You're So Vain
Encyclopedia
"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 Simon slowly revealing clues as to his identity, quite possibly a gimmick to attempt to hold popularity and awareness.
The song is ranked at #72 on Billboard
' s Greatest Songs of All-Time. "You're So Vain" was voted #216 in RIAA's Songs of the Century
. It remains Simon's biggest hit and is considered her signature song
.
Nevertheless in 1983, she told the Washington Post that it is not about Mick Jagger
, who contributed uncredited backing vocals to the song. However in a 1993 book Backstage Passes, Angela Bowie
claimed to be the "wife of a close friend" mentioned in "You're So Vain," and that Jagger, for a time, had been "obsessed" with her. Simon made another comment about the subject's identity 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." About the song, Simon said, "The apricot scarf was worn by Nick (Nick Nolte
). Nothing in the words were referred to Mick."
In a 1989 interview, Simon acknowledged that the song is a little bit about Warren Beatty
but said the subject of the song is a composite of three men from her L.A. days. In a 2007 interview, Beatty said, "Let's be honest. That song was about me." Simon has said that Beatty had called and thanked her for the song.
Over the years, Simon has divulged "letter clues", and has allowed that the subject's name contains the letters A, E, and R.
Shortly before the writing of the song, Simon was married to James Taylor
; she has said that he was "definitely not" the subject of the song. [john whitter], David Bowie
, David Cassidy
and Cat Stevens
have all been cited by the press as possible candidates. In 2005, Simon's ex-husband Jim Hart said he was sure that the song was not about anyone famous.
In August 2003, Dick Ebersol
, president of NBC
Sports and a friend of Simon, was the highest bidder for a Martha's Vineyard
Possible Dreams charity auction offering in which the prize was the revelation of the person that "You're So Vain" was about. After making the winning bid of $50,000, Ebersol was given a private performance of the song at Simon's home and Simon whispered the subject into his ear. A condition of the prize was that Ebersol would not reveal the person to anyone. Ebersol said that Simon allowed him to divulge a clue about the person's name: "Carly told me that I could offer up to the entire world, a clue as to what she'll tell me when we have this night in about two weeks. And the clue is: The letter 'E' is in the person's name."
In 2004, Simon told Regis Philbin
, "If I tell it, it's going to come out in dribs and drabs. And I've given out two letters already, an 'A' and an 'E.' But I'm going to add one to it. I'm going to add an 'R,' in honor of you."
Several days after the identity of Watergate
-era press source Deep Throat was revealed during the summer of 2005, Simon joked to USA Today
that the song was about Mark Felt, who revealed himself as the legendary Watergate source.
On November 4, 2009, while being interviewed on WNYC's Soundcheck, Simon revealed that she had hidden the name of the subject in a certain version of the song. The next day, the program's crew revealed the name concealed in a back-played whisper: David. However, Simon has denied that the whisper was David, saying she has spoken "Ovid" both forwards and backwards, and that sounded like David.
On June 19, 2008, Howard Stern
claimed Simon privately revealed whom the song was written about to him after her interview on his popular radio show heard on Sirius Satellite Radio
. Stern commented, "There is an odd aspect to it ... he's not that vain." On March 17, 2009, Stern, recalling that Simon had told him whom the song was written about, claimed that Simon said it was a "composite of three people".
In her 2008 book, Girls like us : Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation, author Sheila Weller covered the lives and careers of the three famous singers. Weller's detailed account of Simon's love affair with guitarist and luthier, Danny Armstrong, provides overwhelming evidence that he was in fact the inspiration for her classic hit, You're So Vain. She dated Armstrong for about two years, ending right around the time the song was released. Although Simon would move on to date and have affairs with other men, she claims to have unrequited love for him and sought him and tried to reconnect with him at different points and places over the years. Other factors supporting Armstrong as the subject of You're So Vain, was his personality. Armstrong, who was a gifted musician and guitar maker, wasn't modest about his skills at both. In interviews, he bragged that he was the first and only electric guitar specialist in the world. Further proof is that his full name, Daniel Armstrong, contains the three letters, A, E and R, that Carly Simon said were in the name of the subject of her song. Likewise Carly's husband, Jim Hart, has been quoted as saying that the subject of the song wasn't someone famous. Compared to the other men thought to be the subject of the song, Daniel Armstrong probably wouldn't be considered "famous."
