How Encanto's Miracle Chord Works (ft. Dissect's Cole Cuchna)

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0:00 Intro
0:29 Lyrical "Miracle"
1:32 Borrowed Minor 4
4:01 Flat 6
4:48 Sad Miracle
5:56 Hooktheory Sponsorship
7:29 Preprise
8:37 Abuela's Mission
9:34 Mirabel's Mission
10:35 What Else Can I Do
12:25 The True Miracle
13:55 All of You
14:37 Casita 2.0
Is there a Miracle Chord in Encanto? Well, yes in Encanto Lin-Manuel Miranda uses a special Miracle Chord that represents the miracle and how the characters perceive the miracle. It appears in songs by Abuela (The Family Madrigal, All of You), Mirabel (Waiting on a Miracle), and Isabela (What Else Can I Do?), but why? Let me explain...this is how the Miracle Chord works in Encanto!
Featuring Cole Cuchna of the Dissect Podcast
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Adam Neely - Is Cb the same note as B?
• Is Cb the same note as B?
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• Rayna and Deacon Hit a...
Ni'jah - Sticky (Visualizer) ft. Childish Gambino, KIRBY
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The Kelly Clarkson Show - Lin-Manuel Miranda Interview
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#Encanto #LinManuelMiranda #WhatElseCanIDo

[@madnessarcade7447]

Did you know Stephanie Beatriz recorded waiting on a miracle while she was in labor In a way the song has a double meaning she is talking about the events of the movie and talking about giving birth

[@HowardHoMusic]

Oh wow!

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@HowardHoMusic agree

[@margothutton]

Jesus christ I just verified this. Apparently she went into labor in the recording studio and didn't tell anyone because she "didn't want anybody to freak out." Lady, no! You are having a literal medical emergency, what a beautiful thing, wonderful that you're birthing life, now *go to the hospital.*

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@margothutton I assumed she did it from the hospital bed but that’s even crazier lol

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@margothutton the song definitely takes on a double meaning with this new context

[@davidstumpfl5889]

See this is why they pretty much had to give Lin a writing credit. These songs, the lyrics, and the theory behind them are so crazy good

[@lydiapatelll]

I thoroughly enjoy all of your videos! For isabela’s song, her melody started with all white keys. Until she gets to “what could I do if I just grew what I was feeling in the moment”. The miracle cord was also the first black-key-containing cord in her song. The whole new crayon set analogy is so PERFECT for this

[@eugeniaromano656]

Omg now the scene where Abuela gently nudges Mirabel in "All of you" saying "It isn't perfect" hits me differently. Not only she realised how wrong she was to push everyone towards perfection and she moved past it, making self-irony about it, but it's also a way to ask her "Notice anything missing?". It was the doorknob, which was left for Mirabel to place on the new house. Because she realised "the miracle is you", but nothing could ever be perfect until she included and loved equally everyone in the family, included Mirabel, who was always left out.

[@sydposting]

Your videos just give me more and more appreciation for both this movie and LMM's skill as a writer and composer. Pairing the actual lyrics of Dos Oruguitas with the use of the miracle-chord vs the use of "miracle/milagro" - and thus "reuniting" the miracle-chord with the *actual* miracle instead of just the word - is so wonderfully subtle. The LAYERS, man!! It's right up there with Sondheim.

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@ms.gabrieladelcarmenprecia6425]

I would love to see a comparison to the song burn from Hamilton. Those two songs are so similar.

[@HowardHoMusic]

Interesting.

[@mikayladouglas2503]

Dangit I was just about to comment that. At 5:04 those two chords sounded EXACTLY like the beginning of Burn.

[@ms.gabrieladelcarmenprecia6425]

@@mikayladouglas2503 Yes, I have seen a lot of people make a comparison of it. And there is even a video that mashed up the songs and it mashes so well.

[@RobertDPore]

@@mikayladouglas2503 The difference, though, is one of function. Here we’re talking about iv - I, which is borrowed in the major key; but in “Burn” the same chord movement functions as i - V, which is very traditional for the minor key, as is the actual minor iv - i when it appears at the turnover of the chord loop.

[@angelstanton1112]

Great job, Howard! ❤

[@CheyenneSedai]

Love the Cinema Therapy reference. It's one of my favorite channels.

[@nathanbouldin2475]

It's so weird how I find myself unconsciously, involuntarily weeping while trying to intellectually grasp these technical explanations. While going through the academic exercise, the music and the visual clips meant to show the example of the lesson, trigger the emotions I felt when I first saw the movie. It's a little scary how easily these musical techniques can MAKE you feel powerful emotions.

