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

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== Use in ''Hercules'' ==
In ''Hercules'', Meg is a [[double agent]] who works for [[Hades (Disney)|Hades]] despite beginning to fall in love with his adversary, Hercules,<ref name=":37" /> against her better judgement.<ref name=":39">{{Cite news |last=Schroeder |first=Zahraa |date=August 28, 2023 |title=15 Of The Greatest Disney Movie Songs Of All Time |url=https://smilefm.co.za/the-greatest-disney-movie-songs-of-all-time/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=[[Smile 90.4FM]]}}</ref> Audiences learn that Meg has been in love before, only for her boyfriend at the time to leave her to pursue another woman after she had [[Deal with the Devil|sold her soul]] to [[Hades (Disney)|Hades]] to save his life.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Tisdale |first=Jerrica |date=May 17, 2020 |title=Disney's Hercules: Every Song From The Animated Movie, Ranked |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2496200/disneys-hercules-every-song-from-the-animated-movie-ranked |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105010126/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2496200/disneys-hercules-every-song-from-the-animated-movie-ranked |archive-date=January 5, 2025 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=[[CinemaBlend]]}}</ref> Like most Disney heroines, Meg sings about falling in love with the film's hero,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hicken |first=Jackie |date=April 6, 2014 |title=15 Disney songs that were cut before they ever made it onto the big screen |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/top/2407/10/I-Cant-Believe-My-Heart-Hercules-15-Disney-songs-that-were-cut-before-they-ever-made-it-onto.html |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410130555/http://www.deseretnews.com/top/2407/10/I-Cant-Believe-My-Heart-Hercules-15-Disney-songs-that-were-cut-before-they-ever-made-it-onto.html |archive-date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2017 |website=[[Deseret News]]}}</ref> a revelation Meg is too proud to admit.,<ref name=":28">{{Cite web |last=C |first=Sandy |date=2017 |title=The 30 best Disney songs |url=https://hiddenremote.com/2017/10/16/the-30-best-disney-songs/13/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216074232/https://hiddenremote.com/2017/10/16/the-30-best-disney-songs/13/ |archive-date=December 16, 2018 |access-date=December 15, 2018 |website=Hidden Remote}}</ref> therefore she tries to convince herself that she is not falling in love.<ref name=":40" /> "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" expresses Meg's conflicting feelings about Hercules, who she insists she does not love, only for her claims to constantly be refuted by the Muses.<ref name=":27">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_zMrDwAAQBAJ&q=i+won%27t+say+%28i%27m+in+love%29+megara&pg=PA74|title=Musicological Identities: Essays in Honor of Susan McClary|last=Warwick|first=Jacqueline|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2017|isbn=9781351556750|___location=United Kingdom|pages=74|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Recognized as Meg's [[signature song]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moviefreak.com/artman/publish/bluray_hercules_1997.shtml |title=Hercules (1997) - Special Edition (Blu-ray) |last=Fetters |first=Sarah Michelle |date=August 12, 2014 |website=MovieFreak.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308071233/http://www.moviefreak.com/artman/publish/bluray_hercules_1997.shtml |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" uncovers the "misunderstood nature" of the character.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maccani |first=Chelsea |date=Jun 5, 2017 |title=Underrated Disney Songs You Totally Forgot About |url=https://www.sweetyhigh.com/read/underrated-disney-songs-060517 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208194030/https://www.sweetyhigh.com/read/underrated-disney-songs-060517 |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |access-date=September 13, 2018 |website=Sweety High}}</ref> Because falling in love too quickly was a negative experience for Meg, she is left hesitant and in denial.<ref name=":28" /> Upon realizing she has in fact begun to develop feelings for Hercules much to her chagrin, the song allows Meg to work through her denial,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Weber|first=Lindsey|date=July 25, 2014|title=Disney's Hercules Is an Underrated Masterpiece|url=http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/disneys-hercules-is-an-underrated-masterpiece.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817071257/http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/disneys-hercules-is-an-underrated-masterpiece.html|archive-date=August 17, 2019|access-date=March 3, 2016|website=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> by "alternating between fantasizing about how delightful it would be to be loved by Herc, and stomping her foot in anger at the very thought".