracklist Guide
There are 8 original songs written for the Disney film Encanto, with 7 performed on screen and included on the official soundtrack. The feature contains a total of 30 musical tracks when counting score by Germaine Franco, but the central vocal numbers are the 7 on-screen performances plus the end-credit song, making 8 purpose-built for the movie. No songs were cut from the final film; all 8 appear as part of the narrative and on the released soundtrack, providing the structural and emotional backbone of the story.
Official On-Screen Songs: Performances Included in the Movie
The following songs are performed by characters on screen and advance key story moments. All are present in the released movie and on the official album, with each tied to a specific character journey or plot turn.
- The Family Madrigal (Encanto): Opens the film, introduces the miracle, and establishes the multigenerational family structure.
- What Else Can I Do? / Podría Ser Yo (Dolores): Explores self-worth and the pressure of hidden expectations within the family.
- Waiting on a Miracle (Mirabel): The protagonist’s anthem about agency, hope, and refusing to accept limitation.
- We Don’t Talk About Bruno (Casita, Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa, Dolores): Becomes a narrative centerpiece, driving much of the plot through exposition and perspective.
- Surface Pressure (Luisa): A defining character study of duty, anxiety, and the emotional weight of being the strong one.
- Two Oruguitas (Abuela): Provides generational backstory, tying the miracle, sacrifice, and fear of impermanence together.
- Dos Oruguitas (End Credits): The end-credit rendition, rounding out the narrative arc and featuring in both the film and soundtrack.
The Complete Encanto Soundtrack: Tracklist and Context
The official Encanto soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records lists 8 songs created for the film, plus score cues that support but are not vocal set pieces. In practice, this means 8 purpose-built songs form the musical identity of the movie. The end-credit version of Dos Oruguitas is included on the soundtrack, aligning the on-screen and album track counts for vocal numbers. Below is a concise reference table for how the songs map to the film and its official release.
| Song | On-Screen in Film | On Official Soundtrack | Primary Character(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Family Madrigal | Yes | Yes | Entire Family / Mirabel |
| What Else Can I Do? | Yes | Yes | Dolores |
| Podríamos Ser (Spanish Version) | Yes | Yes | Dolores |
| Waiting on a Miracle | Yes | Yes | Mirabel |
| We Don’t Talk About Bruno | Yes | Yes | Multiple Perspectives |
| Surface Pressure | Yes | Yes | Luisa |
| Two Oruguitas | Yes | Yes | Abuela |
| Dos Oruguitas (End Credits) | Yes | Yes | Abuela |
| Encanto (Score by Germaine Franco) | N/A | Yes | Instrumental |
What Counts as a ‘Song’ in Encanto?
In narrative film terms, a song is a vocal composition performed by characters to express emotion or advance plot. By that standard, Encanto’s 8 purpose-built vocal numbers qualify, whether performed on screen or delivered as montage. Some tracks, such as certain score pieces, are instrumental motifs rather than songs in the musical-theatre sense. The end-credit ‘Dos Oruguitas’ is a full vocal performance included on both the film and the album, so it counts toward the song total. Understanding this distinction helps avoid confusion between score and song when discussing how many songs are in Encanto.
How the Song Count Shapes the Story
Eight songs allow the film to balance ensemble spectacle with intimate character moments. Large numbers give the story momentum and provide varied emotional tones, from celebratory (The Family Madrigal) to introspective (Waiting on a Miracle). The recurring motifs—especially We Don’t Talk About Bruno and Surface Pressure—function like recurring themes in a novel, deepening plot and theme without requiring more discrete numbers. This structure supports long-term engagement, making the tracklist durable as a storytelling device well beyond release windows.
Common Misconceptions and FAQs
- Are there more than 8 songs in the movie? No; the feature contains 7 on-screen vocal performances plus 1 end-credit song, totaling 8 purpose-built songs. Instrumental score tracks are not counted as songs.
- Is the end-credit song included in the count? Yes; Dos Oruguitas appears in the film and on the soundtrack, so it is included in the 8-song total.
- Was any song removed or changed after release? No; all 8 songs were part of the final release, with no cuts or replacements.
- Do different language versions change the song count? No; Spanish and other language dubs replace vocals but retain the same number of songs.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
When discussing how many songs are in Encanto, precision matters: 8 purpose-built vocal numbers appear in the film and on the official soundtrack, plus instrumental score tracks that support but do not qualify as songs. This count is stable across releases, language dubs, and streaming formats. For creators, the structure demonstrates how a compact, well-defined song set can carry narrative weight and sustain audience connection over time.
Related Topics to Explore
- The role of motif and recurring theme in animated musical storytelling
- Comparing song structures in Disney animated features
- How end-credit songs affect narrative closure in modern musical films