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<nowiki/>[[File:I_Won't_Say_(I'm_in_Love).ogg|thumb|left|25-second sample of the doo-wop song, featuring Egan's voice accompanied by girl group-style back up vocals performed in three-part harmony.<ref name=":27" />]]Lyrically, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love) is a [[love song]] about denial,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Block|first=Tara|date=November 13, 2015|title=Feel the Love Tonight With This Romantic Disney Playlist|url=http://www.popsugar.com/love/Disney-Love-Songs-34752493|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128000824/http://www.popsugar.com/love/Disney-Love-Songs-34752493|archive-date=January 28, 2021|access-date=March 3, 2016|website=[[Popsugar]]}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |last=Floro |first=Marty |date=April 30, 2016 |title=5 Underrated Disney Songs |url=http://www.onemusic.ph/news/5-underrated-disney-songs-632 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022546/http://www.onemusic.ph/news/5-underrated-disney-songs-632 |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |access-date=September 13, 2018 |website=[[One Music PH]]}}</ref> specifically its performer's reluctance to fall in love or succumb to romantic [[cliché]]s.<ref name=":4" /> Meg voices how clichéd and insufficient love can feel,<ref name=":20" /> while mocking traditional love song tropes.<ref name=":2" /> "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" differs from standard Disney love songs by offering "a unique spin" on the heroine's dilemma.<ref name=":13" /> Rob Burch of ''The Hollywood News'' dubbed "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" an "[[Erotophobia|anti-love]] song".<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|last=Burch|first=Rob|date=September 11, 2013|title=Disney 53: Hercules|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2013/09/11/disney-53-hercules/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612100019/http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2013/09/11/disney-53-hercules/|archive-date=June 12, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2016|website=The Hollywood News}}</ref> Described as an "emotional barnstormer",<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.beamly.com/tv-film/the-best-ever-disney-songs-ranked|title=The best ever Disney songs: Ranked|last=Hall|first=Sophie|date=January 7, 2016|website=[[Beamly]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508153739/https://www.beamly.com/tv-film/the-best-ever-disney-songs-ranked|archive-date=2016-05-08|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> the song begins with Egan singing "If there's a prize for rotten judgment I guess I've already won that",<ref name=":7" /> soon followed by "Been there, done that".<ref name=":3" /> ''Thought Catalog''<nowiki/>'s Chelsea Fagan believes the first verse "sums up in four lines everything that we’ve ever tried to convey while on our third drink out at the bar with the girls", joking, "I believe this song would come shortly after dancing in a circle with all women, but just before the tearful texting of your ex".<ref name=":20" /> Lyrics such as "No man is worth the aggravation / that’s ancient history, been there done that” and “I thought my heart had learned its lesson / It feels so good when you start out / My head is screaming get a grip girl / Unless you’re dying to cry your heart out” express Meg's initial distaste for romance, only for the Muses to encourage her to admit that she is falling in love.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=DiSessa |first=Kasandra J. |year=2020 |title=The Illusion of Empowerment: A Feminist Analysis of Disney's Hercules |url=http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1842/the-illusion-of-empowerment-a-feminist-analysis-of-disneys-hercules |journal=Inquiries Journal |volume=12 |issue=11 |pages=1}}</ref> Comparing the background vocals to [[The Blossoms]], ''Musicological Identities: Essays in Honor of Susan McClary'' author Jacqueline Warwick observed that the backup singers constantly contradict the lead singer in a [[Call and response (music)|call and response]] format, proving crucial to the denial theme.<ref name=":27" /> The Muses suggest that Meg “Face it like a grown-up/When you gonna own up that you got got got it bad”,<ref name=":29">{{Cite web |last=Busch |first=Caitlin |date=May 22, 2019 |title=Every Disney Renaissance Period Song, Ranked |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/every-disney-renaissance-period-song-ranked |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924120617/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/every-disney-renaissance-period-song-ranked |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=January 19, 2020 |website=[[Syfy Wire]]}}</ref> which Gantz described "admonishing".<ref name=":0" /> The song's last line is: "At least out loud, I won’t say I’m in love".<ref name=":23" /> Identifying the track as a "[[Self-awareness|self-aware]] ballad...filled with sly [[anachronism]]s", author Thomas S. Hischak observed it maintains the soundtrack's comedic tone in his book ''100 Greatest American and British Animated Films''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YtJKDwAAQBAJ&q=i+won%27t+say+%28i%27m+in+love%29+susan+egan&pg=PA137|title=100 Greatest American and British Animated Films|last=Hischak|first=Thomas S.|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|year=2018|isbn=9781538105696|___location=United States|pages=137|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Meg Pelliccio of ''[[Screen Rant]]'' believes the Muses ending the song with "Sha-la-la-la-la-la" could possibly be a reference to "[[Kiss the Girl]]" from ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'' (1989), which share both composers and directors, and involve supporting characters attempting to convince a main character of their feelings through song.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pelliccio |first=Meg |date=May 26, 2020 |title=10 Things You Didn’t Know About Disney’s Hercules |url=https://screenrant.com/disney-hercules-facts-trivia/ |access-date=February 10, 2025 |work=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>
