I Won't Say (I'm in Love)

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
Song by Susan Egan and Cheryl Freeman from the album Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Released May 27, 1997
Recorded 1996–1997
Genre
Length 2:20
Label Walt Disney
Writer
Producer Alan Menken
Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack track listing

"Zero to Hero"
(8)		 "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
(9)		 "A Star Is Born"
(10)

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel for Walt Disney Pictures' 35th animated feature film Hercules (1997), and included on the film's soundtrack Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack. The song is performed by American actress and singer Susan Egan in her role as the film's heroine Meg, while singers Lillias White, Vaneese Y. Thomas, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze and Roz Ryan provide girl group-style backup vocals as the Muses. However, only Egan and Freeman are credited as vocalists on the track.

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a 1950s-style R&B, pop and doo-wop ballad with both Mowtown and teen pop influences, similar in style to the songs of American girl groups The Ronettes and The Supremes. Its lyrics, which parody traditional love songs, are about denying having romantic feelings for someone. In the film, Meg has reluctantly fallen in love with Hercules but constantly refuses to admit this, while the Muses insist that she stop denying her true feelings for him. "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was written to replace a slower ballad Menken had originally penned for Meg. Entitled "I Can't Believe My Heart", the song was abandoned because Meg's animator Ken Duncan felt that it did not suit her personality. Menken based "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" on songs he had written for his musical Little Shop of Horrors.

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has been positively received by both film and music critics alike, who praised its girl group-inspired arrangement, Egan's sultry delivery and refreshing difference from traditional Disney songs. Some critics even hailed it as the film's best song. While not one of the most popular or successful songs released by Disney, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has since earned a reputation as one the studio's finest, most underrated songs. American singer Belinda Carlisle recorded a pop version of "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" for the film's soundtrack. The song was eventually covered by American girl group The Cheetah Girls.

Background and context

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was written to replace a song composer Alan Menken had originally written for Meg because the original did not suit the character's personality.

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel. Menken had originally composed a "soaring" ballad for Meg to perform entitled "I Can't Believe My Heart",[1] which would have been a solo for the character[2] intended to depict her falling in love with Hercules.[3] However, Meg's supervising animator Ken Duncan disagreed with the song because he believed that the character was simply "too tough" and "hardened by life" to perform such a soft ballad.[1] The writers also agreed that Meg "wasn’t a ballad kind of girl."[4] Therefore, Menken was prompted to write "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)", the style of which he based on girl group songs he had written for his musical Little Shop of Horrors, with which "I Can't Believe My Heart" was ultimately replaced.[1] Although she liked the song, American actress and singer Susan Egan, who voices Meg, agreed that "I Can't Believe My Heart", which was much slower than "I Won't Say (I'm in Love),[2] was not the right song for her character to perform because "it’s too straightforward and literal ", featuring lyrics that Meg would never sing, whereas "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" expresses a similar meaning albeit "the way Meg would—without admitting any of it."[5]

Egan joked that although "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was "fun" to perform, she felt especially "white" recording alongside the five actresses cast as the Muses, who provide the song's back up vocals.[1] Having previously worked with Lillias White, Vaneese Y. Thomas, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze and Roz Ryan on Broadway, Egan felt intimated by their powerful voices and riffing expertise.[6] Egan recalled, "Alan would say, 'Okay Lillias (White), just do a riff over there and LaChanze, you do a little something over here and Susan, just at the end, get from this note to this note and just do a riff.' I raise my hand and I'm like, 'Umm, can you plunk it out on the piano?' He looks at me like, 'Are you kidding?'"[6] While it took Egan half an hour to solidify her riffs, the other singers recorded multiple takes of theirs within that time; Egan was greatly humbled by the experience.[6] Menken also produced the song.[7] On the film's soundtrack, only Egan and Freeman are credited as vocalists on the track.[8]

Meg's signature song,[9] "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has been identified as the character's "big moment of romantic realisation" in Hercules.[10] Despite her best efforts, the character realizes that she has in fact begun to develop feelings for Hercules, but at first refuses to admit this;[11] the song allows Meg to "work through her denial".[12] "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" resembles an "admonishing" exchange between Meg and the Muses.[13] Finally, the character's resistance proves futile,[14] and she ultimately relents.[13] Tracy Dye of Bustle described the scene: "Joined by The Muses, Meg attempts to vehemently deny her amour for Hercules until the last dreamy lyric."[15] Writing for film critic Eric D. Snider's website, Kimber Kay joked that Meg "tries her best to give a top 40 rendition of her solo song, but it gets stolen by the magnificent Muses."[16] Additionally, the musical number demonstrates that Hercules' most difficult challenge will be attempting to change Meg's heart and opinion of him.[17]