In February 2010, Simon told Uncut that the name of the subject was whispered backwards
in a re-recording of "You're So Vain": "There's a little whisper -- and it's the answer to the puzzle." A representative for Simon confirmed that the name whispered during the song is "David". Multiple media outlets quickly reported that the subject was actually Simon's former boss at Elektra
, David Geffen
, and that the song had been inspired by her jealousy of the attention Geffen had lavished on label-mate Joni Mitchell
. The following day, Jim Hart, Simon's ex-husband and close friend, denied that the song was about Geffen. Simon's publicist confirmed that the song was not about Geffen, but that there was indeed "a David who is connected to the song in some way, shape, or form," and Simon noted that when she first wrote the song in 1971, she hadn't even met David Geffen yet. Vanity Fair
noted that in addition to "David", "Warren" and an unintelligible name are whispered during the recording, revealing it was at least partially influenced by him all along.
for three weeks and spent two weeks at the top of the Easy Listening chart in early 1973, her first number one on either chart. "You're So Vain" was Simon's breakthrough hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number three 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 number 41.
episode, "When It Rains, It Pours
," Jack Donaghy
, parodying the meaning of the song's title, says that the song was written by him.
The song was also used in the Nip/Tuck
episode, Julia McNamara
.
On the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
, Kate Hudson
sings the song with Matthew McConaughey
's character name instead of the mysterious "you're" of the song. "And all the girls dreamed that they'd be Ben's partner".
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 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 Simon slowly revealing clues as to his identity, quite possibly a gimmick to attempt to hold popularity and awareness.
The song is ranked at #72 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Songs of the Century
The "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America , the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools...
. It remains Simon's biggest hit and is considered her signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
.
Subject of the song
Before the song became a hit single in 1972 she told an interviewer that the song was about "men," not a specific "man."Nevertheless in 1983, she told the Washington Post that it is not about 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....
, who contributed uncredited backing vocals to the song. However in a 1993 book Backstage Passes, Angela Bowie
Angela Bowie
Angela Bowie is an American cover girl, model, actress and musician. She is the former wife of English musician David Bowie and mother of film director Duncan Jones.-Early life:...
claimed to be the "wife of a close friend" mentioned in "You're So Vain," and that Jagger, for a time, had been "obsessed" with her. Simon made another comment about the subject's identity as a guest artist on Janet Jackson
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...
's 2001 single, "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)
"Son of a Gun " is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, featuring Carly Simon and American rapper Missy Elliott...
," which sampled
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...
"You're So Vain." About the song, Simon said, "The apricot scarf was worn by Nick (Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
). Nothing in the words were referred to Mick."
In a 1989 interview, Simon acknowledged that the song is a little bit about 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...
but said the subject of the song is a composite of three men from her L.A. days. In a 2007 interview, Beatty said, "Let's be honest. That song was about me." Simon has said that Beatty had called and thanked her for the song.
Over the years, Simon has divulged "letter clues", and has allowed that the subject's name contains the letters A, E, and R.
Shortly before the writing of the song, Simon was married to James Taylor
James 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....
; she has said that he was "definitely not" the subject of the song. [john whitter], David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
and Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
have all been cited by the press as possible candidates. In 2005, Simon's ex-husband Jim Hart said he was sure that the song was not about anyone famous.
In August 2003, Dick Ebersol
Dick Ebersol
Duncan "Dick" Ebersol is an American television executive and a senior adviser for . He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large scale television events such as the Olympic Games and National Football League broadcasts....
, president of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Sports and a friend of Simon, was the highest bidder for a Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
Possible Dreams charity auction offering in which the prize was the revelation of the person that "You're So Vain" was about. After making the winning bid of $50,000, Ebersol was given a private performance of the song at Simon's home and Simon whispered the subject into his ear. A condition of the prize was that Ebersol would not reveal the person to anyone. Ebersol said that Simon allowed him to divulge a clue about the person's name: "Carly told me that I could offer up to the entire world, a clue as to what she'll tell me when we have this night in about two weeks. And the clue is: The letter 'E' is in the person's name."
In 2004, Simon told Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
, "If I tell it, it's going to come out in dribs and drabs. And I've given out two letters already, an 'A' and an 'E.' But I'm going to add one to it. I'm going to add an 'R,' in honor of you."
