Bette Davis Eyes
"Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was recorded by DeShannon that year but made popular by Kim Carnes in 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It won the 1981 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.[6] The music video was directed by Australian film director Russell Mulcahy.[7]
"Bette Davis Eyes"
"Miss You Tonite"
March 1981
3:48
On the Billboard Hot 100, the song was No. 1 for five weeks, interrupted for just one week by "Stars on 45" before it returned to the top spot for another four weeks, becoming Billboard's biggest hit of the year.[8] The single also reached No. 5 on Billboard's Top Tracks charts and No. 26 on the Dance charts.[9] It reached No. 2 in Canada for twelve consecutive weeks, and was 1981's No. 2 hit in that country, after "Stars on 45".[10][11] It peaked at No. 10 in the United Kingdom,[12] to date Carnes's only Top 40 hit in that country. Additionally, it ranked No. 12 on Billboard's list of the top 100 songs in the first 50 years of the magazine's Hot 100.[6] "Bette Davis Eyes" was a No. 1 hit in 21 countries.[13]
Gwyneth Paltrow version[edit]
American actress Gwyneth Paltrow covered "Bette Davis Eyes" for the soundtrack for the 2000 road trip film Duets.[67] This version was released as a single in Australia on March 26, 2001,[68] debuting and peaking at No. 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart on April 8, 2001.[69] It spent nine weeks in the top 10,[69] and came in at No. 35 on Australia's year-end chart for 2001. It earned a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipping more than 70,000 units.[70]
Taylor Swift live performance[edit]
American singer Taylor Swift included a live performance cover of "Bette Davis Eyes" on her 2011 "Speak Now World Tour" album.[71]