“Pretend” is a song that predates Brenda Lee‘s recording by several years. It was originally a popular standard written by Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman, and Frank LaVere and first became a hit in 1953, notably with a famous version by the incomparable Nat King Cole. It was the kind of elegant, melancholic ballad that was popular in the early to mid-1950s.
Brenda Lee recorded her version of “Pretend” relatively early on, in the late 1950s, and it was included on her very first album, Grandma, What Great Songs You Sang!, released in 1959. This album was specifically designed to showcase her ability to sing classic standards, confounding expectations for a young girl who also had rockabilly hits like “Dynamite.”
Musically, Brenda Lee‘s rendition of “Pretend” is presented as a classic pop ballad with orchestral backing typical of the era. The instrumentation is sophisticated and tasteful, providing a gentle and supportive foundation for the vocal. It’s a departure from her more energetic rock and roll or rockabilly recordings, demonstrating her versatility even at this nascent stage of her career.
However, the absolute revelation of this recording is Brenda Lee‘s vocal performance. At an age when most singers are just beginning to find their voice, Brenda Lee delivers “Pretend” with a level of power, control, emotional nuance, and surprising maturity that captivated and astonished listeners. Her voice carries the song’s melancholic melody with a depth of feeling that seems well beyond her years. She doesn’t sound like a child singing a standard; she sounds like a seasoned vocalist who understands the heartache and longing in the lyrics.
Lyrically, “Pretend” is a poignant song about coping with the loss of a loved one by using the power of imagination. It describes the act of pretending that the person is still present, recalling memories and trying to recreate the feeling of their company, as a way to ease the pain of their absence. It’s a touching exploration of grief, memory, and the coping mechanisms people use to navigate loss.
While Brenda Lee‘s version of “Pretend” wasn’t a major charting hit compared to Nat King Cole’s original or her own subsequent blockbusters, its achievement is significant in showcasing her incredible early talent. This recording, and the album it came from, were crucial in establishing her credibility as a serious vocalist capable of handling complex emotional material and classic songs, paving the way for her diverse and highly successful career.
For listeners, Brenda Lee‘s “Pretend” is a moving experience. It’s a beautiful rendition of a timeless melody with heartfelt lyrics, delivered by a voice that was simply extraordinary for its time and remains impressive today. It stands as a testament to her precocious talent and her ability to breathe life and emotion into any song she touched.