Carly Simon finally reveals the subject of 'You're So Vain'...

Daily Mail ^ | 02/26/2010 | Lizzie Smith

[SeekAndFind]

For years there has been debate about which of Carly Simon's ex-boyfriends could have inspired the hit song You're So Vain.

But while former lovers Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Warren Beatty were left wondering whether 'this song is about you', they have been proved wrong.

For the Seventies singer has finally revealed the real inspiration behind her hit track wasn't a boyfriend at all - it was openly gay record producer David Geffen.

Simon, 64, ended the 38 year guessing game by whispering the name backwards on a reworked version of the song for her new album Never Been Gone, out next week.

Previously Simon had always claimed the song was a 'composite' of people she knew.

In 1972 when she wrote the song billionaire Geffen was the head of her Elektra record label.

It is thought she was inspired to write the damning lyrics after Geffen put all his time and energy into promoting her rival, Joni Mitchell, over her.

In the hit Simon sings that the man walked into the party like he was walking on to a yacht.

The subject of her wrath jilted her before going to Saratoga to watch his horse naturally win.

Beatty is said to have been convinced he was the inspiration behind the song.

Other suspects included Jagger, who sang backing vocals for the original song, and James Taylor, the American songwriter to whom Simon was married between 1972 and 1983.

[Persevero]

I too am dying to know the “squeezebox” reference.

[jaydubya2]

I like the song, but the guitar solo has to be the worst in history.

[BossLady]

Geffen NOT HOT for babes now....LOL!

[Clemenza]

Like a cheerleader who’s been with the whole football team.

Clara Bow beat her by several decades, and in her case, it actually was with the USC Trojans.

[MaxMax]

Welcome to Freepers! Expect to be hazed..

[martin_fierro]

Carly Simon finally reveals the subject of 'You're So Vain'...OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS FINALLY OVER!

[Perdogg]

I was wrong any way I said it was Richard Nixon.

[lady lawyer]

And why would she talk about him “having her” several years ago, and about them being a “pretty pair”?

[Petronski]

Am I logged in?

[spectre]

I always thought it was about Hugh Heffner.

[Petronski]

To quote Billy Joel...

Show some self-respect, man. Don't reduce yourself to that.

[Petronski]

To quote Billy Joel...

Show some self-respect, man. Don't reduce yourself to that.

[Pebcak]

I think the tip off is “clouds in your coffee.”

Referencing Joni Mitchell and the song ‘Both Sides Now.’

[discostu]

And given the thing Geffen did later in his career he earned it. Probably the biggest jerk in the post 1950s music business.

[RichInOC]

Okay, I could see that.

[lainie]

If the song's about a playboy womanizer after whom all the girls are running, how could it be about Geffen? Isn't he a founding member of the Gay Mafia?

nice picture. (eyeroll)

p.s. he was right to push Joni Mitchell. She's more talented.

[RegulatorCountry]

None of those lyrics make sense as referring to her gay record label president David Geffen. They do make sense for a former boyfriend.

Jagger ain't it, he sang backup, lol. Kristofferson, Taylor? Nah, too nice.

I agree with Warren Beatty, thinking the song was about him.

[ReneeLynn]

Apparently there is some special relationship between record producers and the artists. I guess his ‘leaving’ was going with Joni Mitchell as her producer, as someone else posted. And the ‘pretty pair’ was a good mix in the producer/artist relationship.

[wtc911]

It's too late, baby.

_____________________________________

Carol King, same era.

[Liberty Valance]

Weird.