While everyone is buzzing about “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” it’s the track “Surface Pressure” that truly resonates with me.
On a typical pandemic day—balancing full-time work, parenting as a single mom, digesting yet another COVID exposure email from my child’s school while trying to stay calm, and cleaning up after my cat—I found myself exhausted. After preparing dinner with my last bit of energy (seriously, how do we manage to cook every single night?), I flopped onto the couch beside my kids, who were engrossed in Disney’s latest animated feature, Encanto.
I tapped my feet along to the songs crafted by the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda while alternating between work on my phone and a game of Wordle. That’s when Louisa’s song broke through my distractions.
Her performance halted me. “Surface Pressure” delves into the life of a middle child and older sister with extraordinary strength. Louisa takes pride in her ability to help others but grapples with the weight of expectations and wonders if anyone sees her true self beyond her accomplishments. Despite her superhuman abilities—like lifting multiple donkeys—her lyrics encapsulated my feelings as a single parent navigating the pandemic and my own experiences as an older sibling.
She sings:
I don’t ask how hard the work is
Got a rough indestructible surface
Diamonds and platinum, I find ’em, I flatten ’em
I take what I’m handed, I break what’s demanding
But…
Under the surface I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of service.
After secretly wiping away tears during dinner, I couldn’t help but wonder if others felt the same way—turns out, they did. The song climbed the music charts, hitting #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of February 5, and became the fourth most-streamed song that week, according to Billboard.
On Twitter, mothers spoke about how Louisa’s character, who bears immense responsibility and strength, mirrors the struggles many women are facing during this time. From managing childcare disruptions to protecting unvaccinated kids, coping with tight budgets, and maintaining a brave facade, the pressure is palpable.
The song continues:
Pressure like a grip, grip, grip and it won’t let go, whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick ’til it’s ready to blow, whoa
Give it to your sister, your sister’s stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
Who am I if I can’t carry it all?
While Disney songs have often tugged at our heartstrings—think Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go” or Frozen’s “Let It Go”—“Surface Pressure” uniquely reflects the complexities of motherhood. It encapsulates the struggle to support my family while feeling the burden of expectations.
Society teaches women and mothers to emulate Louisa from a young age, helping siblings and managing household tasks, and later as partners and parents. We learn to prioritize our family’s needs over our own, often at our expense. The lyrics, “I’m pretty sure I’m worthless if I can’t be of service,” resonate deeply, especially reflecting on the immense labor we contribute—physically, mentally, and emotionally—over the years, particularly during the pandemic.
It’s comforting to know our children are absorbing these messages, learning that being the strongest doesn’t mean carrying every burden. Plus, let’s not forget, the song is undeniably catchy.
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In summary, Louisa’s “Surface Pressure” from Encanto articulates the heavy load many mothers feel, highlighting the importance of recognizing our own needs amidst the demands of family life.
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