MUSIC Carly Simon remains afloat, staying just under the radar

She's still not revealing the subject of 'You're So Vain.'
By COLLEEN LONG
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- Singer-songwriter Carly Simon has managed to remain a household name for more than 20 years, even though she has performed live only about 75 times.
She says being just under the radar keeps her afloat. Simon recently released "Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits," on BMG. The CD is a comprehensive collection of all her big hits, including "You Belong to Me," "Haven't Got Time for the Pain," and, of course, "You're So Vain."
She's also making a cameo appearance in the new film "Little Black Book," which stars Brittany Murphy as a woman who loves Simon's music. And designer Michael Kors has created a clothing line inspired by the "hippie chick" style Simon made famous in the mid-1970s.
Now a homebody
After years of a high-profile life and romances with the likes of James Taylor and Warren Beatty, Simon, 58, has become a homebody. She lives in Martha's Vineyard, on a farm she calls modest, with horses, donkeys, cats and sheep. Her two children have small cottages on her property, and she spends most of her time writing and singing.
And no, she's still not telling who "You're So Vain," is about.
Q. You don't do many concerts; is it because you're shy?
A. I'm shy but that's not the reason for not touring. It's been very hard for me to put into words, to put it into some kind of understandable format, even for me. It has to do with a combination of the fact that I'm an anxiety-prone person and I'm prone to attacks. I can wig out. I can wig out in a department store or in a social situation, at a dinner party, or in a restaurant. The stage isn't the only place I can do it, but that has some adverse conditions, you can't get off. I've only done about 75 concerts.
Q. How do you think you've managed to stay afloat without touring?
A. Ironically, I think that being so low profile has kept me fresh. I've never worn myself out. I've never latched onto what's hip at the moment. I've basically followed the beat of my own drummer all along.
Q. Your songs are known for being very personal. Is it difficult to be so open?
A. Well don't forget the poetic license. I can shift dramatically at any point, so you never know how close or not close it is to reality. That's the beauty of being a poet or a songwriter. You don't have to sign a declaration saying this is all true. But there is something from my own experience in just about every song.
Q. You've also had very public relationships, especially with James Taylor. Was it hard to be married in the public eye?
A. There was a very positive competition between James and I, but I invariably felt like that was seen as negative by outsiders. But really, nothing made me angrier than when James got a less-than-perfect review. One of my better talents is that I'm an editor, and I was able to help James in that way. I used to be able to suggest he use another word, and he did the same for me. It worked really well.
Q. Do you still talk to him?
A. No, he's taken that from our relationship. We have two kids, but they're grown. It wasn't because we parted ways so poorly, I'm sure you can think of another reason.
Q. Are you lonely?
A. Well I've been married for about 17 years to a poet named Jim Hart, but we're not together right now. God, I feel there are so many things about life that work with each other but sometimes against each other. I really want to be with a partner. On the other hand, I may have gone too long without one. I may have gotten too deep into the alone habits.
Q. Why did you decide to tell someone last year who "You're So Vain" is about after all this time?
A. Well it's just not that big of a deal. Dick Ebersol and some of his friends came over to my house, we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I played the song and I told them who it was about. They're sworn to secrecy.
Q. I don't suppose you want to tell me?
A. Nope. sorry. But the letters E, A and R are in it.
Q. But why not? I mean, since you already told these other people and you say it's not a big deal?
A. Oh, it would be anticlimactic now. I've gone this far not telling, so why bother telling now?