ðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz ɛksplˈeɪnd ðˈæt "mˈɪstɚ. sˈɑːndhaɪm…hɐz sˈɛd hiː wʌz nˈɛvɚ pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli fˈɑːnd ʌv hɪz lˈɪɹɪks ɪn wˈɛst sˈaɪd stˈoːɹi,ɪspˈɛʃəli aɪ fˈiːl pɹˈɪɾi, lˈeɪɾɚɹ ɛkspɹˈɛsɪŋ ðˈæt "ðɪ aɪdˈiə ʌvðə sˈɔŋ ɪz sˌoʊ sˈɪmpəl".
The New York Times explained that "Mr. Sondheim…has said he was never particularly fond of his lyrics in 'West Side Story,' especially 'I Feel Pretty, later expressing that "The idea of the song is so simple".