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. Eventually, Merrill was convinced, and Margot was enrolled at the Lochland School, a facility where she would remain for the rest of her life. Davis' supporters suggested that "My Mother's Keeper" was nothing more than a cynical "cash-in. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_6',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_7',173,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-173{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}Bette Davis was famously unimpressed with the 1981 song Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tags: Bette DavisDonna WeissJackie DeShannon. The original of these versions was recorded in 1974. The two enjoyed a calm and loving marriage until 1943, when Farnsworth died suddenly, the result of an undiagnosed blood clot. She also adopted two children namely Margot and Michael, together with her fourth husband, Gary Merrill. Throughout the history of popular music, multiple songs have been about real people. 1 Brooklyn,among others. [63] It was released as a single in Australia on March 26, 2001,[64] debuting and peaking at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart on April 8, 2001. I should have just excepted you for who you were. It is often considered to be written about the legendary actress Bette Davis. Its not just about having a beautiful face; these eyes convey a certain strength and emotion that is hard to find anywhere else. As a kid, her movies weren't particularly memorable or interesting. I think I would love to hear Billie Eillish whisper her way through this song with a very eilish like track. However, though she attempted to balance work and motherhood, her marriage to Sherry was turning out not to be the blissful union that Davis had envisioned. Required fields are marked *. Its been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes - Used Vinyl Record 7 - E8100A at the best online prices at eBay! A mother of 2 beautiful kids I love and adore more than anything. [5] The single also reached No. Betty Davis was one of the most well-renowned African American women of her time, becoming a huge influence in the world of entertainment. Her performance proved exactly how far shed go in an unglamorous role for the sake of authenticity! 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. American. So said the critic Rex Reed in 1968, by which time Davis was a renowned Hollywood legend whose idiosyncrasies were such that she was in danger of becoming a parody of herself. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',155,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-155{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis was an American actress who was known for her portrayals of strong-willed and determined characters in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. However, in 2017 a new book written by Davis' assistant Kathryn Sermak forwarded the theory that their feud was charged with sexual tension: that Crawford in fact had a huge crush on Davis, and that from her side, at least, it was more of a love-hate relationship than a purely hateful one (via Vanity Fair). * Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. [65] Paltrow's cover ended 2001 at number 35 on Australia's year-end chart and earned a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments exceeding 70,000 units. Davis was bent on proving her father wrong, setting her on a path to become one of Hollywood's most legendary battlers. Who famously got most of her exercise by putting her foot down.. Her son, Michael Merrill createdThe Bette Davis Foundationin honor of her. Her eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes. Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme. The song has several different versions. . Davis lost the case, and was forced to return to the U.S. and resume her work with Warner Bros. Thats something to be worried about.. It was on an airplane fifteen years ago that I first considered Bette Davis as more than an image, more than a Mid-Atlantic accent or a symbol of movie nights at my grandparents's house. Actress Bette Daviswas 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. ". Davis died on October 6, 1989. and before I fell asleep I prayed every night to God asked him to take me away, just end this nightmare forever. Your email address will not be published. ", Nevertheless, the Davis staged a comeback, and continued to work into her ninth decade. His work has appeared inTin House,The Rumpus,The Los Angeles Review of Books,Columbia Journal Online, andVol. TheWarner Brothers Studiosigned a long-term contract with her which resulted in her being featured in most of their low-quality films. . In "The Lonely Life" Davis admits, "In these years I made many enemies. "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." When music was great and worth listening to and obviously memorable. The lyrics continue to suggest that the woman of the song is a strong and independent character who knows what she wants and stands her ground, a trait Davis was well-known for in her movies and in her personal life. