Bette Davis Eyes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Bette Davis Eyes" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Kim Carnes | ||
| from the album Mistaken Identity | ||
| Released | 1981 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 3:49 | |
| Label | RCA | |
| Writer(s) | Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
"Bette Davis Eyes" is the name of a popular song, best known for being performed by Kim Carnes.
The song was written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. DeShannon recorded the song that same year on her album New Arrangement. But it was not until 1981, when Kim Carnes recorded her version of the song, that it became a success. It spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (interrupted for one week by the "Stars on 45 Medley"), and over eight million copies of the album Mistaken Identity (which includes the song) were sold. The single went on to become the highest seller of the year and won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song achieved more moderate success in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number ten.
Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song and approached Carnes and the songwriters to thank them for making her "a part of modern times."
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow performed the song in the movie Duets (2000), and her single release was a hit in some parts of the world.
A 1981 parody of this song was "Marty Feldman's Eyes" by Bruce "Babyman" Baum. The song's title was parodied by Half Man Half Biscuit in their song "Dickie Davies' Eyes". (Dickie Davies was the presenter of the TV programme World of Sport.) Shirley Stockewell recorded a parody called "Lizzy Taylor Thighs."
Mylo sampled this song for his single "In My Arms".
Handsome Devil covered the song in 2004, featured on their second CD "Knock Yourself Out".
Tori Amos's song "Glory of the 80's" (from her To Venus and Back album) refers to '"Bette Davis Eyes'". On her US 2005 concert tour, Amos also covered "Bette Davis Eyes" during some of her gigs.
[edit] References
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
| Preceded by "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" by Sheena Easton |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 16, 1981 - June 13, 1981 |
Succeeded by "Stars on 45 Medley" by Stars on 45 |
| Preceded by "Stars on 45 Medley" by Stars on 45 |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single June 27, 1981 - July 18, 1981 |
Succeeded by "The One That You Love" by Air Supply |
 |
This pop song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
