By the time she severed ties with Warner Brothers in 1949, Davis was one of its largest talents. After a rocky period at Warner Brothers, during which time she was suspended for turning down roles, sued the studio and spent some time in England, she returned to Hollywood, and was offered a higher salary and better choice of roles. Kim Carnes’ pop song “Bette Davis Eyes,” became a worldwide hit and the best-selling record of 1981 in the U.S.. Jackie DeShannon wrote the song for Carnes. We strive for accuracy and fairness. The video was huge on MTV and gave the song a big boost. Lucille Ball was one of her classmates. “Bette Davis Eyes” is the lead single from Kim Carnes ‘ sixth album Mistaken Identity. Glenn Frey of the Eagles played a bad guy in a 1985 episode of Miami Vice based on his song "Smuggler's Blues.". The song “Bette Davis Eyes” gives a shoutout to the iconic American actress Bette Davis, and she acknowledged the composers of this song for such. ". “The art of knowing is knowing what to ignore” -Rumi . His videos were very artistic and filled with unexpected scenes. Davis is still considered an icon for her performances in such films as All About Eve and Dark Victory, as well as for her larger-than-life persona both on and off the silver screen. Oscar winner Kate Winslet has starred in a number of acclaimed films. Bette Origin and Meaning The name Bette is a girl's name of Hebrew origin. The men who once loved Fanny recoil, as some people would later recoil from Bette Davis, who they never thought was pretty in the first place. When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" Before she was famous on Friends, Courteney Cox danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing In The Dark" video. Betty davis eyes was recorded in 1981. Bette Davis was an actress known for playing strong, independent women. Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk. Updated September 18, 2020. A film studio head called them, her ‘lamps’. It was not, however, the year's biggest hit. climbed to #1 on the Hot 100, Katy Perry became the first woman to send five songs from one album to the top of the charts. Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies. Following this breakthrough, Davis would go on to make 14 films over the next three years. Betty Ford became the First Lady when President Nixon resigned and made her Vice President husband, Gerald Ford, the acting President. By VAL HENNESSY. My Mother's Keeper is a 1985 book by B. D. Hyman, the daughter of actress Bette Davis.The book portrays Davis as a bullying, alcoholic mother, allegations … A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, This was originally recorded in a 1920s Jazz style by, This was a huge hit in the US, where it was #1 for nine weeks. was apparently a publicity concoction. But the men she attracted barely survived relationships with her. https://www.biography.com/actor/bette-davis. He thanked them for two reasons. When his co-workers kept coming by to tell him "More Than A Feeling" was playing on the radio, he knew it was time to quit his day job. Those ‘Bette Davis eyes’ could have been indicative of a medical condition known as Graves’ disease, which is a serious thyroid and immunological disorder. The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits. In one of her many memorable lines, she quipped, "Fasten your seatbelts: it's going to be a bumpy night.". The costumed crowd smacking the floor and each other in time to the drum machine was a typical Mulcahy touch. Well , there has to have a procedure these days ,right ? 2) A 1981 Number 1 hit single by Kim Carnes (it was the best selling record of 1981). It was written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. Bette Davis eyes 1) Used to describe eyes that are prominent (i.e., eyes that sit forward in the face), very large and attractive like legendary actress Bette Davis. Davis began to audition for theater parts in New York, and in 1929 she made her stage début at Greenwich Village's Provincetown Playhouse in The Earth Between. In 1950, Davis gave one of her most indelible performances in the show-business drama All About Eve, starring as Margo Channing, a theater actress who fends off the insecurities of approaching middle age (and the scheming of a manipulative protégé) with sarcastic wit and more than a few cocktails. Bette Davis Eyes (1981) I Pretend (1983) Invisible Hands (1983) Invitation To Dance (1985) Voyeur (1982) More Songfacts: Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F. General Commentno comments! (1962), she co-starred with Joan Crawford as a former child star caring for her disabled sister. As a teen, Davis began acting in school productions at the Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. High-quality Bette Davis Greeting Cards designed and sold by artists. Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908, in Lowell Massachusetts, to Ruth (Favor) and Harlow Morrell Davis. Music video tribute to Bette Davis I filmed with my Super 8 camera in the 80's when Kim Carnes first recorded her hit recording of "Bette Davis Eyes." Combined with the sound of an early synthesizer called a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, they found the sound they were looking for and the song was a hit. The video was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who made many of the early MTV favorites. 