<ref name=":25">{{Cite web |last=Devotta |first=Sam |date=November 16, 2016 |title=(Un)Covered: I Won't Say (I'm in Love) |url=http://idobi.com/editorial/uncovered-i-wont-say-im-in-love/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127150149/https://idobi.com/editorials/uncovered-i-wont-say-im-in-love/ |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=July 22, 2017 |website=[[idobi Radio]]}}</ref> Resembling an "admonishing" exchange between Meg and the Muses,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archives/1997/documents/00442999.htm|title=Disney's Hercules is a heroic effort|last=Gantz|first=Jeffrey|date=June 26, 1997|website=[[Boston Phoenix]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009130648/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archives/1997/documents/00442999.htm|archive-date=October 9, 2015|access-date=March 2, 2016}}</ref> "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is Meg's attempt to avoid the clichéd storylines of her predecessors,<ref name=":23">{{Cite magazine|last=Weatherby|first=Taylor|date=March 15, 2017|title=Every Song From the Disney Renaissance (1989-'99), Ranked: Critics' Take|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/7727697/disney-renaissance-songs-ranking-beauty-and-the-beast|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620055708/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/7727697/disney-renaissance-songs-ranking-beauty-and-the-beast|archive-date=June 20, 2018|access-date=March 28, 2017|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> as she berates herself for previous poor decisions.<ref name=":36" /> Finally, after strolling through a Greek courtyard while performing the song accompanied by the Muses,<ref name=":23" /> the character's resistance proves futile and she ultimately relents,<ref name=":0"/> the Muses having "taunt[ed] her into honesty".<ref name=":26">{{Cite web|last1=Shoemaker|first1=Allison|last2=Suzanne-Meyer|first2=Dominick|date=March 15, 2017|title=Ranking: Every Disney Song From Worst to Best|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/03/ranking-every-disney-song-from-worst-to-best/full-post/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022712/https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/03/ranking-every-disney-song-from-worst-to-best/full-post/|archive-date=September 14, 2018|access-date=September 13, 2018|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]}}</ref> "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is also the only song in which the Muses duet with one of the film's main characters.<ref name=":21" /> Excerpts from "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" are also used in some of the film's score, one of the few songs to do this.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=May 26, 1997 |title=Filmtracks: Hercules (Alan Menken) |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/hercules.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827110018/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/hercules.html |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |access-date=May 3, 2021 |website=[[Filmtracks.com]]}}</ref> During one scene, the Muses transform themselves into stone busts, which Amory Rose of ''[[Business Insider]]'' believes is a possible reference to ''[[The Haunted Mansion]]'' attraction at [[Disneyland]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Amory |date=September 20, 2020 |title=27 hidden references and clever jokes in 'Hercules' you probably missed as a kid |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/hercules-clever-interesting-details-that-went-over-your-head#the-muses-recreate-a-scene-from-disneys-popular-haunted-mansion-ride-25 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>
 
[[Filmtracks.com]] described "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as the film's "standard 'female song of longing'."<ref name=":32" /> According to Taylor Weatherby of ''Billboard'', the character "finally comes to a conclusion to which many a girl (or guy) can relate".<ref name=":23" /> Tracy Dye of [[Bustle (magazine)|''Bustle'']] described the scene: "Joined by The Muses, Meg attempts to vehemently deny her amour for Hercules",<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|last=Dye|first=Tracy|date=July 10, 2015|title=7 Reasons Meg From 'Hercules' Is The Most Underrated Disney Heroine Ever|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/96508-7-reasons-meg-from-hercules-is-the-most-underrated-disney-heroine-ever|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914061518/http://www.bustle.com/articles/96508-7-reasons-meg-from-hercules-is-the-most-underrated-disney-heroine-ever|archive-date=September 14, 2018|access-date=March 3, 2016|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]}}</ref> and Zahraa Schroeder of [[Smile 90.4FM]] described it as "Meg’s brain fighting her heart".<ref name=":39" /> Additionally, the musical number predicts that one of Hercules' most difficult challenges will be trying to change Meg's opinion of him.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://opinionmoviegoer.blogspot.ca/2014/06/hercules-ron-clements-and-john-musker.html|title=Hercules (Ron Clements and John Musker, 1997) Review|date=June 6, 2014|website=Opinionated Movie-Goer|access-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', Aja Romano cited the song as Meg's [["I Want" song]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Aja |date=December 11, 2015 |title=The definitive ranking of Disney 'Want Songs' |url=http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/ten-best-disney-want-songs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618165408/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/ten-best-disney-want-songs/ |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |access-date=July 6, 2016 |website=[[The Daily Dot]]}}</ref> In addition to her conflicted feelings about Hercules, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" also demonstrates Meg's independence.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web |last=Wilkinson |first=Matt |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Disney+: Every Song In Hercules, Ranked Worst To Best |url=https://screenrant.com/disney-hercules-songs-ranked-worst-to-best/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507130139/https://screenrant.com/disney-hercules-songs-ranked-worst-to-best/ |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>
