Her son, Michael Merrill createdThe Bette Davis Foundationin honor of her. Nominated for the Album of the Year of the Grammy Award, Mistaken Identity is the sixth studio album of Kim Carness illustrious career. She was simply different. At the beginning of the interview they discuss the word precocious referring to one of the characters shes played and it hit me that it was in the song She precocious and she knows just what it takes to make a pro blush. Davis and Merrill rowed violently over what they should do. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_21',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_22',165,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0_1');.leader-4-multi-165{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis had strikingly distinct eyes that combined the features of several different shapes. This song has evoked some very deep and interesting emotions from the reviews. The production was already highly anticipated after the success of the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel on which the film was based. Is Bette Davis eyes a compliment? Few stars of her era even have names that register today and yet, even as most of her films sink out of favor, Davis continues to glare at us, living on in her infamy. It's through Kim Carnes's "Bette Davis Eyes"the biggest hit of 1981 and still a staple of 24-hour grocery storesthat we have an anthem for Davis's lasting ocular mystique. She was the first daughter born to lawyer Harlow Morrell Davis and Ruth Favor Davis, given the name Bette which she chose to use in her career. Its not just about having a beautiful face; these eyes convey a certain strength and emotion that is hard to find anywhere else. Nevertheless, it didn't escape her notice that her name was in the title of a popular song - and it seems she was okay with it. Nelson filed for divorce from Davis in 1938. You often need to know a person to accurately interpret what is being revealed. It is reported that Bette Davis declined the opportunity to be present at the 1981 Grammy Awards, where the song won Record of the Year. It was first recorded and released by its co-writer Jackie DeShannon in 1975. She later revealed in an interview that she had developed a benign vocal cord tumor in her throat, which required surgery in order to remove it. There's no mention of their size, their color, the lifeif truly like Davissthey seem to live separate from the woman herself, nothing of their lids. Each time her heavy lids open, it's almost shocking.). ), According to Davis, it was only because of her eyes that her first three-month contract was renewed. [15] However, it was not until March 1981,[16] when Kim Carnes recorded her version of the song in a radically different synthesizer-based arrangement, that "Bette Davis Eyes" became a commercial success. : radiant, satisfied as she kicks her sister across the floor. The half-mast lids are her character's trick, sending a signal of inattentiveness, the illusion of intoxication or exhaustion, while she covertly scans the room, her gaze filled with purpose.). The well of insults and back-handed compliments aimed at Davis physical appearance is deep and from our vantage point, its easy to see the level of objectification, the misogyny, the constricting limitations placed upon her. Where Billy was power with hard muscles, Steve was soft with gentle curves leftover from his pregnancy. However, this occurrence is rare and typically it is safe to assume that green eyes are genetically green and will remain that way. Thank you for an article as entertaining as it is enlightening! Her death came after years of battling with breast cancer and stroke. In 1936, Warner Brothers sued their wayward star through the British courts. It takes a good actor or liar or sociopath (all of which Davis has been called) to hide it, but it also takes an observant watcher to see it. Good Article, although there must be an error in the date under the last image. Steve looked away, ducking his head away from the praise. But the future icon who was also well-respected in her own lifetime as a campaigner for war veterans, earning a Distinguished Civilian Service Medal for her work with the Hollywood Canteen (via Biography) didn't have an easy route to Hollywood stardom. Her talent for emotive and highly dramatic performances made her one of the most popular and bankable Hollywood stars of her day. : 3:48. "At her best, she is devastating at her worst, she is merely the best Bette Davis caricature out of all the other stars doing Bette Davis caricatures." Thank you for all the information about her personal life and career. ", Director Michael Curtiz: [shes a] goddamned nothing no good sexless son of a bitch and (according to Davis): the unsexiest woman I have ever seen in my life., From the beginning, her looks were remarked upon, openly debated, even in the midst of praise. Not sure how to take it so I just say thanks. Theyre commentaries on how aging women are treated by society and also exploitive fantasies of the supposed inherent horror of older womenthey were parts Davis thrived in while also being ashamed of. Thirty years after her death and nearly eighty years since the height of her fame, Davis remains in our cultural memory. Davis' mother, Ruthie, took her and her sister Bobby to see Henrik Ibsen's play "The Wild Duck." Your email address will not be published. In a gushing review, the critic E. Arnot Robertson declared: "I think Bette Davis would have been burned as a witch if she had lived two or three hundred years ago. I dont know her secrets, my life and world are nothing like hers, but I like the possibilities her famed eyes present: a windows-of-the-soul Rorschach test spanning nearly a century of pop culture. The two enjoyed a whirlwind romance, and