Several days after the identity of Watergate
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
-era press source Deep Throat was revealed during the summer of 2005, Simon joked to USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
that the song was about Mark Felt, who revealed himself as the legendary Watergate source.
On November 4, 2009, while being interviewed on WNYC's Soundcheck, Simon revealed that she had hidden the name of the subject in a certain version of the song. The next day, the program's crew revealed the name concealed in a back-played whisper: David. However, Simon has denied that the whisper was David, saying she has spoken "Ovid" both forwards and backwards, and that sounded like David.
On June 19, 2008, Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
claimed Simon privately revealed whom the song was written about to him after her interview on his popular radio show heard on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. Stern commented, "There is an odd aspect to it ... he's not that vain." On March 17, 2009, Stern, recalling that Simon had told him whom the song was written about, claimed that Simon said it was a "composite of three people".
In her 2008 book, Girls like us : Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation, author Sheila Weller covered the lives and careers of the three famous singers. Weller's detailed account of Simon's love affair with guitarist and luthier, Danny Armstrong, provides overwhelming evidence that he was in fact the inspiration for her classic hit, You're So Vain. She dated Armstrong for about two years, ending right around the time the song was released. Although Simon would move on to date and have affairs with other men, she claims to have unrequited love for him and sought him and tried to reconnect with him at different points and places over the years. Other factors supporting Armstrong as the subject of You're So Vain, was his personality. Armstrong, who was a gifted musician and guitar maker, wasn't modest about his skills at both. In interviews, he bragged that he was the first and only electric guitar specialist in the world. Further proof is that his full name, Daniel Armstrong, contains the three letters, A, E and R, that Carly Simon said were in the name of the subject of her song. Likewise Carly's husband, Jim Hart, has been quoted as saying that the subject of the song wasn't someone famous. Compared to the other men thought to be the subject of the song, Daniel Armstrong probably wouldn't be considered "famous."
In February 2010, Simon told Uncut that the name of the subject was whispered backwards
Backmasking
Backmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...
in a re-recording of "You're So Vain": "There's a little whisper -- and it's the answer to the puzzle." A representative for Simon confirmed that the name whispered during the song is "David". Multiple media outlets quickly reported that the subject was actually Simon's former boss at Elektra
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
, and that the song had been inspired by her jealousy of the attention Geffen had lavished on label-mate Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
. The following day, Jim Hart, Simon's ex-husband and close friend, denied that the song was about Geffen. Simon's publicist confirmed that the song was not about Geffen, but that there was indeed "a David who is connected to the song in some way, shape, or form," and Simon noted that when she first wrote the song in 1971, she hadn't even met David Geffen yet. Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
noted that in addition to "David", "Warren" and an unintelligible name are whispered during the recording, revealing it was at least partially influenced by him all along.
Covers and adaptations
- The song has been coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Chocolate StarfishChocolate StarfishChocolate Starfish were an Australian rock music group based in Melbourne, Australia, releasing a number of hits in the early '90s, before disbanding in 1998....
, The Mountain GoatsThe Mountain GoatsThe Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
, David AxelrodDavid Axelrod (musician)David Axelrod is an American composer, arranger and producer, working in several musical genres.-Biography:...
, John BarrowmanJohn BarrowmanJohn Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
, Liza MinnelliLiza MinnelliLiza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Jack KlugmanJack KlugmanJacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman is an American stage, film and television actor known for his roles in sitcoms, movies, and television and on Broadway...
and Tony RandallTony RandallTony Randall was a U.S. actor, comic, producer and director.-Early years:Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, an art and antiques dealer...
(as "The Odd Couple"The Odd Couple (TV series)The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
), Chimira, Venice, Jann ArdenJann ArdenJann Arden is a Canadian singer-songwriter.-Life and career:Arden was born and raised near Calgary in Springbank, Alberta and attended Springbank Community High School. Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single "I Would Die For You"...
, Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet 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...
(who sampled the song in "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)"Son of a Gun " is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, featuring Carly Simon and American rapper Missy Elliott...
