# You're so Vain! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110 "2003-08-05T13:49:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xander\_Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ce73a5/32.png) [@Xander\_Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xander_Cane)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/1 "2003-08-05T13:49:58Z")
So, who do you think, “Is so Vain?” [http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=130337](http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=130337) My bet is on Warren. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/2 "2003-08-05T14:34:43Z")
I’m betting it isn’t any one person. The model is either completely fictional or a composite. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/3 "2003-08-05T14:47:16Z")
I remember, years ago, reading an interview in which Carly Simon said (and I’m trying to quote exactly), “It isn’t about any one person… but there’s nothing in the song that isn’t true of Warren Beatty.” So, I’ll take Carly at her word. The song isn’t “about” Warren Beatty, strictly speaking, but he probably inspired much of it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/4 "2003-08-05T14:50:32Z")
Oh, and there’s a funny anecdote in A. Scott Berg’s Katherine Hepburn biography that Carly would undoubtedly appreciate: Warren Beatty and Annette Bening visted Katharine Hepburn, to try to convince her to appear in their movie, “Love Affair.” After spending some time with them, Kate told Annette “It appears that you and Warren are both in love with the same person.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/5 "2003-08-05T14:59:39Z")
I think Carly Simon is pretty vain to think anyone really cares that much about it. She was a fairly minor star even at the height of her career. So who was it about? No idea, my question is who really cares? ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/6 "2003-08-05T15:17:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobLibDem \* > \*\*I think Carly Simon is pretty vain to think anyone really cares that much about it. She was a fairly minor star even at the height of her career. \*\* Well, Dick Ebersol cared enough to bid more then $50,000 to find out. And calling her a minor star while at the height of her career shows just how little you know about popular music. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/7 "2003-08-05T15:25:28Z")
Whoever it is, it couldn’t be more shocking than the suspected target of **Alanis Morissette** ’s ire in “You Oughta Know”. **Full House** ’s [Dave Coulier](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=granitz&group=1739&photo=Events/1739/BobSagetDa_Kahn_721303_400.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=Coulier,%20Dave)! (on the right) > [@](#): > > Is the Alanis Morissette song “You Oughta Know” about you? > > I’ve been asked that question a million times and I still have the same answer–“No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” I apologize in advance, but I’d like to keep my personal life somewhat private. I will say this, Alanis and I have remained friends and she is one of the friendliest, funniest and most thoughtful people I have ever met. [FAQ](http://www.cutitout.net/questions/faq_page.htm) from the official Dave Coulier webpage. Pash ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/8 "2003-08-05T15:33:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BogieBlanca \* > \*\*And calling her a minor star while at the height of her career shows just how little you know about popular music. \*\* I’m sorry you feel this way, but if you look back at the 1960s thru 1990s era, I don’t think Simon would crack most people’s top 20 list of artists, but of course I could be wrong. You are correct, I don’t know a lot about popular music. I’m just comparing her to true giants like Elvis and Dylan and the Rolling Stones. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/9 "2003-08-05T17:24:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BobLibDem \* > \*\*I think Carly Simon is pretty vain to think anyone really cares that much about it. She was a fairly minor star even at the height of her career. So who was it about? No idea, my question is who really cares? \*\* It isn’t Carly Simon who’s keeping the issue alive! It’s millions of ordinary folks who obsess over the issue, and give it far more thought than (I’m sure) Carly Simon ever did. Quentin Tarantino never thought it mattered what was in Marcellus Wallace’s briefcase, but there have been numerous Internet chat rooms dedicated to that burning question! Bobbie Gentry never thought it was important what Billie Joe was throwing off the Tallahatchie Bridge, but millions of people HAVE been asking that question for decades now! So don’t blame the artist, major or minor, when loads of people drive themselves nuts trying to figure out the answer to a movie or music “mystery” the artist left unsolved. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/10 "2003-08-05T17:27:55Z")
Coo coo ca chew. $50 on Beatty to win, please. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/11 "2003-08-05T17:57:15Z")
OK astorian, I stand corrected. There must be a lot of people that care who is so vain. For those that care, I hope you someday find out and that your guess is the correct one. That is, if Ebersol ever decides to tell the secret. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/12 "2003-08-05T17:58:08Z")
Of course, Ebersol has sworn himself to secrecy regarding the “real” identity of the Vain guy, so this doesn’t really help US very much. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/13 "2003-08-05T18:00:09Z")
It may be a composite, but I don’t think Simon would’ve auctioned off the answer for $50,000 if the song was ‘completely fictional.’ ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/14 "2003-08-05T18:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*It isn’t Carly Simon who’s keeping the issue alive! It’s millions of ordinary folks who obsess over the issue, and give it far more thought than (I’m sure) Carly Simon ever did. > > Quentin Tarantino never thought it mattered what was in Marcellus Wallace’s briefcase, but there have been numerous Internet chat rooms dedicated to that burning question! > > Bobbie Gentry never thought it was important what Billie Joe was throwing off the Tallahatchie Bridge, but millions of people HAVE been asking that question for decades now!\*\* And let’s not even dip our little…toes into Don Maclean’s **American Pie** , shall we?😃 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/15 "2003-08-05T19:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by omni-not \* > \*\*And let’s not even dip our little…toes into Don Maclean’s **American Pie** , shall we?😃 \*\* Unca Cecil’s analysis and Don McLean’s response may be found [here](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_398b.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/16 "2003-08-05T19:47:00Z")
Well, if I were her, I’d tell him it was a real person, but someone who has absolutely nothing to do with current rumours or teh actual inspiration, but a plausible person nonetheless (f’rinstance “it was my dad, since he never noticed me :::😭:::”) then, when the rumour comes out about who it was, you can know if Dick spilled the beans. And if he doesnt tell anyone, whose loss is it anyway? 😃 ::::::bigevilsmilie::::::: ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/17 "2003-08-05T21:56:51Z")
Not only has this thread been done a million times before, but none of you even bothered to go to the Carly Simon Official Website to see what see has to say. Go to her [“You’re So Vain” page](http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.htm) and read all about it. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/18 "2003-08-05T22:02:47Z")
Eh, it sounds like a set-up job to me. I bet it was about Dick Ebersol all along! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/19 "2003-08-05T22:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pashnish Ewing \* > \*\*Whoever it is, it couldn’t be more shocking than the suspected target of **Alanis Morissette** ’s ire in “You Oughta Know”. > > **Full House** ’s [Dave Coulier](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=granitz&group=1739&photo=Events/1739/BobSagetDa_Kahn_721303_400.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=Coulier,%20Dave)! (on the right) > \*\* [hijack] Sorry, but to me, Dave will always be the guy from **Out of Control**. _does the Diz call_ [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Breezy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Breezy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Breezy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110/20 "2003-08-06T20:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*Not only has this thread been done a million times before, but none of you even bothered to go to the Carly Simon Official Website to see what see has to say. > > Go to her [“You’re So Vain” page](http://www.carlysimon.com/vain/vain.htm) and read all about it. \*\* Wow, that sounded a little bitter! It doesn’t look like there’s really an answer on that page, anyway. It’s just a lot more tap-dancing around the subject. Unless it really is about a young Oprah Winfrey (haha). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-so-vain/193110.md?page=2)