[@_Egon]

Abuela feels the loss of something beloved while Mirabel the loss of something she never had. It's kind obvious but I don't know why it comes to me as a revelation.

[@valhatan3907]

Don't underestimate yourself, I realized the same thing just _now_ lol

[@RealCindyAparicio]

Not me crying all over again about Encanto 😭

[@eddog6666]

My favorite line from Dos Oruguitas is this: Don’t hold on to tight, you must flying away to reunite, reunite toward a new future

[@navidhendrix]

I've watched all the previous Encanto analyses that you have done and now this one. The depths that this animation went to convey both overt and subtle emotions. Masterclass in its purest form. Thank you so much.

[@pr3sident_skr00b]

You unlock so many layers in these songs. My goodness, Lin is a musical and emotional genius, and it's like you hold the key to unlocking the complexity of his compositions

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@briannawalker4793]

Howard...buddy...My GuyTM...you gotta stop making me sob like a baby at work with these Encanto videos 😭😭😭

[@tReadYT]

Loved the shout-out to Cinema Therapy! And the bit from Everything Everywhere All At Once. And always Adam Neely.

[@VivekPatel-ze6jy]

4:02 these exact first two chords (in this key) happen in 'The way I loved you' by Taylor Swift, just before the chorus. It's just as she sings 'and i feel perfectly fine' which is only a half truth. It doesn't resolve to the fifth though, it launches back into standard F major with the I-V-vi-IV progression

[@jackwriter1908]

You didn't even show 5 minutes of the movie and yet I am now crying...

[@mayabairey]

Now I need to watch #Encanto again, listening for this! Plus the things you pointed out in your other videos. Makes me feel like a genius, thank you for explaining it so clearly!

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@merrillsunderland8662]

Wait, isn’t it in Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen? He even names it in the first stanza: “I heard there was a sacred chord that David played and it pleased the Lord […] it goes like this, the Fourth, the Fifth / the Minor Fall, the Major Lift”

[@HowardHoMusic]

I love that song. Leonard Cohen doesn't use the minor 4 chord, but he does use a secondary dominant chord, which is another one of those outside of the standard crayon box chords.

[@Meg-Meg-Meg]

I don’t personally know much about musical theory, but I love learning from your videos. Thanks for sharing such wonderful insight and clear breakdowns of the concepts. And thanks for more Encanto content!

[@brizotfrizot]

Babe wake up. Howard Ho dropped another banger of a video

[@fiveoutoffour]

8:05 i think this is what 12tone may consider a ‘darkmotif’ (the opposite of a leitmotif): a leitmotif which isnt meant to be understood until it is later referenced in full

[@midnighthoney]

Lol just as I was wondering why the visualization looked familiar you jumped into the sponsored section-- in High School my orchestra teacher used us to experiment with it (for his upcoming class teaching songwriting) so we got to be the guinea pigs and not rehearse for a day and just fiddle around on laptops ^^ such good memories :3

[@Randomness3000]

That actually makes so much sense! How do you find these easter eggs in the music? It must take months to make one video like this PS: i once asked for u to make a video about What Else Can I Do I know it's not intentional but thnx for doing that in this video

[@HowardHoMusic]

Well...in fact, it did take me several months. I had all the ideas early on, but it takes a while to figure out how to present it well in a video. And regarding your PS, I mean, it's somewhat intentional. I try to do what people ask whenever possible! Thanks for putting the suggestion out there.

[@marciadamelio7244]

I’m a simple human. I see new Howard Ho content on my feed, I drop everything and watch.

[@bertillef3491]

This Is incredible how the music is coherent with the story, just, WAW Thanks for the incredible analysis!

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@bertillef3491]

I get that, I know some parts of the analysis are probably based on coincidences, but that doesn't mean the overall composition is not well thought through. And in Encanto it's obvious the music was thought according to the story and characters, which is great! I also think when it comes to music part of the experience is unconscious, whether if it's when writing or listening, and that's something that be analyzed, why some chords sound sad or happy or weird

[@dannyzhou8292]

It’s always a pleasure to watch your video! ❤👍🙏

[@HowardHoMusic]

Thank you!

[@mckayle456]

i found hook theory 2 years ago when i was trying to find out how play mice on venus from mincraft it really helped me

[@Whoomstest]

So THIS was the cord that David played to please the lord, Halluhah!

[@HowardHoMusic]

Lol... actually it's "the fourth" and "the minor fall" combined into one!

