Are You Sincere

Album: Lonely Street (1958)
Charted: 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Whether or not this is a rhetorical question, there is no question mark at the end. Written by Nashville-based songwriter Wayne Walker, who first recorded the song in 1957, it was then recorded by Andy Williams, who released it in January 1958 on the Cadence label. His became the most popular version of the song.
  • The French Elvis, Johnny Hallyday, put French lyrics to this song, rendering the title "Es-Tu Sincère." And although Hallyday did in fact record it himself, this French version was recorded initially in 1966 by Les Gendarmes. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Elvis Presley recorded this song in 1973, but his version wasn't released until 1979, after he had died. It appeared on the album Our Memories Of Elvis and reached #10 on the Country chart.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 5, 1958, Andy Williams performed "Are You Sincere?" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV weekday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #26 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the following week it would peak at #3 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart, and it spent 17 weeks on the Top 100...
    Two covered versions have charted, in 1965 Trini Lopez's version reached #85 on the Top 100 chart and Elvis' recorded the song in 1973 and two years after his death in 1979 his version peaked at #10 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    Between 1956 and 2007 the Iowa native had forty-six records on Billboard's Top 100 chart; eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Butterfly", for three weeks on March 14th, 1957...
    Just missed having a second #1 record when his "Can't Get Used to Losing You" peaked at #2 for 4 weeks in 1963, during it's first two weeks at #2, "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons was at #1, and for weeks 3 and 4 "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March occupied the top spot.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 9, 1958, Andy Williams performed "Are You Sincere?" on the ABC-TV program 'Dick Clark' s Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show'...
    Seven months earlier on February 12th the song entered Billboard's Top 100 chart at position #51, a little under four weeks later it would peak at #3 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Most Played by Jockeys chart, and it spent 17 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on the same 'Beech-Nut' show he also performed "Promise Me, Love", it would entered the Top 100 on September 1st, 1958 at position #79, five weeks later it would peak at #17 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the Top 100 for 12 weeks...
    Howard Andrew Williams passed away at the age of 84 on September 25th, 2012...
    May he R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.