During her lifetime, she was honored with multiple prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress. American actress Bette Davis was often filmed in close-up shots thanks to her distinctive eyes. in 1962, 54-year-old Bette Davis pulled a publicity stunt that would go down in Hollywood legend as perhaps an early example of immaculately pitched viral marketing. According to James Spada, as Margot grew, her parents became concerned about her unusual behavior. Sikov: She had, more than any performer I have ever studied, a blazing ability to imprint herself onto every character she ever playedto make me believe in those fictive characters while never letting me forget that I was watching her, a calculating actress, an intuitive star. But the image I associated most strongly with the era of movies we often watched was Bette Davis. ", Nevertheless, the Davis staged a comeback, and continued to work into her ninth decade. Good article on a song that never gets old or dissipates in the feeling it gives me. Download now for FREE https://singking.link/yt-desc Karaoke sing along of "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes from S. 1 Brooklyn,among others. Lids slowly bobbing, lashes long, pupils giant, eyeballs overcoming their sockets, seemingly ready to leave the skull.). 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." just a FABULOUS IDEA. 2) A 1981 Number 1 hit single by Kim Carnes (it was the best selling record of 1981). She didn't live to hear "her" song popularized twice again, by Taylor Swift in 2011 and Kylie Minogue in 2014. 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? Friends ask what draws me in, fascinated with my fascination, and I tell them, to their dissatisfaction: Im curious about everyone elses curiosity. May 19, 2021 0 Having Bette Davis eyes is not a compliment. 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. : radiant, satisfied as she kicks her sister across the floor. "Bette Davis Eyes" is one of those times. Thanks, Val, for bringing that to our attention. Along with all the actresses of my generation, I am a direct beneficiary of Bette Daviss will and determination. Very informative article. 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 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. The two were in a constant game of one-upmanship with it came to Academy Award nominations. Davis. They were powerful and captivating, and this is why having Bette Davis eyes is seen as such a compliment. Carnes version of Bette Davis Eyes was released in 1981. The record label this track was released on is EMI America. Theyre not only public, but we believe they hold secrets, answers. Her son, Michael Merrill createdThe Bette Davis Foundationin honor of her. She received theDistinguished Civilian Service Medalin 1980 for her efforts. We have corrected the date. Although "Of Human Bondage" made Bette Davis into a breakout star on the silver screen and earned her an Oscar nomination, the critical plaudits and audience reception didn't translate into prizes when award season came around. **Being put in a position to completely take care of a brand new baby when I was just 4 1/2yrs old is something that REALLY opened my eyes to the fact that you were not ok, as a mother, nor a person in general. "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?" After one screen test she was rejected because one of her teeth was crooked, after which she wore braces. Who famously got most of her exercise by putting her foot down.. ), According to Davis, it was only because of her eyes that her first three-month contract was renewed. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" 45 RPM 7" EMI America records 8077 1981 at the best online prices at eBay! It also reached No. I was not aware that the camera had turned continuously while I was in front of it, and I had mugged horribly between shots of my sample emotions" (via "Mother Goddam"). by SLJ924 July 24, 2009 Actress Bette Daviswas 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. Bette Davis Eyes was written by Jack Segal and Donna Weiss, and released by Kim Carnes in 1981. Davis: It has been my experience that one cannot, in any shape or form, depend on human relations for any lasting reward. His passion for Davis was palpable. . Eye color is determined by a combination of genetics and other factors, such as the production of a pigment called melanin. 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's lids can hang so low, their weight so palpable, a biological anomaly. Davis was in her early 70s around that time. No, Betty Davis did not have any children. 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. He flipped it over to reveal Davis, staring directly at me, smiling but not soft. Its Baby Jane and Sweet Charlotte that are, perhaps rightfully, the most remembered and discussed Davis films today. However, if you would like to achieve a purple look for your eyes, there are special contact lenses with a purple tinge available. 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. With her iconic look, having Bette Davis eyes is a tribute to her unmistakable beauty and elegance. [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. Despite their unique features, her eyes did share one common traitintensity. She went where no actresses dare to go. Apple Music Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes . In 1989, her cancer returned, and she died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on October 9, at the age of 81. Of course I also loved Bette Davis. They tended to blend together in my mind, but Davis herself stuck out. People with green eyes have a higher level of melanin pigment, specifically pheomelanin, which is responsible for the green hue. It was released in April 1981 under the label EMI America. Swelling the muscles around the eyes and surrounding tissues, the condition pushes the eyeballs forward, causing them to protrude, limiting their movement. 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. Bette had earned a name as the highest paid female in America by 1942. 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. 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). In Hush . 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. In addition, her eyes had an almond shape and deep brown color that intensified when she was acting, further adding to her iconic aura. 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. 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. I should have just excepted you for who you were. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. [17] Keyboardist Bill Cuomo came up with the signature synth riff, using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer, which now defines Carnes's version. Davis nevertheless exploited her seemingly unusual look to great effect, by branching out to take various roles that typical leading ladies would not. She is currently working on new music with her daughter and is making plans to tour again in the near future. Its been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop. 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. 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. The song was recorded in the studio on the first take. April 1981 under the label EMI America been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s pop! Hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop ; Bette Davis eyes was written by Jack Segal and Donna,! Daviss will and determination to Academy Award nominations of my generation, I am a direct of., lashes long, pupils giant, eyeballs overcoming their sockets, seemingly ready to the... Weight so palpable, a biological anomaly, the most remembered and discussed Davis films today in. 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