🎵 ​Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes REACTION

[@NenadTrajkovic]

Fun fact! Actress Bette Davis was 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. 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. After their Grammy wins, Davis sent them roses as well

[@corneliuscrewe677]

I did not know that, that’s awesome👍

[@mistymichelle9957]

That's so awesome! Thank you for sharing! 💙

[@jimmymac4559]

She was a classy Dame

[@aviatom1]

@@jimmymac4559 yup

[@brettkenschaft4239]

Kinda sad that it took this song to get her grandson to look up to her though. I guess being a movie star just wasn't enough!

[@garysmith3037]

Someone "snowing you" usually meant they were playing you for a fool, lying to you, blinding you to their true intentions. Like snow covering up things, a blizzard blinding you of what's around you.

[@ericsmith6615]

Wife here..Exactly what I thought!

[@heedmywarning2792]

I thought that meant free coke?

[@steveswafen2528]

We used to refer to it by getting a snow job

[@jacobjones5269]

That’s correct..

[@calebclunie4001]

"You guys have been hosed." "Hosed? Count Me In!!!" -from SNL Two Wild And CrAzy Guys sketch.

[@thomaswhite7783]

Bette Davis was an incredibly beautiful woman in her prime. She had captivating eyes and she almost always played characters that were morally ambiguous and couldn't be trusted. A femme Fatale

[@johnmorris8444]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I always thought her eyes were weird and buggy like Stephen Merchant’s eyes.

[@deanaltman6841]

@@johnmorris8444 Agreed. I don’t think she was beautiful but she was a fantastic actress. If you watch her movies from the ‘30’s you could say she was quite cute. She looks horrendous in “Whatever happened to Baby Jane” but is gloriously wicked to Joan Crawford.

[@Veyron1967]

@@deanaltman6841 Yep, such a great film. Yes, Bette was not conventionally beautiful, but she was 100% captivating.

[@medmon3476]

Early in her career she was almost let go by Universal Studios but cinematographer Karl Freund told the head of the studios she had lovely eyes & they kept her on. I think for a cinematographer to say that means he saw that the camera loved her eyes & you do tend to gravitate towards them when watching her work - not many actors/actresses have this quality to such a degree if you think about it - to me her eyes reveal her intelligence & determination but a vunerability that might be revealed if you catch her in the right place or time (check out Now Voyager where she'll make your heart melt).

[@tjhunger8644]

Betty Davis was beautiful throughout her entire life, she was poised, dignified, and strong, all beautiful qualities. She was an iconoclast who helped restructure Hollywood's hierarchical system

[@metalmark1214]

Davis was a famous actress known for playing characters who were often unsympathetic or morally grey. She was also known for her distinctive eyes. 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.

[@jcoats1203]

Perfect description. Well said!

[@ericsmith6615]

ELOQUENT DESCRIBED!

[@ericsmith6615]

Elequently..(sorry)..😊

[@ShellyShinju]

Nice!

[@thehorrorfanx]

Spot on! Couldn’t have said it better myself. 👍🏼

[@timlenard1646]

A snow job is like a con, if someone is running a snow job on you they are conning you out of something or misleading you about something..

[@dr4782]

"Bette Davis Eyes" was a game-changer, signifying the sound of the 1980s to come, and one of the biggest pop hits of all time. It was the first big hit song that was driven by synthesizers instead of more traditional musical instruments, and that mysterious, repetitive synth riff helped propel the song straight to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, spending nine non-consecutive weeks at #1, beginning May 16, 1981. It also spent 14 weeks in the Top 10, and 20 weeks in the Top 40. In fact, the song was so huge that Billboard ranked it as the #1 song of 1981, and the #2 song of the entire 1980s. Many (most?) people don't know that this song is a cover. The original version was released as an album cut by country musician Jackie DeShannon in 1975, and the tone of her original version is very different, driven by piano and a brass section instead of synthesizers, with a swing to the rhythm, and lacks the mysterious sound that made Kim Carnes' version such a huge hit. Nonetheless, Jackie DeShannon wrote the song, so she gets a cut of the royalties from Kim Carnes' version.

