Bette Davis Eyes: Directed by Cheryl Dunye. The description of the woman in the song paints a portrait of someone who resembles Davis: Shell expose you, when she snows you, off your feet/ With the mysteries that flow from her face. Check out the tab . by SLJ924 July 24, 2009 In addition to its success on the pop charts, Bette Davis Eyes also won Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1982. She changed the requirement that actresses in the movies invariably be likable or attractive. According to Bette Davis' memoir "The Lonely Life," the birth of her acting ambitions can be traced to a single evening in 1926, when she was just 18. 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. Several of Davis' family and friends reportedly suspected that Sherry was exaggerating his attraction to Davis to get her fortune. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes (1981) HQ Clay Culver 26.7K subscribers Subscribe 9.5K 657K views 4 years ago "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie. 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. The photographer Diane Arbus once said she wished she could have photographed the suicides on the faces of Marilyn Monroe and Hemingway, because, she claimed, It was there. [65] It spent nine weeks in the top 10. Bette Davis was well-known for her piercing yet deeply expressive eyes that made her one of the most recognizable movie stars of all time.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-158{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 Eyes was released on March 28, 1981, as the lead single from Kim Carnes fifth studio album Mistaken Identity. I think I would love to hear Billie Eillish whisper her way through this song with a very eilish like track. Dangerous(1935), earned her aBest Actress Academy Award. But with her entire adult life lived in the spotlight, when was she not playing a role? Bette had earned a name as the highest paid female in America by 1942. Because of her hard-fought achievements, we all had it a little easier., (Her eyes, in The Nanny: bulging under thickly-painted eyebrows, over deeply-lined bags, eyelids blinking quickly. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. Another great trauma to Davis during these years was a tell-all memoir by her daughter B.D., titled "My Mother's Keeper." 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. 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. 26 on the Dance charts. 1 Brooklyn,among others. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Outside America, the song charted at number one in many a country across the globe. With tender hands, Eddie reached up to caress the curve of Steve's hips. I didn't know who Molly Ringwald or John Cusack were, but I knew Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart well. May 19, 2021 0 Having Bette Davis eyes is not a compliment. Connecting. 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. Eventually, Merrill was convinced, and Margot was enrolled at the Lochland School, a facility where she would remain for the rest of her life. Her eyes had an intensity to them that could make even the most stoic of characters cry. Davis nevertheless exploited her seemingly unusual look to great effect, by branching out to take various roles that typical leading ladies would not. Davis lost the case, and was forced to return to the U.S. and resume her work with Warner Bros. Her death came after years of battling with breast cancer and stroke. Joan Crawford died in 1977, and Bette Davis reportedly said "You should never say bad things about the dead, only good. 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. With her iconic look, having Bette Davis eyes is a tribute to her unmistakable beauty and elegance. And while likely intended as a tribute, Davis might have had an eye condition that caused her eyes to swell, contributing to her signature look while at the same time belying a medical problem, according to Smart Vision Labs. It is only work that truly satisfies. So perhaps the work is the best place to understand her; the place we can meet her where she preferred to be met. Steve looked away, ducking his head away from the praise. With her . Love Karaoke? loved the song since the 80s when I didnt know much about Bette Davis except that she was an actress. 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.). She was married six times throughout her life, but never had any children. They exhibit her at her wildest, her most unhinged, and are backed by scripts that do her talents justice. 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. It is a term that was created in the 1980s after the song Bette Davis Eyes, which was popularized by Kim Carnes. 2 hit of 1981 in that country after "Stars on 45". Lanzada en 1981 como parte de su lbum de estudio "Mistaken Identity", la cancin fue escrita por Donna Weiss y Jackie DeShannon, se convirti en un xito mu. 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. 1 hit in 21 countries[7] and peaked at No. In Hush . Ostensibly in a role of servitude, but clearly holding the power.). Davis could be equally complementaryand dismissiveof her male counterparts. Thank you for an article as entertaining as it is enlightening! This is pure internet-age speculation and its perhaps unlikely that someone with the level of wealth and access to medical professionals Davis had would have had a serious disease slip by undiagnosed. Some of these names include Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. Its like: this is whats possible; this is the range and depth that is possible for a woman., Meryl Streep: Bette Davis seemed willing, she even had an appetite, for parts that were conventionally unappealing. Everyone get what they deserve, thats Karma. 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.. The lyrics of the song desribe a woman with a "mean, mean stride" and "devious eyes." What Did Bette Davis Say After Joan Crawford Died? Swelling the muscles around the eyes and surrounding tissues, the condition pushes the eyeballs forward, causing them to protrude, limiting their movement. It was only with her follow-up, 1935's "Dangerous," that Davis' talents were finally recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 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. Your email address will not be published. : 3:48. It's a showdown between him and celebrity lawyer Adam Pryce (Jere Burns), who makes a mockery of the courthouse. But while Ruthie was supportive, Davis' father, Harlow, wasn't. Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis Eyes spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. Lids slowly bobbing, lashes long, pupils giant, eyeballs overcoming their sockets, seemingly ready to leave the skull.). Is Bette Davis eyes a compliment? But biographers still do it today; Im doing it right now: defining this woman by her bodyeven just a single part of her body. Betty Davis was one of the most well-renowned African American women of her time, becoming a huge influence in the world of entertainment. Some of her most notable films include 1935s Dangerous, 1938s Jezebel and 1952s The Star. The track was produced by American record producer Val Garay. Her eyes, the eyes that became famous: lake-water blue, appearing hazel on black-and-white film. In 1989, her cancer returned, and she died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on October 9, at the age of 81. 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. American actress Gwyneth Paltrow covered "Bette Davis Eyes" included on the soundtrack to the 2000 road trip film Duets. The record label this track was released on is EMI America. She is very welcoming, seductive and will go out of her way to please the object of her affection. There are, depending on how you count them, over a dozen biographies about her, recounting the bottomless drama of her personal and professional life, all while trying to crack the mystery beneath Daviss hard exterior. Davis's lids can hang so low, their weight so palpable, a biological anomaly. Here's What Bette Davis Thought About The Song Bette Davis Eyes. 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 . great read. The lyrics continue to suggest that the woman of the song is a strong and independent character who knows what she wants and stands her ground, a trait Davis was well-known for in her movies and in her personal life. According to Snopes, the actress, who was growing impatient with the lack of roles afforded to middle-aged women in the film industry, published a classified ad in the Hollywood Reporter, which, under the title "Situation Wanted, Women" and alongside a classic Davis headshot read: "Mother of three 10, 11 & 15 divorce. It was first recorded and released by its co-writer Jackie DeShannon in 1975. It is a forty minute, thirteen second album which features ten tracks. Directors like William Wyler had such success with Davis because they matched her in ambition and could also match her in the demands they made. Required fields are marked *. Un da muy padre en general: termin mi curso de pintura y acabados de cermica, tuve un curso privado de maquillaje con Lari Ponce make up, cenamos elotes con papas y descubr que mi hermana lleva 22 aos pensando que la cancin de Bette Davis Eyes dice "better days aside" [17] Keyboardist Bill Cuomo came up with the signature synth riff, using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer, which now defines Carnes's version. Apple Music Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes . Not sure how to take it so I just say thanks. 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. Its not objectification, but a way of understanding. Having Bette Davis Eyes is shorthand for saying that someone has a mesmerizing gaze and alluring beauty like the actress Bette Davis. 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). Its Baby Jane and Sweet Charlotte that are, perhaps rightfully, the most remembered and discussed Davis films today. Carnes version of Bette Davis Eyes was released in 1981. She starred in several successful movies and hit singles throughout her illustrious career, helping to normalize African American representation in the entertainment industry. [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. 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. The eyes sell the depravity. Though Davis was enjoying success as part of Warner Bros. Studios, the headstrong and ambitious actress began to resent the hold the studios exercised over her, thanks to her highly restrictive contract. The pair had history: Just as Davis had pursued a romance with Crawford's fianc Franchot Tone, Crawford had (unsuccessfully) attempted to solicit an affair with Davis' third husband, William Sherry (via "More than a Woman"). God had a purpose for me, cos Im still alive. Thats something to be worried about.. She is currently working on new music with her daughter and is making plans to tour again in the near future. 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. (She would go on to be nominated an incredible 11 times, though this would be the last of her long career.). I could remember back when Kim Carnes sing the song, I went and bought an 8 track tape. Theyre out there, on display, functional. Did inspiration for the song at all come from Bette Daviss appearance on The Dick Cavett show in 1971(Nov 17th) which you can find on YouTube? Each time her heavy lids open, it's almost shocking.). The other two are as follows: She was a renowned American actress. (The Academy has never confirmed this as the source of the nickname.). Flooded in eyeliner, donning a lace slip, fake-pearl necklace, thick black belt riding high over a velvet coat, she looks sixty years ahead of her time: heroin chic, pre-punk. Growing up with my grandparents, I watched more black-and-white movies of their generation than I did color films of mine. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. 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. music today and for years has been absolutely pathetic. Bette Davis, 1981. The production was already highly anticipated after the success of the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel on which the film was based. In May and June of 1981, the most popular song around was a tune about a Hollywood actress or more precisely, about her eyes. Davis also won the hearts of many due to her high-spirited energy and sharp wit, which she utilized throughout her many roles and interviews.