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.

[CDFingers]

Q: If Geffen is gay why would he be with the wife of a close friend?

A: Shopping

[ReneeLynn]

Bill’s looking too happy about that open mouth.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

“These Are the Good Old Days” Truly were. I wish we could somehow relive them.

[Question Liberal Authority]

If Geffen is gay why would he be with the wife of a close friend?

Shopping for shoes?

[OB1kNOb]

Well she was still quite naive back then.

Yeah, That's The Way I've Always Thought It Should Be.

[dfwgator]

To quote Billy Joel, “The good old days weren’t always good, and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.”

[downtownconservative]

Demand a rematch!

[BossLady]

"Your hat strategically dipped below one eye"

"Your scarf it was apricot"

I would think these 2 things would be good indicators that the guy was probably light in the loafers and might be the source of being treated crappy.... ;) LOL!

[Clemenza]

Interesting, as Geffen has been named by many sources (Michael Ovitz, Luke Ford, amongst others) as the "Godfather" of the Gay Mafia in Hollywood. When a record exec once slugged Geffen at a party in the 1970s, he reportedly received untold phone calls and letters congratulating him.

[listenhillary]

This is President Barack’s theme song.

[dfwgator]

Yeah, but it was the 70s.

[Cvengr]

Nova Scotia’ airport must have been pretty packed with celebrity Lear Jets, to watch the total solar eclipse back then.

[BossLady]

I remember singing the song though as a young girl...and thinking...I dont think I would date a guy who wore an apricot scarf....HAHAHAH!

[big black dog]

I always thought it was Warren Beatty. In fact, the first edition of trivial pursuit had Warren Beatty as the answer.

It's been ages since I played that game, but I saw a number of the answers were based on some sort of popular opinion rather than on any kind of facts.

[Ditto]

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

Well, vain people are always convinced its all about them. ;~))

[Chi-townChief]

Sounds like Carly’s changing her story.

[Chi-townChief]

So why’s he hot for all the babes then???

[MaxMax]

I want to know who the song “Squeezebox” is about.

[Persevero]

Sometimes straight guys go gay.

It’s just a perversion.

[Persevero]

Well, you know the “Moops” invaded Constantinople. . .

(Seinfeld)