Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)
Encyclopedia
"Son of a Gun" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson
, featuring Carly Simon
and (on the official remix) American rapper Missy Elliott
. Released as the third single
from Jackson's seventh studio album, All for You (2001), the song was written and produced by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis
, and is built around a sample
of 1972's "You're So Vain
" by Simon, who also adds some new spoken parts into the song.
. It was speculated to be about either Mick Jagger
or Warren Beatty
, among others. Like Simon, Jackson has never confirmed the identity of the man.
The song was remix
ed for release and features Missy Elliott
and P. Diddy
, peaking at number twenty-eight in the U.S. and becoming Jackson's thirtieth top forty single. The song became the first single from Jackson to miss the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100
since 1987's "The Pleasure Principle
".
This song was only performed on the All for You Tour
.
, directed by Francis Lawrence
and released in September 2001, The Original Flyte Tyme Remix of the song was used. Filmed at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel
in Downtown Los Angeles
, the video includes themes of the undead
and occult
. Jackson is depicted in an angry manner, stalking a man (played by Project Runway
season 5
contestant Jerell Scott) in an abandoned hotel
. She summons Missy Elliott
and a legion of zombie
s (including one that was created from a toilet
). Jackson is also seen eating a spider
, smashing jugs of water with a baseball bat, and taunting the man using telekinetic
powers. Simon does not appear at all in the music video; she is however shown on the video screens on Jackson's All for You Tour
during the song's opening. The video appears on the 2004 video compilation From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos. A video for the P. Diddy Remix also exists and it's the same of The Original Flyte Tyme Remix, with P. Diddy in some parts.
European CD maxi single (VUSCDF 232)
UK 12" R&B promo single (VUSTDJ 232)
UK 12" promo single (VUSTDJX 232)
UK promo CD single (VUSCDJ232)
UK CD single (VUSCD232)
U.S. 12" promo single (304 594)
U.S. double 12" promo single (SPRO-16497)
U.S. 12" single (7243 5 46171 1 9)
U.S. promo CD single (DPRO-16483)
Japanese promo CD single (VJCP-12144)
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, featuring Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
and (on the official remix) American rapper Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
. Released as the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Jackson's seventh studio album, All for You (2001), the song was written and produced by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, and is built around a sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of 1972's "You're So Vain
You're So Vain
"You're So Vain" is a song written and performed by Carly Simon and released in December 1972. The song is a critical profile of a self-absorbed lover; Simon asserts "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." The subject's identity has been the matter of speculation, fueled by...
" by Simon, who also adds some new spoken parts into the song.
Song information
Like "You're So Vain", "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" generated speculation of who exactly the man described in the song was. The song is actually about men that are after Jackson's multimillion dollar fortune but some fans still believed that the song was about Jackson's ex-husband René Elizondo, Jr. Simon created a similar controversy when she released "You're So Vain" after she wed James TaylorJames Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
. It was speculated to be about either Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
or Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has received a total of fourteen Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Director in 1982. He has also won four Golden Globe Awards including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.-Early life and...
, among others. Like Simon, Jackson has never confirmed the identity of the man.
The song was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed for release and features Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and P. Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, peaking at number twenty-eight in the U.S. and becoming Jackson's thirtieth top forty single. The song became the first single from Jackson to miss the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
since 1987's "The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (song)
"The Pleasure Principle" is the sixth single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . The photo for the single cover was shot by famed fashion photographer David LaChapelle.-Song information:...
".
This song was only performed on the All for You Tour
All for You Tour
The All for You Tour was a worldwide concert tour in 2001 by American pop/R&B singer Janet Jackson in support of her multi-platinum album All for You...
.
Story behind the song
Music video
For the single's music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Francis Lawrence
Francis Lawrence
Francis Lawrence is an American music video and film director.-Life and career:Lawrence was born in Vienna, Austria. His father is a physicist who taught at California State University, Northridge and his mother is V.P. Technology at a PR agency. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of three...
and released in September 2001, The Original Flyte Tyme Remix of the song was used. Filmed at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, originally named the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel of the Biltmore Hotels group, is a luxury hotel located on Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Upon its grand opening in 1923, the Los Angeles Biltmore was the largest hotel west of Chicago, Illinois in...
in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, the video includes themes of the undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
and occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
. Jackson is depicted in an angry manner, stalking a man (played by Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
season 5
Project Runway (season 5)
Project Runway season 5 began filming the first week of June 2008 and premiered July 16, 2008 at 9:00 p.m. It was the final season of Project Runway that aired on Bravo. Subsequent seasons were shown on Lifetime....
contestant Jerell Scott) in an abandoned hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
. She summons Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and a legion of zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s (including one that was created from a toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
). Jackson is also seen eating a spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
, smashing jugs of water with a baseball bat, and taunting the man using telekinetic
Psychokinesis
The term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
powers. Simon does not appear at all in the music video; she is however shown on the video screens on Jackson's All for You Tour
All for You Tour
The All for You Tour was a worldwide concert tour in 2001 by American pop/R&B singer Janet Jackson in support of her multi-platinum album All for You...
during the song's opening. The video appears on the 2004 video compilation From janet. to Damita Jo: The Videos. A video for the P. Diddy Remix also exists and it's the same of The Original Flyte Tyme Remix, with P. Diddy in some parts.
