• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity News
    •  and More
    Sign In / Register
Spinner
  • Main
  • Spinner RPM
  • Features
    • The Hit List
    • Spinner Interview
    • Tributes & Essays
    • Music Appreciation
  • Songs
    • Free MP3 of the Day
    • Play Full Albums Free
  • Videos
    • The Interface
    • Sessions
    • Video of the Day
    • All Videos
  • Radio
    • AOL Radio
    • AOL Radio Toolbar
    • Shoutcast
  • AOL Music Sites
    • The Boot
    • The BoomBox
    • Noisecreep
    • AOL Music Blog
  • SXSW
  • Send Feedback
  • Katherine McPhee

    Watch Katharine McPhee Sessions
  • Sugarland

    Watch Sugarland's Sexy Duet With Matt Nathanson
  • Beyonce

    Get Beyonce News
  • Katy Perry

    Read Latest on Katy Perry
  • Ringo Starr

    Read Ringo Starr Interview
  • Jill Janus of Huntress

    Huntress Reveal Debut Album Art
  • Kellie Pickler

    Read Kellie Pickler Interview
  • Chris Brown

    Chris Brown 'Wins' Unwelcome Award

Spinner Exclusives

  • The Interface - Live Performances
  • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free
  • Spinner Radio
  • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

Features

  • Best Songs 2011
  • Top Albums of 2011
  • Sad Songs
  • Music Geeks in Film
  • Best Opening Lyrics

All Categories

  • Monthly Mixtape(1)
  • A Day in the Life(5)
  • All About Jazz(96)
  • Awards(233)
  • Free MP3 Download of the Day(1674)
  • Around the World(205)
  • Between the Notes(36)
  • Book Club(94)
  • Celebrity Doppelganger(18)
  • Clash of the Cover Songs(49)
  • Coming Out Stories(23)
  • Concerts and Tours(6846)
  • Count Five(83)
  • Exclusive(5981)
  • Guest Blogger(133)
  • Holy Hell(1016)
  • I Fought the Law(111)
  • I Freakin' Love This Song(252)
  • In House(12)
  • Listen Up!(18)
  • Movies(424)
  • Music Appreciation(123)
  • New Music(862)
  • New Releases(615)
  • News(12277)
  • PhotoSynthesis(88)
  • Picture Book(31)
  • Politics as Usual(61)
  • Pop Culture(93)
  • Potent Quotables(776)
  • Q + A(494)
  • Quizzes & Trivia(6)
  • R.I.P.(454)
  • Road Report(61)
  • Rock Almanac(366)
  • Rock Hall(44)
  • RPM(263)
  • Spinner Says(16)
  • Spinner Interview(212)
  • Television(245)
  • The Chum Bucket(777)
  • The Hit List(1388)
  • Twisted Tales(194)
  • Video(1785)
  • Video of the Day(1226)
  • What's That Song?(134)

Meanest Love Songs: No. 5

  • Posted   by Spinner Staff
  • Comments
Email This

'You're So Vain'
--Carly Simon (1972)

The Kiss-Off: "You probably think this song is about you"

Did she mean Mick Jagger, who sang backup? Simon, who has otherwise remained cagey about this mystery, suggests no. Cat Stevens or Kris Kristofferson, both of whom she dated? Says here the odds-on favorite is ex-flame Warren Beatty, who undoubtedly, in those years, had one eye in the mirror as he watched himself gavotte.
Previous Next
  • Filed under: Songs, The Hit List
  • Email This

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Earl Sweatshirt Returns, Releases New…

The Boombox

YouTube.com Ironically, Earl Sweatshirt was one of the most visible members…

Chris Brown Probation: Singer Will…

The Boombox

Mindy Small, FilmMagic LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge says Chris Brown should…

Amelia White, 'Beautiful and Wild' --…

Spinner

Artist: Amelia White Video: 'Beautiful and Wild' Highlight: "'Beautiful and Wild'…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum
29

30 Comments

Filter by:
beebee

Definitely was about David Geffen. She re-recorded it not too long ago, and apparently (not very audibly) whispered "David" it the background.

January 24 2011 at 8:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
ryderj99

Ok guys, I'm from the future to tell you that Carly revealed the object of the song was.........David Geffen. Yeah, David Geffen, go figure.

January 22 2011 at 11:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Mike

When Carly wrote her memoirs a couple of years ago, she admitted that the subject of the song was not James, not Warren...but David Geffen.

January 20 2011 at 11:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
frank

she told howard stern who the song was about when she appeared on his show. (not on air) he has not spilled the beans.

May 29 2010 at 1:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
vampsgotsoul

Carly never even MET JT when she wrote this song! How OLD are y'all anyway.

February 11 2010 at 7:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
SamBlob

The song is about... her, and how she feels after he dumped her, whoever he is. It might even be a hypothetical situation, without an actual "him" at all.

October 04 2009 at 11:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Lena

It could be about Mick or Warren, both are vain as hell, and she had brief flings with them both, hell it could be a combination of the two!! You do know that she'll probably take the answer to this one to the grave.