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== 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" /> ''[[BBC Music Magazine]]''<nowiki/>'s Sean Wilson reviewed it as "a witty, smart number ... Blessed with an extremely catchy melody and some clever lyrics".<ref name=":40">{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Sean |date=December 6, 2024 |title=Best Disney soundtracks: 11 of the best musical soundworlds conjured by the inimitable Mouse House |url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/tv-and-film-music/best-disney-soundtracks |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=[[BBC Music Magazine]]}}</ref> ''[[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> According to ''[[Good Housekeeping]]'', "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is the 12th best Disney song of all-time, which Marisa LaScala described as "a sleeper hit".<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaScala |first=Marisa |date=April 16, 2019 |title=The 42 Best Disney Songs of All Time |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g26886855/best-disney-songs/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=[[Good Housekeeping]]}}</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]] and [[D23 (Disney)|D23]] ranked the song Disney's ninth and 10th greatest love song, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Heather |date=February 5, 2014 |title=The Definitive Ranking Of Disney Love Songs |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnew92/a-definitive-ranking-of-the-greatest-disney-love-s-9qja#.ra16vEyPg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126061322/https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnew92/a-definitive-ranking-of-the-greatest-disney-love-s-9qja#.ra16vEyPg |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=March 2, 2016 |website=[[BuzzFeed]]}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> In an article describing the song as "one of the greatest g-rated love songs of the last century", ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' ranked "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" the seventh-best Disney song.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Nick |last2=Bavera |first2=Camille |date=April 10, 2024 |title=The 33 best Disney songs |url=https://www.timeout.com/music/best-disney-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116084808/https://www.timeout.com/music/best-disney-songs |archive-date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]}}</ref> ''Billboard'' named it the 21st best song of the [[Disney Renaissance]].<ref name=":23" /> ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' ranked it the 61st best Disney song of all-time,<ref name=":26" /> and [[UDiscoverMusic]] ranked it 34th.<ref name=":2" /> Ranking it Disney's 36th best song, ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' welcomed "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as "a refreshing change of pace for Disney" that in turn makes Meg "a relatable queen".<ref name=":30" /> In 2024, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" the 18th best Disney song,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levitt |first=Barry |date=November 27, 2024 |title=The 50 Best Disney Songs, Ranked |url=https://time.com/7178930/best-disney-songs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213113453/https://time.com/7178930/best-disney-songs/ |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> and ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' ranked it 39th.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Truffaut-Wong |first=Olivia |last2=Hanrahan |first2=Laura |date=October 23, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Disney Songs of All Time, From 'The Lion King' to 'Frozen' |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/g32268415/best-disney-songs/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]}}</ref> Meanwhile, [[Universal Music Group|umusic NZ]] ranked it the 8th best Disney Princess song.<ref name=":34" /> ''[[MovieWeb]]'' ranked it Menken's 10th best original composition, describing the song as a "cultural reset".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gawaran |first=Alyssa |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Disney: Best Original Songs Composed by Alan Menken |url=https://movieweb.com/disney-songs-alan-menken/ |access-date=February 21, 2025 |work=[[MovieWeb]]}}</ref> In 2022, ''[[The Scotsman]]'' reported that "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was 22nd most streamed Disney song on Spotify, having amassed nearly 207 million streams.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jack |first=Lauren |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Disney: The most popular Disney songs in the world, according to Spotify streams |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/here-are-the-30-most-popular-disney-songs-in-the-world-3572585 |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref>
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