Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)

{{Infobox song

| name = Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)

| cover = Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me) cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Boston

| album = Third Stage

| B-side = Cool the Engines

| released = February 1987{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boston/chart-history/hsi/|title=Billboard entries for Boston}}

| recorded = 1981–1983

| studio = Hideaway Studios

| venue =

| genre = Arena rock

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=58}}

| label = MCA

| writer = Tom Scholz

| producer = Tom Scholz

| prev_title = We're Ready

| prev_year = 1986

| next_title = Hollyann

| next_year = 1986

|misc={{External music video|header=Audio|

{{YouTube|pdFWZXOzVBY|"Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)"}}}}}}

"Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)", also known as "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still in Love" or "Can'tcha Say" is a song written by Tom Scholz that was released by Boston on their 1986 album Third Stage. It was released as the third single from the album and reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their last Top 40 hit in the United States.{{cite magazine|title=Boston Chart History: Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/boston/chart-history|magazine=Billboard Magazine|access-date=2019-10-16}} It also reached #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #27 on the Cashbox chart.{{cite book|title=Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993|author=Downey, P., Albert, G. & Hoffmann, F.W.|page=[https://archive.org/details/cashboxpopsingle00down/page/34 34]|year=1994|publisher=University of Michigan|isbn=1563083167|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cashboxpopsingle00down/page/34}} In Canada, the song peaked at #88.{{cite journal|title=RPM 100 Singles|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0804&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3|date=May 2, 1987|volume=46|issue=4|access-date=2013-08-11|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810040156/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0804&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3|archive-date=August 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}

Although not released until 1986, Boston recorded "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" over 1981, 1982 and 1983.{{cite web|title=Third Stage|publisher=Boston|url=http://www.bandboston.com/html/album3_html.html|access-date=2013-08-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608015731/http://www.bandboston.com/html/album3_html.html|archive-date=2012-06-08}} The released version seamlessly combines what were originally separate songs.{{cite web|title=The 10 Greatest Boston Songs Ever|date=March 10, 2016|author=Elliott, Paul|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-03-10/the-10-greatest-boston-songs-ever|publisher=Future plc|access-date=2017-04-06}} According to the Third Stage liner notes, the song is about a reunion. Scholz used the Rockman amplifier he invented to produce an effect in which the electric guitars sound like violins.{{cite news|title=After Eight Years Boston Delivers More of the Same Old Bombast|author=Samuels, L.|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=August 26, 1986|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3CEBB467B554F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=2013-08-11}} "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" was the first song on which Scholz recorded his guitar part using a Rockman, in conjunction with a ten band equalizer for changing sounds.{{cite news|title=Tom Scholz: A Normal Life|author=Stix, J.|pages=46–53, 101|newspaper=Guitar|date=July 1987}}

Boston Phoenix critic Milo Miles criticizes "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" as "tedium."{{cite news|title=Pop-Pourri|newspaper=Boston Phoenix|date=October 21, 1986|author=Miles, M.|page=40|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X20tAAAAIBAJ&pg=6501,2051409&dq=boston+cool+the+engines&hl=en|access-date=2013-08-11}} He singles out the line "Where there's a will there's a way" as an example of the song's "prosaic, cliched lyrics." However, Billboard regarded the song as one of the "best bets" to follow up on the success of the #1 single from Third Stage, "Amanda."{{cite news|title=Spotlight|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|page=78|date=October 4, 1986|access-date=2013-08-11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=boston+%22still+in+love%22+scholz&pg=RA1-PA78}} Cash Box praised Scholz' guitar playing and said that Brad Delp's vocals are "stacked to the sky" to give "an overall rock/choir effect."{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-03-07.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=March 7, 1987|accessdate=2022-08-08|page=9}} Los Angeles Times critic Steve Pond praises the "persuasive" sound at the climax, which he likens to the sound of "a couple dozen guitars" revving up.{{cite news|title=Boston Eight Years After|author=Pond, S.|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=76|date=October 5, 1986|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/292477748|access-date=2013-08-11}} Jerry Spangler of the Deseret News praised the song as a ballad that sounds like a "sure-fire winner".{{cite news|title=Former Musical Kings Attempt to Climb Back to the Top|author=Spangler, J.|page=8W|newspaper=Deseret News|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y8Q6AAAAIBAJ&pg=6822,6807933&dq=can-tcha+say+boston&hl=en|access-date=2013-08-11|date=October 31, 2013}} Paul Elliott of TeamRock.com rated it Boston's 8th greatest song. Elliott said that this song along with "Still in Love" are "two great AOR songs in one."{{cite web|title=The Boston albums you should definitely own|author=Elliott, Paul|publisher=Louder Sound|work=Classic Rock|accessdate=2022-06-28|date=March 9, 2022|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/best-boston-albums}} Philip Booth of the Lakeland Ledger praises the song's "a cappella vocal opening."{{cite news|title=Boston Proves a Point|author=Booth, P.|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date=October 2, 1987|page=12|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KLlNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3274,665333&dq=boston+cool+the+engines&hl=en|access-date=2013-08-11}} Tom Alesia of The Wisconsin State Journal regards the song's title as Boston's worst.{{cite news|title=Dinosaurs Rock Festival Near Eau Claire Becomes Haven for Fading Rockers|author=Alesia, T.|newspaper=The Wisconsin State Journal|date=July 13, 2003|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-105356147.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031422/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-105356147.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=2013-08-11|via=HighBeam}}

Despite its chart success, "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" was omitted from Boston's 1997 Greatest Hits album, for which the San Antonio Express criticized the package.{{cite news|title=Don't Shoot! Give 'Greatest Hits' a Chance|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE7E8CD68C14A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=San Antonio Express|access-date=2013-08-11|date=August 1, 1997}}