Bette Davis at the BFI the eyes have it Hollywood's queen of mean remains so magnetic, you barely notice her co-star drones as an upcoming film season reminds us Bette Davis in 1949's. [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. ), According to Davis, it was only because of her eyes that her first three-month contract was renewed. 10 in the United Kingdom,[8] to date her only Top 40 hit in that country. During her lifetime, she was honored with multiple prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress. [6] It was also a No. The song was performed by singer Kim Carnes, and was originally written . 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. . 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. It may be unthinkable today, but the actress whose allure was celebrated in the Grammy Award-winning song "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes in 1981 wasn't considered a screen beauty in her . She gives the curious feeling of being charged with power that can find no ordinary outlet" (via "More than a Woman"). 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. Though Kim Carnes (pictured above) made "Bette Davis Eyes" a hit, the song actually preceded her by a number of years, having been written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, as The Sun reports. Connecting. : 3:48. The song was #1 for five weeks, interrupted for just one week by "Stars on 45" before it returned to the top spot for another four weeks and became Billboard's biggest hit of the year. 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. Whether it is in a heartfelt film or a moving photo, Bette Davis eyes will always communicate something unique to the viewers. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Indeed, she wrote letters to the song's writers, and to its performer, thanking them for making her "a part of modern history.". . According to James Spada, writing in "More than a Woman," things were looking up for Davis when she was cast in an adaptation of the play "The Petrified Forest," alongside Humphrey Bogart and Lesley Howard. This original version of the song appeared on DeShannons 1975 album titled New Arrangement. 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. 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 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. Love the song too. [5] The single also reached No. She went where no actresses dare to go. With tender hands, Eddie reached up to caress the curve of Steve's hips. It was later dubbed the biggest hit of that year. I never forgive my mothers neglect, the lack of love to a child, lack of affection, and the physical abuse I endured.. His passion for Davis was palpable. It was the only year of the entire 1940s that Davis did not star in a movie, according to Stacker. loved the song since the 80s when I didnt know much about Bette Davis except that she was an actress. Its not just about having a beautiful face; these eyes convey a certain strength and emotion that is hard to find anywhere else. Sat Jul 17 2021 - 06:00. Same here. 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. Mom I wish I would have known you better & gave you more of a chance, Im sorry for being so hard on you & expecting so much more from you as a mother. However, she is indeed ferocious. It's not unlikely that Bette herself, being in her early 70s, didn't much listen to Top 40 radio, and the song might have escaped her notice if it wasn't for her granddaughter. Free shipping for many products! Bette Davis Eyes is a song by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes, released as the lead single from her 1981 album Mistaken Identity. 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 often played characters struggling with an internal conflict or a personal struggle, making her an iconic representation of strong-willed women in film. Reportedly, Davis was tickled that her grandchildren thought having a hit song about her gave her cool points. In 1928, she landed her first major role in a stage production ofThe Earth Between. I like how Bette wrote to Kim Carnes to express her approval and admiration for the popularity of the song. Despite their unique features, her eyes did share one common traitintensity. 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" Davis eventually made it through several theater productions to begin screen testing at various Hollywood studios, but this was just the start of several fresh humiliations. (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.). Bette Davis, born Ruth Elizabeth Davis was esteemed as one of Hollywoods most remarkable actresses with a career spanning over six decades. She was simply different. **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. When I watch her films, I sometimes imagine I'm seeing a depression too grand to look away from. How do they make bulls mad for bull riding. American record producer and engineer Val Garay, handled the albums production. You often need to know a person to accurately interpret what is being revealed. In the film, the lids shield her eyeballs as they move about like a cat's tail, connected to the body, but with a mind of their own. Its been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop. [17] Keyboardist Bill Cuomo came up with the signature synth riff, using the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer, which now defines Carnes's version. The shocking loss hit Davis badly, affecting her behavior on set and leading her to act more aggressively and erratically than ever before. (The Academy has never confirmed this as the source of the nickname.). She achieved great success being a finalist for eightBest Actress Academy Awardsand winning two of them. The song has several different versions. Updated April 30, 2021. Friends ask what draws me in, fascinated with my fascination, and I tell them, to their dissatisfaction: Im curious about everyone elses curiosity. She dares us to hate her, and we often do., (Her eyes, impossible to ignore, in her first film, 1931's Bad Sister: the 23-year-old Davis, a rail in a flapper dress, the apparent model for Olive Oil, stares up at the man she admires as if under hypnosisor, more likely, attempting to hypnotize him. She is currently working on new music with her daughter and is making plans to tour again in the near future. Nevertheless, she soon established herself in Hollywood, taking roles in six movies for Universal Pictures before signing a seven-year contract with Warner Bros. in 1932. Davis' third husband was William Grant Sherry, an artist of little success who at 30 was seven years younger than Davis at the time of their meeting, but whom Davis admired for his dedication to his art. May 19, 2021 0 Having Bette Davis eyes is not a compliment. Growing up with my grandparents, I watched more black-and-white movies of their generation than I did color films of mine. "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. The film marked Davis' first collaboration with Humphrey Bogart; the duo went on to make seven films together. At some point, I asked him about the book face-down on his lap. [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. 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. But MANY other things I remember perfectly.. unfortunately I suppose. Highly appreciated. As such, it is always meant as a compliment to someones beauty and unique features. Where are songs like this now? Some looked into Davis eyes and saw beauty or sex. Good article on a song that never gets old or dissipates in the feeling it gives me. In 1936, Warner Brothers sued their wayward star through the British courts. Love, Her first major film role as the repellent female antagonist Mildred in the 1934 film "Of Human Bondage" saw Davis become a critical darling, and her performance was later hailed by Life magazine as "probably the best performance ever recorded on the screen by a U.S. actress" (via "Mother Goddam"). But the movie is also notorious for being the set on which the lifelong feud between its two stars played out. "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." [7], The video was directed by Australian film director Russell Mulcahy.[19]. Bette Davis realised the power of her eyes at a young age. No other Actress would take such a risk at that time, but her dedication was the character, not to glamour, although she does flash those twinkling Bette Davis eyes in dinner scenes as she manipulates Leslie Howards character! The foundations sole goal is to financially assist promising young actors and actresses. She said the success of the song also made her grandchild look up to her because she thought she was super cool. Thank you for all the information about her personal life and career. 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 "The Lonely Life" Davis admits, "In these years I made many enemies. Through the eyeballs, we can see signs of alcohol and drug abuse, allergies, infections, high cholesterol, certain types of cancer, stress, sleep issues, and a host of other diseases and conditions. 1981. During World War II, she helped organize theHollywood Canteenfor soldiers who were passing through Los Angeles. She lifted the veil of appropriate behavior in women to expose what was scary, unexpected, or ugly . 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 song "Bette Davis Eyes" gives a shoutout to the iconic American actress Bette Davis, and she acknowledged the composers of this song for such. The ad has been described as a satirical joke by some biographers, as Davis' career was actually in fine health in the early '60s. Was that sadness and anger there: on her face, in her eyes? 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. 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. : radiant, satisfied as she kicks her sister across the floor. Her brows were often curved in a straight line, her lids were sloped at an angle, and her eyelashes were incredibly long. She was playing Santa Claus at a school fair when she got too close to the candles and her costume went on fire . However, the woman being referenced in the song, who has this attribute to her appearance, is not someone to be appreciated. 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. 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