26 on the Dance c… After a brief theater career, she became one of the biggest stars in the Hollywood studio system, appearing in nearly 100 films before her death in 1989. Throughout the rest of her career, she would portray many other strong-willed, even unlikable, women who defied society's rules. Eye color is a genetic trait. She was a member of The New Christy Minstrels before recording as a solo artist. Bette Davis Sighs. Get up to 35% off. Later that year, at the age of 21, she made her first Broadway appearance in the comedy Broken Dishes. Shop unique cards for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Congratulations, and more. Her eyes were so distinctive that they … Davis depicted Elizabeth I again in The Virgin Queen (1955) and appeared in Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana on Broadway in 1961. Sammy Davis Jr. was a highly popular actor, comedian, singer and dancer. But Was then. Carnes credits her keyboard player Bill Cuomo making significant contributions to the chord changes and arrangement. She's also known for her civic work with husband Ossie Davis. Richie45069on August 06, 2007 Link. )Katy Perry. Despite health problems in her late years, including a fight against breast cancer, Davis continued acting. Diminutive form of Elizabeth. Some of her other work during this time was more lurid, however. The producer of this song had an assistant go out and buy the cheapest (and cheapest-sounding) drum set for this particular song. Bette Davis died on October 6, 1989, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the age of 81. "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song originally written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the US Billboard Hot 100 (originally on top for five weeks, then interrupted for one week by the "Stars on 45 Medley", then returned to the top spot for another four weeks) and became Billboard's biggest hit of the year. Not a biggie today. Davis published two autobiographies during her lifetime: The Lonely Life (1962) and This 'n' That (1987). Boston leader Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after releasing the group's debut album. She appeared in the horror movie Burnt Offerings (1976) and was part of the all-star ensemble cast of the Agatha Christie mystery Death on the Nile (1979). David Bowie's "Heroes" was about his producer Tony Visconti and his girlfriend, but Bowie didn't admit this until the '00s, since Visconti was married at the time. While married to Gary Merrill, her co-star in All About Eve, she adopted two children, Margot and Michael; the marriage ended in divorce. Bette Davis is remembered as one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies, famous for her larger-than-life persona and for her nearly 100 film appearances. In the horror movie (and camp classic) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1 Reply Log in to reply 0. Davis received her second Oscar for her performance as a rebellion Southern belle in 1938's Jezebel. Some of the song lyrics imply characteristics of methamphetamine or symptoms related to its use:. She also appeared on television, winning an Emmy Award for 1979's Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter. With immortal roles in Jezebel, Dark Victory, and All About Eve, Bette Davis managed her career far better than her private life. She gained fame in the blockbuster 'Titanic' and has also starred in 'Little Children,' 'The Holiday' and 'Mildred Pierce.'. Queen Elizabeth was the Queen consort of King George VI until his death in 1952. Bette Davis eyes My grandmother ... but you know what I mean). A screen test landed Davis a contract with Hollywood's Universal Pictures, where she was assigned a small role in the film Bad Sister (1931), followed by similar minor parts in a few more movies. One of her final film roles was that of a blind woman in The Whales of August (1987), appearing opposite Lillian Gish. The phrase ‘to make a crow blush’ is an early 20th century Midwestern United States colloquialism meaning that one could unease someone with little effort, and the arranger from Carnes’ version was unfamiliar with the term. "Bootylicious" made the Oxford English Dictionary three years after the Destiny's Child song was released. Torment of those Bette Davis eyes. In 1934, Warner Brothers loaned Davis to RKO Pictures for Of Human Bondage, a drama based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. everyone knows her for bette davis eyes, but this one is very good too, but not anywhere as good as bette davis eyes. © 2020 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Definition: "Blend of booty buttocks and delicious.". Her hands are never cold -- hyperthermia, an elevated body temperature. Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Mum Bett (Elizabeth Freeman) was among the first enslaved people in Massachusetts to successfully sue for her freedom, encouraging the state to abolish slavery. However, the woman being referenced in the song, who has this attribute to her appearance, is not someone to be appreciated. Davis received her first Academy Award nomination for her performance as the vulgar, cold-hearted waitress Mildred. Ruby Dee was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, activist, poet and journalist, perhaps best known for starring in the 1961 film A Raisin in the Sun. Davis received many awards later in life, including the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1977 and the Kennedy Center Honors Award in 1987. At the time of her death, she was on her way home from a film festival in Spain, where she had just been honored for her work in film. In a series of exclusive interviews over the last decade of her life, the great screen icon talked about her four failed marriages, her daughter's tell-all … She is best known for her moral support to the British people during WWII and her longevity. This disorder causes an inflammatory response in the muscles around the eyes which makes them swell. What Makes Some Eyes Blue? With third husband William Grant Sherry, Davis had a daughter named Barbara. She was featured in another horror film in 1964, Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte, and then played an eye-patch-wearing matriarch in the melodrama The Anniversary in 1968. After this song became a hit single, Bette Davis wrote letters to Kim Carnes and the songwriters to say she was a fan of the song and thank them for making her "a part of modern history." Nellie Bly was known for her pioneering journalism, including her 1887 exposé on the conditions of asylum patients at Blackwell's Island in New York