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It’s Only Make Believe: 4 Powerful “Pretend” Songs
This is a lighthearted music feature from American Songwriter highlighting four notable songs that use "pretend" (or a variation) in their titles, exploring how each artist uses the theme of masking true feelings or embracing illusion. The piece serves as a curated listening guide, offering brief critical context and background on each track's creation rather than reporting on any news event.
The four songs featured are The Platters' 1955 hit "The Great Pretender," Jackson Browne's 1976 title track "The Pretender," Eric Clapton's 1989 single "Pretending" from the album Journeyman, and MGMT's 2007 debut single "Time To Pretend." Each entry includes details such as songwriting credits, chart or commercial context, and thematic analysis, from The Platters' Tony Williams masking sadness behind a jaunty vocal to MGMT's lyrics foreshadowing the duo's later shift into experimental territory.
– Feature lists four classic songs with "pretend" themes in their titles. – Includes The Platters, Jackson Browne, Eric Clapton and MGMT tracks. – Each song explored for its lyrical meaning and background.
Explained simply
The Platters’ “The Great Pretender” (1955), Jackson Browne’s “The Pretender” (1976), Eric Clapton’s “Pretending” (1989) and MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” (2007) are songs linked by a word in their titles. They come from different periods and styles of popular music, from vocal-group pop to rock and electronic music.
In these songs, pretending can mean hiding sadness, keeping up appearances or imagining a different life. The Platters’ Tony Williams sings brightly about concealing heartache, while MGMT’s song plays with dreams of fame and excess. Their different approaches show how one theme can carry contrasting meanings.