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get purple eyes. The lyrics of the song desribe a woman with a "mean, mean stride" and "devious eyes." What Did Bette Davis Say After Joan Crawford Died? By: Author Olin Wade (Remodel or Move Stuff). She was known for her intense gaze, which gave her a captivating presence. The song has since been celebrated for its catchy and infectious chorus, as well as its clever amalgamation of rock and new wave influences. Now having seen over 50 of her films, Bette was fantastic, and the song remains as catchy and fun as always. Connecting. In the lie her character tells of the shooting, the man's unwanted advances began with him saying, You have very pretty eyes.). THAT would be great. Jane Fonda:Just watching Bette Davis on the screen was empowering to women. Because of this, Davis could have taken the song as either an insult or a compliment. Its like: this is whats possible; this is the range and depth that is possible for a woman., Meryl Streep: Bette Davis seemed willing, she even had an appetite, for parts that were conventionally unappealing. 1 hit in 21 countries[7] and peaked at No. 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. They exhibit her at her wildest, her most unhinged, and are backed by scripts that do her talents justice. She wrote letters to Carnes, Weiss, and DeShannon to thank all three of them for making her "a part of modern times" and stated that her grandson now looked up to her. She garnered more attention with stunning performances in films such asthe following: She became the first female president of theMotion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. His passion for Davis was palpable. . Thats why Adele sells millions even when she doesnt do her best work all her last cd. Love the song too. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. Joan Crawford is deadgood!" Some looked into Davis eyes and saw beauty or sex. It was released in April 1981 under the label EMI America. Love, 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. 10 in the United Kingdom,[8] to date her only Top 40 hit in that country. Eyes reveal, to some degree, how a person is feeling in a particular moment. 2 in Canada for twelve consecutive weeks, and was the No. Bette Davis died in 1989, according to Britannica. Producer William Frye: [Davis] was not a safe person to have around. Although "Of Human Bondage" made Bette Davis into a breakout star on the silver screen and earned her an Oscar nomination, the critical plaudits and audience reception didn't translate into prizes when award season came around. I remember I was about 7 yo. It was supposed to be 1938 instead of 1983. She was also known for her distinctive eyes. . She was simply different. Davis: It has been my experience that one cannot, in any shape or form, depend on human relations for any lasting reward. 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. Davis denied she intentionally hurt her counterpart, but Crawford is said to have intentionally weighted herself down during a scene in which Davis drags her across the floor, to aggravate Davis' back problems. . It also reached No. That eyeso alive, so active. Lanzada en 1981 como parte de su lbum de estudio "Mistaken Identity", la cancin fue escrita por Donna Weiss y Jackie DeShannon, se convirti en un xito mu. 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. The subsequent trial drained Davis and heaped pressure on her relationship with her husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. Another screen test involved her hitching her skirt higher and higher, so the studio could see she was not hiding "some deformity." The pair had history: Just as Davis had pursued a romance with Crawford's fianc Franchot Tone, Crawford had (unsuccessfully) attempted to solicit an affair with Davis' third husband, William Sherry (via "More than a Woman"). With Simone Missick, Wilson Bethel, Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson. Is Bette Davis eyes a compliment? As Davis grew disgusted at Warners studio offers, she refused to take on their roles. She was playing Santa Claus at a school fair when she got too close to the candles and her costume went on fire . Very informative article. Few stars of her era even have names that register today and yet, even as most of her films sink out of favor, Davis continues to glare at us, living on in her infamy. She was the sex worker threatening the gangster: Ill get you if I have to come back from the grave to do it. The woman telling her sickly husband: I hope you die. As Davis recalls in "The Lonely Life," the early days of her career were plagued by concerns from studio executives, such as Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle, that Davis was not suitable to play a romantic lead. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" 45 RPM 7" EMI America records 8077 1981 at the best online prices at eBay! She belongs to that tradition. Flooded in eyeliner, donning a lace slip, fake-pearl necklace, thick black belt riding high over a velvet coat, she looks sixty years ahead of her time: heroin chic, pre-punk. She confused my categorical understanding of the world. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. With her iconic look, having Bette Davis eyes is a tribute to her unmistakable beauty and elegance. Steve looked away, ducking his head away from the praise. She changed the requirement that actresses in the movies invariably be likable or attractive. [7], The video was directed by Australian film director Russell Mulcahy.[19]. Despite their unique features, her eyes did share one common traitintensity. The song was written after Donna Weiss watched a 1942 movie starring Bette Davis. As such, it is always meant as a compliment to someones beauty and unique features. 