You're So Vain

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"You're So Vain"
You're So Vain by Carly Simon US single side A.png
Side A of US single
Single by Carly Simon
from the album No Secrets
B-side "His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin"
ReleasedNovember 8, 1972
Recorded1972
Studio Trident
Genre
Length4:19
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Carly Simon
Producer(s) Richard Perry [3]
Carly Simon singles chronology
"Legend in Your Own Time"
(1971)		"You're So Vain"
(1972)		"The Right Thing to Do"
(1973)
Music video
"You're So Vain" on YouTube

"You're So Vain" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released as a single in November 1972. The lyrics describe a self-absorbed lover, whose identity has long been a matter of speculation. Simon said the song refers to three men, one of whom she has named publicly: the actor Warren Beatty.

Contents

Simon wrote "You're So Vain" over the course of a year. The song was originally titled "Bless You, Ben." [4] The bass guitar intro was played by Klaus Voormann. [5] The strings were arranged by Simon and orchestrated by Paul Buckmaster.

In early 1973, "You're So Vain" reached No. 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1994, it was ranked 72nd in the Billboard 50th anniversary all-time chart. [6] At the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974, it was nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It was voted No. 216 in RIAA's Songs of the Century, and in August 2014, the UK's Official Charts Company named it the ultimate song of the 1970s. In 2021, the song was ranked 495th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Lyrics

A year after Simon had written the chorus lyric, "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you," a scarfed man arriving at a party studied himself in a mirror; Simon's friend said, "he looks like he's walking onto a yacht," inspiring more lyrics, including, "You…watched yourself gavotte." That refers to a French dance, as it provided the necessary rhyme and "that's what a pretentious, vain man would do." [4] The line "clouds in my coffee" was inspired by a comment from her piano player, Billy Mernit, who observed that clouds were reflected in a cup of coffee she was drinking. [4]

The lyrics, "…you went up to Saratoga, and your horse naturally won. Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia, to see the total eclipse of the sun," may refer to a 1970 eclipse visible along the east coast of North America, [7] [8] including New York City, where Simon lived at the time; [9] or it may refer to a 1972 eclipse only visible in northern and eastern Canada a few months before she recorded the song. [10] Simon told the CBC that she took artistic license with the reference, and the subject may not have actually witnessed the eclipse in Nova Scotia. [11] The 2012 biography More Room in a Broken Heart: The True Adventures of Carly Simon quotes her: "I didn't know anyone who raced at Saratoga or went to view the total eclipse, I just wanted to portray someone who thought he was ultra-cool." [12]

Subject

Simon confirmed that the actor Warren Beatty (pictured in 1961) was one inspiration for the lyrics. Warren Beatty Photoplay, 1961.jpg
Simon confirmed that the actor Warren Beatty (pictured in 1961) was one inspiration for the lyrics.

In 1972, Simon told an interviewer that the song was about "men", not a specific man. [13] In 1983, she said it was not about Mick Jagger, [14] who contributed uncredited backing vocals to the song. [15] In a 1993 book, Angie Bowie said she was the wife of a "close friend" mentioned in "You're So Vain", and that Jagger had been "obsessed" with her. [16]

Simon appeared as a guest artist on Janet Jackson's 2001 single "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)", which sampled "You're So Vain". In the song, Simon recites: "The apricot scarf was worn by Nick / Nothing in the words referred to Mick." [17] "Nick" refers to the novelist Nicholas Delbanco, whom Simon dated in the 1960s. [17] Simon denied that the song referred to her ex-husband James Taylor. [18] David Bowie, David Cassidy and Cat Stevens have been cited by the press as possibilities. [19] [20] [21]

In August 2003, Simon agreed to reveal the subject to the highest bidder of the Martha's Vineyard Possible Dreams charity auction. The highest bid was $50,000 from Simon's friend Dick Ebersol, the president of NBC Sports. A condition of the prize was that Ebersol not reveal the name. [22] Ebersol said Simon allowed him to divulge a clue, and said the person's name contained the letter E. [23] In 2004, Simon said the name also contained the letters A and R. [24] In 2005, Simon's ex-husband, Jim Hart, said he was sure the song was not about anyone famous. [25]

In her 2008 book Girls Like Us, Sheila Weller includes a detailed account of Simon's love affair with the musician Dan Armstrong, and suggests that he was the inspiration. Her heartbreak over losing him inspired the song "Dan, My Fling", which appears on her first album. [26] The radio host Howard Stern said Simon had privately revealed the identity to him after her 2014 interview on his radio show; Stern said, "There is an odd aspect to it... He's not that vain." He also said she said it was a "composite of three people". [27] Simon confirmed that she had given the names to a few people, including Stern. [28]

In an interview for WNYC in November 2009, Simon said she had hidden the name of the subject in a new recording of the song. The next day, WNYC crew detected the name "David" concealed in a back-played whisper. [29] However, Simon said she had spoken "Ovid" both forwards and backwards, and that this sounded like David. [30] In February 2010, Simon reiterated that the name was whispered in a rerecording of "You're So Vain": "There's a little whisper—and it's the answer to the puzzle." [31] A representative for Simon said the name was "David". [31]

