♫ The Great Pretender ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under music

I was visiting Clive’s blog in the wee hours this morning, listening to a variety of music, when a song title popped into my head … not one that Clive had posted, but one suggested by the name of a group he played!  I have played this before, but it’s been a few years.  I do love me some Platters, and hope you will too …

A few weeks ago, I played a verrrrrry oldie by The Platters, and since most of you liked it, I decided to try another favourite by them.

The Platters’ manager and producer, Buck Ram, says he wrote this song in about 20 minutes in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in order to have a song to follow up the success of Only You.

What I wasn’t aware of is that this song was revived in 1987 by Freddie Mercury of Queen, and his version was also a hit in the UK, though I don’t think so much in the U.S.  I checked out the Queen version and found it not to my liking.

The Great Pretender
The Platters

Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender
Pretending that I’m doing well
My need is such I pretend too much
I’m lonely but no one can tell

Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender
Adrift in a world of my own
I’ve played the game but to my real shame
You’ve left me to grieve all alone

Too real is this feeling of make-believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal

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

Too real is this feeling of make-believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal

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

Songwriters: Buck Ram
The Great Pretender lyrics © Panther Music Corp.

12 thoughts on “♫ The Great Pretender ♫ (Redux)”

    • I agree … I love The Platters and this was, I think, their very best! Glad you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s tune … something really different! xx

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  5. Thank you for the mention. Things have been a bit slow on recent Tuesday Tunes posts so all publicity is gratefully accepted! I’m a Queen fan but I’m with you on this: I thought Freddie’s take on the song was too overwrought compared with the relative simplicity of the original. My favourite version is the one by The Band: Richard Manuel’s plaintive voice is a good fit for the hurt in the lyrics.

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    • Things have slowed down on Filosofa’s Word too … and one of my blogging buddies told me that all her notifications had disappeared. Maybe WordPress is playing games again?

      I had not heard the one by The Band, but just now listened (you are definitely broadening my horizons!) and I did like it, but I still think The Platters is my favourite.

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  6. Pingback: ♫ The Great Pretender ♫ (Redux) | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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