‘You’re So Vain’ explained: Who was Carly Simon’s classic actually about?
Certain songs extend beyond the realms of their classic label. These songs aren’t ones you grow to love in your adolescence, when wave upon wave of classic rock descends on you as you search for the meaning of life. No, these songs have existed long before that, almost subconsciously in your brain, as they are pillars of modern culture. And Carly Simon‘s ‘You’re So Vain’ is one such earworm.
Maybe it was its inclusion in films, or maybe hearing it playing on my mum’s kitchen stereo, but something about the melody and chorus imprinted in my brain from the very start of my memory. So when it came to digging deep into every decade’s respective classics and building up an encyclopedic knowledge of all things music, the first note of her seminal track was like greeting an old friend.
The above is an important point for me to make when discussing the iconic Simon track, as ever since it was released, the speculation regarding its subject has almost overshadowed its artistic merit. It’s a beautifully arranged track, with the introduction and verse melodies tip-toeing with the deft ability of a cat before expanding into a lofty and brass-driven chorus that brings power to the scathing sentiment of the lyrics.
While they sometimes come at the cost of artistic merit, the discussions around the subject of a piece of art, or in this case, the song, are understandably warranted, given the somewhat detailed account of the man in question. But Simon’s defiance in the face of his selfishness and vanity has allowed it to become an anthem of feminist independence in recent years, making it more than just a salacious classic.
Nevertheless, fans ran wild with their speculative imaginations, even before the days of a rumour spreading like wildfire on the internet. Many believed Simon’s brief romantic interests, James Taylor and Mick Jagger, were the two front runners for the song’s protagonist, but Simon was quick to squash those rumours.
“It’s definitely not about James, although James suspected that it might be about him because he’s very vain,” Simon once said, defusing rumours which were born from a very direct reference in her song. With the lyrics, “Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia”, fans thought they had joined the dots, before Simon explained, “He had the unfortunate experience of taking a jet up to Nova Scotia, after I’d written the song. He was saved by the fact that it wasn’t a Lear.”
As for Jagger, the mere fact that he shared a romance with Simon and was regarded as perhaps one of music’s all-time narcissists led people to believe it couldn’t have been anybody else. But, once again, Simon quickly quelled those rumours, both in her book and a 1983 interview with The Washington Post.
David Geffen, Kris Kristofferson, Jack Nicholson, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, John Travolta and Sean Connery all had their names thrown in the ring, but it was actor Warren Beatty who had his role officially confirmed by Simon. While she has pointed critics and fans to anagrams and sonic easter eggs within the song’s first verse, she has confirmed that Beatty was the direct inspiration for the second verse.
“It was my [book] publisher who called up and said, ‘People Magazine will put you on the cover if you tell who ‘You’re So Vain’ is about, or just give one verse up,’” she told the BBC. And so, she did, saying, “I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren”.
To some, it was a jubilant day as their curiosity could finally rest, while, for others, the charming allure of never knowing the true subject was lost with the confirmation of the truth. Regardless of where you stand, you can’t argue with Simon’s judgment call on Beatty as a narcissist, as she revealed that “Warren thinks the whole thing is about him!”
…but who sings backing vocals on the track?
Simon surely couldn’t have helped but share a wry smile when fans speculated over Jagger being the subject, for The Stones singer actually provided backing vocals on the chorus lines. He provides a sort of caustic edge to the otherwise ethereal performance of Simon, bringing a sense of relationship duality to the entire performance.
Simon was recording her track at Trident studios when the hip-thrusting frontman popped his head in to say hello. “I guess it was kind of chance, in a way,” she said in 1995, 13 years after confirming he wasn’t, in fact, the subject.
Jagger reportedly showed curiosity in the song that was being recorded along with Harry Nilsson when Simon offered him the backing role, which he swiftly accepted. Nilsson subsequently gave up his own role as the chorus’ backing singer, such was Jagger’s effectiveness. Simon explained, “He knew the chemistry was between me and Mick; in terms of the singing, so he sort of bowed out saying, ‘The two of you have a real blend—you should do it yourselves.’”
What’s left is an iconic track, a unique backing vocal and a creative wink to salacious critics who were desperate to believe the heartthrob himself was the subject.