[@doreybain]

Good comment. It was a monster hit. I can't believe I didn't know it was a Jackie DeShannon song until now.

[@arnoldsegovia9022]

Well, good words, but... the first synthesizer hit? Mmm... What about Donna Summer's I Feel Love and Gary Numan's Cars?

[@angb6561]

Betty Davis was a pros pro. She didn't just show up to a movie and know her lines. She knew EVERYONE'S LINES! It was amazing.

[@deborahcornell171]

Bette Davis is one of the most legendary actresses in cinema history. The song also mentions 2 other Hollywood legends, Harlow & Garbo. Kim Carnes did a follow up song, "Draw Of The Cards", that's worth checking out. The Official video is bizarre but interesting, kind of like a combination of Mardi Gras, Carnivale & Nightmare Alley. The song is mysterious & mystical. 💙☮💙

[@Steffe]

I visited the Greta Garbo grave earlier today!

[@deborahcornell171]

@@Steffe You're in Sweden? I know Garbo is buried in or near Stockholm. So interesting! Warm regards from a movie buff in Kentucky U.S.💙

[@Steffe]

She was buried at The Woodland Cemetery, just outside Stockholm. The cemetery is a World Heritage Site. Famous all over the world for it's design. I am there with my cameras every week.

[@juliewhite7469]

Intriguing, I'll have to check it out 💙

[@ffjsb]

This video was unique too, they miss SO MUCH not watching the original music videos.

[@Qualimar]

Bette Davis (1908-1989) was a legendary actress whose career spanned from the start of the 1930s to 1989. She was famous for her beautiful eyes and tended to play tough, morally ambiguous women. The song also mentions Jean Harlow (1911-1937) who was a gigantic movie star in her day and established the whole 'Blonde Bombshell' style Marilyn Monroe used later.

[@mc-lp4zl]

Bette Davis is one of my favorite actresses. She was the first actress to get 10 Oscar nominations. If you have spare time, watch a few of her movies.

[@mojavered1273]

I remember when this song came out in about 1980 or so. It just took over the radio. There was no kid who didn't love it. Plus back then, we knew who Bette Davis was. Oh... and Jean Harlow.

[@cheryla7480]

BettyDavis was a very famous actress with a very unsettling presence at times, was in tons of movies.

[@alfredvelazquez3306]

She's describing one of the most amazing actresses in the Golden Age of Hollywood. This song brings me amazing memories. Thank you both for doing what you do!!!

[@maureenwagg5305]

When she says her hair was Harlow gold. She is referring to Jean Harlow, the actress from the Silver Screen days. All these references are from the Silver Screen days. Bette Davis was one of the greats.

[@metalmark1214]

Kim has a very distinct voice. This was very popular back in the day.

[@mikesheahan6906]

She sounds like a feminine Rod Stewart.

[@Bentzel75]

Its a cool song 🙂.

[@byerenny]

That distinction came from a botched vocal chord surgery she had in the 70s. My favorite by Kim is More Love.

[@jefffiore7869]

If you like her voice, you'd probably like Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart". She is another raspy voiced singer.

[@itsalwayssomething7490]

They did.

[@darrenbent7601]

They did, and both of those are my favourites too, also Holding Out for Hero by Bonnie Tyler is another cool one.

[@TracyfromNC]

I like her hit, It's a heartache!

[@darrenbent7601]

@@TracyfromNC That's a good one too. She brought out quite a few hits.

[@BillGraper]

"More Love" from 1980 is another great song by Kim Carnes.

[@funkster007]

I always thought of Kim as a female Rod Stewart. Actually Rod would probably make this a hit too. lol

[@ShellyShinju]

Oooh! Yes!

