Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 17, 2026

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.

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Jun 17, 2026
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"Try Honesty"
Single by Billy Talent
from the album Billy Talent
ReleasedJuly 1, 20031
Genrepost-hardcore, punk,
alternative rock
Length4:13
3:56 (radio edit)
LabelAtlantic
SongwriterBilly Talent
ProducerGavin Brown
Billy Talent singles chronology
"Try Honesty"
(2003) 		"The Ex"
(2004)
Music video
"Try Honesty" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Promotional US variant cover
Audio sample
"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.2

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).3

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...).4

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.4

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 2004.56

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Talent.

Promo single edition 7
No.TitleLength
1."Try Honesty" (Radio Edit)3:56
2."Try Honesty" (Album Version)4:13
Total length:8:09
Enhanced CD Single 8
No.TitleLength
1."Try Honesty" (Radio Edit)3:56
2."When I Was A Little Girl"2:11
3."Beach Balls" (Demo)3:50
4."Try Honesty" (Official Music Video)4:06
Total length:14:03
7" single vinyl picture disc 9
No.TitleLength
1."Try Honesty" (Radio Edit)3:56
2."When I Was A Little Girl"2:11
Total length:6:07

Personnel

Personnel taken from Billy Talent liner notes.10

Billy Talent

Charts

Chart (2003–2004) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)11 68
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)12 24

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)13 2× Platinum 160,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

References

  1. "Billy Talent debuts in Top 10". Archived from the original on November 7, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  2. "PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS - Billy Talent 2004". the JUNO Awards.
  3. Gorman, Bobby (September 29, 2003). "Billy Talent - Ian D'sa and Aaron Solowoniuk : Sept. 29th, 2003 - Red's - Edmonton, Alberta". ThePunkSite.com.
  4. "Billy Talent - Try Honesty (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
  5. "15th MuchMusic Video Awards (Aired: 06/19/2004)". YouTube.
  6. Oleniuk, Lucas (March 29, 2010). "Avril Lavigne presents the award for the Best Rock Video to Benjamin Kowalewicz of Billy Talent at the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards". Toronto Star via Getty Images.
  7. "Billy Talent – Try Honesty – CD (Single, Promo), 2003 [r5499041]". Discogs. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  8. "Billy Talent – Try Honesty – CD (Single, Enhanced), 2003 [r3136196]". Discogs. October 1, 2010.
  9. "Billy Talent – Try Honesty – Vinyl (7 Single, Limited Edition Picture Disc), 2003 [r1643483]". Discogs. February 8, 2009.
  10. Billy Talent (CD booklet). Billy Talent. 2001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. "Official Singles Chart on 13/9/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. "Billy Talent Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  13. "Canadian single certifications – Billy Talent – Try Honesty". Music Canada. Retrieved January 31, 2026.