July 26 2009 at 5:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
denise

funny i was going to mentioned that janet jackson sampled this song your so vain for her son of a gun track and in light of carly's lyrics on this song, i guess it could be about mick, I felt it was either about mick or beatty but not JT

July 22 2008 at 1:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
denise

Pinner you sure did miss the point of this song, this is an awesome song, i think out of all these songs on here, this one had the most comments and the song I bothered to comment on, i heard this song is either about beatty or JT, I can't imagine its about JT because he seems like a nice guy but who knows, I really think its about beatty, I heard this as being confirmed a few years ago, beatty is really arrogant to in real life

July 22 2008 at 1:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Kelli

Around 1991, Carly sang on a song with Janet Jackson called "Son of a Gun." This song I believe is sort of a "You're So Vain" part two and may hold the key to the mystery. Carly mentions the name "Mick' at least twice on it. So I personally believe this song is about Mick Jagger.

July 21 2008 at 11:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Kelli's comment
missdne

That song "Song of a Gun" is on Janet's 2001 album All For You.

September 22 2009 at 4:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Load more comments

Follow Us

  • Newsletter
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Sign Up for Spinner's Newsletter! Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!




  • Contact Us
  • Send News Tips
  • Advertise with Us

SIGN UP FOR SPINNER'S NEWSLETTER

  • Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!

  • Sign Up!

AOL Radio

Listen to Slacker AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Indie - Today's best indie rock and pop
play arrow
Indie Rock Mix - A mix of new and old indie rock
play arrow
New Indie First - The latest in indie music
Online Radio Guide

Listen to Full CDs

  • Paul McCartney, 'Kisses on the Bottom'
  • Sharon Van Etten, 'Tramp'
  • AIR, 'Le Voyage Dans La Lune'
  • Bahamas, 'Barchords'
  • Band of Skulls, 'Sweet Sour'
  • Play More Albums Free

Most Popular

  • Katy Perry Divorce: With No Prenup How Much Will Russell Walk Away With?
    Like

    16

  • Can You Guess This Famous Face?
    Like

    14

  • It's Pink!
    Like

    6

  • Randy Travis Apologizes for Public Intoxication
    Like

    247

  • M.I.A., Fiance Benjamin Bronfman Split, Singer Rarely Sees Son -- Report
    Like

    54

  • Josh Powell's Last Words: 'I Am Not Able To Go On Anymore': Report
    Like

    956

  • Alori Joh Dead: Singer and Kendrick Lamar Affiliate Dies at 25
    Like

    99

  • American Heart Month: 17 Celebrities Who Faced Heart Problems
    Like

    18

  • Can You Guess This Famous Face?
    Like

    6

  • Powell 911 Call Released: Cops Declare Investigation Of Missing Mom A Murder Case
    Like

    323

  • Thudda Boy Dead: Rapper Brondon McDaniel Dies From Gunshot Wound
    Like

    40

  • PHOTOS: Anti-Gay Protesters Getting Pwned
    Like

    2K

  • It's Madonna!
    Like

    2

  • PHOTO: Miley Cyrus Wears Racy Garter Tights
    Like

    86

  • Chi Cheng Improving: Deftones Bassist Raises Leg After Three Years in Coma
    Like

    217

  • Mia Farrow's Low-Key, Philanthropic Style
    Like

    7

  • Dead Man Found In Foreclosed Home Four Years Later
    Like

    1K

  • The Best And Worst Burgers
    Like

    141

  • Post 50 Celebrity Dream Homes on the Market (PHOTOS)
    Like

    17

  • PHOTOS: Massive Whale Shark Reeled Into Harbor
    Like

    1K

  • Is Social Media Causing The Mystery Illness?
    Like

    1K

  • Lacrosse Player Accused Of Killing Ex-Girlfriend Emailed Her 'I Should Have Killed You'
    Like

    68

  • Powell Boys Suffered 'Chop Injuries' Before Explosion
    Like

    457

  • Prop 8, California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban, Declared Unconstitutional
    Like

    16K

  • Staten Island Mother Suing City For $900 Trillion
    Like

    2K

  • Freakish Fossil Upends Ideas About Origins Of Animal Life
    Like

    242

  • Missing Alaska Barista Had Filed Restraining Order Against Man
    Like

    275

  • Werewolf Sisters Are Coated In Hair (PICTURES)
    Like

    1K

  • Obama's Favorite Day As President?
    Like

    681

  • The 10 Biggest Sources Of Salt In Our Diets
    Like

    612

  • Good Things Come In Small Packages: Top Selling American Craft Breweries (PHOTOS)
    Like

    808

  • 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 14 Dream Casting
    Like

    53

  • Teen Describes Killing As 'Ahmazing' And 'Pretty Enjoyable'
    Like

    3K

Also on AOL

Quick Links

  • Slipknot Masks
  • Saddest Songs
  • Funny Music Videos
  • SXSW 2011

Also on AOL Music

  • Concert Tickets
  • Grammys 2012
  • Music Videos
  • New Music Releases

Blogs on AOL

  • Country Music
  • Hip Hop Music
  • Metal Music
  • Pop Music News

More on AOL

  • Best Lyrics
  • Best Metal Songs
  • Break Up Songs
  • Online Radio

More on AOL

  • Christmas Music
  • Classic Rock Songs
  • Best Songs of 2010
  • SHOUTcast

Help Links

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trademarks
  • About Our Ads
  • Follow Spinner on Twitter
  • The Interface
  • Free MP3
  • Full CDs
  • RSS

Spinner.com © 2011 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.