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 on May 27, 1997 as part of the film's [[Hercules (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], the song was recorded 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]] provided [[background 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 [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] that had been deemed too lucky for Meg's 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).

A stylistic departure from typical Disney ballads of the time period, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a mid-tempo [[doo-wop]], [[R&B]], and [[Pop music|pop]] balladsong reminiscent of 1960s music that incorporates elements of [[Motown]] and [[gospel music|gospel]]., Similarsimilar to the works of American girl groups such as [[the Ronettes]] and [[the Supremes]],. itsIts lyrics are about denying having [[romantic feelings|feelings]] for someone in an effort to avoid romantic [[Cliché|clichés]]. In the ''Hercules'' musical sequence, Meg refuses to admit she is falling in love with the [[title character]], while the Muses insist that she embrace her feelings for him instead.

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has been positively reviewed by both film and [[Music journalism|music critics]], many of whom deemed it the film's best song and praised its composition. Despite being ranked among some of Disney's best songs by some media publications, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has also developed a reputation as one of the studio's most underappreciated. Among notable covers, American singer [[Belinda Carlisle]] recorded a [[pop rock]] version for the film's soundtrack, and American girl group [[The Cheetah Girls (group)|the Cheetah Girls]] covered the song in 2005.