[@tarshnottrash1483]

Never would’ve thought of that but so true

[@rick5908]

Funkster I was about post the same thing before I saw your comment 🙂 I thought I was the only one

[@LowcountryJoe2]

I’m both amused and disappointed that you wrote this before I was able to. I thought I was going to be original.

[@vegasbaby3669]

Yes, me too!

[@pushpak]

Bette Davis was legend an icon. Just about everybody could do an imitation of her.

[@vintageman91]

Love this song and Bette was an amazing actress. Most beautiful eyes in cinema history too!

[@ParkerAllen2]

Bette Davis was still alive when this song came out and she loved it. By the way, if you like Kim Carnes' voice, she did a killer version of Smokey Robinson's song More Love that was also a big hit.

[@kookiemonster3261]

My father loved this song. We were on vacation in Hong Kong and I bought an Chinese Walkman this cassette along with John cougars tape. Had to be 1982-or83 . Anyway my father heard both tapes and used my new Walkman more than I did the rest of our trip.

[@elaine8013]

My BFF and I have almost nothing in common. She's Sicilian and I'm Puerto Rican. I'm older and she's much younger.I'm christian and she's pagan. BUT, this is our song. What we sing out loud riding in the car. What we both want played at our funeral. Beautiful memories of crazy adventures. Thanks, you made my day.

[@TheWilsontm]

Kim Carnes was also in USA for Africa, standing with Cyndi Lauper and Heat Lewis, I believe, no one seemed to know who she was. Very popular back then. This was a very popular songs. He voice is very cool! Thanks for your reactions!! ❤️

[@frankrizzo4460]

I remember I was in middle school when this came out...man where has the time gone to unbelievable 🤔

[@russallert]

The phrase "Bette Davis eyes" became so popular in 1981 (at the time, it sounded slightly absurd) that Mark Knopfler referenced it in the Dire Straits song Industrial Disease, except he turned it into "Bette Davis knees".

[@ShreddFly]

Hey guys what's up! Greetings from South Florida! 11th grade weightlifting class, first period every morning, I would hear this song. Along with Laura Branigan, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Bonnie Tyler, Billy Joel and a whole host of other 80s pop bands. Being the Metalhead that I was, I wasn't too happy about it. but now I love all that stuff. You guys rock! God bless you! Peace!

[@midnightblue6668]

This song...that SMOKEY voice...perfection! I can listen to this all day long!

[@robertlittle7314]

Kim Carnes apparently recorded this early on, while recording her album Mistaken Identity. The band loved the song so much, they would play before each of their subsequent recording sessions. They called the song their "fix."

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, one of two top 10 hits for her ("More Love"). She has won 2 Grammy awards (Record of the Year for this song, and for Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture- Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special) and was nominated 8 times.

[@kenhenderson1762]

This was written and first recorded in the mid 70's by Jackie DeShannon as a country-pop song that didn't make much of an impact on the charts. In 1981 Kim Carnes and her producer Val Garay made it into European-style electro-pop song and it became a huge hit.

[@darrenbent7601]

I personally love this song, other people in my whanau do not. I love the sound of her husky voice, and the song is pretty cool too. If you do not know who Bette Davis was, she was an actress who quite often played villains, but her eyes were quite piercing.

[@michaelrstover]

I think the vocals are a masterpiece. One of those few pop songs that'll be listened to down through time - just because of the vocals.

