Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes

I bought this single right after it was released in 1981. The song was written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. Jackie did a version of this in 1974. Kim Carnes was not a one-hit wonder…she had 3 top ten hits but this one was huge going to number 1 for nine straight weeks.

I would love to hear a duet between her and Rod Stewart…or Bonnie Tyler.

This is a cool fact about this song from songfacts.

After this song became a hit single, Bette Davis wrote letters to Kim Carnes and the songwriters to say she was a fan of the song and thank them for making her “a part of modern history.” One of the reasons the legendary actress loved the song is that her granddaughter thought her grandmother was “cool” for having a hit song written about her.

 

Bette Davis Eyes

Her hair is Harlow gold
Her lips are sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She got Bette Davis eyes
She’ll turn the music on you
You won’t have to think twice
She’s pure as New York snow
She got Bette Davis eyes

And she’ll tease you, she’ll unease you
All the better just to please you
She’s precocious, and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
She got Greta Garbo’s standoff sighs, she’s got Bette Davis eyes

She’ll let you take her home
It whets her appetite
She’ll lay you on the throne
She got Bette Davis eyes
She’ll take a tumble on you
Roll you like you were dice
Until you come out blue
She’s got Bette Davis eyes

She’ll expose you, when she snows you
Off your feet with the crumbs she throws you
She’s ferocious and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she’s a spy, she’s got Bette Davis eyes

She’ll tease you, she’ll unease you
All the better just to please you
She’s precocious, and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she’s a spy, she’s got Bette Davis eyes

She’ll tease you
She’ll unease you
Just to please you
She’s got Bette Davis eyes
She’ll expose you
When she snows you
‘Cause she knows you, she’s got Bette Davis Eyes

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

25 thoughts on “Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes”

  2. I didn’t “know” who Bette Davis was until recently- I mean, I understood she was an old-time movie star, but I’d never seen her in anything until maybe the last couple of years. Not a bad song, but it blows me away how HUGE it was- like one of the biggest-selling singles ever in the US. Nonetheless, I like thinking about summer of ’81 when it was all over the place- believe that was first summer I had a summer job and felt like I was ‘growing up’

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  3. I picked this album up- containing Bette Davis Eyes last week for a dollar. It is actually sitting near the stereo with 4 or 5 other albums on my ‘play next’ list. Great song- all over the radio that year. I always tell my wife she reminds me of Bette Davis.

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      1. One of the great singles of that year. I have never heard the album before looking forward to it. When I saw it for a buck- and in good shape it was an easy pick up. … congrats on your Dodgers shutout last night.. I don’t know who to root for in the Yankee-Red Sox series- the good news is someone has to lose.

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      2. You can’t beat that price.

        I know it’s hard rooting for either one. I at one time liked the Sox until they won… Kershaw is pitching tonight and then Buehler again…If the Dodgers get by the Braves…it’s the Brewers I think will give them the most trouble in the NL.

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      3. Some good games so far- the NL play in- and the Brewers -Rockies game yesterday. Yes I liked the Red Sox in the AL until they won. I am rooting for whoever wins the Astros-Tribe series to represent the AL. Hope Kershaw pitches a gem…

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      4. I hope so…that was a shock that he didn’t start but they wanted to give them both 5 days rest. This is the best Dodger rotation I’ve seen in a while…I think he will. Not starting yesterday I know didn’t go down well with him.

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      6. As an AL East fan (Toronto Blue Jays), I don’t like NY or Boston a whole lot. But I’m pulling for Yanks, I admired JA HApp when in T.O. and also feel like Boston is the “new New York”- trying to spend their way to a championship. Yankees have some big free agents, of course, but have developed a lot of talent themselves

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      7. I have to say the Yankees have used their farm system well now that there is no George depleting it trading for left handed power hitters.

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      8. Happ did well in the short time with my Pirates- they should have made an effort to keep him.. Should be a great series whoever wins.

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      9. yeah it should. Didn’t see tonight’s game but looks like he messed up , but can’t complain about what he did in 2 months with pinstripes, nor with his time in Toronto (he was a good ‘citizen’ too, quite involved in community.) was interesting hearing tBS take on how surprised they were at Houston trading for Roberto Osuna , during this aft’s game (Osuna, of course, was the ace of the Blue Jays bullpen until arrested for domestic violence then suspended for 75 games.) I kind of want Houston to win that series, since I respect Verlander and like Jose Altuve a lot and am now in Texas so I have relatives who are Astros fans. But not a gigantic fan of either of those 2 teams…

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  5. Great record, loved the classic cinema reverence in a then modern setting. There was a parody version around too atbthe time – Marty Feldman Eyes. Marty was big in the UK but best known these days for Young Frankenstein Igor. 🙂

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