I Bet You Think This Thread Is About You

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I've got a big problem. That "You're So Vain" song irritates the shit out of me, not because of the sound of it, which i don't mind, but because of it's main lyrical content/chorus. She says "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you" as if the song isn't about that person, when in fact the song is "about" that person. Also, Clouds In Her Coffee? Probably been discussed to death but i just heard it and it really pisses me off.

― biz, Tuesday, 21 June 2005 19:24 (twenty years ago)

Simon there is weaving a gossamar-fine web of irony with that lyric.

― Lee F# (fsharp), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

I love it, it's such a great lyrical joke.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

If the inherent contradiction really bothers you, you could interpret the lyrics so that the verses are describing one person, and then the chorus is directed at a different person. But really, you should just get over it.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

what? i thought this thread was about me!

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

it is. now.

― sleep (sleep), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

ken taylrr: C/D?

― sleep (sleep), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

generally speaking, dud

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

hey N/A, how is it a lyrical joke? Is it a joke if it's not funny?

― biz, Tuesday, 21 June 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

it's a joke because it's counter-intuitive

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

but it wasn't intended to be a joke was it?

― biz, Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

The dreams she had that were clouds in her coffee is the only good thing about this song.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:15 (twenty years ago)

trying to make literal sense out of a pop song: c/d

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

as for the best thing about this song, i vote for mick jagger's way-too-loud harmonies, which seem to be saying, "i don't care who you think this song is about, it's clearly about me."

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

T/S Beatty vs Jagger!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

Fine. Then who was Taime Downe singing about?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 21:28 (twenty years ago)

but it wasn't intended to be a joke was it?

I've always assumed it was, yes. She's sort of turning the thing around, like the verses are all "u iz the sux0r" and then the chorus goes "yeah, ok, I admit, you do GET to me and I'm sure you're damn smug about it as well, this song isn't even about you, ok so it is"...but it doesn't take anything away from the put-down, somehow. Great lyrics.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

You probably think this song is about you. DON'T YOU? DON'T YOU?? DON'T YOU???

― Sundar (sundar), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 23:18 (twenty years ago)

what a great song...I love the cloud in my coffee line...like when you put the creamer in....such a nice little obvervation, an odd little mental image that doesn't need to be there but makes it great...also the total eclipse of the sun part is fabolous...pop songs don't get much better than this...

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 23:45 (twenty years ago)

I love this song too.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 23:46 (twenty years ago)

I heart everything about this song, especially the drumming of Jim Gordon.

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 00:19 (twenty years ago)

Love it, too, especially the memory of Jesse, the special ed kid with the speech impediment on our block, stomping around at the bus stop and bellowing, "WOWDS IN MY WOFFEE! WOWDS IN MY WOFFEE!"

― brianiac (briania), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 01:05 (twenty years ago)

OK. I've read the other thread and meditated on the possible meanings for several minutes and i've determined a few things:

1. It's a good song
2. Carly likes her coffee with cream, just like I do (i think this post is about ME!)
3. Nothing in the song is remotely funny
4. The song is actually about the person she claims is So Vain, therefore fueling that persons ego even more
5. Making literal sense out or pop music = CLASSIC, when you're actually getting paid to do it!

― biz, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

Watch out...it's a trap.

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 01:51 (twenty years ago)

Trevor jackson did a vocoder version under the name black neon.

by stripping it of all emotion it becomes either far less or far more poigniant.

the jurys out on which...

― danny boy, Wednesday, 22 June 2005 09:11 (twenty years ago)

It's a protest song, come on, read the lyrics.

― Bob Amal (bobnope), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 10:06 (twenty years ago)

I always imagined (perhaps fancifully) that the song was written by Carly Simon as an exercise in purging herself of the baggage of a previous failed relationship, in order to allow herself to move on emotionally.

Consequently, although the subject of the song may be the "you" who is "so vain", the object(ive) of the song is Ms. Simon herself and her desire to achieve closure.

Oh, and to make a great big pile of cash by writing an intriguing "is-it-or-isn't-it" song which might have been about either one of a pair of celebrity ex's in the process, obv.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

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