Last week I watched this great classic flick starring Bette Davis called Dark Victory.. which in turn got me thinking about this song. The film about a woman who was slowly dying despite her energy and appeal, has been said to be Bette Davis’ favorite of all the films she did. I have great affection for these old-time films that represent an era and a time when everyone carried themselves with class, even those characters who were depicted as poor. This “classiness” can especially be said for the lovely women!
Kim Carnes was actually known as demo singer prior to this songs inception. She’d be the person that songwriters would go to in order to get a scratch vocal rough cut of their ideas down on tape. Kim’s vocal remake of “Bette Davis Eyes” (sung ala Rod Stewart, particularly the chorus line) would prove to be her biggest hit, and thus we have an 80′s classic!
It’s been written that Bette Davis did in fact like this song, and she was very appreciative to Kim and the songwriters (one of whom was Jackie DeShannon who first recorded the song in 1974) for paying such a sweet tribute to her.
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This just played on the radio. It’s like my radio wanted me to come say hi.
Hi Chris!
@ BakingSuit – Hello yourself!! :) That’s awesome, what are the odds? Guess it was something in the airwaves nudging you my way :)
I wrote about this song a few months ago on my own blog, and I was surprised to learn that Jackie DeShannon actually sang “make a crow blush” instead of “make a pro blush.” The latter makes more sense to my contemporary mind, because the former is a dated colloquialism. Now, when I hear the song, I keep waiting for Kim Carnes to sing “make a crow blush,” even though I know better. I keep the video on my iPhone for an emergency 80s fix.
@ Jef – That’s awesome Jef, and it’s cool that you have an appreciation for the video in all it’s simplicity. Allow me to plug your blog post so that the other 80′s kids can check it out if they like; http://www.jefblocker.com/?p=2272
I <3 this song. I once bought a comp album (at the Wiz!) that had this song on it and it was the only place I ever heard this tune (along with some other poppy/vaguely country sounding songs like Queen of Hearts). I don't remember it ever playing on the radio or on MTV.
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