Composition

At a length of two minutes and twenty seconds,[18] "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" was written in the key of C major at a tempo of 100 beats per minute,[19] and is performed "freely"[19] in the style of a mellow[20] 1950s girl group song.[21][22] Featuring "sultry" vocals by Egan,[20] the pop song[23] adheres to "the R&B motif" Menken demonstrates throughout the entire film,[21] while incorporating a "doo-wop sound".[24] Featuring "cooing shooby-doos and sha-la-las" by the Muses,[13] who perform "gospel-tinged" back up vocals and riffs on the track,[2][6] Jeffrey Gantz of the Boston Phoenix compared Egan's "soaring" vocals to those of girl group The Ronettes.[13] Describing "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as "a traditional Disney [heroine's] lament," Vulture.com's Lindsey Weber acknowledged its "unique Motown edge", comparing the Muses' vocals to those of girl group The Supremes.[12] Musically, Irving Tan of Sputnikmusic described the teen pop-influenced "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as "the closest the Herculean villa ever comes to approximating a Broadway show".[20] Combined, Egan and the Muses' vocals span two octaves, from G3 to C5.[19] One critic acknowledged the uniqueness of Egan's singing voice, at the same time observing that she lacks the vocal range of the actresses who voiced Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989) and Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991).[25]

Egan performing the R&B and doo-wop song, accompanied by girl group-style back up vocals.

Lyrically, the love song[26] is about denial, specifically one's reluctance to fall in love and succumb to romantic clichés.[12][27][28] It parodies "classic" love songs,[11] and differs in style from love songs usually featured in Disney films,[15] offering "a unique spin on the Disney love song".[29] Rob Burch of The Hollywood News dubbed "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" an "anti-love song".[30] Described as an "emotional barnstormer",[31] the song begins with Egan singing the lyrics "If there's a prize for rotten judgment I guess I've already won that",[19] which is followed by "Been there, done that".[24] Gantz described the Muses' lyrics "Face it like a grown-up/When ya gonna own up/That ya got got got it bad?" as "admonishing".[13] Calling the song a "self-aware ballad", The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television author Thomas S. Hischak observed that its lyrics are "filled with sly anachronisms".[32] Meanwhile, in his book The Disney Song Encyclopedia, 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", additionally citing the Muses' "oohs" and "ahs."[28] According to D23, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is a love song "For those who don’t want to admit their hearts’ desires,"[33] as the protagonist refuses to admit her true feelings until the very last lyric.[15] Despite being a parody of love songs, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is considered to be a love song itself nonetheless.[34]

Reception

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" has garnered positive reviews from both film and music critics, some of whom even identified it as the film's best song.[17][21][29] Writing for Indiewire, Greg Ehbar cited "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as his favorite, describing the song as one of the film's "truly great tunes".[24] Ella Ceron of Thought Catalog called the song "a pop song made on Olympus."[23] Irving Tan of Sputnikmusic was especially kind towards the song, which he hailed as "the ultimate pantheon of Grecian achievement".[20] Tan continued, "the five Muses prov[e] that their pillow talk skills are right up there with the best of them", concluding, "The track also works well as an alternative to modern pop's teenage heartbreak music, which has gotten uncomfortably crass and increasingly unsubtle over the years; be sure to ditch Hilary Duff and play this instead for that swooning female friend in your life."[20] Tracy Dye of Bustle hailed the song as "one of Disney's most addictive pieces of ear-candy," appreciating the fact that "it veers from the typical love-laced ballads we're used to."[15] Rob Burch of The Hollywood News called "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" a "a refreshing change of pace".[30]

Beamly ranked the song fifth on its list of "The best ever Disney songs", with author Sophie Hall dubbing Meg "The Celine Dion of the cartoon world".[31] BuzzFeed ranked "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" 14th in its "Definitive Ranking Of The 102 Best Animated Disney Songs".[35] Meanwhile, BuzzFeed also ranked the song Disney's ninth greatest love song,[36] while D23 ranked it 10th in a similar article.[33] "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is also considered to be one of Disney's best underrated songs, with the New York Post including it on their list.[11] 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.[37]

Music video

The music video for Carlisle's version consists of Carlisle performing the song at a drive-in movie theater displaying clips from 'Hercules'.

The Cheetah Girls version

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
Single by The Cheetah Girls
from the album Disneymania 3
Released February 14, 2005
Format Digital download
Recorded 2005
Genre Pop, R&B
Length 3:23 (single version)
Label Walt Disney
The Cheetah Girls singles chronology
"Cheetah Sisters"
(2003)		 "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
(2005)		 "Shake a Tail Feather"
(2005)

"I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" is the first single from Disneymania 3, performed by The Cheetah Girls. It premiered on Radio Disney and the single was released on February 14, 2005, especially for Valentine's Day. This was the first song recorded by The Cheetah Girls that did not include Raven-Symoné. A remix version of the song called the GRRL Power Remix was released as a single to Radio Disney only. It did not chart, however it was included on Disneyremixmania. Footage from the performance of the song at the Disneymania 3 concert was featured in a segment of Disney 411.

Track listing

  1. "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"
  2. Radio Disney interview with The Cheetah Girls

Music video

The music video consisted of The Cheetah Girls singing, laughing and making faces at the camera in a recording studio.