Sherry, despite his precarious financial situation, soon proposed. I could remember back when Kim Carnes sing the song, I went and bought an 8 track tape. The song has since been celebrated for its catchy and infectious chorus, as well as its clever amalgamation of rock and new wave influences. However, she did perform a few memorable dance numbers for a few of her movies, including Possessed (1931), Sadie McKee (1934), and Dancing Lady (1933). Although the songwriters have never officially confirmed this, some say that it is a tribute to the iconic film star, who inspired them with her powerful performances and larger-than-life persona. I recited Marx Brothers lines by heart and imitated Charlie Chaplin's walk. It was her first taste of serious theater, and the character of the daughter Hedvig so moved her that she "lost herself" in her experience, just as the actress portraying her, Peg Entwistle, seemed to. For example, some people who have been told they have green eyes may find that they eventually become lighter in color or become more blue. Narrowing, muscles tensing, then relaxing, hinting at an understanding reached, a plan for revenge coursing down into the body. Thats something to be worried about.. The lyric has been seen as a celebration of female power and confidence, underpinned by the inclusion of Bette Davis, an icon of the silver screen known and respected across the world, in the songs title and as part of its chorus. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. [14] In this original incarnation, the track is performed in an 'R&B lite' arrangement,[1] featuring a prominent uptempo piano part, as well as flourishes of pedal steel guitar and horns. The foundations sole goal is to financially assist promising young actors and actresses. Bette Davis Eyes: Directed by Cheryl Dunye. But even those closest to her didnt understand how her struggles worked. "The kid might be all right in certain roles but what audience would ever believe that the hero would to get her at the fade-out?" . Looking to the ground, lids heavy, having struck down her enemies once again.). The film marked Davis' first collaboration with Humphrey Bogart; the duo went on to make seven films together. (The Academy has never confirmed this as the source of the nickname.). By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). "I was unhappy from the first day," Davis said. While just six years after her breakthrough, and only 32 years old, she looks as if she's aged a couple decadesher character a curious mix of noir femme fatale and quaint grandmother. When filming wrapped on "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" Her eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes. Title Performer Release date Info; i: Bette Davis Eyes: (Her eyes, in her 1934 breakthrough, Of Human Bondage, paving the path for the roles she would become most known for. 26 on the Dance charts. Davis nevertheless exploited her seemingly unusual look to great effect, by branching out to take various roles that typical leading ladies would not. And Davis' win might have another reason for going down in cinema history: per the same source, Davis claimed that it was she who came up with the affectionate name "Oscar" for the famous gold statuette after noticing a physical resemblance between the figure's posterior and that of her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. She changed the requirement that actresses in the movies invariably be likable or attractive. With her left covered by a patch, shes unwittingly kicking off another film trope: the bad-ass woman with an eyepatch, decades before Daryl Hannah, before Angelina Jolie, before Rachel Weisz. 1981. But tragedy caused Davis to become more unreasonable on set than ever before. It was the only year of the entire 1940s that Davis did not star in a movie, according to Stacker. According to producer Val Garay, the original demo of the tune that was brought to him sounded like "a Leon Russell track, with this beer-barrel polka piano part." In 1928, she landed her first major role in a stage production ofThe Earth Between. I can relate to your unfortunate childhood, as I was the first and oldest of 3 daughters of my mother. I never forgive my mothers neglect, the lack of love to a child, lack of affection, and the physical abuse I endured.. They exhibit her at her wildest, her most unhinged, and are backed by scripts that do her talents justice. Then came "Bette Davis Eyes." DeShannon, a writer, hitmaker and performer since the turn of the 1960s, had written the song that namechecked one of Hollywood's most famous stars for . Growing up with my grandparents, I watched more black-and-white movies of their generation than I did color films of mine. The track was produced by American record producer Val Garay. Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis Eyes spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. Davis lost the case, and was forced to return to the U.S. and resume her work with Warner Bros. Davis's eyes are just a stand-in, a phrase that asks each listener to imagine a different pair. At some point, I asked him about the book face-down on his lap. Bette Davis Eyes written by Jackie DeShannon, Donna Weiss English September 1975 Dvka, kter sp jen tak written by Jaromr Nohavica Czech 1982 Bette Davis written by Amaryllis Temmerman Dutch October 5, 2012 She was the sex worker threatening the gangster: Ill get you if I have to come back from the grave to do it. The woman telling her sickly husband: I hope you die. