Was in 100 Films but This 80s #1 Was WHAT CONVINCED Her Grandkids She was COOL! | Professor of Rock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2022
- Bette Davis Eyes was recorded several times and didn’t go anywhere… Then 5 years later it was re recorded with a completely different arrangment with a voice so raspy everyone mistook the singer for Rod Stewart…With Kim Carnes distinct voice, the song spread like wildfire. Bette Davis Eyes had become a quintessential 80s synth classic. It got so big its success was impossible to duplicate. It eventually took home the record of the year grammy. It went to #1 on the billboard Hot 100 for 9 weeks and it outsold almost every other single in the decade. A true bottled lightning classic. The Writers of the song patterned it after the revered movie star Bette Davis who didn’t listen to the radio. The only way She only found out when her grandchildren finally thought she was cool and told her about it.
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It’s time for another edition of our show Bottled Lightning
where we celebrate a song or album that was king for a day. Here honor artists and bands and that rocketed up the charts… but for reasons unknown weren’t able to sustain that success. Called by some as ‘one hit wonders’, we celebrate them instead as lightening in a bottle. Today’s artist was NOT a one hit wonder. She had 6 top 40 hits but really only one that is still celebrated today. She had a very cool raspy voice and should’ve been a bigger success. She ruled the early 80s with a Nine week #1 hit. One of the biggest of the neon decade.
I’m talking about Kim Carnes and her ultra catchy classic Bette Davis Eyes. Although, initially written by the songwriting team of Jackie DeShannon and Weiss in 1974, Kim took the song to a whole new level thanks to an 80s synth-inspired arrangement and her raspy, cigarettes for breakfast voice. For many it seemed like she came out of nowhere. But it would actually be a long time coming before Carnes would captivate the world with her rendition.
Born in Los Angeles in 1945, Carnes penned her first song at the age of four. By the 1960s began she writing songs for other artists, performing at local clubs, and working as a session vocalist. In 1966, she joined the popular folk group the New Christy Minstrels that included a young Kenny Rogers , but later left with her husband and songwriting partner Dave Ellingson. In 1972, Kim recorded her first album, Rest On Me, but it went nowhere. Her 1975 self-titled record yielded her first chart hit, a duet with Gene Cotton, "You're a Part of Me." That scored a #34 ranking on the Billboard AC chart.
Her next album Sailin', produced by the legendary Jerry Wexler, failed to chart break the Billboard 200 altogether. As did her 1979 EMI LP, St. Vincent's Court. It wouldn’t be until 1980 that Carnes’ got her big break. And it came in the form a duet with former-New Christy Minstrel bandmate Kenny Rogers.
Poll: What is your pick for the greatest synth line or keyboard part of an 80s hit?
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It's funny that you said her voice was mistaken for that of Rod Stewart. I remember, when this was first released, I thought it was Bonnie Tyler. Great RASPY voice!
Bette Davis Eyes is one of those songs that is so firmly rooted in the 80's and such a perfect representation of the pop music at the time, that when listening to it today you can't help but be brought back to that time in life. Miss being a kid in that decade.
Both "Bette Davis Eyes" and Kim Carnes are eternally cool. I have a few of her albums, and she is one of a kind. She deserves more success than she's had. She conveys so much emotion in her albums and singles. By The mid-1980s, she was (IMHO) one of the Queens Of Rock 'N' Roll. All of those other singles and albums she released after, Mistaken Identity, should be played on the radio. Her rendition of, "More Love", is sublime. She most definitely deserved her Grammy wins. I still hear that one on the radio, on occasion. Thanks, Adam.
"She's pure as New York snow", now that's the line that makes this song. Anyone who's grown up in a city like New York knows what snow looks like after about a day or so, nothing pure about it.
no offense but Alvin and the Chipmunks had the greatest cover of Betty Davis Eyes. There is no close second.
i was 7 and loved mtv. it was all i watched. it turned me into a music junkie! i recieved a vcr when i was 8 . i got my dad to rent me and buy me bette davis movies because of this song. i love her!
This was the first song that popped in my head when I saw my wife. Her eyes drew me in and I knew I had to be with her! Rock on brother!
Kim's version of "More Love" written by Smokey Robinson is the best version of the song. She is awesome, to many of her songs did not give her room to use her voice. When they tamped her voice down the song just is not as punchy, her voice is what makes the song. She is an awesome song writer also and just glad she stayed in music.
Am I the only one that teared up a bit at Bette Davis' reaction to the song and her letters of thanks? Such a cool story.
I also love the line "All the boys think she's a spy" I always sing it like Bob Dylan the way they intended lol
This song was everywhere my senior year!!! When I hear it I'm instantly transported back to that summer between 17 & 18 years old!!! Great memories!!! Thanks Adam!!!
"She's Pure as New York Snow" was one of my favorite lines of the song that really make you know what this "lady" is like.
Actually it was Bonnie Tyler who many people thought was Rod Stewart when Bonnie did the song, it’s a heartache in 1978
We were just talking about
You can not have an 80's greatest hits without this song !!! Loved this fantastic song and listened to the cassette tape many times !!! Lots of great songs on this Mistaken Identity album/tape !! She's fantastic !! Anyone who doesn't know Betty Davis, needs kicked off this planet !! This Davis certainly knows her, as the quintessential, the top of actresses of all time ❤!!!
One of the best songs ever. So sweet of Bette Davis to write letters and send flowers!!!
The follow up album Voyeur is a masterpiece, by far my favorite album to come out in the eighties. All of her 80’s records are excellent.