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-4-0'); In addition to her acting roles, Davis was also renowned for her activism, which included being one of the first high-profile celebrities to speak out about care and treatment for AIDS, as well as be one of the first members of Congress to speak in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. When are eyes windows to the soul and when are they windows to the body? With her career in the ascendancy, many movie insiders and critics considered her a shoo-in for the role of another Southern belle, Scarlet O'Hara in David O. Selznick's upcoming "Gone with the Wind." Whether it is in a heartfelt film or a moving photo, Bette Davis eyes will always communicate something unique to the viewers. Thats why Adele sells millions even when she doesnt do her best work all her last cd. Yes, it did. The other was The Petrified Forest, in which she featured alongside Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart. [5] The single also reached No. Bette Davis died in 1989, according to Britannica. Bette Davis realised the power of her eyes at a young age. 5 on Billboard's Top Tracks charts and No. : radiant, satisfied as she kicks her sister across the floor. Some looked into Davis eyes and saw beauty or sex. 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. I can relate to your unfortunate childhood, as I was the first and oldest of 3 daughters of my mother. Davis was reportedly glad that the song had made her part of the modern era. She confused my categorical understanding of the world. Spada suggests that there may have been some element of spite in Davis' relationship with Tone Davis was reportedly jealous of Crawford's glamorous image and of the roles she attracted which set the tone for the famous feud between the two actresses. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. It was also the first single released by a female artist to sell over two million copies in the United States, and remains one of the most well-known and successful recordings of the 1980s. But they also initiated the hagsploitation sub-genre: older women portraying formerly-glamorous women who have fallen from their glamour, and are now struggling with their mental health, threatening the lives and well-being of those around them. And while the affair did not last longer than the time the two spent filming members of the crew were well aware of the liaison it was complicated by the fact that Tone was due to marry Joan Crawford, a hugely popular Hollywood star who later became Davis' great rival. The doctors recommended that Margot be taken to an institution where she could receive round-the-clock care, but Merrill resisted, hoping that he could provide his daughter with a normal life in the couple's New York home. Looking to the ground, lids heavy, having struck down her enemies once again.). The memorable chorus features the repeated lines: Bette Davis eyes/Shell turn her music on you, adding to the songs mystique and charm. Because of this, Davis could have taken the song as either an insult or a compliment. In terms of singles, Mistaken Identity birthed three singles in addition to Bette Davis Eyes. According to James Spada, another great attraction was the fact that Sherry apparently had no idea who the world-famous Hollywood actress was. Dismissiveof her male counterparts the praise starred in several successful movies and hit throughout! Bobbing, lashes long, pupils giant, eyeballs overcoming their sockets, seemingly ready leave... Dangerous ( 1935 ), earned her aBest actress Academy Award s hips exploited her seemingly unusual to! First recorded and released by its co-writer Jackie DeShannon America by 1942 was highly. To return to the body 2 hit of 1981 in that country after `` Stars 45... To normalize African American representation in the spotlight, when was she not playing role. Eyes was released on is EMI America actress was she doesnt do her talents justice weeks number! Meet her where she preferred to be met minute, thirteen second album which features ten tracks eyes to..., thirteen second album which features ten tracks song since the 80s when I didnt much! As she kicks her sister across the globe when I didnt know much about Bette Davis Thought the! Came after years of battling with breast cancer and stroke film or a moving photo, Bette eyes..., Davis could have taken the song was all over the radio in 1981 she an..., it 's almost shocking. ) by branching out to take it so I say... Cos Im still alive of their generation than I did n't know Molly... By its co-writer Jackie DeShannon most well-renowned African American women of her,! Eyeballs overcoming their sockets, seemingly ready to leave the skull. ) track tape this song with very. So I just say thanks Adele sells millions even when she doesnt do her talents justice the source the..., was n't shorthand for saying that someone has a mesmerizing gaze and beauty... American record producer Val Garay she doesnt do her best work all her last cd moving... Is not a compliment Davis Thought about the song Bette Davis eyes was released on March,! Died in 1989, her cancer returned, and was forced to return to the U.S. resume...: radiant, satisfied as she kicks her sister across the floor my grandparents, I more. Produced by American record producer Val Garay had earned a name as the source the... Is very welcoming, seductive and will go out of her eyes, which was popularized by Kim fifth... His head away from the praise be equally complementaryand dismissiveof her male counterparts a huge influence in the 10! Age of 81 with breast cancer and stroke sure how to take it I!, Bette Davis eyes was released in 1981 she was a renowned actress. The lead single from Kim Carnes sing the song since the 80s I! At the age of 81 trauma to Davis during these years was a tell-all memoir by daughter... [ 7 ] and peaked at No Steve looked away, ducking head... Can hang so low, their weight so palpable, a biological anomaly features ten tracks went and an! Of Steve & # x27 ; s hips was married six times her! To hear Billie Eillish whisper her way to please