{{For|the EP|Try Honesty (EP)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox song | name = Try Honesty | cover = bttryhon.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Billy Talent | album = Billy Talent | released = July 1, 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsB/billytalent.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041107044942/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsB/billytalent.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2004|title=Billy Talent debuts in Top 10|accessdate=April 21, 2020}}</ref> | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = post-hardcore, punk, <br/>alternative rock | length = 4:13<br>3:56 (radio edit) | label = Atlantic | writer = Billy Talent | producer = Gavin Brown | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = The Ex | next_year = 2004 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|gPCMx8yS7c0|"Try Honesty"}}}} {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = Album | cover = Billy talent-try honesty ep.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Promotional US variant cover }} {{Audio sample | type = single | file = Billy Talent - Try Honesty.ogg | description = "Try Honesty" }} }}
"'''Try Honesty'''" is the debut single by Canadian alternative rock band, Billy Talent, released July 1, 2003 as the lead single from their debut self-titled album via Atlantic Records. The song would go on to be a commercial mainstream success and a break-though hit for the group upon its release. The following year, "Try Honesty" would receive a Juno Award for Single of the Year at the 2004 Juno Awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS - Billy Talent 2004 |url= https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=2004&search_year_val2=2004&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=billy+talent&submit=submit |website= the JUNO Awards |language=en}}</ref> == Music video == Directed by Sean Michael Turrell, The music video for ''Try Honesty'', premiered July 23, 2003, features stylized performance footage of the band in what appears to be an abandoned facility (filmed on location at the former Whitby Psychiatric Hospital in Whitby, Ontario).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thepunksite.com/interviews/billy-talent/ |last1=Gorman | first1=Bobby |title=Billy Talent - Ian D'sa and Aaron Solowoniuk : Sept. 29th, 2003 - Red's - Edmonton, Alberta | work= ThePunkSite.com | date=2003-09-29}}</ref>
Intercut throughout the band's performance are sequences which heavily imply the hospital is haunted, due to a series of paranormal occurrences (ie: disembodied shadows, unnatural movement of family portrait, inanimate objects repositioning themselves, a seemingly-possessed toy doll opening its own eyes, etc...).<ref name="TryHonesty">{{cite web |title= Billy Talent - Try Honesty (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zssP6w0VWQ |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>
Midway through the video, a dark cloud descends over the facility during the song's bridge, accompanied by thunder and lightning that mirror the track's rising intensity. The sky clears once the bridge resolves, after which the band (now in the hospital's infirmary) continues to perform, framed against increased supernatural activity. The video concludes with the facility's front doors being blown from their frame as the song ends.<ref name=TryHonesty />
While the video saw moderate airplay on Fuse in the United States, it received heavy rotation in Canada on Muchmusic and would go on to win a Much Music Video Awards for Best Rock Video in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=15th MuchMusic Video Awards (Aired: 06/19/2004) |url=https://youtube/01Ig1s3Pmk8?si=F6I6QkmNp4Hwnhqd&t=814 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/avril-lavigne-presents-the-award-for-the-best-rock-video-to-news-photo/165290938 |last1=Oleniuk | first1=Lucas |title=Avril Lavigne presents the award for the Best Rock Video to Benjamin Kowalewicz of Billy Talent at the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards. | work=Toronto Star via Getty Images | date=2010-03-29}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = Promo single edition <ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Talent – Try Honesty – CD (Single, Promo), 2003 [r5499041] |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5499041-Billy-Talent-Try-Honesty |access-date=2014-03-16 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref> | all_writing = Billy Talent | title1 = Try Honesty | note1 = Radio Edit | length1 = 3:56 | title2 = Try Honesty | note2 = Album Version | length2 = 4:13 | total_length = 8:09 }} {{Track listing | headline = Enhanced CD Single <ref>{{cite web|title=Billy Talent – Try Honesty – CD (Single, Enhanced), 2003 [r3136196] |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3136196-Billy-Talent-Try-Honesty | website=Discogs | date=2010-10-01}}</ref> | title1 = Try Honesty | note1 = Radio Edit | length1 = 3:56 | title2 = When I Was A Little Girl | length2 = 2:11 | title3 = Beach Balls | note3 = Demo | length3 = 3:50 | title4 = Try Honesty | note4 = Official Music Video | length4 = 4:06 | total_length = 14:03 }} {{Track listing | headline = 7" single vinyl picture disc <ref>{{cite web|title=Billy Talent – Try Honesty – Vinyl (7 Single, Limited Edition Picture Disc), 2003 [r1643483] |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1643483-Billy-Talent-Try-Honesty | website=Discogs | date=2009-02-08}}</ref> | title1 = Try Honesty | note1 = Radio Edit | length1 = 3:56 | title2 = When I Was A Little Girl | note2 = | length2 = 2:11 | total_length = 6:07 }}
==Personnel== Personnel taken from ''Billy Talent'' liner notes.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Billy Talent |others=Billy Talent |date=2001 |type=CD booklet}}</ref>
'''Billy Talent''' * Benjamin Kowalewicz – vocals * Ian D'Sa – guitar, vocals * Jonathan Gallant – bass, vocals * Aaron Solowoniuk – drums
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (2003–2004) !Peak<br>position |- {{singlechart|UK|68|artist=Billy Talent|song=Try Honesty|date=20030913}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|24|artist=Billy Talent|song=Try Honesty}} |- |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|artist=Billy Talent|title=Try Honesty|relyear=2003|certyear=2026|access-date=January 31, 2026}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Billy Talent}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Billy Talent songs Category:2003 debut singles Category:Songs written by Ian D'Sa Category:Songs written by Benjamin Kowalewicz Category:Songs written by Jonathan Gallant Category:Songs written by Aaron Solowoniuk Category:Song recordings produced by Gavin Brown (musician) Category:2003 songs