When we talk about Encanto, most people immediately start humming "We Don't Talk About Bruno." It was the breakout hit that dominated the charts, but if you look closer at the heart of the film, it's actually Stephanie Beatriz Waiting on a Miracle that carries the most weight. This isn't just because it's the classic Disney "I Want" song. It’s because the story of how it was made is genuinely insane.
Stephanie Beatriz, best known for playing the tough-as-nails Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, voiced Mirabel Madrigal. Mirabel is the only member of her family without a magical "gift." She's the black sheep. She’s the one literally standing on the sidelines while everyone else glows.
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But there was a secret happening in the recording booth.
Recording through the pain
You've probably heard a lot of "fun facts" about movie stars, but this one is hard to top. Stephanie Beatriz recorded Stephanie Beatriz Waiting on a Miracle while she was literally in labor.
No, seriously.
She was having contractions while she was standing at the microphone. She didn't tell anyone at Disney. She didn't want the production team to freak out or stop the session. She just wanted to get the job done. Honestly, that's a level of professionalism that most of us can't even fathom. Imagine trying to hit those emotional high notes while your body is prepping to bring a human into the world. Her daughter, Rosaline, was born the very next day.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music, joked later that she was waiting for her own miracle while singing about one. It adds this raw, physical layer of urgency to the track that you can hear if you listen closely. That's not just "acting" breathless or emotional; that's a woman actually pushing through a massive life event to finish her work.
Why the music feels different
Most of the songs in Encanto are built on a 4/4 time signature. It’s the standard pop and musical theater beat. You can tap your foot to it easily. But "Waiting on a Miracle" is different.
It’s written in 3/4 time.
Basically, it's a waltz. Specifically, it's inspired by the Colombian Bambuco, which has a triple-meter pulse. This wasn't an accident. Lin-Manuel Miranda did this to show, musically, that Mirabel is out of sync with her family. While the rest of the Madrigals are living in a 4/4 world, Mirabel is literally dancing to a different beat.
The "Miracle Chord"
There is also a specific musical cue that fans call the "Miracle Chord." You hear it when the magic is happening or when the family is showing off. In Stephanie Beatriz Waiting on a Miracle, the music constantly teases this chord but doesn't quite let Mirabel "own" it the way the others do. It’s subtle, but it’s why the song feels so yearning.
It starts quiet.
It’s a whisper.
"Don't be upset or mad at all..."
By the end, she’s belt-screaming her frustration to the stars. The song isn't just about wanting a superpower; it's about the "invisible pain" of being told you’re fine when you’re clearly not. We've all been there—smiling at a party while feeling like an absolute ghost.
The struggle of the "Black Sheep"
A lot of people relate to this song because it captures "gifted kid burnout" or the pressure of immigrant families. Mirabel is the one trying to hold everything together even though she wasn't given the tools to do it.
Critics often point out that "Waiting on a Miracle" is the most "Broadway" moment in the movie. It’s the pivot point. If she doesn't sing this song, she doesn't go on the journey to save the Casita. She would have just stayed on the stairs, watching the party from the shadows.
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Real-world impact
- YouTube views: The song has racked up hundreds of millions of views.
- The "Underrated" factor: While "Bruno" went viral, this song is the one people play when they’re actually feeling something.
- Representation: Seeing a Colombian lead character deal with internal family dynamics—not just a villain—was huge for Latinx audiences.
Stephanie has mentioned in interviews that Mirabel is the character most like her. Despite the tough roles she's played in the past, she identifies with that feeling of trying to find your place in a world that seems to have a specific "slot" for everyone else but you.
Why it still hits hard
Honestly, the song works because it’s honest. It doesn't pretend that being positive is easy. It shows Mirabel being "steadfast and steady" until she just can't be anymore.
When you listen to Stephanie Beatriz Waiting on a Miracle now, knowing she was in labor, it changes the vibe. It becomes a song about endurance. It’s about a woman (and a character) who is determined to finish what she started, no matter what is happening internally.
If you want to dive deeper into the Encanto soundtrack, keep an ear out for how the 3/4 waltz rhythm from this song actually returns at the very end of the movie. It’s a sign that the family has finally started to move at Mirabel's pace, rather than forcing her to keep up with them.
For anyone looking to master the vocals, pay attention to the transition between the "hushed" opening and the "power" ending. Most amateur singers make the mistake of starting too loud. The magic of the Beatriz performance is the slow burn. Start small, keep the breath controlled, and let the frustration build naturally until the "I am ready" climax.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Compare the tracks: Listen to "The Family Madrigal" and then "Waiting on a Miracle" back-to-back to hear the shift from 4/4 to 3/4 time.
- Check the lyrics: Look for the "unspoken invisible pain" line—it’s the thesis statement for the entire movie.
- Watch the animation: Notice how the world slows down around Mirabel during this sequence, visually isolating her in her own time signature.