[@creativitycell]

Absolute classic! Never get tired of this, first time listening is a beautiful life privilege! 🙏❤️

[@jeffreekoch9298]

My mom loves her 😆. She had great songs and videos. '70s, '80s, and early '90s. Pop rock, some synth pop. Video of this song is nice and mysterious, too. It's about the actress, Bette Davis. Pretty, but kind of a tough actress. Kim's voice, female Rod Stewart. Lol. Another good video is "More Love", Smokey Robinson cover, has a saxophone in song, she smokes a cigarette in that video, might explain it lol and "Crazy Night". Brad is funny ha! Snow could mean a lot of things. 😝

[@jerrycote659]

I know you guys like to watch the lyric videos and I think that’s a good idea especially when it’s something you are listening to for the first time. I would recommend you check out the official video for this song though. The slapping part is pretty cool in the video. This song was ridiculously HUGE when it was released and spent something like 10 weeks at #1 in the pop singles chart and was a huge club hit too.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Bette Davis - that Hollywood actress/ lady was a real piece of work right up to the end. I'm glad she got a song made about here. When she was older we used to call her the Lady Bad Ass lol. She was a trail blazer from women actors and I wouldn't mind having her on my side in a fight either lol. in her younger years she did do comedies as well. I am surprised how younger people are completely clueless it seems with these famous actress/ actors and such.

[@vicmanpergar]

This was an instant classic even in its time.

[@xanajak]

Iconic early '80s song and one of the great videos of early MTV.

[@dej1971]

classic from the early 80s! I love it! and I think I was very very young when I heard it the first time, 10 years... and the song was on air the whole time!

[@estevaobotelho2231]

She was one the great and pecculiar voices in the 80's, the song is a tribute to Betty Davis the Hollywood diva and her very expressive eyes.

[@beautifulchlorophyll2285]

for the fourth time this week... you guys are so on point with the selections lately!!

[@jamielandis4308]

A fun song by Kim Carnes is “Strangers In The Night.” The reactors Andy & Alex said howdy!

[@fowleheidi482]

She's as pure as New York snow is my favorite line.

[@georgeburge7136]

lex your smile is both so genuine and indescribably pretty. brad is a perfect compliment

[@ericsmith6615]

Wife here..The description of what the songs about is so eloquently described below that I have nothing to add to that point..I Loved Loved Loved This Song as a child and found Kim Karnes voice mesmerizing..Betty Davis was one of the first females to be cast in movies who could hold her own with men!!..Kinda tough..especially in that time period..It's said Betty Davis Loved the song because her GRANDKIDS thought it made her cool!!

[@fabian4ever69]

I was in 7th/8th grade when this song was released. It was the number one song for the year 1981. It was everywhere on the radio.

[@nournjeim]

Bette Davis is the Meryl Streep of the Golden Age of Hollywood

[@Buckaroo_Baldwin]

You can't compare Bette to anyone, she was a one off.

[@gj8683]

Love at first listen is to me a rare experience. Usually, it takes a few listens to really start liking a song. Not in this case, though. The production is a work of creative genius. It was huge when it came out.

[@TheGuerillapatriot]

That song was sooo sick when it came out. It was like a dream, never heard anything like that, the camber, the raspiness of her voice, the tome, the whole thing is magic. The song is magic, no s....

[@NikkieTwix]

Bette Davis was an actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood

[@trespire]

Some trivia : Kim Carnes performed on stage wearing one sequenced glove in 1980. Later on, some performer called Michel Jackson "adopted" the look from her.

[@THE_CDN]

Bette Davis was very expressive with her eyes. She was also known to be very strong-willed and didn't take sh!t from anyone. She was also known to be quite a catch back in her day. She had many suitors, but was very discerning about who she spent time with. If you "snow" someone, you fool them. Btw, Lex, your smile is so adorable!

[@nonplayerzealot4]

Fun fact: this was the top selling single of 1981. Back when they still sold A and B side single hits on tape. Popular song and she had a great, gravely voice. It's actually an old cover song she liked, but hers sounded diff. Iirc, she misheard the term "crow blush" and inserted "pro blush", tho pro works as well as crow. She was in the We Are The World vid for a half second, think her line was "as weeee..." . She got 2 words, but still.

[@bustos1959]

Every time I heard this song it reminds me X factor Australia Dean Ray cover. I believe he won that year also. Anyway still a good song puts me back in the 80's when I hear it now.

