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Carly Simon Says 'You're So Vain' Could Be About Jesus or Mozart
- Posted on Mar 2nd 2010 12:00PM by James Sullivan
It's not about David Geffen, people. The nearly three-decade mystery behind Carly Simon's 1972 hit 'You're So Vain' (was it about Warren Beatty? Cat Stevens? Comedian David Steinberg?) will remain unsolved, at least for the time being.But Iris Records, which recently released Simon's latest album, 'Never Been Gone,' featuring newly recorded versions of the singer's best-known songs, is encouraging fans to fuel the speculation. Through April 15, the label -- in conjunction with Spinner -- is sponsoring a make-your-own 'You're So Vain' video contest. The winning entry, chosen by Simon herself, will be featured on Spinner and at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where the filmmaker will meet the singer-songwriter. Spinner recently spoke with Simon, who talked about the idea behind the contest and floated a few unusual new candidates for her great pop riddle -- from Jesus Christ to Mozart.
Where did the idea come from to do this contest?
I have to take full credit for it. I realized there hadn't been an official video ever for 'You're So Vain,' and that it was high time there was. [When I recorded it], it was going to be another eight years before videos came out. I thought it would be wonderful to allow contestants to use the 1972 recording if they want to, as long as they use some of the 2009 version. There is a half-step between the two versions, and the tempo of the original is slightly faster. That can all be smoothed out on some kind of machine -- I don't have the learning curve to know what the name of it is.
Obviously, your fans have taken some ownership of this song by guessing about the subject's identity. This is another level of letting them take it where they want to.
That's right. It allows them to go to the next step. They can put together some great fantasy from their own lives and merge it with fantasies from my life, or whatever novelistic properties the song has. It can go anywhere. I mean, there have been fans who told me the song is about Jesus Christ. If it can be about Jesus Christ, it can be about Calvin Klein! It can go anywhere. It's going to be a lot of fun to see where people take it.
You must get accosted by people who run up to you and say, "I know who it is!"
You can't imagine how many people say to me, "I know who it's about -- it's about me," thinking it's funny. Or, "My wife says she knows you wrote it about me," and I attempt a little laugh.
Does the winner get to hear the answer from you?
That is a part of the project. However, it's not getting top billing.
What kind of video do you hope people submit?
The more original and out-there it can be without being lascivious or violent -- I don't want to see any S&M videos coming in. I want to see something creative, something that would make me say, "Wow, I never would have thought of that!" as opposed to, "Yes, he's right." I would be very interested in seeing, if somebody decides they think it's about somebody, how they'd develop it. If they decide it's Mozart, for example, to see what in the Jupiter Symphony corresponds to their decision, or what in 'The Marriage of Figaro' might point to the answer, just like you were writing a college thesis about it -- making your argument.
How are the versions of the songs on 'Never Been Gone' different from the originals?
Very often I switched instruments, so if I wrote something on guitar I went to piano, and vice versa, to see what would come out musically. I also changed a bunch of the words, especially on the outros.
How are your kids?
They're wonderful. Ben [Taylor] is going to be performing with me in England. He had a large part in the production of 'Never Been Gone.'
Did you find yourself watching a lot of MTV and the other video channels when they first became popular? Are there songs you liked specifically because of the videos?
For the first, maybe, five years of MTV and VH1, I really watched a lot. I stopped listening to radio. I loved that Sinéad O'Connor song ['Nothing Compares 2 U'] and Prince's 'Purple Rain' and, of course, Michael Jackson, 'Billie Jean' and 'Thriller.' Incidentally, not that I'm bragging, but one of my songs was one of the first videos on MTV, a song called 'Vengeance.'
'You're So Vain' lends itself well to a video interpretation, but I also think your first hit, 'That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be,' would also be very cinematic, if bleak.
Good point! And 'Anticipation' has never been a video.
That one would be fun, so you could set a string of moods.
Can I say I thought of that?
- Filed under: News, New Music, Exclusive, Spinner Interview
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Add a Comment
Ray Erickson
I was a senior at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, at the time of SEWING VEINS and ANTICIPATION were playing on WMMR 93.3FM Philadelphia. Why did Ms.Simon allow the ANTICIPATION song to be used on a Katchup Commercial? What year was that?
December 07 2010 at 1:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Nan
I say it is Mick !!! Why is everyone dogging her about her remake, no one dogged Eric when he did Layla unplugged seems like a sexist thing to me. She deserves to be able to make a redo of this wonderful song.
March 09 2010 at 11:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Adrian Jaz
Carly is tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo munc PAIN!
A lady who is in sooooooooooooooooooo much Pain (not in Vain) and needs attention sooooooooooooooooooooooo badly that she opens herself up to ABUSE from people on this Blog and God knows where else. Think about it, if someone is going to take time to write about someone she thinks is so Vain... which could be herself, is that person not in excruciating self-Pain? ? ? I pray and hope to God when I'm her age I'm not experiencing this situation of desperation. Oh man... it is both PATHETIC and SAD!
xtrakool1
Isn't it a known fact that she's singin about James Taylor? With Mick Jagger in background vocals.
Whatever!!
Just the thought of someone thinking Jesus was 'so vain' makes me want to vomit. Ugh.
david
Loved early Carly Simon & "You're So Vain", brings back some good memories, but not sure her secret? revealed would not be breaking news. Just tell us, Carly, or drop it. Really doesnt matter anymore, does it? What was I talking about?
March 06 2010 at 9:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Martha
I would love to see Carly resurrected onto the screen. I remember her first video, taped on the docks of Nantucket, because she is agoraphobic and did or does not like to perform for large crowds. Her connection to the islands and ocean expressed in her music can only be understood by those that have an appeciation for the same. As for who she is talking about in "You're So Vain" I believe it's none other than James Taylor.
March 06 2010 at 6:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Diana
*** At some point in the song with has been years since I heard it as a child, there was a point about a hat dipped strategically below one eye.....Who wore a hat ?....lol.
March 06 2010 at 6:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
vance
i'm 53 yrs. of age & know the music of back in that time frame. carly made it in her world & most of the comments have a point one way or the other, if you critisize someone, hopefully you will be pointing a finger at the mirror! i like carly simon, & alot of other people, carol king was very talented! she used to write music in the studio with neil diamond before they acheived stardom- a little trivia note most people never knew. to all the people out there, just be at peace with yourself & everyone else, you will have alot less stress! peace & love brothers & sisters! JESUS loves YOU! bye-bye
7
The Dude
I mean I really don't care at all! Carly was quite a beauty in her day, she just had the look, just natural beauty, but anyway we who came of age in the late 1970's were always told the song was written about former longtime on again off again love James Taylor. If you listen to the words, it makes sense and that is what all of the radio DJ's , who actually used to know a little about the music they were playing, used to always say, but really, who knows and who cares, personal lives are just that, a lesson the dumb ass media need's to be taught NOW!
March 06 2010 at 5:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Julio
Carly....get over it. I never cared who the song was about. It was a great song. Why are we even talking about this again 35 years later. Do you need publicity for your new release? Let it go Carly....we have.
March 06 2010 at 4:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
157 Comments