Track listings
European 12" single (VUST 232)- A1. P. Diddy Extended Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- A2. Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:09
- B1. Cottonbelly Dub) – 5:27
- B2. The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
European CD maxi single (VUSCDF 232)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- P. Diddy Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 5:01
- Cottonbelly Remix) – 5:31
- Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- Album Version) – 5:56
UK 12" R&B promo single (VUSTDJ 232)
- A1. The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- A2. Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- B1. P. Diddy Extended Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- B2. Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:09
UK 12" promo single (VUSTDJX 232)
- A. Cottonbelly Remix) – 5:25
- B. Cottonbelly Dub) – 5:27
UK promo CD single (VUSCDJ232)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- Radio Edit) – 4:00
UK CD single (VUSCD232)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- P. Diddy Extended Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:09
U.S. 12" promo single (304 594)
- A1. Al B. RichAl B. RichAl B. Rich is the remix and production team of American Music Producers Albert Castillo and Rich "DJ Riddler" Pangilinan. Castillo, a musician who holds a Latin Grammy, also was a member of the production team Cibola in the late 1990s...
Son of a Club Edit) (Clean) – 7:01 - A2. Al B. Rich Radio Edit) (Clean) – 4:00
- B1. Al B. Rich Son of a Club Mix) (Dirty) – 9:41
- B2. Al B. Rich Tribe-A-Pella) (Dirty) – 4:30
U.S. double 12" promo single (SPRO-16497)
- A1. P. Diddy Extended Version - Edited featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- A2. Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- B1. The Original Flyte Time Remix Video Version featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- B2. Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:09
- B3. Route 80 Instrumental) – 4:10
- C1. P. Diddy Instrumental) – 4:54
- C2. The Original Flyte Time Remix Instrumental) – 4:10
- C3. Rock Remix) – 4:10
- D1. Album Version - Edited) – 4:03
- D2. Cottonbelly Remix) – 5:31
U.S. 12" single (7243 5 46171 1 9)
- A1. P. Diddy Super Extended Remix Edited featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- A2. The Original Flyte Time Remix Video Version featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- B1. Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- B2. P. Diddy Super Extended Instrumental) – 7:55
U.S. promo CD single (DPRO-16483)
- P. Diddy Remix Radio Edit featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 4:26
- The Original Flyte Time Remix Video Version featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:09
- P. Diddy Super Extended Remix Edited featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 7:59
- Radio Edit) – 4:00
Japanese promo CD single (VJCP-12144)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:13
- P. Diddy Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy) – 5:01
- Cottonbelly Remix) – 5:25
- Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott) – 4:10
- Album Version) – 5:56
Official remixes
The song's album version features Simon only, while the version released for radio was The Original Flyte Time Remix which cut Simon's and Jackson's parts significantly, censored explicit words, and also included a new rap from Missy Elliott (then she raps to all the house mixes). Other remixes such as the Route 80 Remix, the Rockwilder Remix, and the P. Diddy Remix were remixes of The Original Flyte Time Remix, not the album version. The remixes produced by P. Diddy completely eliminate the original song's chords and background music.- Album Version (Clean) – 5:56
- Album Version (Dirty) – 5:56
- Radio Edit (Clean) – 3:58 (also: Album Edit)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Clean) – 4:14 (also: Video Version)
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Dirty) – 4:14
- The Original Flyte Tyme Remix Instrumental – 4:04
- P. Diddy Instrumental – 4:45
- P. Diddy Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy (Clean) – 5:07
- P. Diddy Radio Remix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy (Clean) – 4:26
- P. Diddy Radio Remix w/o Intro featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy (Dirty) – 4:20
- P. Diddy Super Extended Mix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy (Clean) – 8:01
- P. Diddy Super Extended Mix featuring Missy Elliott and P. Diddy (Dirty) – 8:01
- P. Diddy Super Extended Mix Instrumental – 8:01
- Cottonbelly Remix – 5:31
- Cottonbelly Dub – 5:35
- Cottonbelly Extended Dance Mix – 6:35
- Al B. Rich Son of a Club Remix (Dirty) – 9:41
- Al B. Rich Son of a Club Edit (Clean) – 7:01
- Al B. Rich Radio Edit (Clean) – 4:00
- Al B. Rich Tribeapella (Dirty) – 4:30
- Al B. Rich Son of a Dub (Dirty) – 9:37
- Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Clean) – 4:09
- Route 80 Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Dirty) – 4:09
- Route 80 Instrumental – 4:10
- Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Clean) – 4:10
- Rock Remix featuring Missy Elliott (Dirty) – 4:10
- Rock Instrumental – 4:04
- Neptunes Ruff Remix - 4:25
Charts
| Chart (2001/2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
20 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
20 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... (Wallonia) |
25 |
| Danish Singles Chart Tracklisten Tracklisten is a Danish top 40 record chart that is presented every Thursday midnight at .The weekly Danish Singles Chart also known as Track Top-40 combines the 40 best selling tracks from legal music downloads and the sales of music singles on either CD or vinyl... |
19 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
69 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
34 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
21 |
| Italian Singles Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
36 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
49 |
| Romanian Top 100 Romanian Top 100 The Romanian Top 100 is the national airplay-based singles chart of Romania. It is weekly and it started running in 1996. It is recognized as an official chart by the European division of Billboard, Music & Media.... |
54 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
48 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
56 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
28 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
26 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 7 |