[@rachelspellman5511]

Love Betty Davis and this song, 🥰 Betty Davis

[@Karoke77]

"All the boys think she's a spy" is the greatest line in a song I have ever heard. Great song when driving a car.

[@vickiroman189]

I always felt this wasn't so much how someone's eyes look, but the feeling you get when they look at you.

[@inexplicablyleft2729]

This song was (deservedly) everywhere when it came out, but the sound is definitely 80s. She later released an acoustic version, that I love, with the same Blythe Danner voice and the same intriguing lyrics.

[@dggydddy59]

Her voice reminds you of Gwynneth Paltrow's mom??

[@PRINCE-ve7hb]

It is a timeless song and so bewitching, it has rocked my childhood, thank you Kim Carnes !

[@jeffeckhard460]

This is literally, one of the biggest hits of all time....#1 for 9 weeks in 1981

[@Steffe]

A true classic.

[@BillGraper]

This was the #2 song of the 80's, just behind "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John & just ahead of "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. All three of those songs came out in 1981.

[@827dusty]

Bette Davis was a Hollywood legend as an actress in the 1930s and 40s. Greta Garbo was as well. I know you guys are young, but.......These ladies are like Hollywood Royalty. Haven't you ever seen a Bette Davis movie? Find one online, and you'll see. Old movies are the best anyway.

[@wkanost]

Kim Carnes the singer was on a talk show and Rod Stewart happened to also be on the show. She heard Rod singing and thought, “THATS IT!” So she imitated his vocal style and adopted it as her own. When I first heard this song I thought it WAS Rod Stewart! It was a smash hit and was number one on the billboard charts for pop tunes for like nine weeks. Other Kim Carnes songs worth checking out are “Voyeur” and “Draw of the Cards” which I happen to like quite a bit.

[@unvettx790]

Kim Carnes is definitely Rod Stewart in drag. lol

[@ddiamondr1]

Bette Davis was the Meryl Streep of her era. And her eyes were incredible. I wish the video maker had used her eyes. Thanks for your videos:))

[@craigmorris4083]

Love Kim's voice.....so beautiful

[@mistymichelle9957]

Since there's no video, I'm not sure if you recognized that you've heard her voice before albeit briefly. Kim is the blonde in the "We Are The World" video that sang right after Cyndi Lauper and then harmonized with Huey Lewis. Her smoky tone and masterful vocal fry definitely set her apart from other artists. She's got one of those voices that I could pick out of a crowd. Great reaction as always. P.L.U.R.R. from Texas.

[@teeroh99]

This was one of my karaoke favorites when I used to go regularly 🤩 Her raspy voice stands out, of course, and you two also picked up on something playful in her delivery that I think makes this song great. She slips back and forth between earnest passion and irony. (that's the best way I can describe it)

[@alexgeorge2993]

This song doesn’t age, loved it when it came out and still so! 👍

[@CaptainCalculus]

The line "she's pure as New York snow" is brilliant....it can mean all sorts of things (NY snow that falls from the skies is far from pure, but NY snow is legenarily pure)

[@jacquesrichard3835]

Every time I hear this song I'm mesmerized by the voice without thinking about she's saying..lol

[@jimwhitt]

Snows you refers to a snow job, it’s an old expression meaning a con or swindle

[@MarkMcLT]

In the category of songs by women about other women, I recommend "Maxine" by Sharon O'Neill, a New Zealand artist not well known to North American audiences - be sure to watch the original music video from 1983. Brings tears to my eyes. Also, "Angie Baby" by another much better known antipodean, Helen Reddy.

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Hi guys, This song was written by 2 women one of whom was Jackie EDeShannon (neither was Kim Carnes. The most popular theory for the meaning of this song is that Bette Davis (great actress from way back) was the inspiration. She had these amazing eyes and attracted many guys to herself as well. So she might have inspired the song. The song was written anout 7 years before Kim recorded it. Jackie DeShannon recorded it the year it was written. Jackie had some popular years as a singer as well. This song however never really was a big one for her as a singer. kim recorded it and it was very big. Good to know that Jackie made some bank on the song as a writer. Oh and snowing someone means like fooling them or conning them. When you tell someone a bunch of lies it's called a snow job. When the ill behaved kid has the parents or teacher convinced they are an angel - the kid has them snowed.