[@rebekahmay1815]

Just when I think I can’t love encanto more 😭 I’ve learned so much from your channel!!!

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Wow, now i love this movie even more than i did before. Thanks Howard, and a happy friday to you as well. Take care and i hope to see you soon for more. God bless you and greetings from Colombia (my land of Encanto)

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@samuelcollantes1175]

@@ederdiaz1639 you're right, man.

[@mariak5096]

This is so amazing, I know next to nothing about music theory but videos like this make me appreciate the art and fall in love with Encanto even more. Thanks for all your awesome analyses.

[@Lucylle]

Okay, I am crying, this is beautiful.

[@jorgemarioescobaragudelo6880]

5:05 WOW, THAT'S JUST HOW 'THE GAME' BY PENTAGON STARTS

[@ZebraCakes-gk6bb]

This is so cool! I learn so much from your videos and geek out so much! Thank you! I think this chord progression (borrowed IV to I) happens in the end of Deliver Us from Prince of Egypt too, I believe! 😆

[@suspiciousstew1818]

love the references to so many channels! love adam neely and cinema therapy especially

[@VanNessy97]

AAAAA! I absolutely LOVE Hooktheory!

[@luminafaith]

I don't know if you've ever heard of them or listened to their music, but I'd love to see a video on Marianas Trench! Almost all of their albums feature songs that are like "big numbers" that can call back to the other songs in the album but with potentially different meanings in the new song; Masterpiece Theatre has 3 whole mashups of the other songs in the album because the lead singer couldn't decide which of them he liked best, Ever After has "Ever After" and "No Place Like Home" (and the album itself is meant to be played in one continuous session! Each song leads into the next one), Astoria has "Astoria" and "End Of An Era" (and "Dearly Departed" makes reference to no less than 12 songs), and Phantoms has "The Killing Kind". Astoria in particular references two albums, Ever After and Masterpiece Theatre!

[@Lunatica89]

You continuously keep on blowing my mind 🤯🤩 Amazing, Howard 👏👏👏

[@spiritsongtress]

Always gold, more please! Keep it up!

[@claradoesnothing]

Stop giving me more reasons to cryyyy

[@Ljohnston5198]

Love this! Your videos are always so high quality and I love it

[@Steveofthejungle8]

Great video! I’d love to see a full breakdown of What Else can I do!

[@gordongraham7]

I love this video. Thank you ❤

[@gilsonfeydyt6978]

Awesome video and great sponsor

[@LauM]

I really love your videos

[@ahuman7509]

I love this!!!!!!!!

[@AlessandraCartocci]

You are amazing

[@ksblondie22]

Love it

[@richhonican1457]

@CinemaTherapyShow Your Encanto video is mentioned at time code 11:00

[@madnessarcade7447]

Hope you still cover dcoms

[@gargigolhar2886]

Me: * is not a music student * Me: * does not know anything about chords literally * Me: *still cries watching Howard Ho's encanto music breakdowns every damn time*

[@joelvandyke7505]

That fucking borrowed 4th nashville song has been haunting me for a decade

[@HowardHoMusic]

It's a great song!

[@joelvandyke7505]

@@HowardHoMusic Agreeeeeeeeed. I stopped watching like halfway through season one but I still look up that and Fade Into You like twice a year.

[@secunsecun6313]

I hope you might do a small video on the Mario movie music

[@madnessarcade7447]

Lion guard maybe at some point

[@madnessarcade7447]

New musical tv show called up here cover it please

[@HowardHoMusic]

LOL

[@HowardHoMusic]

I will definitely do something. Stay tuned!

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@HowardHoMusic awesome can’t wait so underrated

[@madnessarcade7447]

@@HowardHoMusic can’t wait hope it’s soon

[@gilangsetyawibawa185]

Can you analyze Mario music?

[@kustommade12]

Could you make a video on new Disney movie Wish songs?

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good

[@HowardHoMusic]

LOL...that cadence is not how I defined the miracle chord. It's just one feature of the chord. Maybe you could watch the rest of the video to learn what I'm actually talking about?

[@ederdiaz1639]

@@HowardHoMusic yknow what sure, because your response was respectful

[@darkecofreak23]

Damn it, Howard. You got me crying again. 🥹

[@ederdiaz1639]

while he’s not wrong he’s also spitting out nonsense sometimes, like most songs uses some type of cadence to get back to the homecbord.. meaning any chord could’ve been the “miracle chord” really.. it’s just a chord that sounds good