Disney's on the Record

In 2004, Disney Theatricals Department created a jukebox styled musical called, Disney's on the Record. The national touring musical collaborated 70 years of Disney music into one 2-act show including the song "I Won't Say I'm In Love". However, the song was not performed with all of the lyrics (due to it being recorded as a 4 song session). This recording is different from the 1997-film version because "I Won't Say I'm In Love" is performed by a male, unlike the film version sung by a female, Susan Egan. The recording was sung by Andrew Samonsky (as the leading vocals) and a backup quartet (Meredith Inglesby, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, and Keewa Nurullah).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hill, Jim (October 19, 2012). "Disney favorite Susan Egan to perform this Sunday afternoon at LBCC's Music Scholarship Gala Concert". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Roulette, Matthew. "The 10 Best Disney Songs You’ve Never Heard". TheFW. SCREENCRUSH NETWORK. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ "18 Best Disney Songs You've Never Heard". Glamour. Condé Nast. May 15, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Dickens, Donna (May 13, 2013). "18 Best Disney Songs You’ve Never Heard". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, Inc. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ Miles, Jim (September 29, 2008). "Jim looks at some overlooked treasures from recent Disney music and DVD releases.". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Susan Egan: Belle, Meg, Glamour and Goop - Part 2". The Mouse Castle. Mouse Castle Media. August 1, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Alan Menken, David Zippel – Disney's Hercules (An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack)". Discogs. Discogs. 1997. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Batdorf, Rodney (May 27, 1997). "Alan Menken – Hercules [Original Soundtrack]". Allmusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  9. ↑ Fetters, Sarah Michelle (August 12, 2014). "Hercules (1997) - Special Edition (Blu-ray)". MovieFreak.com. MovieFreak.com. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Top Ten: Underrated Disney Songs". Oh That Film Blog. September 10, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 Miller, Gregory E (March 18, 2014). "The best (and the most underrated) Disney songs". New York Post. NYP HOLDINGS, INC. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 Weber, Lindsey (July 25, 2014). "Disney’s Hercules Is an Underrated Masterpiece". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Gantz, Jeffrey (June 26, 1997). "Disney's Hercules is a heroic effort". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ "So This is Love: Top 20 Disney Love Songs". Chip and Co. ChipandCo.com. November 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Dye, Tracy (July 10, 2015). "7 Reasons Meg From 'Hercules' Is The Most Underrated Disney Heroine Ever". Bustle. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  16. ↑ Snider, Eric D. "Hercules". www.ericdsnider.com. Eric D. Snider. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Hercules (Ron Clements and John Musker, 1997) Review". Opinionated Movie-Goer. Awesome Inc. June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Hercules - An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack – Various Artists". iTunes. Apple Inc. 1997. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "I Won't Say (I'm In Love) – From Walt Disney's Hercules - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Walt Disney Music Publishing. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Tan, Irving (January 29, 2011). "Soundtrack (Disney) – Hercules". Sputnikmusic. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 Dequina, Michael (June 26, 1997). "Hercules (G)". The Movie Report. Michael Dequina. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  22. ↑ Brayton, Timothy (December 2, 2009). "DISNEY ANIMATION: A KID WITH HIS ACT DOWN PAT". Antagony & Ecstasy. Riverrun Productions. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Ceron, Ella (February 24, 2014). "The 16 Most Awesome Female Characters From Disney Movies". Thought Catalog. The Thought & Expression Co. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 Ehrbar, Greg (August 10, 2014). "BLU-RAY REVIEW: Disney's Hercules and Tarzan". Indiewire. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Dissed By Disney: The Forgotten Princesses". The DisGeek Podcast. DisGeek Podcast. February 1, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ Block, Tara (November 13, 2015). "Feel the Love Tonight With This Romantic Disney Playlist". Popsugar. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  27. ↑ "TOP 100 DISNEY SONGS". UltimateDisney.com. DVDizzy.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Hischak, Thomas (2009). The Disney Song Encyclopedia. United States: Scarecrow Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780810869387.
  29. 1 2 "Hercules Review". Wizard Dojo. April 20, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  30. 1 2 Burch, Rob (September 11, 2013). "Disney 53: Hercules". The Hollywood News. The Hollywood News. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  31. 1 2 Hall, Sophie (January 7, 2016). "The best ever Disney songs: RANKED". Beamly. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  32. ↑ Hischak, Thomas S (2008). The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television. United States: Oxford University Press. p. 338. ISBN 9780195335330.
  33. 1 2 "Top 10 Disney Love Songs". D23. Disney. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Fall in Love with 30 Disney Love Songs". Musicnotes.com. Musicnotes, Inc. February 12, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  35. ↑ Zafar, Aylin (April 21, 2014). "The Definitive Ranking Of The 102 Best Animated Disney Songs". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, Inc. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  36. ↑ Newman, Heather (February 5, 2014). "The Definitive Ranking Of Disney Love Songs". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, Inc. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  37. ↑ Paul, Jeremiah (August 24, 2015). "10 Of the Most Underrated Disney Songs of All Time!". Moviepilot. Retrieved March 2, 2016.

External links

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