Kate Knibbs of ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' summarized the track as "a love song from someone who doesn’t want to be in love, who knows enough to assume things aren’t going to work out".<ref name=":30">{{Cite web|last=Knibbs|first=Kate|date=July 17, 2019|title=The 40 Best Disney Songs, Ranked|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/7/17/20696940/forty-best-disney-songs-ranked-lion-king|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817030046/https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/7/17/20696940/forty-best-disney-songs-ranked-lion-king|archive-date=August 17, 2019|access-date=January 19, 2020|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref> Fagan believes it expresses "the hesitancy savvy women everywhere feel when trying to stop themselves from falling head over heels".<ref name=":20" /> Hischak referred to "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as a "contradictory love song ... in which Meg denies her true feelings yet admits that she is quite taken with the brawny and naive hero Hercules".<ref name=":17">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dimhg9t2TrUC&q=i+won%27t+say+i%27m+in+love+hercules&pg=PA91|title=The Disney Song Encyclopedia|last1=Hischak|first1=Thomas|last2=Robinson|first2=Mark A|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|year=2009|isbn=9780810869387|___location=United States|pages=91|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> According to [[D23 (Disney)|D23]], "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a love song "For those who don’t want to admit their hearts’ desires".<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2012 |title=Top 10 Disney Love Songs |url=https://d23.com/d23s-top-10-disney-love-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428093550/https://d23.com/d23s-top-10-disney-love-songs/ |archive-date=April 28, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=[[D23 (Disney)|D23]]
== Reception ==
"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has received positive reviews from film and music critics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Welsh |first=Daniel |date=June 25, 2024 |title=This 90s Classic Is The Latest Disney Film To Be Adapted For The West End Stage |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/disney-classic-adapted-new-west-end-musical_uk_667ae772e4b017bda37a9336 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |work=[[HuffPost UK]] |quote=It was particularly praised for its music, with soundtrack cuts including Zero To Hero, Go The Distance, I Won’t Say (I’m In Love) and The Gospel Truth.}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone Australia]]''<nowiki/>'s Barry Levitt called it excellent,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levitt |first=Barry |date=November 23, 2023 |title=Every Walt Disney Animated Movie, Ranked |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/disney-animated-movies-ranked-52738/the-fox-and-the-hound-1981-52748/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |work=[[Rolling Stone Australia]]}}</ref> and Aja Romano of ''[[The Daily Dot]]'' called it a ''Hercules'' highlight that "satisfies us every time".<ref name=":22" /> Writing for [[Indiewire|''IndieWire'']], Greg Ehbar named "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" his favorite song from the film, describing it as "truly great tune".<ref name=":3" /> Irving Tan of ''Sputnikmusic'' said the Muses' "[[pillow talk]] skills are right up there with the best of them".<ref name=":5" /> Tan concluded, "The track also works well as an alternative to modern pop's [[Teen pop|teenage heartbreak music]]", recommending that younger fans listen to it over the likes of [[Hilary Duff]].<ref name=":5" /> Tracy Dye of [[Bustle (magazine)|''Bustle'']] hailed the track as "one of Disney's most addictive pieces of ear-candy", appreciating that "it veers from the typical love-laced ballads we're used to".<ref name=":13" /> Similarly, Rob Burch of ''The Hollywood News'' called "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" a "refreshing change of pace".<ref name=":14" /> ''Nylon''<nowiki/>'s Taylor Bryant called it an impeccable song that remains "very much in line with the company's [[ethos]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Taylor |date=June 13, 2017 |title=Why 'Hercules' Has The Best Disney Soundtrack Of All Time |url=https://www.nylon.com/articles/hercules-movie-soundtrack-anniversary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808034752/https://www.nylon.com/articles/hercules-movie-soundtrack-anniversary |archive-date=August 8, 2024 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=[[Nylon (magazine)|Nylon]]}}</ref> Jerrica Tisdale of [[CinemaBlend]] crowned the ballad the best song from ''Hercules.''<ref name=":21" /> ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" ''Hercules''<nowiki/>' second best song, with author Matthew Wilkinson praising Meg's independence and Egan's vocals.<ref name=":31" /> [[Ticketmaster]] contributor Caitlin Devlin declared "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" "one of Disney’s best songs of all time".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devlin |first=Caitlin |date=May 6, 2022 |title=The 20 best Disney movie musical soundtracks, ranked |url=https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/theatre/the-20-best-disney-movie-musical-soundtracks-ranked-53203/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127061108/https://discover.ticketmaster.co.uk/theatre/the-20-best-disney-movie-musical-soundtracks-ranked-53203/ |archive-date=November 27, 2024 |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=[[Ticketmaster]]}}</ref> Conversely, [[Filmtracks.com]] accused the song of wasting Egan's talent.<ref name=":32" />
