50 Best Things About Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better"

1) Saying Marvin Hamlisch's name. MAHVIN HOMMLISH.

2) The ambiguity of "though sometimes I wish someone could" (why? if nobody does it better, and baby you're the best, is that damning with faint praise?) (do not use this as a wedding song.)

3) Theory: the coda was as much of an inspiration for "November Rain" as "Layla" was. Besides, the Axl on "Patience" ain't "got time for the pain." I mean, we're dealing with a not-so-closeted easy listening fan here, right? Tell me "It's So Easy" isn't a Linda Ronstadt reference.

4) The obligatory shoehorning of the Bond movie title into the lyrics.

5) The Randy Newman-ish downward movement of the opening piano part.

6) The "live from Martha's Vineyard 1987" video with her peach shirt, chunky bracelet, wireless mic, and hair blowing in the breeze, and the audience that looks like a bunch of yuppies flown in from a Sausalito parrothead convention on the wings of a wine-cooler buzz

7) the way the "ling" of "da - ar - ling you're the best" comes in on the four-and.

8) ...

re number 3: this medipren commercial from 1988 may have been the real inspiration behind axl not having time for the pain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIR0kXX14nE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1p9YeSKJIw

8) the "Baby you're the beessst," part which I always rewind about three or four times if I'm alone (and once if I'm with company)

Oh my god yes, #6 is just the most perfect pop moment EVER. Everything is absurdly perfect in its place. Here it is by the way http://youtu.be/SaV-6qerkqI

9) The line "how'd you learn to do the things you do?" is a funny construction and gets your mind running - what kind of techniques is her opposite displaying, and could there be an academy for it?

10) Sold a number of Australian homes because https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNBLolI7GJ4

11) the DA-da-da DA-da-da DA-da DA triplets against the beat in the chords of the "baby you're the best" part.

12) "makes me feel sad for the rest" transformed in the light of #2 supra from mockery into genuine regret, rueful concern, etc., since carly clearly wishes she could get this hot for someone less problematic than james bond

13) It's better than "For Your Eyes Only"

14) thanks to #10, I still sing LJ HOOKER YOU'RE THE BEST whenever I hear it

15) Aimee Mann covered it (just me?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sOgxtDZ83U

16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpm2Uyo--PM

^^^

I'm scared to click on the Aimee Mann link tbh

Knowing yr feelings on her, but not knowing yr feelings on trendy late 90s electro-pop production (this was from a Bond tribute album that David Arnold produced back then), I'll offer a cautious "be afraid, be very afraid."

17) It's waaaaay better than "You Light Up My Life," which beat it for the 1977 Best Song Oscar.

18)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfmQe_eBvrc