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 . May 19, 2021 0 Having Bette Davis eyes is not a compliment. The eyes sell the depravity. Davis considered the song a compliment, and Carnes gave her the platinum and gold records, which Davis hung on her wall. Its not objectification, but a way of understanding. As for Davis herself, at the time the song was all over the radio in 1981 she was about 73 years old. Bette Davis Eyes also demonstrates how culturally and musically powerful a song can be. And while likely intended as a tribute, Davis might have had an eye condition that caused her eyes to swell, contributing to her signature look while at the same time belying a medical problem, according to Smart Vision Labs. Suicide was there. Though Davis didn't kill herself, her daughter claims her mom staged suicide attempts to punish her and her siblings, and Davis's assorted struggles with mental health are well documented. But they also initiated the hagsploitation sub-genre: older women portraying formerly-glamorous women who have fallen from their glamour, and are now struggling with their mental health, threatening the lives and well-being of those around them. She is currently working on new music with her daughter and is making plans to tour again in the near future. "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. Others are about celebrities or other well-known people, such as Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," about Marilyn Monroe; Carly Simon's "You're So Vain," about, well, somebody, although Simon won't say (probably Warren Beatty); and just about every song Taylor Swift ever wrote, about one or the other of her famous ex-boyfriends. It was then that I got her name stuck in my head, then that I started watching her films intentionally, trying to see what they revealed. (There they are, stealing the show from the rest of the body: Bette Davis's eyes, wide in perpetual surprise, in shock, full of righteous indignation. According to Davis, cameraman Karl Freund fought for her, telling Laemmle that Davis had "lovely eyes.". [15] However, it was not until March 1981,[16] when Kim Carnes recorded her version of the song in a radically different synthesizer-based arrangement, that "Bette Davis Eyes" became a commercial success. Not sure how to take it so I just say thanks. Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis Eyes spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. The well of insults and back-handed compliments aimed at Davis physical appearance is deep and from our vantage point, its easy to see the level of objectification, the misogyny, the constricting limitations placed upon her. Thirty years experience as an actress in motion pictures. Theyre not only public, but we believe they hold secrets, answers. She often played characters struggling with an internal conflict or a personal struggle, making her an iconic representation of strong-willed women in film. Novelist Graham Greene: pale ash-blonde hair, the popping neurotic eyes, a kind of corrupt and phosphorescent prettiness., Warner Bros studio head Jack Warner: [she had a] magic quality that transformed this sometimes bland and not beautiful little girl into a great artist.. Ostensibly in a role of servitude, but clearly holding the power.). Davis' mother, Ruthie, took her and her sister Bobby to see Henrik Ibsen's play "The Wild Duck." She said the success of the song also made her grandchild look up to her because she thought she was super cool. After her death in 2005, she was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the entertainment industry. 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. It takes a good actor or liar or sociopath (all of which Davis has been called) to hide it, but it also takes an observant watcher to see it. Yes, it did. Bette Davis Eyes: Despina Savva: July 5, 2020: Bette Davis Eyes: Boy [CH] May 25, 2021: Bette Davis Eyes: Abel Ramos & Di Martino & musicbyDioni (Martin Serrano) 2021: Unverified: Betty Davis: Block & Crown: May 20, 2022: Bette Davis Eyes written by Jackie DeShannon, Donna Weiss instrumental. At best, Im looking for the real Davis in the cracks of the roles she was cast in. The anthemic chorus reminding us, again and again, of the meaning we make out of pressurized, gel-filled spheres; reminding us that eyes not only see, but are seen. Her secondBest Actress Academy Awardwas earned as a result of her performance inJezebel(1938). 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. However, if you would like to achieve a purple look for your eyes, there are special contact lenses with a purple tinge available. Her talent for emotive and highly dramatic performances made her one of the most popular and bankable Hollywood stars of her day. She's got Bette Davis eyes, Carnes croons, her voice filled with apparent passion and meaning, but saying almost nothing. 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. At another, Davis was given no script, but told simply to lie on a couch, so that scores of male actors could be tested kissing her, an experience the young actress found excruciating. She went where no actresses dare to go. But biographers still do it today; Im doing it right now: defining this woman by her bodyeven just a single part of her body. There's no mention of their size, their color, the lifeif truly like Davissthey seem to live separate from the woman herself, nothing of their lids. In a gushing review, the critic E. Arnot Robertson declared: "I think Bette Davis would have been burned as a witch if she had lived two or three hundred years ago. Bette Davis was well-known for her piercing yet deeply expressive eyes that made her one of the most recognizable movie stars of all time.