City and her report of her 72-day trip around the world. Her eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes. BOC turned it down, so Adams recorded it for his album Reckless. Her movies include, This won the 1981 Grammy for Record of the Year, and in America, it was the third-best-selling single of the '80s, after Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" and the Diana Ross/Lionel Richie duet ". Davis won her first Academy Award in 1935, for her role as a troubled young actress in Dangerous. A number of critical and box-office successes followed: She played a heiress coming to terms with mortal illness in Dark Victory and Elizabeth I in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (both released in 1939), and went on to deliver several well-received performances in films of the 1940s, including The Little Foxes; the comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner; the American drama Now, Voyager; and the drama The Corn is Green. When she was seven years old, her father divorced her mother, who was left to raise Bette and younger daughter Barbara on her own. The eyes were the focal point of a woman who was once full-figured and statuesque. Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette has had a long career in film and television, continually showing her great range as a performer across genres. For Bette Davis fans, the memoir offers a treasure trove of untold stories extrapolated from Sermak’s datebooks, scrapbooks, letters, and audio cassettes by the woman who saw Davis … 5 on Billboard's Top Tracks chartsand No. Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun was one of the best-known and most fashionable portraitists of 18th century France; her clients included the queen Marie Antoinette. Dm C She'll take a tumble on you, Dm C F Dm C roll you like you were dice, F Dm C until you come out blue, F she's got Bette Davis eyes. He was also part of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, with whom he starred in several films. Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation. Haim Anava from Hatzor The Galilean, Israel, Edward Pearce from Ashford, Kent, England, More songs in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV, More hit songs originally recorded by other artists, More songs with names of actors in the title, More songs with videos directed by Russell Mulcahy, Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York. But on “Bette Davis Eyes,” Carnes and those gleaming bleeps find the same wistful tone, and they make perfect sense together. On paper, “Bette Davis Eyes” is a warning. Bette Midler, actress/singer. Davis married four times. Bette Davis is remembered as one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies, famous for her larger-than-life persona and for her nearly 100 film appearances. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Yes, she lured plenty of men to her with her amazing eyes. The single also reached No. Carnes raspy vocals led many listeners to believe Rod Stewart was the vocalist. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in … Her hair is harlow gold -- some varieties of meth are yellow. Carnes had several other hits before and after this, but none even close to this big. Davis was taking that reaction, and showing what it would mean to have age truly be as catastrophic as we think it is. American actress Bette Davis was born on April 5, 1908, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Bette Davis’ eye color helped her to become famous, but what makes blue eyes actually blue? ACTRESS Bette Davis was famous for her roles on the big screen and TV – and also for her striking eyes. "Run To You" by Bryan Adams was written for Blue Oyster Cult, and the guitar part is modeled after "Don't Fear The Reaper." She moved to Warner Brothers in 1932, after gaining notice in that studio's production of The Man Who Played God. Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder. She's got Bette Davis eyes She'll take a tumble on you Roll you like you were dice until you come up blue She's got Bette Davis eyes She'll expose you when she snows you off your feet with the crumbs she throws you She's ferocious and she knows just what it takes to make a pro blush All the boys think she's a spy She's got Bette Davis eyes Bette Davis was highly promiscuous for the era. The name Bette means God Is My Oath and is of American origin.Bette is a name that's been used primarily by parents who are considering baby names for girls.. The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?". Bette Davis was a bitch. She then appeared in The Petrified Forest with male stars Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart in 1937. she's got Bette Davis eyes [the kind that can charm you with the bat of the lashes or stare through like ice] Also, "Greta Garbo stand-off sighs" is a reference to Garbo's most famous movie line from Grand Hotel where she breathily says, "I want to be alone" and the fact Garbo was completely stand-offish with the public and press in her real life. Last updated at 17:28 26 November 2007 Bette Davis, actress. On the other hand, the legendary Crawford-Bette Davis feud during filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? One of the reasons the legendary actress loved the song is that her granddaughter thought her grandmother was "cool" for having a hit song written about her. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Her first marriage, to bandleader Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr., ended in divorce; her second husband, businessman Arthur Farnsworth, died in 1943. A stroke or two changed her appearance dramatically and the "extended stay" in a nursing home in the last chapter of her life dulled her features. What’s “Take Fountain?” Legend has it that when the famous Bette Davis was being interviewed on a talk show, she was asked what advice she has for actors trying to make it in Hollywood. 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