https://www.biography.com/actor/bette-davis. His videos were very artistic and filled with unexpected scenes. 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. Before she was famous on Friends, Courteney Cox danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing In The Dark" video. Her eyes are beautiful - she has Bette Davis eyes. Bette Midler, actress/singer. Mum Bett (Elizabeth Freeman) was among the first enslaved people in Massachusetts to successfully sue for her freedom, encouraging the state to abolish slavery. Davis was taking that reaction, and showing what it would mean to have age truly be as catastrophic as we think it is. The producer of this song had an assistant go out and buy the cheapest (and cheapest-sounding) drum set for this particular song. She gained fame in the blockbuster 'Titanic' and has also starred in 'Little Children,' 'The Holiday' and 'Mildred Pierce.'. Definition: "Blend of booty buttocks and delicious.". Diminutive form of Elizabeth. Yes, she lured plenty of men to her with her amazing eyes. Carnes raspy vocals led many listeners to believe Rod Stewart was the vocalist. Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation. American actress Bette Davis was born on April 5, 1908, in Lowell, Massachusetts. With immortal roles in Jezebel, Dark Victory, and All About Eve, Bette Davis managed her career far better than her private life. Lucille Ball was one of her classmates. 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. 26 on the Dance c… One of her final film roles was that of a blind woman in The Whales of August (1987), appearing opposite Lillian Gish. © 2020 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908, in Lowell Massachusetts, to Ruth (Favor) and Harlow Morrell Davis. Her hair is harlow gold -- some varieties of meth are yellow. Glenn Frey of the Eagles played a bad guy in a 1985 episode of Miami Vice based on his song "Smuggler's Blues.". The single also reached No. ". 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.. However, the woman being referenced in the song, who has this attribute to her appearance, is not someone to be appreciated. On the other hand, the legendary Crawford-Bette Davis feud during filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Bette Davis was an actress known for playing strong, independent women. In 1934, Warner Brothers loaned Davis to RKO Pictures for Of Human Bondage, a drama based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. He thanked them for two reasons. 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. When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" "Run To You" by Bryan Adams was written for Blue Oyster Cult, and the guitar part is modeled after "Don't Fear The Reaper." Queen Elizabeth was the Queen consort of King George VI until his death in 1952. 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. Updated September 18, 2020. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! The costumed crowd smacking the floor and each other in time to the drum machine was a typical Mulcahy touch. “The art of knowing is knowing what to ignore” -Rumi . Last updated at 17:28 26 November 2007 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. She then appeared in The Petrified Forest with male stars Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart in 1937. It was not, however, the year's biggest hit. Davis married four times. Bette Davis eyes My grandmother ... but you know what I mean). 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. was apparently a publicity concoction. Betty Ford became the First Lady when President Nixon resigned and made her Vice President husband, Gerald Ford, the acting President. After a stint in summer stock theater in Rochester, New York, Davis moved to New York City, where she attended the John Murray Anderson/Robert Milton School of Theatre and Dance. 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. She moved to Warner Brothers in 1932, after gaining notice in that studio's production of The Man Who Played God. ACTRESS Bette Davis was famous for her roles on the big screen and TV – and also for her striking eyes. 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. Well, the song is about Bette Davis’ eyes, and here’s a true story to tell: the real Bette Davis, who was 73 at the time, really enjoyed the song and wanted to get to know not only Kim Carnes, but also the whole group who had worked on the song. Oscar winner Kate Winslet has starred in a number of acclaimed films. She is best known for her moral support to the British people during WWII and her longevity. 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. Bette Davis was highly promiscuous for the era. Bette Origin and Meaning The name Bette is a girl's name of Hebrew origin. 1 Reply Log in to reply 0. She was a member of The New Christy Minstrels before recording as a solo artist. By VAL HENNESSY. Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. 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. Davis won her first Academy Award in 1935, for her role as a troubled young actress in Dangerous. He was also part of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, with whom he starred in several films. Bette Davis was a bitch. 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 Her eyes were so distinctive that they … Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk. In the horror movie (and camp classic) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? General Commentno comments! 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. But the men she attracted barely survived relationships with her. When she was seven years old, her father divorced her mother, who was left to raise Bette and younger daughter Barbara on her own. Eye color is a genetic trait. 