"I Won't Say I'm in Love" has appeared on several Disney song rankings by various media publications.<ref name=":39" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zafar |first=Aylin |date=April 21, 2014 |title=The Definitive Ranking Of The 102 Best Animated Disney Songs |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/azafar/the-definitive-ranking-of-the-102-best-animated-disney-songs#.wmrR4yVl6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210113047/https://www.buzzfeed.com/azafar/the-definitive-ranking-of-the-102-best-animated-disney-songs#.wmrR4yVl6 |archive-date=February 10, 2025 |access-date=March 2, 2016 |website=[[BuzzFeed]]}}</ref> Dalin Rowell of ''[[/Film]]'' called it "one of the greatest songs in Disney history",<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Rowell |first=Dalin |date=October 13, 2024 |title=The 20 Most Under Appreciated Disney Animated Characters |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/805230/the-20-most-under-appreciated-disney-animated-characters/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430174437/https://www.slashfilm.com/805230/the-20-most-under-appreciated-disney-animated-characters/ |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=[[/Film]]}}</ref> and ''Billboard'' named it the 45th greatest song from the "Disneyverse", out of 100.<ref name=":38" /> [[Beamly]] ranked it fifth on the website's list of "Best Ever Disney Songs", with author Sophie Hall nicknaming Meg "The [[Celine Dion]] of the cartoon world".<ref name=":18" /> [[BuzzFeed]]
"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has garnered a reputation as one of Disney's most underrated songs.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Abi |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Good News! 'The Disney Family Singalong' Is Officially on Disney Plus |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/will-the-disney-singalong-be-on-disney-plus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126130750/https://www.distractify.com/p/will-the-disney-singalong-be-on-disney-plus |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=April 30, 2021 |website=[[Distractify]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |date=May 22, 2019 |title=The 12 Most Underrated Disney Songs |url=https://us933fm.com/news/the-12-most-underrated-disney-songs/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430140517/https://us933fm.com/news/the-12-most-underrated-disney-songs/ |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=April 30, 2021 |website=[[WBTU|US 93.3]]}}</ref> While ranking the track the 16th best song of the Disney Renaissance, [[Syfy|Syfy Wire]]'s Caitlin Busch called Meg "an underrated heroine with an underrated love song", which she described as "funny, poignant, and a perfect transition song".<ref name=":29" /> The author identified "Face it like a grown-up/When you gonna own up that you got got got it bad" as its best lyric.<ref name=":29" /> [[Moviepilot]] included the song in a similar article, with author Jeremiah Paul describing it as a "hidden gem" which "should have been another classic", while praising Egan's performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/3486824|title=10 Of the Most Underrated Disney Songs of All Time!|last=Paul|first=Jeremiah|date=August 24, 2015|website=Moviepilot|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307011501/http://moviepilot.com/posts/3486824|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jerrica Tisdale of CinemaBlend described the song's lack of popularity as "nearly criminal".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tisdale |first=Jessica |date=April 17, 2020 |title=Big Hero 6 And 11 Other Underrated Movies To Watch On Disney+ |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2494329/big-hero-6-and-other-underrated-movies-to-watch-on-disney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808034751/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2494329/big-hero-6-and-other-underrated-movies-to-watch-on-disney |archive-date=August 8, 2024 |access-date=April 30, 2021 |website=[[CinemaBlend]]}}</ref> Calling it one of Disney's 12 most underrated classics, ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s Aly Semigran wrote that the song deserves to be a "karaoke mainstay".<ref name=":24" /> In an interview with ''[[The Fader]]'', members of American rapper [[Chance the Rapper]]'s band [[The Social Experiment]] ranked "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" one of the favorite Disney songs from their childhood, calling it "an amazing song".''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trammel |first=Matthew |date=February 4, 2015 |title=The Definitive Disney Songs Of Our Childhood, According To The Social Experiment |url=http://www.thefader.com/2015/02/04/the-social-experiment-pick-their-favorite-disney-songs |access-date=July 20, 2017 |website=[[The Fader]]}}</ref>'' [[TodayTix]] named the song "everyone’s favorite Disney feminist anthem".<ref name=":33" />
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