How Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” Became an 80s Smash and Made the Actress a Legend to Her Grandkids

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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