Alvin Stardust’s Heartbreak Anthem of Self-Deception
Pretend, a poignant ballad delivered with a signature theatrical flair by the one and only Alvin Stardust, captured hearts and climbed the charts, reaching the impressive position of Number 4 on the UK Singles Chart upon its release in the autumn of 1973. This wasn’t just another fleeting pop song; it was a carefully crafted narrative of heartache, a confession whispered in the smoky corners of a lonely heart, resonating deeply with a generation navigating the complexities of love and loss.
Behind the captivating stage persona and the ever-present fingerless gloves lay a performer who understood the nuances of human emotion. Alvin Stardust, born Bernard William Jewry and having previously found fame as Shane Fenton, reinvented himself with a darker, more enigmatic image. This transformation wasn’t merely cosmetic; it allowed him to explore more mature and often melancholic themes in his music. Pretend stands as a prime example of this evolution.
The story woven into the fabric of Pretend is one we’ve all perhaps encountered, either firsthand or through the experiences of those close to us. It speaks of a love that has faded, a relationship clinging to life by the thinnest of threads. The protagonist finds himself trapped in a charade, going through the motions of affection while the embers of true feeling have long since cooled. He “pretends” to still be in love, not necessarily to deceive his partner, but perhaps more tragically, to deceive himself. It’s a desperate act of self-preservation, a refusal to fully acknowledge the painful reality of a love that is no more.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this internal conflict. Lines like “We laugh at the same old things we used to find so funny” and “We talk about our future plans as if there’s still a chance” are laced with a subtle yet palpable sadness. They speak of forced smiles and hollow promises, the echoes of a joy that once was. The act of pretending becomes a shield against the raw pain of separation, a temporary reprieve from the inevitable heartbreak that looms.
Musically, Pretend perfectly complements its lyrical content. The arrangement is lush and evocative, with a gentle melody that tugs at the heartstrings. The subtle orchestration, with its strings and soft percussion, creates an atmosphere of quiet desperation. Alvin Stardust‘s vocal delivery is key here; he imbues the song with a sense of vulnerability that belies his often flamboyant stage presence. You can almost hear the unspoken sorrow in his voice, the weariness of maintaining this facade.
Released at a time when the pop landscape was diverse and ever-changing, Pretend stood out for its emotional depth and its willingness to explore the more somber aspects of romance. It wasn’t a sugary sweet love song; it was a mature reflection on the complexities of relationships, the difficulty of letting go, and the human tendency to cling to what once was, even if it means living a lie.
For those of us who remember the era when Pretend graced the charts, the song likely evokes a sense of nostalgia for a time when music often told stories, when singers weren’t just performers but also narrators of the human condition. It reminds us of youthful heartaches, of the bittersweet pangs of first loves lost, and the universal experience of navigating the often-turbulent waters of relationships. Pretend isn’t just a song; it’s a snapshot of a moment in time, a melancholic echo from the past that still resonates with its poignant truth today. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, the hardest battles are fought not with others, but within the confines of our own hearts, and the act of “pretending” can be both a shield and a prison.