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_6',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_7',173,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-173{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis was famously unimpressed with the 1981 song Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. But the image I associated most strongly with the era of movies we often watched was Bette Davis. She was also known for her distinctive eyes. In the lie her character tells of the shooting, the man's unwanted advances began with him saying, You have very pretty eyes.). They tended to blend together in my mind, but Davis herself stuck out. Bette Davis was successful enough, long enough, to become her own stereotype, endlessly imitated, readily identifiable, and as indestructible as granite. It was later dubbed the biggest hit of that year. Outside America, the song charted at number one in many a country across the globe. [63] It was released as a single in Australia on March 26, 2001,[64] debuting and peaking at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart on April 8, 2001. Davis was reportedly glad that the song had made her part of the modern era. When Carnes says the main figure of her song has "Bette Davis Eyes," she's signalling to the audience that the character cannot be trusted, no matter how beautiful she is. 12 on Billboard's list of the Top 100 songs in the first 50 years of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[11]. Bette Davis, 1981. In the courtroom, Davis' claims that her contract amounted to "slavery" were ridiculed by Warner lawyers, who described Davis as "rather a naughty young lady." Davis could be equally complementaryand dismissiveof her male counterparts. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',155,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-155{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis was an American actress who was known for her portrayals of strong-willed and determined characters in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Can I withdraw money from HDFC prepaid card? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tags: Bette DavisDonna WeissJackie DeShannon. Broadly, its a song in the Maneater veina woman who seduces for sportbut to listeners unaware of who Bette Davis is, there are few lyrical clues to what these eyes actually look like. What does it say about us for staring so hard, for caring so much? It was supposed to be 1938 instead of 1983. But while Davis's marriage to Merrill was the longest of her life they divorced in 1960, after a decade together it was also beset by tragedy. According to James Spada's "More than a Woman," his 1994 biography of Davis, the actress' win is believed to have been motivated by Academy members feeling that Davis has been snubbed in her earlier role. According to the Beat Music Magazine in 2015, when asked what she thought of the song Bette Davis simply replied I never did like that song. She was known for her distinctive looks most notably, her dramatic eyes which gave her a unique, yet classic beauty. Because of this, Davis could have taken the song as either an insult or a compliment. Your email address will not be published. Where are songs like this now? Bette Davis portrays an aging former child star who torments and abuses her disabled former movie star sister, played by Joan Crawford, in the 1962 film "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" It's a showdown between him and celebrity lawyer Adam Pryce (Jere Burns), who makes a mockery of the courthouse. (In All About Eve, it's the lids: that oft-ignored flap of skin, constantly spreading tears across the surface of the eye, warding off invasion, blocking the light out during sleep. Bette Davis died in 1989, according to Britannica. [18], Actress Bette Davis was 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. Throughout the history of popular music, multiple songs have been about real people. She was also known for her distinctive eyes. Though Bette Davis' career was going from strength to strength, her marriage to Harmon Nelson was falling apart, leading Davis to embark on a number of extramarital affairs with colleagues and co-stars on Hollywood shoots. She confused my categorical understanding of the world. Your youngest daughter .the mother to your only son, my little brother. [17] Keyboardist Bill Cuomo came up with the signature synth riff, using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer, which now defines Carnes's version. Its longevity has been attributed to the influence of its boastful and rebellious lyrics, which continue to connect generations of music lovers. The song was written after Donna Weiss watched a 1942 movie starring Bette Davis. She loved Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, Charles Boyer, and Claude Rains, was amused by Errol Flynn, and. I remember I was about 7 yo. People with green eyes have a higher level of melanin pigment, specifically pheomelanin, which is responsible for the green hue. Required fields are marked *. Who famously got most of her exercise by putting her foot down.. (Her eyes, in The Anniversary: or, rather, her eye. The anthemic chorus reminding us, again and again, of the meaning we make out of pressurized, gel-filled spheres; reminding us that eyes not only see, but are seen. Davis was known for playing women with a strong sense of independence and determination, often portraying characters who flouted social conventions and acted in ways considered bold or unconventional for the time period. Cheery, almost, as she tears each member of her family, and prospective member of her family, down, one-by-one.). She is currently working on new music with her daughter and is making plans to tour again in the near future. Davis later wrote that the resulting test footage was horrifying. She was married six times throughout her life, but never had any children. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_23',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_24',166,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0_1');.mobile-leaderboard-1-multi-166{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}These lenses can give you an unnatural purple eye color, although it is important to remember that they are not permanent and require regular biannual removal and cleaning. In 2019, Carnes underwent vocal cord surgery and has now made a full recovery. The eyes of someone with purple eyes would need to produce a combination of the colors found in the traditional colors of eyes, such as brown and blue, but this is not possible. (Her eyes, in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? She wrote letters to Carnes, Weiss, and DeShannon to thank all three of them for making her "a part of modern times" and stated that her grandson now looked up to her. Others are about celebrities or other well-known people, such as Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," about Marilyn Monroe; Carly Simon's "You're So Vain," about, well, somebody, although Simon won't say (probably Warren Beatty); and just about every song Taylor Swift ever wrote, about one or the other of her famous ex-boyfriends. American. The song was written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, the latter of whom recorded the song that same year on her album New Arrangement. 1 Brooklyn,among others. Its not objectification, but a way of understanding. My mom used to sing Betty Davis Eyes to e when I was little. Mobile still and more affable than rumor would have it. . As Davis grew disgusted at Warners studio offers, she refused to take on their roles. The song Bette Davis Eyes gives a shoutout to the iconic American actress Bette Davis, and she acknowledged the composers of this song for such. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get purple eyes. Love Karaoke? When Carnes says the main figure of her song has "Bette Davis Eyes," she's signalling to the audience that the character cannot be trusted, no matter how beautiful she is. Thirty years experience as an actress in motion pictures. Required fields are marked *. So revered is "Baby Jane" that in 2021 it was one of the 25 films selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. His passion for Davis was palpable. It'sbecome one of the best-remembered works of Davis' career. 10 in the United Kingdom,[8] to date her only Top 40 hit in that country. Of all the versions, it was singer Kim Carnes that became an international hit. Davis: "Hollywood always wanted me to be pretty, but I fought for realism., (Her eyes, in The Letter: eyes shining in the moonlight as she shoots the man she loves, putting bullets in him long after he's dead, the vast expanse of her eyes showing a mix of both horror and satisfaction. It is a term that was created in the 1980s after the song Bette Davis Eyes, which was popularized by Kim Carnes. Ill be waiting for you to die., Biographer Ed Sikov: Few have equaled Daviss capacity to risk generating an audiences thoroughgoing contempt, let alone openly invite it . When I was my most unhappy I lashed out rather than whined.". Bette Davis Eyes was written by Jack Segal and Donna Weiss, and released by Kim Carnes in 1981. After their Grammy wins, Davis sent them roses as well. Some of her most notable films include 1935s Dangerous, 1938s Jezebel and 1952s The Star. The song has several different versions. Ruthie's first step was to take Bette Davis to New York, where she interviewed for a place at the prestigious theater school run by Eva Le Gallienne, but after what Davis described as a "defensive" performance during the interview, she was rejected as not exhibiting the required seriousness to join the school. In some cases, the amount of melanin pigment in someones eyes may change over time. The shocking loss hit Davis badly, affecting her behavior on set and leading her to act more aggressively and erratically than ever before. [7] Music video[edit] Bette Davis was married for the fourth and final time to Gary Merrill, the actor who had starred alongside her in the warmly received "All About Eve" in 1950. In January 1941, Hollywood watchers were shocked by the announcement that Davis had married 34-year-old Arthur Farnsworth, the manager of a New Hampshire lodge where Davis vacationed. She is very welcoming, seductive and will go out of her way to please the object of her affection. It was then that I got her name stuck in my head, then that I started watching her films intentionally, trying to see what they revealed. loved the song since the 80s when I didnt know much about Bette Davis except that she was an actress. The record label this track was released on is EMI America. Apple Music Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes . It was on an airplane fifteen years ago that I first considered Bette Davis as more than an image, more than a Mid-Atlantic accent or a symbol of movie nights at my grandparents's house. Its been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop. Bette Davis was an iconic actress who won two Academy Awards, with most of her well-known roles coming in the 1930s to 1950s. [66], Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 16:24, Australian Recording Industry Association, List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s, List of Top 25 singles for 1981 in Australia, List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1981, List of number-one singles of 1981 (France), List of number-one hits of 1981 (Germany), List of number-one singles of 1981 (Spain), List of number-one singles of the 1980s (Switzerland), "Jackie DeShannon: Jackie DeShannon, Me About You / To Be Free, New Arrangement", "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs (20-11)", "Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes Digital Sheet Music", "10 More Famous Songs with Unknown Originals", "Classic