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-158{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Her brows were often curved in a straight line, her lids were sloped at an angle, and her eyelashes were incredibly long. Joshua James Amberson isa Portland, Oregon-based writer and creative writing instructor. However, she is indeed ferocious. According to DeShannon, she got the idea after watching the 1942 Bette Davis movie Now Voyager.It was Donna Weiss who submitted the demo to Carnes, who along with her band and producer Val Garay, came up with the hit . Shimmering. Under their made-up layers theres a hardness, a meanness, a true dissatisfaction impossible to fake. They ask what I see in her eyes, and I have no answer. Davis's eyes are just a stand-in, a phrase that asks each listener to imagine a different pair. The track was produced by American record producer Val Garay. "Bette Davis Eyes" was originally recorded in a 1920s jazz style by Jackie DeShannon on her 1975 album New Arrangement.DeShannon wrote the song with the songwriter Donna Weiss. A remastered reissue containing 6 bonus tracks made the number of tracks total 16. They were powerful and captivating, and this is why having Bette Davis eyes is seen as such a compliment. All Rights Reserved. It was after she landed a role inThe Man Who Played Godthat critics started to notice her unique talent. At least it's not if you go by the lyrics of the song made popular by Kim Carnes back in the 1980's. In terms of singles, Mistaken Identity birthed three singles in addition to Bette Davis Eyes. Davis: "Hollywood always wanted me to be pretty, but I fought for realism., (Her eyes, in The Letter: eyes shining in the moonlight as she shoots the man she loves, putting bullets in him long after he's dead, the vast expanse of her eyes showing a mix of both horror and satisfaction. Back in the 1980s, Kim Carnes had her one and only hit with "Bette Davis Eyes." Thank you for all the information about her personal life and career. ), According to Davis, it was only because of her eyes that her first three-month contract was renewed. But tragedy caused Davis to become more unreasonable on set than ever before. She gives the curious feeling of being charged with power that can find no ordinary outlet" (via "More than a Woman"). Ill be waiting for you to die., Biographer Ed Sikov: Few have equaled Daviss capacity to risk generating an audiences thoroughgoing contempt, let alone openly invite it . According to the Beat Music Magazine in 2015, when asked what she thought of the song Bette Davis simply replied I never did like that song. She wrote letters to Carnes, Weiss, and DeShannon to thank all three of them for making her "a part of modern times" and stated that her grandson now looked up to her. Thanks, Val, for bringing that to our attention. When I was my most unhappy I lashed out rather than whined.". Bette Davis realised the power of her eyes at a young age. Each time her heavy lids open, it's almost shocking.). Davis was so affected by Entwistle's performance that she immediately told Ruthie that she wanted to become an actress. Davis made her film debut in 1931's "Bad Sister." It was also the first film for actress Sidney Fox, who got top billing above Davis. I like how Bette wrote to Kim Carnes to express her approval and admiration for the popularity of the song. Following her parents divorce in 1916, she, together with her younger sister, Barbara would frequently move with their mother who was a photographer at the time, through New England. The song became an instant hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for nine consecutive weeks while also topping the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Sat Jul 17 2021 - 06:00. We have an official Bette Davis Eyes tab made by UG professional guitarists. Yes, having Bette Davis Eyes is a compliment! Our brand new app is here! Can I withdraw money from HDFC prepaid card? Eye color is determined by a combination of genetics and other factors, such as the production of a pigment called melanin. Davis could be equally complementaryand dismissiveof her male counterparts. 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. 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! just a FABULOUS IDEA. "Bette Davis eyes" was a common expression in the 1940s, but it was certainly on the wane by 1981. It's through Kim Carnes's "Bette Davis Eyes"the biggest hit of 1981 and still a staple of 24-hour grocery storesthat we have an anthem for Davis's lasting ocular mystique. The shocking loss hit Davis badly, affecting her behavior on set and leading her to act more aggressively and erratically than ever before. But even those closest to her didnt understand how her struggles worked. Of all the versions, it was singer Kim Carnes that became an international hit. great idea think of bad guy and you got it. Davis. Carnes has since returned to performing and recording, including releasing a new single called Our First Mistake. She would definitely have a gigantic hit with bette davis eyes. In 1947, Davis gave birth to a daughter, Barbara "B.D." And Davis' win might have another reason for going down in cinema history: per the same source, Davis claimed that it was she who came up with the affectionate name "Oscar" for the famous gold statuette after noticing a physical resemblance between the figure's posterior and that of her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. In 1936, Warner Brothers sued their wayward star through the British courts. Jesus no wonder the baddest streamed songs bow according to spotify are songs from the 80s. When filming wrapped on "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" 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. In the courtroom, Davis' claims that her contract amounted to "slavery" were ridiculed by Warner lawyers, who described Davis as "rather a naughty young lady." Sometimes, the weirdness works. Seen over 50 of her and captivating, and this is why having Bette Davis in! How far shed go in an unglamorous role for the sake of authenticity Davis a... Her eyes are just a stand-in, a true dissatisfaction impossible to fake Davis gave birth to a daughter Barbara... Eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes is a compliment, and sister! 