[@mrsteve3527]

Just laying down the wood with great songs today. Great song.

[@MySherry10]

Great song Bette Davis was an actress, of the old movies and great eyes and she played men , they didnt mess with her she could handle them , she knows how to make a pro blush, She snows you she could lie and keep them no knowing what is going on , she controlled the relationship. Harlow and Garbo in the song too, these are really famous actress that were before our times but they are legends

[@pennydaytreasures8173]

This is one the first songs I remember that made me understand the power of being a female. I was only 10 years old, crazy but I understood hearing this song that women could have a power over men. Now I didn’t understand exactly what the song was about, but I knew enough that I hoped I’d some day have it 😂

[@deniseouillette6995]

Awwwwwww Kim!!! she is amazing!!!!!!!!

[@angelabordack]

One of my favorite songs ❤

[@davidknowledge4721]

The song is so story telling like intellectual bar talk scenes.

[@richardmead5969]

good reaction, thanks from Colorado. have listened to this for decades but never saw the lyrics.

[@babylonsister118]

You right, Brad!!

[@minty_Joe]

Kim Carnes was one of the vocalist singing the bridge of 1985's "We Are The World", with Huey Lewis and Cyndi Lauper. Her line was, "...when we...stand together as one..."

[@armadillotoe]

This got a lot of airplay when it was released. Great song. Very interesting voice. I just realized the two of you probably don't know who Bette Davis was. It is amazing how much slang has changed over the years.

[@carolynmorrissey1630]

Kim was in the USA FOR AFRICA song she was by Huey Lewis and Cindy Lauper

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

I think this was such a good and different song. I remember when it hit the airwaves very well. Unique feel immediately.

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

She was singing alongside Cindy lauper and Huey Lewis in the We are the world video.

[@stephenhuber1219]

Kim was in We Are The World with Huey Lewis and Cindi Lauper

[@ivanadams3809]

I always thought she said make a crow blush 💥 keep on keeping on

[@detredwings21]

song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was recorded by DeShannon that year but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981

[@graybeard1952]

To "snow" someone is to fool them or con them.

[@MsDesiree39]

Will always love this song: it;s one of the cool ones u recognize fr the opening beats!.....lol....

[@christinerobinson9372]

I love Bette Davis, a great, great actress. Born in 1929, her acting career spanned more than 50 years. I like to think the compliment would have pleased her very much. "Of Human Bondage" was her first movie, and the character she played is pretty much as described in this song. "Of Human Bondage" also starred Leslie Howard. Davis and Howard starred together again in "Gone With the Wind", possibly the greatest movie of all time.

[@wraithby]

BD was born 1908.

[@donstand2195]

I always loved Kim's voice it just attract you to her songs

[@auldfouter8661]

Harlow refers to Jean Harlow ( l911-1937) , " The Blonde Bombshell" who was a major film star of the 1930s but died at the peak of her fame.

[@aarondejesusrosasdurazo2005]

Oh yeah that raspy amazing voice

[@jonathan.s993]

Interesting to cause Bette Davis has some Gorgeous eyes.

[@brucedonaldson3627]

Radio version says, "she shows you." Vinyl version says, "she blows you."

[@LowcountryJoe2]

Whoa! {but in Joey Lawrence voice}

[@ricklaszlo3989]

Betty Davis was a famous movie actress who won two Oscars and a Lifetime Achievement Award she was known for her eyes

[@darlenegattus8190]

Song is like a warm blanket.

[@hillbillyhippie4235]

This was one of the most popular songs in Japan in the 80's, heard it everywhere