Bette Davis Eyes 2002 [IMPORT] by Kim Carnes (May-2002, Zyx)

When Bette Davis first learned that Kim Carnes sung a song about her eyes, she was truly flattered, She remarked to her grandchildren that a rock song had been made about her. That really seemed to jazz the elderly actor.

This song is significant for more reasons that simple flattery. There's substance to Carnes' song every time she repeats, "she's got Bette Davis eyes." What does that mean, anyway? To have Bette Davis eyes?

Davis' eyes were a mesmerizing turquoise that audiences hardly ever got to see since most of her films are in B&W and so are photographs of the First Lady of American Cinema. However, the song isn't referring to the captivating color of her eyes. Instead, Carnes is referring to how Bette Davis used her eyes to express a myriad of emotions. Without even moving her head or any other part of her whole being, Bette Davis was able to express her characters' feelings through nothing but her eyes.

That's what having "Bette Davis eyes" means. It means being able to take you out emotionally with a bare look flashed from the eyes. Davis could lay a fella flat out with a look that could kill. She could take audiences with her through a very deep well of emotion her character felt about being insecure over her appearance. Through her eyes, Davis could despise, defy, deny and delight.

If ever there were lyrics to a single song that were befitting, Carnes' are. I love the rough texture of Carnes' voice every time she declares, "she's got Bette Davis eyes." I love it that a much younger woman than Davis appreciated the talent an elder peer in show business mastered and that one of her major devices of mastery were her eyes. I'm glad that the Yankee Lady with turquoise expressive eyes had the opportunity to be delighted by this song~