Analysis of art

Dear Carly: I am a trained classical and jazz musician, yet your music appeals to me as no other pop artist. Musically, I've tried to break the melody down for clues for this appeal but have come up short. This convinces me that music transends normal logic. I find your music as beautiful and exciting as Bach or Berstein! Do you believe that art, in the final analysis, cannot be defined? Thanks so much for your brilliance. Dennis Bishop - Phoenix, Arizona

Thank you thank you thank you thank you and thank you is about all I can answer. It's so nice to hear. I'm so in the doldrums about my work. Most of the time I am, so don't feel sorry for me. There are exciting things happening, I think and hope. This place is one of the most exciting. Carly Simon - 3/30/02

Mary (new song)

Thank you for making this wonderful website possible! I was wondering if you would tease us a bit with some info about your song MARY off your upcoming Christmas CD? Bill Faure - San Francisco, CA

I wrote it the only day we weren't in the studio. We recorded for five days with one Sunday in between. I was shaken by the usual (fear, freaking, trembling, laughing at myself, not laughing) and on this day I was particularly at the Mercy of what I hoped Mary could offer. I started out the song saying: "Take me into your hands, make me into your prayer, take me away to the land of Christmas..." by the time I was finished writing it (five or six hours later) I felt transformed and couldn't wait to play it for Ben and Don (Was). They all loved it and we cut it the next day!! Love C Carly Simon - 3/28/02

Socializing with the famous

How is it that so many remarkable people (Gershwin, Einstein, Jackie Robinson--and that's just the first few I remember from interviews I've read) came to socialize with your family when you were a girl? Was it simply your father's prestige as a publisher, or were there other dynamics in your family that attracted the elite? At the time, what was your take on the presence of such people in your home?

P.S. Favorite songs: "In Times When My Head," "Happy Birthday," "From the Heart." And "I Forgot" is your loveliest melody yet! Rich - San Francisco, CA

Thanks . We attracted a lot of the elite because of our ashtrays. We had them from places like the Twenty One Club and the Stork Club. People think you know people if you have paraphernalia from those places. That's my read on it anyway. Love Carly Carly Simon - 3/18/02

Actress roles for Carly

Dear Carly: Thanks for taking the time to answer all the fascinating questions that appear on this site! Many, many years ago, I read that you had been approached to star in a film version of "Fear of Flying", based upon Erica Jong's popular novel of the same name. I also read, around the same time, that you and James Taylor had been approached for the starring roles in a remake of "A Star Is Born" (prior to the Barbara Streisand/Kris Kristofferson version). Is there any truth to either of these? Dale Young - Munster, Indiana

Yes, they are both true. I was obviously not meant to be an actress. Quite a few opportunities were passed up by me. Never was too excited about it. Carly Simon - 3/10/02

Dreams influence music

Hi Carly: Sometimes when I listen to your songs, it's like dreaming in the daytime. I can't explain it exactly. It's like when you find that you suddenly took a nap when you hadn't planned to (which could be an age thing)....perhaps while reading, or watching a boring TV program. You awake, somewhat rested, and you had a really intense thought or dream (and you remember it!).

I can be doing whatever, and I will hear a Carly Simon song.....and the next thing you know I'm in a different state. My mind becomes preoccupied with the lyric and the melody. It takes me away, if only for a momentary moment. I was wondering if your dreams influence your music or do more real events help you put pen to paper? Any particular song come to mind? Thanks for your great website. It is truly appreciated. Timothy Moriarty - Indianapolis, IN

Dreams. Yes, sometimes. I think they do without my even being aware that they do. I took a test recently where you put your thumb up against some observed focussable object. Then you close both of your eyes in order and when your eye goes to one side of the object that means your other eye is the dominant one. Which ever eye is the dominant one, it means the opposite side of your brain is the dominant one. And, if you got all that right, it means you are very weird indeed!!!!! Anyway, I turn out to be left brained, which confused me because I always got away with being bad at math by saying I was righ-brained. Now I don't know what to do. Carly Simon - 3/7/02