He first performed in a children's choir at his local Presbyterian church. Williams and his three older brothers Bob, Dick, and Don, formed a quartet, the Williams Brothers, in the late 1930s. The brothers performed on radio in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and later at WLS in Chicago and WLW in Cincinnati. Williams graduated from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati. They appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record "Swinging on a Star" (1944). This led to a nightclub act with entertainer Kay Thompson from 1947 to 1951.
Williams's solo career began in 1952 after his brothers left the act. He recorded six sides for RCA's label "X," but none of them were popular hits. After landing a spot as a regular on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in 1955, he was signed to a recording contract with Cadence Records, a small label in New York run by conductor Archie Bleyer. His third single, "Canadian Sunset" (1956) hit the Top Ten, and was soon followed his only Billboard #1 hit, "Butterfly" (a cover of a Charlie Gracie record on which Williams imitated Elvis Presley). More hits followed, including "The Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Are You Sincere," "The Village of St. Bernadette," and "Lonely Street," before Williams moved to Columbia Records in 1961, having moved from New York to Los Angeles. In terms of chart popularity, the Cadence era was Williams's peak although songs he introduced on Columbia became much bigger standards. Two top ten hits from the Cadence era, "Butterfly" and "I Like Your Kind of Love" were apparently believed to not suit Williams's later style; they were not included on a Columbia reissue of his Cadence greatest hits in the 1960s.
During the 1960s, Williams became one of the most popular vocalists in the country and signed what was to that time the biggest recording contract in history. He was primarily an album artist, and at one time he had earned more gold albums than any solo performer except Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. By 1973 he had earned as many as 17 gold album awards. Among his hit albums from this period were Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses (number one for 16 weeks in mid-1963), The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Get Together with Andy Williams, and Love Story. In these recordings Williams displays an incredible vocal technique along with an uncanny ability to make each song his very own, often rivaling or surpassing the version by the original artist. These attributes, along with his natural affinity for the music of the 1960s and early 1970s, combined to make him one of the premier easy listening singers of that era.
Williams forged an indirect collaborative relationship with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Williams was asked to sing Mancini and Johnny Mercer's song "Moon River" at the 1962 Oscar Awards (where it won), and it quickly became Williams's theme song. This was repeated the next year with the pair's "Days of Wine and Roses" (which also won), Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) at the 1966 awards.
Williams also competed in the teenage-oriented singles market as well and had several charting hits including "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Happy Heart," and "Where Do I Begin", the theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film, Love Story. Building on his experience with Allen and some short-term variety shows in the 1950s, he became the star of his own weekly television variety show in 1962. This series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards for outstanding variety program. Among his series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up the variety show in 1971 while it was still popular and retrenched to three specials per year. His Christmas specials, which appeared regularly until 1974 and intermittently from 1982 into the 1990s, were among the most popular of the genre. Williams has recorded eight Christmas albums over the years. He hosted the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years in the 1970s. He returned to television to do a syndicated half-hour series in 1976-77.
In the early 1990s, Williams gave up most of his touring schedule in order to open his own theatre in Branson, Missouri, the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. He continues to do 8 to 12 shows a week from September to December and occasionally makes tours of Europe earlier in the year.
His 1967 recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" was a surprise UK hit in 1999, when it reached number 9 after featuring in an advert (beating the original peak of number 33 in 1967). In 2002 he took part in a new duet of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with British actress and singer Denise van Outen. Nearly everything Williams ever recorded has now been made available on CD through a series of compilations from 1997 to 2004.
Williams met Claudine Longet when he pulled over to aid her on a Las Vegas road. She was a dancer at the time at the Folies Bergere. They married on Christmas Day, 1961, and had three children, Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They separated in 1969 and finally divorced 6 years later. In 1976 Longet was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich and Williams supported her. He married a second time in May 1991 to the former Debbie Haas. They make their homes at Branson, Missouri and La Quinta, California. Williams' homes have been featured in Architectural Digest, and he is a noted collector of modern art. Williams is an avid golfer. He hosted a major golf tournament in San Diego for many years, which was known as the Andy Williams San Diego Open during that time.
Williams' birthplace is a tourist attraction open most of the year.
Are you Sincere
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you sincere when you say I'll be true?
Do you mean every word that my ears have heard?
I'd like to know (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Which way to go (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Will our love grow? (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Are you sincere? (are you sincere?)