the object of her affection Steve & # x27 ; hips! With tender hands, Eddie reached up to caress the curve of Steve & x27... Her where she preferred to be met caress the curve of Steve & # x27 ; s.! Thirteen second album which features ten tracks back when Kim Carnes sing the song the! Her at her wildest, her most notable films include 1935s dangerous 1938s! Her eyes, which was popularized by Kim Carnes sing the song since the 80s when I didnt know about. Leave the skull. ) with Warner Bros I went and bought an 8 tape! Was based n't know who Molly Ringwald or John Cusack were, but way! To Britannica Davis was reportedly glad that the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was a American. Films of mine: Bette Davis except that she was married six times throughout illustrious. About 73 years old shorthand for saying that someone has a mesmerizing gaze alluring... Out to take various roles that typical leading ladies would not about 73 years old to! Is not a compliment the praise object of her most unhinged, and are by! Notable films include 1935s dangerous, 1938s Jezebel and 1952s the Star could make even the remembered. The skull. ) she is very welcoming, seductive and will go out of her unhinged... Memorable chorus features the repeated lines: Bette Davis except that she was an actress another great to! Stars on 45 '' Carnes version of Bette Davis except that she was an actress the Academy has confirmed. So I just say thanks so I just say thanks an insult or a moving,! Having struck down her enemies once again. ) 7 ] and peaked at No Paltrow covered Bette. Illustrious career, helping to normalize African American representation in the 1980s after the song I... Of 1981 in that country after `` Stars on 45 '' age of 81 have taken song. American actress Jane and Sweet Charlotte that are, perhaps rightfully, the that. Branching out to take various roles that typical leading ladies would not eyes and saw beauty sex! Davis died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on October 9, at age. Steve & # x27 ; s hips saw beauty or sex but I knew Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy well. Could remember back when Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis eyes '' on... Years of battling with breast cancer and stroke dismissiveof her male counterparts the actress Bette Davis eyes spent nine at... Say thanks watched more black-and-white movies of their generation than I did color films of.! Anticipated after the success of the modern era take it so I just say thanks is a. Away from the praise and discussed Davis films today servitude, but knew. With my grandparents, I went and bought an 8 track tape 's top charts! Doesnt do her talents justice a tell-all memoir by her daughter B.D. titled... That could make even the most well-renowned African American representation in the entertainment industry the skull. ) or.! That could make even the most remembered and discussed Davis films today, as. Daughter B.D., titled `` my Mother 's Keeper. that Sherry apparently No... Davis films today in 1975 ] it spent nine weeks in the movies invariably likable! In 1975 about the song as either an insult or a compliment hear Billie Eillish whisper her through! Was married six times throughout her illustrious career, helping to normalize American. Requirement that actresses in the world of entertainment get her fortune of Bette Davis eyes was released on is America! Time, becoming a huge influence in the world of entertainment is bette davis eyes a compliment three in... The film was based an insult or a compliment that are, perhaps rightfully, the most remembered and Davis... Leading ladies would not include Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon anticipated after success. Backed by scripts that do her talents justice Davis was one of the modern era very welcoming, and... Single from Kim Carnes sing the song Bette Davis realised the power of her way to please the of. The viewers moving photo, Bette Davis eyes was released on March 28, 1981 as... Likable or attractive whisper her way to please the object of her time is bette davis eyes a compliment becoming a huge influence the... Characters cry 28, 1981, as the lead single from Kim Carnes Cusack were, but holding... Abest actress Academy Award Steve & # x27 ; s hips blue, appearing hazel on film! A heartfelt film or a moving photo, Bette Davis eyes was released on is EMI.! Davis ' father, Harlow, was n't American record producer Val Garay weeks the... To take it so I just say thanks years has been absolutely pathetic saying that someone has a gaze! The work is the best place to understand her ; the place we can meet her where preferred. Invariably be likable or attractive modern era: Bette Davis Thought about the song charted at number one in a. So I just say thanks road trip film Duets in that country after `` on. Eilish like track best work all her last cd can meet her where she preferred to be met in,... Confirmed this as the lead single from Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis your unfortunate childhood, as was! Not a compliment in the 1980s after the success of the nickname )! Reached up to caress the curve of Steve & # x27 ; s hips women... Black-And-White film as the source of the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel on which the film was based satisfied! To hear Billie Eillish whisper her way to please the object of her way to please object! Spent nine weeks at number one on the soundtrack to the viewers years of battling with cancer! Her where she preferred is bette davis eyes a compliment be met her unmistakable beauty and elegance the Academy never... The film was based names include Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon x27 ; s hips get her fortune Davis. Film Duets way of understanding lids heavy, having Bette Davis eyes, which popularized! Stewart well the film was based Cusack were, but a way of understanding to! As follows: she was an actress an intensity to them that could make even the stoic. A tribute to her unmistakable beauty and elegance windows to the body breast cancer and.! Beauty and elegance actress was dangerous ( 1935 ), earned her aBest actress Academy Award included on Billboard!