", with Simon providing featured vocals), Anna WaronkerAnna WaronkerAnna Jeanette Waronker is a singer/songwriter, composer, and producer best known as the former frontwoman of That Dog. She is the daughter of producer Lenny Waronker and actress/musician Donna Loren, the sister of session drummer Joey Waronker, and is married to Steven Shane McDonald of Redd...
, Faster PussycatFaster PussycatFaster Pussycat is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1986. The group was most successful during the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album, their 1989 gold album Wake Me When It's Over and the 80,000 selling Whipped! in 1992.-The roots of Faster Pussycat...
, Romantic GuitarRomantic guitarThe early romantic guitar is the guitar of the Classical and Romantic period of music, showing remarkable consistency in the instrument from 1790 to 1830. By this time guitars used single strings of six or more...
, Dres, Daryll-AnnDaryll-AnnDaryll-Ann was a Dutch rock band stemming from Ermelo, a small rural village in the east of the Netherlands. Between 1992 and 2004 the band released six studio albums, plus one live album. Daryll-Ann was the first signing of Dutch label Excelsior Recordings...
, SmokieSmokie (band)Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
, Foo FightersFoo FightersFoo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, Asaro and Wolcott and Matthew SweetMatthew SweetSidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
& Susanna HoffsSusanna HoffsSusanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
.
- In 1973 Swedish singer Anna-Lena Löfgren recorded the song in Swedish translation "Moln i mitt kaffe" (Clouds in my Coffee) as a single. In 1990, composer John OswaldJohn Oswald (composer)John Oswald is a Canadian composer, saxophonist, media artist and dancer. His best known project is Plunderphonics, the practice of making new music out of previously existing recordings .-Philosophy:Oswald coined the term "plunderphonics" to describe his craft in a paper called which he...
produced an early mashup, entitled "Vane," which digitally merged Simon's original with the cover version by Faster Pussycat. The Illuminoids produced a mash-up of "You're So Vain" with two Rolling Stones songs "Brown SugarBrown sugarBrown sugar is a sucrose sugar product with a distinctive brown color due to the presence of molasses. It is either an unrefined or partially refined soft sugar consisting of sugar crystals with some residual molasses content, or it is produced by the addition of molasses to refined white...
" and "Bitch," referencing the roles of Carly Simon and Mick Jagger in creating the song. It was featured as the closing song of the 1999 film DickDick (film)Dick is a 1999 American comedy film directed by Andrew Fleming from a script he wrote with Sheryl Longin. It is a parody retelling the events of the Watergate scandal which ended the presidency of Richard Nixon and features several cast members from Saturday Night Live.Kirsten Dunst and Michelle...
, a film satirizing the identity of Deep Throat; Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
leaves the White House and flies away in his helicopter as the song plays. A cover by The Mountain GoatsThe Mountain GoatsThe Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
, which appears on Hail and Farewell, GothenburgHail and Farewell, GothenburgHail and Farewell, Gothenburg is an unreleased recording by The Mountain Goats. It was the intended sequel to the album Sweden. It held a mythical status among fans for over a decade, but it was leaked out onto the internet around the turn of 2007 and is now widely available on file sharing...
, features vocalist John DarnielleJohn DarnielleJohn Darnielle is an American musician, best known as the primary member of the American band The Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, and vocalist.-Places Darnielle has lived:...
singing the verses only—the famous chorus goes unsung throughout the entire recording. Indie violinist and singer Andrew BirdAndrew BirdAndrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
satirizes the song in "LullLull (song)"Lull" is a song by Chicago-based singer, violinist and professional whistler Andrew Bird. It can be found on the Weather Systems album, released 2003, as its 3rd track, 5min09s.- Jacques Cousteau :...
", on the album Weather SystemsWeather SystemsWeather Systems, released in 2003, is Andrew Bird's second solo album and his first after disbanding the Bowl of Fire. Bird has said that the album was simply a side project during his four or five year recording of Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs...
(2003).
- American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist Brooke WhiteBrooke WhiteBrooke Elizabeth White is an American indie pop/folk-pop singer-songwriter and actress from Mesa, Arizona who was the fifth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2005, White released her first studio album, called Songs from the Attic.White's first post-Idol album High Hopes &...
performed this song to rave reviews on the Top 20 week of the show's seventh season. Her live performance was released as "You're So Vain (American Idol Performance) - Single" on the iTunes StoreITunes StoreThe iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
in February 2008.
- Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
spoofed the song on the special edition of Rated RRated R (Queens of the Stone Age album)Rated R is the second studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was released on June 6, 2000 through Interscope Records. Rated R was a critical and commercial success and became the band's breakthrough album. It peaked at number 16 on the Top Heatseekers and reached high...
, with a track titled "You're So Vague", and featuring the lyric, "You're so vague / That you probably think this song ain't about you." In 2007, as part of BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's 40th Anniversary events, The FeelingThe FeelingThe Feeling are a BRIT award-nominated English pop band from West Sussex and London. The band categorise their music as "pop".Following a limited release of their first single "Fill My Little World" in late 2005, the band entered the UK Singles Chart at #7 with their first full release "Sewn" in...
covered the song. The Foo FightersFoo FightersFoo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
performed their version of the song at the 2008 Grammy Awards nomination show. The song's central line was used in the Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
song "Starfuckers, Inc.Starfuckers, Inc."Starfuckers, Inc." is a song by Nine Inch Nails.The song is released as the fourth single from the double album, The Fragile...
". Mike Posner uses the central line in his single "Cooler Than MeCooler Than Me"Cooler Than Me" is a song by American recording artist Mike Posner. Since its release it has peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay in its July 31, 2010 issue. The instrumental was produced by Gigamesh. Another version, labeled...
". The song can be heard in the opening credits of the 2004 film Little Black BookLittle Black BookLittle Black Book is a 2004 satirical comedy film directed by Nick Hurran.-Plot:Stacy Holt , an associate producer on a daytime talk show , is convinced that her boyfriend Derek is the right man for her, though he has an apparent phobia of commitment, and he's vague about his past relationships...
starring the late actress Brittany MurphyBrittany MurphyBrittany Anne Murphy-Monjack , known professionally as Brittany Murphy, was an American actress and singer. She starred in films such as Clueless, Just Married, Girl Interrupted, Spun, 8 Mile, Uptown Girls, Sin City, Happy Feet, and Riding in Cars with Boys...
. Carly SimonCarly SimonCarly 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...
appears in the last few scenes of the film as well.
- Deathcore band EmmureEmmureEmmure is an American band formed in 2003, originally based in Connecticut, but now residing in Queens, New York. The group has a total of seven releases...
use the lyrics "You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you, don't you" in their song R2DEEPTHROAT, a song about cheating in love and false persona. Emmure also add the lyric "so much for plagiarism" at the end of Carly's lyric, whether this is meant to be due to using Carly Simon's lyric without permission or related to the emotion in the song is unknown.
- Folk-punk band Andrew Jackson JihadAndrew Jackson JihadAndrew Jackson Jihad is an American folk punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 2004.-History:Andrew Jackson Jihad was formed after its original drummer, Justin James White, approached Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallaty, who had just left Rodan and The Sub-Standards...
song "Scenesters", which mocks the snotty attitudes of hipsters, uses the line: "They're so vain/And yes this song is about them".
Chart performance
The song was a number-one hit in the US and Australia. It topped the Billboard Hot 100Billboard 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...
for three weeks and spent two weeks at the top of the Easy Listening chart in early 1973, her first number one on either chart. "You're So Vain" was Simon's breakthrough hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number three 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
Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which bought the right to sell Dunlop-branded road tyres....
, peaking at number 41.
Cultural references
In the 30 Rock30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
episode, "When It Rains, It Pours
When It Rains, It Pours (30 Rock)
"When It Rains, It Pours" is the second episode of the fifth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 82nd overall episode of the series. It was written by co-show runner and executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by series producer Don Scardino...
," Jack Donaghy
Jack Donaghy
John Francis "Jack" Donaghy is a fictional character on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. He is the Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming for General Electric and later Kabletown....
, parodying the meaning of the song's title, says that the song was written by him.
The song was also used in the Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
episode, Julia McNamara
Julia McNamara
Julia McNamara is a fictional character in the American television series Nip/Tuck, portrayed by Joely Richardson.-Character history:...
.
On the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film, directed by Donald Petrie, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. It is based on a short cartoon book of the same name by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.-Plot:...
, Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
sings the song with Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
's character name instead of the mysterious "you're" of the song. "And all the girls dreamed that they'd be Ben's partner".
See also
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1973 (U.S.)
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s