The Platters – The Great Pretender

The Platters achieved the distinction of becoming the first African-American pop supergroup in the early 1950s. The group, consisting of David Lynch, Zola Taylor, Herb Reed, and Paul Robi, was established in 1952 and later saw the addition of Tony Williams as their lead vocalist in 1953.

After their initial records failed to gain traction on the charts, the group’s fortunes changed when producer and songwriter Buck Ram assumed the role of their manager. He implemented some modifications to the group and secured a record deal with Mercury Records. This move catapulted The Platters to become the most successful vocal group of their era.

Two of Buck Ram’s compositions emerged as significant hits for The Platters. The first was “Only You,” followed by the major success of “The Great Pretender,” released at the end of 1955, which ascended to the No. 1 spot for the group.

“The Great Pretender” is marked by distinctive elements, from Tony Williams’ melodious opening line, “Oh oh, yes, I’m the great pretender,” to the harmonious high-register backing vocals. The lyrics are both simple and catchy, portraying a man who copes with heartbreak by concealing his pain and feigning happiness. “Yes, I’m the great pretender. Just laughin’ and gay like a clown. I seem to be what I’m not, you see. I’m wearing my heart like a crown. Pretending that you’re still around,” the song conveys.

When pressed for a follow-up to their earlier hit, “Only You,” Buck Ram quickly penned “The Great Pretender” in the restroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, where the group was performing. A year later, both “The Great Pretender” and “Only You” were featured in the soundtrack of “Rock Around the Clock,” a musical film chronicling the decline of big bands and the ascent of rock and roll.

In 1987, Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock band Queen, revived “The Great Pretender” with his own rendition of the single. While it didn’t make a significant impact in the United States, it climbed to No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

In one of his final recorded interviews that spring, Mercury explained that the song resonated with his career and being on stage, though he did not disclose the specific reason. It is likely that this was connected to his HIV diagnosis, which he learned of a few months after filming the music video for “The Great Pretender.” For the next four years, Mercury continued to tour, remain in the public eye, and deny his illness, effectively becoming a “great pretender” himself during that time.

Numerous artists have covered “The Great Pretender” over the years, but none have matched the rendition by The Platters. You can witness one of their most memorable performances in the video below.

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