Tracks: Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes", "80sonVEVO GAMV Takeover Week 9 w/ FEATURED VIDEO Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes", "Toutes les Chansons N 1 des Annes 80's", The Irish Charts Search Results Bette Davis Eyes", "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 1989 Acts (C)", "Kim Carnes Chart History (Adult Contemporary)", "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending MAY 30, 1981", "Kim Carnes Chart History (Mainstream Rock)", Offiziellecharts.de Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", "Forum ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s", "Canadian single certifications Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", "French single certifications Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", "Italian single certifications Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", "British single certifications Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", "American single certifications Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes", Recording Industry Association of America, "Original Soundtrack Duets [Original Soundtrack]", "New Releases Singles Week Commencing 26th March 2001", "Australian-charts.com Gwyneth Paltrow Bette Davis Eyes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bette_Davis_Eyes&oldid=1140753302, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 16:24. (Her eyes, in her final film, Wicked Stepmother: lackadaisical, often bordering on closed, a purposed lethargy, bored by the terrible script, the awful cast surrounding her, her eyes doing more work than anyone on set.). All Rights Reserved. The role of acid-tongued thespian Margot Channing, who is finding her authority undermined by the appearance of a fresh-faced young actress, was uniquely appealing to Davis, and she adored the character to such a degree that when she and Merrill adopted a baby girl together in 1951, it was the name she chose for the child. 2 in Canada for twelve consecutive weeks, and was the No. Her career spanned more than fifty years and included a plethora of awards and accolades. They ask what I see in her eyes, and I have no answer. She was capable of blowing up at any moment., James Cagney: [Davis] unhappiness seeped through to the rest of us., Sikov: Davis was an angry woman for reasons nobody who knew her ever adequately explained to me and for reasons I still cannot fully understand.. However, though she attempted to balance work and motherhood, her marriage to Sherry was turning out not to be the blissful union that Davis had envisioned. As the 1930s rolled on, Davis became increasingly concerned with the lack of quality roles that were being offered to her by executive Jack Warner. Bette Davis had a reputation for being a "difficult" actress, while her admirers argue that she was simply an overt perfectionist with a passion for making the best films she possibly could. She lifted the veil of appropriate behavior in women to expose what was scary, unexpected, or ugly . The eyes sell the depravity. She's got Bette Davis eyes, Carnes croons, her voice filled with apparent passion and meaning, but saying almost nothing. Shimmering. Some looked into Davis eyes and saw beauty or sex. With Simone Missick, Wilson Bethel, Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson. The following year, they adopted a baby boy, Michael. She garnered more attention with stunning performances in films such asthe following: She became the first female president of theMotion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. The song was recorded in the studio on the first take. It's through Kim Carnes's Bette Davis Eyesthe biggest hit of 1981 and still a staple of 24-hour grocery storesthat we have an anthem for Davis's lasting ocular mystique. But, like many of her earlier roles, they set a new precedent; their existence and popularity bringing opportunities for more complex roles. Bette Davis Eyes is a song by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes, released as the lead single from her 1981 album Mistaken Identity. [5] The single also reached No. Ostensibly in a role of servitude, but clearly holding the power.). 2) A 1981 Number 1 hit single by Kim Carnes (it was the best selling record of 1981). Because of this, Davis could have taken the song as either an insult or a compliment. That eyeso alive, so active. Carnes version of Bette Davis Eyes was released in 1981. However, in 2017 a new book written by Davis' assistant Kathryn Sermak forwarded the theory that their feud was charged with sexual tension: that Crawford in fact had a huge crush on Davis, and that from her side, at least, it was more of a love-hate relationship than a purely hateful one (via Vanity Fair). As a result of her iconic looks, having Bette Davis Eyes has become a way to refer to someone who has a similarly dramatic and captivating eye shape. At another, Davis was given no script, but told simply to lie on a couch, so that scores of male actors could be tested kissing her, an experience the young actress found excruciating. My friend and I were seated next to a middle-aged British man who was charmed by us as oddball, barely 20-somethings. Bette Davis Eyes: Despina Savva: July 5, 2020: Bette Davis Eyes: Boy [CH] May 25, 2021: Bette Davis Eyes: Abel Ramos & Di Martino & musicbyDioni (Martin Serrano) 2021: Unverified: Betty Davis: Block & Crown: May 20, 2022: Bette Davis Eyes written by Jackie DeShannon, Donna Weiss instrumental. She was the Golden Age starlet who talked back, who foughtand even suedfor equal pay, better roles, more complex female characters, who was never satisfied and announced it. Was later dubbed the biggest hit of that year a 1981 number 1 hit single by Carnes... 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