To think no one cares who the song 'You're so vain' was written about?

[Fantasyland]

Honestly I think I may be a bit unreasonable but It's not a mystery everyone is dying to find out or are they??
The way it's wrote about in the media it's the greatest unsolved mystery we must find out.
One guy paid a load of money to find out who Carly Simon wrote the song about but was sworn to secrecy and now he must be incredibly pissed off as Carly Simon has said one verse of the song is about Warren Beattie after previously swearing she would never say.
But now apparently has 'let slip' the song is about 3 men and not just 1.
I think she is making up the 3 men now to cause more 'mystery'.
Does anyone care who the song is about?

I don't care. All I know is it fits a fair few people I know.

'wife of a close friend, WIFE OF A CLOSE FRIEND'

Brilliant, and brutal. I've never given a toss who the song was about, I'm sure we all know exactly who it describes in our own lives.

I love the song. It's a perfect revenge song isn't it.

I like the way she said Warren Beaty thought it was all about him but it was only half about him - sticking the boot in again!

And yes, it describes lots of people, lots of relationships beautifully.

Yes, the "wife of a close friend" line is genius.

I would love to know more about how and when she wrote it, because I love hearing about the process of songwriting, to me it's akin to alchemy.

Yes, the "wife of a close friend" line is genius.

Um, would this be the time to admit I always thought the line was 'wife of a postman'

Yes sparechange it would be a perfect time!

So! She's changed her mind again, has she? Clever woman.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1253964/Carly-Simon-finally-reveals-subject-Youre-So-Vain--record-producer-David-Geffen.html

Only the 2nd verse about Beatty, but maybe Cat Stevens, Kris Kristoffersen. The Fail seems to have misquoted someone elses article and made 2+2=5, as usual... Simon and Geffen hadn't even met when she wrote the song

The Bowie connection is Angie, not David, who claimed she was the wife of a close friend... putting Jagger in the loop as she claimed he was obsessed with her! Simon says no, someone else wore that scarf, Jagger was not the focus.

So, as a long term musical mystery, the publication of her memoirs is bound to open it all up again. Some people are old enough to remember the song when it first came out, life was slower, t'internet didn't exist, Top of the Pops asked the question, music mags tried to answer it.

That we still don't know 43 years later is a bit interesting, not really enough to get your knickers in a twist over though!

I remember when it came out, I'm 55. Didn't give a toss then, and still don't today. Good luck to anyone who is intrigued though, hope the reveal is worth the wait .

There's no reveal, apparently

I'm still not sure what all the fuss is about. It's just a bit of entertainment news, she's written her book...

I thought the first verse was about Jack Nicholson. His character is China Town has a hat and scarf.

A quick google says she has admitted that the third man is David Geffen.

Stompy, it really isn't, see my thread a couple up...

Trust Angie bowie to try and muscle in on it, that woman is such an arsehole.

Maryz- I bet you think this thread is about you! ;)

And I'm playing it again....

YOU walked into the party...YOU were walking onto a yacht.
Your scarf was...
YOU had one eye on....
YOU watched YOURSELF cavort....
theyd be YOUR partener...

You're so vain you PROBABLY think the song is about YOU.

erm...so she singing about YOU and then saying you think the song is about YOU.
It IS YOU.

Brilliant songwriting....NOT.

and the intro sounds like the guitars throwing up!

cant stand that song, like most of her other songs though.

Erm... you might have missed the intended sardony...

I am writing a song about a man, you are so damned vain that you will assume it is about you, though I have not and never will identify 'you', you are so damned vain that, even though the person I am describing is a vainglorious pratt, you will still think this song is all about you!

It's not Shakespeare, but it does make sense.

Ah, so if we're over the You're so Vain discussion, can we answer Momb's question about the Tallahatchie Bridge? I love that song and the Harper Valley PTA. For some reason, they're both linked in my head.

Fantasy fwiw I find all of MN a bit of a bunfight recently. I don't know if I'm going soft in my old age or if the run-up to Christmas makes people stressy but I wouldn't automatically assume people would be kinder in other parts of the site although usually that would be the case

Oops, sorry, x-post, we're not over the You're So Vain discussion yet. As you were . . .

I think it is great song writing songs don't have to rhyme

it tells a story and tells of her hurt and humiliation being in love with a man that is so vain

I didn't agree with the op so I stated that but cant quite understand how a straight forward light hearted aibu thread turns so personal

Love Ode to Billy Joe great story telling through a song

but we only know part of the story

Billie ... not Billy