“The Great Pretender” is a song originally performed by The Platters in 1955. The song was written and produced by Buck Ram and recorded by the American group on Mercury Records. It reached #1 on the US Billboard Top 100, #1 on the US R&B Records, and #5 on the UK charts. The Platters performed it on the 1956 musical film “Rock Around the Clock” and also in “American Graffiti”.

The meaning of “The Great Pretender” by The Platters revolves around themes of pretending and loneliness. The lyrics depict someone pretending to be happy and carefree (“gay like a clown”) while concealing their true feelings of loneliness and emptiness. In essence, “The Great Pretender” reflects the internal conflict between outward appearance and inner reality, capturing the universal experience of masking true emotions.