Media outlets speculated that the subject was the Elektra Records executive David Geffen. [32] Hart immediately downplayed this. [13] Simon later said she had not met Geffen when she wrote the song in 1971. [33] Simon's publicist confirmed the song was not about Geffen, but that there was "a David who is connected to the song in some way, shape, or form". [13] Vanity Fair noted that in addition to "David", "Warren" and an unintelligible name are whispered in the song. [34] After her performance of the song with Simon in July 2013, the songwriter Taylor Swift said that Simon had revealed the identity of the subject to her in confidence. [35]

In 1983, Simon said the actor Warren Beatty "certainly thought it was about him—he called me and said thanks for the song". [14] In 2007, Beatty said, "Let's be honest. That song was about me." [36] In November 2015, Simon, promoting her memoirs, said, "I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren ... Warren thinks the whole thing is about him ... Now, that doesn't mean that the other two verses aren't also about Warren. It just means that the second one is." [37] The song originally had a fourth verse, possibly including another subject. [38]

Reception

Reviewing the single, Record World called it Simon's "most commercial song yet", praising the lyrics, melody and string arrangements. [39] At the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974, "You're So Vain" was nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

In 1994, "You're So Vain" was ranked 72nd in the Billboard 50th anniversary all-time chart. [6] It was voted No. 216 in RIAA's Songs of the Century, [40] and in 2014 the UK Official Charts Company named it the ultimate song of the 1970s. [41] In 2021, it was ranked 495th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [42]

Sales

The song was a No. 1 hit in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and reached No 4 in Ireland and South Africa. [43] Entering at No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 2 December 1972, the song took five more weeks to rise to the top of the chart, where it stayed for the first three weeks of 1973. It was replaced by Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and spent the next month in the runner-up spot. It also spent two weeks at the top of the Easy Listening chart in early 1973, her first No. 1 on either chart. "You're So Vain" was Simon's breakthrough hit in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 3 on the UK chart on its original release in 1973. The song was re-released in the UK in 1991 to cash in on its inclusion in a commercial for Dunlop Tyres, peaking at No. 41.

Personnel

From the No Secrets album liner notes:

The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger contributed uncredited backing vocals. Simon said she invited him to join the recording as he happened to be in the studio. [44]

Track listing

7" single [45]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications for "You're So Vain"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI) [71] Gold50,000‡
Japan—187,500 [55]
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [72] Gold30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [73] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [74] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkRecipientResultRef.
1974 Grammy Awards Record of the Year "You're So Vain" Carly Simon Nominated [75]
Song of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female Nominated

