Kim Carnes and “Bette Davis Eyes”
Kim Carnes had already been working in music for years—as a singer, songwriter and backing vocalist—before her breakthrough. Her wonderfully raspy, instantly recognizable voice made her stand out from the polished pop singers of the day. She had already scored a major duet hit with Kenny Rogers, “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” and a solo hit with “More Love.”
Then came “Bette Davis Eyes” in 1981. Written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, the song was transformed into something completely different from its earlier folk-country incarnation, with synthesizers, a moody rhythm and Carnes’ smoky vocals creating an eerie, sophisticated sound. It became an enormous worldwide hit, spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
- “Bette Davis Eyes” — No. 1 for nine weeks in the U.S.
- “More Love” — Carnes’ first solo Top 10 hit.
- “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer” — No. 4 duet with Kenny Rogers.
- “Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)” — another Top 40 hit.
- Mistaken Identity — the album containing “Bette Davis Eyes,” reached No. 1.
Carnes’ gritty voice was so distinctive that “Bette Davis Eyes” could almost sound like a different genre depending on what surrounds it—part pop, part rock, part new wave, and unmistakably early-’80s.
It remains one of those rare songs where the singer, the sound and the subject all became unforgettable together.