When you say (lo-lo-lo-lo)
You miss me? (you miss me)
Are you sincere (lo-lo-lo-lo)
Every time (lo-lo-lo-lo)
You kiss me? (you kiss me)
And are you really mine every day, all the time?
I'd like to know (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Which way to go (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Will our love grow? (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
Are you sincere? (are you sincere?)
Are you really mine every day, all the time?
I'd like to know (I'd like to know)
Which way to go (which way to go)
Will our love grow? (will our love grow?)
Are you sincere? (are you sincere)
The lyrics in Andy Williams's song "Are You Sincere?" is a straightforward inquiry about the sincerity of love. The song's lyrics appear to be a request to discover if one's partner's profession of love is genuine or not. It is a love song that asks the significant other if their words, feelings, and commitment are all genuine. The lyrics keep repeating the same question and to have a more profound meaning to it, “are you sincere?”
The lyrics are simple yet powerful. The singer wants to know if the love their partner is expressing is true or not. This question is one that many individuals find themselves asking at one point or another in a relationship, thereby making it a relatable song. The lyrics sound like the singer is vulnerable, seeking honesty, and looking for a connection with the person they love, which makes the message more poignant.
The song's tone is contemplative and reflective, the singer is earnestly searching for emotional connection, for the assurance that the love that has been expressed to them is genuine. The repetition of the same lyrics throughout the song focused on sincerity reinforces the central theme of the song. The song's slow tempo and melody add to the song's introspective mood, a simple yet incredibly powerful love song.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you sincere when you say I love you?
Are your words true when you claim to love me?
Are you sincere when you say I'll be true?
Do you genuinely intend to remain faithful to me?
Do you mean every word that my ears have heard?
Are you speaking from the heart, or just saying what you think I want to hear?
I'd like to know (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
I am seeking clarity on your feelings and intentions.
Which way to go (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
I am uncertain about how to proceed in this relationship.
Will our love grow? (ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba)
I am questioning if our love is capable of maturing and deepening over time.
Are you sincere? (are you sincere?)
I am asking for honesty and transparency from you.
Are you really mine every day, all the time?
Do you belong to me completely, and will you remain so in the future?
I'd like to know (I'd like to know)
I am seeking answers and clarity to ensure the longevity of our relationship.
Which way to go (which way to go)
I am seeking guidance and direction in making decisions regarding our relationship.
Will our love grow? (will our love grow?)
I am questioning if our love is capable of maturing and deepening over time.
Are you sincere? (are you sincere)
I value honesty and transparency in our relationship and am seeking reassurance from you.
Are you sincere (lo-lo-lo-lo)
Do your actions truly reflect your feelings?
When you say (lo-lo-lo-lo)
When you speak to me.
You miss me? (you miss me)
Are you genuinely longing for my company?
Every time (lo-lo-lo-lo)
On every occasion.
You kiss me? (you kiss me)
Do your physical signs of affection reflect your emotional commitment to our relationship?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUCKY MOELLER, WAYNE P. WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-hm9gs2im7e
Soft and Sweet ..Love this song💖
@glenmcgregor3366
Andy is just as great today as he was back in the 50's and 60's. Carol and I have been listening to him all these years and magical.
@normmurr3568
I will never forget 1958, I was young then.
@elisabethvalade9866
Me too, good sir!! 17 and driving home from KY Lake, I heard it playing on the radio. I had to go out and buy it the next day, as I recall. Had convertible top down, was driving about 50 MPH, just letting the breeze blow thru my hair and listening to AW sing that beautiful ballad. Wonderful memory!! (Great car, too. 56 Chevy Bel Air convertible, metallic mauve and white. ALWAYS associate that car when top was down with that 25-minute drive home, listening to one of the sweetest voices I'd ever heard.)
@anamariapeixoto9528
Beautiful voice! Thanks for the post.
@sheenaty2874
Such a nice song. Super romantic
@MrForttunate
having a great voice and being a great singer is a rare combination, ANDY had it , what am i talking about ? just listen to the highs and the lows , great vocal range and control
@christinefrazerskinner2440
Yes I agree
@MrForttunate
@@christinefrazerskinner2440 there is also another recording of andy singing this same song with backing vocals by none other than the CHORDETTES and the EVERLY BROTHERS , it's embarrassing how many times i have watched it .
@MoosicandCritters
And he did it all so smoothly. ♥️🎤