Carly Simon Finally Spills The Real Inspiration Behind Her Most Famous Song
When you suffer a bitter break-up, the first song you throw on has gotta be Carly Simon's "You're So Vain." Yet even though the song sounds like it could describe any good-for-nothing son of a gun, the original was actually written about someone in particular. And while you may think you know, the answer isn't that obvious. So just who is the narcissist who inspired the chart-topping hit?
Keeping it hidden
We're all familiar with those simple, yet powerful, lyrics: "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." Carly's relatable ballad became a hit in 1972, competing with the likes of Neil Young, The Carpenters, and even the king himself, Elvis Presley. But why had Carly written the song in the first place? She initially told reporters a cover-up story.
Too general
At first, Carly said the song was about lousy men in general. But when the hit was released and instantly reached No. 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, listeners figured out there was much more to the story than Carly was sharing.
Fierce debate
The debate about the song's meaning was immediate. With such lines as, "Well you're where you should be all the time / And when you're not, you're with some underworld spy / Or the wife of a close friend, wife of a close friend," it was obvious that she was referencing someone very specific. Finally, Carly admitted part of the truth.
Three candidates
After the song's success, Carly finally owned up to the fact that the song referenced three men in particular. The rumors continued to fly for years as people debated who those three could be. They compared the details in the lyrics to various men Carly had dated. One man, however, insisted he was the star of the song — pretty vain, huh?