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Carly Simon | Soft Rock Stars | Comcast.net". Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard . Retrieved February 19, 2024. The meta-pop song that keeps on giving, with a central mystery so all-consuming that it can take time to notice the subtler brilliances of its writing, production and performance.
  3. ↑ Savage, Mark (May 5, 2017). "You're So Vain's 'lost' verse premiered". BBC News. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Chagollan, Steve (April 9, 2012). "Deconstructing Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain'". Variety . Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Klaus Voormann : Biography". Voormann.com. August 1, 1971. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs (80–71)". Billboard. May 21, 1994. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  7. ↑ Carter, Jamie (March 7, 2024). "54 Years Ago Today A Total Eclipse Of The Sun Inspired 'You're So Vain'". Forbes. Retrieved November 30, 2024. The song's iconic lyric, 'you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun' was motivated by events around a landmark eclipse that occurred exactly 54 years ago today, on March 7, 1970.
  8. ↑ Hendry, Glenn (April 8, 2024). "A hit song's connection to the solar eclipse and Canada". INsauga. Retrieved December 1, 2024. What is not in dispute is the eclipse she was referring to, which happened on March 7, 1970.
  9. ↑ "Tales From the Trees: An Interview With Carly Simon, PopMatters". PopMatters. November 21, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2024. Simon would cap the '60s by moving into her own apartment on E. 35th Street in the city's Murray Hill neighborhood.... It was also the place where she and James Taylor exchanged wedding vows in November 1972.
  10. ↑ English, L. (2021). More than Music: Cultural Stirrings From Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'. Algora Publishing. p. 92. ISBN   978-1-62894-442-6 . Retrieved December 28, 2024. "Her song was released only four months after an actual total eclipse visible in Nova Scotia on July 10, 1972.... So it remains an enigma of which eclipse she meant and how she knew to write about it.
  11. ↑ Woodbury, Richard (April 5, 2024). "With eclipse in sight, Carly Simon talks name-dropping Nova Scotia in You're So Vain". CBC. Retrieved November 30, 2024. As for the mystery man who flew his Learjet to Nova Scotia to see an eclipse, Simon said she took certain liberties for artistic reasons.
  12. ↑ Davis, Stephen (2013). More Room in a Broken Heart: The True Adventures of Carly Simon. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 207. ISBN   978-1-59240-743-9 . Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 Weller, Sheila (February 27, 2010). "Fun and Games With the David Geffen Rumor About Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain'". Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Wadler, Joyce (October 30, 1983). "Carly Simon: Anxiety &". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Carly Simon Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ Backstage Passes
  17. 1 2 Friedman, Megan (November 18, 2015). "Carly Simon Finally Reveals Who "You're So Vain" Is About". Redbook. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ "James Taylor and Carly Simon: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone . January 4, 1973. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  19. ↑ "'You're So Vain': Carly Simon reveals mystery man". NJ.com. February 27, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  20. ↑ Roberts, Soraya (February 27, 2010). "Carly Simon's new 'You're So Vain' whispers clue". New York Daily News . Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  21. ↑ Sosa, Ninette. "Carly Simon reveals 'You're So Vain' clue". CNN . Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Carly Simon gives away who is 'So Vain'". USA Today . Associated Press. August 5, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013.
  23. ↑ Ebersol on NBC's Today, August 5, 2003.
  24. ↑ "Regis & Kelly 2004 – Carly Simon talks about You're So Vain". YouTube. September 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  25. ↑ "I've heard a million different stories—who was Carly Simon actually singing about in "You're So Vain"?". Rule Forty Two. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  26. ↑ Sheila Weller. Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon & the Journey of a Generation, Simon & Schuster. 2008: ISBN   978-0-7434-9147-1
  27. ↑ Stern, Howard (host) (May 20, 2014). Howard Stern Show. Sirius XM Radio.
  28. ↑ "Carly Simon: You're So Vain is about Beatty and two others". BBC. November 19, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  29. ↑ "WNYC media player". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  30. ↑ "Carly Simon Now Saying 'You're So Vain' is about Dead Classical Poet". March 12, 2010. Carly Simon Now Saying 'You're So Vain' is about Dead Classical Poet, by Jessica Pressler, Daily Intelligencer, March 12, 2010
  31. 1 2 Simon in Uncut magazine interview, as reported by Newhall, Marissa (February 27, 2010). "Names and faces: Carly Simon, Mark and Jenny Sanford, Seth Green, Stevie Wonder > A vain hunt for 'David'". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Carly Simon Reveals Subject of 'You're So Vain'?". Spinner.com. February 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  33. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (March 1, 2010). "Carly Simon Refutes Theory That 'So Vain' Target Is David Geffen". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2021. Simon adds that she never even knew Geffen in 1971 when the song was written, which if Simon has her timeline correct, means "You're So Vain" was penned prior to when Simon's label Elektra Records merged with Geffen's Asylum Records in 1972, the date Geffen assumed control of the combined companies.
  34. ↑ Weiner, Juli (February 26, 2010). "Update: Everyone Owes David Geffen an Apology". VF Daily. Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Taylor Swift and Carly Simon: You're So Vain". YouTube. July 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Scoop: Fur Flies Between PETA, Karl Rove". MSNBC . Archived from the original on September 10, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  37. ↑ Chong, Rachel (May 20, 2020). "Who is Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" About?". Biography. New York: Hearst Magazine Media. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  38. ↑ Savage, Mark (May 5, 2017). "Carly Simon Plays You're So Vain's Lost Verse". BBC News . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 25, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Songs of the Century". CNN . March 7, 2001. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  41. ↑ Myers, Justin (August 23, 2014). "Official Charts Pop Gem #70: Carly Simon – You're So Vain". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  42. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . September 15, 2021.
  43. ↑ Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts (S)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  44. ↑ Giles, Jeff (January 6, 2014). "When Carly Simon and Mick Jagger Topped the Charts With "You're So Vain"". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  45. ↑ Discogs (November 26, 1972). "You're So Vain". Discogs . Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Australian Weekly Single Ccharts (David Kent) for 1973" . Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Carly Simon – You're So Vain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Carly Simon – You're So Vain" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4266." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4279." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  51. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Carly Simon". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 234. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  52. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You're So Vain". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1973" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Carly Simon – You're So Vain" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  55. 1 2 Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  56. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "charts.nz - Forum - 1973 Chart (General)". charts.nz. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  57. ↑ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs W-Z". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Carly Simon". The Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  59. ↑ "Carly Simon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Carly Simon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Carly Simon – You're So Vain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  62. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Forum – 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1973". Ultratop. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  64. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (July 8, 2017). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada .
  65. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1973". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1973". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  67. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  68. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1973". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  69. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1973". Cash Box. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  70. ↑ "Hot 100 turns 60". Billboard . Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  71. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Carly Simon – You're So Vain" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  72. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Carly Simon – You're So Vain". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  73. ↑ "British single certifications – Carly Simon – You're So Vain". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  74. ↑ "American single certifications – Carly Simon – You're So Vain". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  75. 1 2 "Carly Simon". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
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