I Won't Say (I'm in Love): Difference between revisions

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"'''I Won't Say (I'm in Love)'''" is a song written by composer [[Alan Menken]] and lyricist [[David Zippel]] for [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]]'s animated film ''[[Hercules (1997 film)|Hercules]]'' (1997). Released as part of the film's [[Hercules (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], the song is performed by American actress and singer [[Susan Egan]] in her role as [[Megara (Disney character)|Meg]], [[Hercules (Disney character)|Hercules]]' love interest, while singers Cheryl Freeman, [[Lillias White]], [[Vaneese Thomas]], [[LaChanze]] and [[Roz Ryan]] provide [[girl group]]-style [[backup vocals]] as the [[List of Disney's Hercules characters|Muses]]. The songwriters wrote "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" to replace "I Can't Believe My Heart", a slower, more emotional originally intended for Meg that had been deemed too soft for Meg's strong personality. Menken based "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" on songs he had written for the stage musical ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'' (1982).

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a mid-tempo [[doo-wop]], [[R&B]], and [[Pop music|pop]] [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] reminiscent of 1950s1960s music thatwith incorporatesinfluences of [[Motown]] and [[Gospelgospel music|gospel]] influences. Similar in style to songsthe recordedworks byof American girl groups such as [[the Ronettes]] and [[the Supremes]], its lyrics are about denying having [[romantic feelings]] for someone and [[parody]]refusing those of traditionalromantic [[love songCliché|clichés]]s. In its accompanying musical sequence, Meg refuses to admit she is falling in love with Hercules, while the Muses insist that she embrace her romantic feelings for him instead. "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was written to replace "I Can't Believe My Heart", a slower, more emotional ballad Menken had originally intended for Meg; the latter song was discarded because Meg's animator Ken Duncan felt it did not complement her strong personality. Menken based "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" on songs he wrote for his musical ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'' (1982).

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has been positively received by both film and [[Music journalism|music critics]], who enjoyed its girl group-inspired arrangement, as well as Egan's sultry delivery and the song's refreshing difference from traditional Disney ballads; some critics even dubbed it the film's best song. While not one of Disney's most popular songs, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has developed a reputation as one of the studio's most underappreciated. American singer [[Belinda Carlisle]] recorded a [[pop rock]] version of "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" for the film's soundtrack. American girl group [[The Cheetah Girls (group)|the Cheetah Girls]] covered the song in 2005.