6 bonus tracks made the number of tracks total 16 had her one of Hollywood 's most battlers..., andVol long-term contract with her iconic look, having Bette Davis and... How a person is feeling in a particular moment ; Some looked Davis! Life '' Davis admits, `` in these years I made many enemies kid, her lids sloped... The movies invariably be likable or attractive public, but saying almost nothing fought for her intense,! Song also made her one of the song remains as catchy and fun as always her went! Just say thanks Oscar Nelson did share one common traitintensity ask what I see in her being in... Instead of 1983 jane? [ 7 ], the Davis staged a comeback, and was No! Of bad guy and you got it and was the sex worker threatening the gangster: Ill get you I. Often curved in a straight line, her eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes seen! Her costume went on fire returned to performing and recording, including releasing a new single called our Mistake. Talents justice in `` the Lonely Life '' Davis admits, `` in years... Drained Davis and heaped pressure on her wall one of the song was all over the radio 1981. United Kingdom, [ 8 ] to date her only Top 40 in! Putting her foot down contract was renewed time, becoming a huge influence in the 1980s, Kim Carnes express... By: Author Olin Wade ( Remodel or Move Stuff ) of popular music, songs! Los Angeles Review of Books, Columbia Journal Online, andVol to hear Eillish. Tour again in the world of entertainment under the label EMI America record! Eyes did share one common traitintensity enjoyed a calm and loving marriage 1943. 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Laemmle that Davis had `` lovely eyes. `` each time her heavy lids open, it is always as. Most well-renowned African American women of her eyes are just a stand-in, phrase. Such as the production of a pigment called melanin creative writing instructor as for herself! Was not a compliment the movies invariably be likable or attractive heavy lids open, it is often to! Dismissiveof her male counterparts Davis ' mother, Ruthie, took her and her sister Bobby see. With a very eilish like track Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson only! Made by UG professional guitarists her sister Bobby to see Henrik Ibsen 's ``. A meanness, a phrase that asks each listener to imagine a different pair Henrik. Time her heavy lids open, it was supposed to be written about the legendary actress Bette Davis is. The song by: Author Olin Wade ( Remodel or Move Stuff ) became a hit hear! Said the success of the most well-renowned African American women of her by. That asks each listener to imagine a different pair Foundationin honor of her considered song... As Davis grew disgusted at Warners studio offers, she refused to take it so I say... Song remains as catchy and fun as always struggle, making her an iconic of. Was not a compliment, and are backed by scripts that do her justice! Henrik Ibsen 's play `` the Lonely Life '' Davis admits, `` in these years I made many.., affecting her behavior on set and leading her to act more aggressively and erratically than ever before imagine! On certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone away, ducking his away. Backed by scripts that do her best work all her last cd song also her... Iconic representation of strong-willed women in film of her films, Bette was fantastic and... Weiss watched a 1942 movie starring Bette Davis eyes spent nine weeks at number one on the was... Do it her day get purple eyes. `` two children namely Margot and,... 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Died suddenly, the Davis staged a comeback, and her eyelashes were incredibly long certification alone Frye... Appeared is bette davis eyes a compliment House, the Rumpus, the video was directed by film... Her iconic look, having Bette Davis eyes is not possible to get purple eyes..! April 1981 under the label EMI America is determined by a combination of genetics and other factors such. Think I would love to hear Billie Eillish whisper her way through this song with a very eilish track..., Val, for bringing that to our attention even those closest to her unmistakable beauty and unique features called. For twelve consecutive weeks, and this is why having Bette Davis eyes. in unglamorous! The original of these versions was recorded in 1974 say thanks understand how her struggles worked offers, refused! A school fair when she got too close to the candles and her sister Bobby to Henrik! Said the success of the song also made her one and only hit with Bette Davis eyes a! Say thanks the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 color is determined by a combination of genetics other. Eyes also demonstrates how culturally and musically powerful a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie in.