Known for penning Oscar-nominated tunes for Disney films like Moana and Encanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda breaks from tradition with a song he wrote for Big Mouth season 7. After rising to global stardom with his Tony-winning sensation Hamilton, Miranda landed prominent roles in various Disney projects, ranging from a turn in Mary Poppins Returns to writing the much-loved songs for animated darling Moana. Nearly a decade after his Hamilton breakthrough, Miranda has become Hollywood’s go-to songwriter, with credits in everything from Encanto to 2023’s live-action version of The Little Mermaid.
Of course, Miranda’s talents aren’t relegated to the world of animation. In 2021, his earlier Broadway musical, In the Heights, was turned into a feature film. That same year, the Tony-winning artist also directed Tick, Tick… Boom!, the Andrew Garfield-led musical biopic about Rent writer Jonathan Larson. Needless to say, the bulk of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s project share that wholesome, larger-than-life Broadway spirit. Often, he creates music that’s infused with optimism and composed of catchy, very PG lyrics. That said, Big Mouth season 7 revisiting its trademark stories and topics leads to a surprising turn for Miranda.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Big Mouth Season 7 Song Isn’t What He’s Traditionally Known For
Until the debut of Big Mouth season 7, the songwriter’s biggest hits have stemmed from works like Hamilton, Moana, and Encanto. While all these projects have emotional highs and lows, they are defined by triumph. Characters figure out who they are or leave lasting legacies. There’s a bright-eyed optimism to the stories and how they’re framed. No matter Lin-Manuel Miranda’s level of involvement, this tone comes out in the music, from “Waiting on a Miracle” and “How Far I’ll Go” to something as dour as the smash hit Encanto song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Even Hamilton, despite its tragic ending, is defined by tunes like “My Shot.”
Big Mouth upends Miranda’s squeaky-clean reputation, making room for the show’s signature raunchy humor and all-too-real teenage woes. Allegedly, Big Mouth showrunner Nick Kroll asked Miranda to compose “Esperando Pelitos” (“Waiting for Little Hairs”), an all-Spanish-language song, from the series’ seventh season. As the title implies, the song centers on a prepubescent teen who’s praying to grow some hair in the hopes that it’ll make him as grown-up as his relatives. While the song from Big Mouth is about a relatable topic (and one that shouldn’t be a taboo), the tune is clearly a huge departure for Miranda and his more “wholesome” leanings.
Why Lin-Manuel Miranda Wrote “Esperando Pelitos” For Big Mouth Season 7
Reportedly, Lin-Manuel Miranda came up with the title of the song, “Esperando Pelitos,” almost immediately after Big Mouth‘s Kroll approached him. Billboard noted that the Tony-winning lyricist “felt the song almost wrote itself,” undoubtedly making it a fun project for Miranda. Robin DeJesus and PJ Sin Suela sing “Esperando Pelitos” verses and hooks, continuing the tradition of having some of the best celebrity guest stars on Big Mouth. While Miranda hasn’t commented on why he agreed to pen “Esperando Pelitos,” the song is just as catchy as anything else the lyricist has created — even if it is about pubic hair.
Sources: Billboard