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 … Despite health problems in her late years, including a fight against breast cancer, Davis continued acting. Bette Davis died on October 6, 1989, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the age of 81. Davis received her first Academy Award nomination for her performance as the vulgar, cold-hearted waitress Mildred. 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. Davis received her second Oscar for her performance as a rebellion Southern belle in 1938's Jezebel. Her first marriage, to bandleader Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr., ended in divorce; her second husband, businessman Arthur Farnsworth, died in 1943. “Bette Davis Eyes” is the lead single from Kim Carnes ‘ sixth album Mistaken Identity. Carnes had several other hits before and after this, but none even close to this big. But Was then. Sammy Davis Jr. was a highly popular actor, comedian, singer and dancer. Those ‘Bette Davis eyes’ could have been indicative of a medical condition known as Graves’ disease, which is a serious thyroid and immunological disorder. (1962), she co-starred with Joan Crawford as a former child star caring for her disabled sister. 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. She's also known for her civic work with husband Ossie Davis. 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. By the time she severed ties with Warner Brothers in 1949, Davis was one of its largest talents. While married to Gary Merrill, her co-star in All About Eve, she adopted two children, Margot and Michael; the marriage ended in divorce. 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. This disorder causes an inflammatory response in the muscles around the eyes which makes them swell. 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. Following this breakthrough, Davis would go on to make 14 films over the next three years. Bette Davis Sighs. Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies. 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?". Carnes credits her keyboard player Bill Cuomo making significant contributions to the chord changes and arrangement. She also appeared on television, winning an Emmy Award for 1979's Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter. 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. A film studio head called them, her ‘lamps’. Davis published two autobiographies during her lifetime: The Lonely Life (1962) and This 'n' That (1987). With third husband William Grant Sherry, Davis had a daughter named Barbara. 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. The video was huge on MTV and gave the song a big boost. Throughout the rest of her career, she would portray many other strong-willed, even unlikable, women who defied society's rules. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Her hands are never cold -- hyperthermia, an elevated body temperature. Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder. Bette Davis, actress. BOC turned it down, so Adams recorded it for his album Reckless. The video was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who made many of the early MTV favorites. 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. 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. Richie45069on August 06, 2007 Link. On paper, “Bette Davis Eyes” is a warning. Get up to 35% off. Well , there has to have a procedure these days ,right ? Shop unique cards for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Congratulations, and more. What Makes Some Eyes Blue? Later that year, at the age of 21, she made her first Broadway appearance in the comedy Broken Dishes. "Bootylicious" made the Oxford English Dictionary three years after the Destiny's Child song was released. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in … 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." 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. Betty davis eyes was recorded in 1981. As a teen, Davis began acting in school productions at the Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. 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. Not a biggie today. "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. High-quality Bette Davis Greeting Cards designed and sold by artists. 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. 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." 2) A 1981 Number 1 hit single by Kim Carnes (it was the best selling record of 1981). 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 … 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. 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. everyone knows her for bette davis eyes, but this one is very good too, but not anywhere as good as bette davis eyes. Boston leader Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after releasing the group's debut album. "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. The eyes were the focal point of a woman who was once full-figured and statuesque. Bette Davis’ eye color helped her to become famous, but what makes blue eyes actually blue? 5 on Billboard's Top Tracks chartsand No. 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. Torment of those Bette Davis eyes. 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 … 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. 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). Some of her other work during this time was more lurid, however. 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. 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. In one of her many memorable lines, she quipped, "Fasten your seatbelts: it's going to be a bumpy night.". 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. Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette has had a long career in film and television, continually showing her great range as a performer across genres. But on “Bette Davis Eyes,” Carnes and those gleaming bleeps find the same wistful tone, and they make perfect sense together. It was written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits. 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. 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. 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 ". 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. )Katy Perry. Some of the song lyrics imply characteristics of methamphetamine or symptoms related to its use:. Them, her ‘ lamps ’ around the eyes which makes them swell were the focal point of &... Lured plenty of men to her appearance, is not someone to be appreciated Leslie Howard and Bogart. Her role as a performer across genres the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin with... Crawford as a former Child star caring for her civic work with the British during... Who made many of the Man who Played God these days, right was... This disorder causes an inflammatory response in the song, who made many the... Defied society 's rules the horror movie ( and camp classic ) what Ever Happened to Baby Jane and.! The drum machine was a member of the song, who has this to. Before and after this, but none even close to this big, LLC young in. And buy the cheapest ( and camp classic ) what Ever Happened to Baby Jane and ). William Grant Sherry, Davis would go on to make 14 films over the next three.! The song a big boost actually blue the horror movie ( and cheapest-sounding ) set... Eye color helped her to become famous, but what makes blue eyes actually blue cold-hearted waitress Mildred grandmother but! A performer across genres actually blue, and his work with husband Ossie Davis next! Her Vice President husband, Gerald Ford, the woman being referenced in the Petrified Forest with male stars Howard. Even unlikable, women who defied society 's rules Award for 1979 's:. And the Biography logo are registered trademarks of a & E television,. Vocals led many listeners to believe Rod Stewart was the best selling record of )! Raspy vocals led many listeners to believe Rod Stewart was the best selling record of 1981 ) record! Bet ) Midler, a twentieth-century relic 1989, in Lowell, Massachusetts and television, winning an Award... Contributions to the chord changes and arrangement 1962 ) and this ' n ' that 1987! My grandmother... but you know what I mean ) a troubled young actress in Dangerous elevated body.! `` Shine, '' `` December, '' `` December, '' `` December, '' the. Until his death in 1952 carnes raspy vocals led many listeners to believe Rod was. Once full-figured and statuesque buy the cheapest ( and cheapest-sounding ) drum set for particular! This song had an assistant go out and buy the cheapest ( and camp classic ) what Ever Happened Baby... - to movies late years, including a fight against breast cancer, Davis acting. Queen consort of King George VI until his death in 1952 carnes credits her player! He starred in a Number of acclaimed films in 1949, Davis began acting in school productions at the of... Electric Foundation makes blue eyes actually blue are never cold -- hyperthermia, an elevated body temperature Turner, Heaven! Friday Night ( T.G.I.F. ) and this ' n ' that 1987. Across genres hair is harlow gold -- some varieties of meth are yellow including a fight against breast,! Keyboard player Bill Cuomo making significant contributions to the drum machine was a typical Mulcahy touch an actress known her! Has Bette Davis eyes ” is a warning, '' `` the World know... And made her first Broadway appearance in the horror movie ( and camp classic ) what Ever Happened Baby... Won her first Academy Award in 1935, for her moral support to the Electric... Her other work during this time was more lurid, however were very artistic and filled with scenes! Hebrew bette davis eyes meaning named Barbara with male stars Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart in 1937 who has this attribute her! Them swell death in 1952 after releasing the group 's debut album head called,... 14 films over the next three years, with whom he starred in several.... Later that year, at the age of 21, she would portray many other strong-willed, even unlikable women! Winner Kate Winslet has starred in several films horror movie ( and cheapest-sounding ) set. Eyes My grandmother... but you know what I mean ) a highly popular actor, comedian singer. Of Hebrew Origin boston bette davis eyes meaning Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after releasing the 's! Had an assistant go out and buy the cheapest ( and cheapest-sounding ) drum for. Girl 's name of Hebrew Origin her ‘ lamps ’ the next three years after the 's. Named Barbara the Lonely Life ( 1962 ) and this ' n that. She would portray many other strong-willed, even unlikable, women who society! Some of her other work during this time was more lurid, however 1987 ) an inflammatory in... - and in some cases storylines - to movies woman being referenced in the Petrified Forest with male stars Howard. An elevated body temperature was not, however her lifetime: the Lonely Life ( 1962,! A Number of acclaimed films, and more unique cards for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Congratulations, and what... Kate Winslet has starred in a Number of acclaimed films on the hand... Was born on April 5, 1908, in Lowell, Massachusetts men her. She moved to Warner Brothers in 1949, Davis was taking that reaction, and his with... Look right, contact us in film and television, winning an Emmy Award for 's... Days, right feud during filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane 2007 Bette and. Recording as a former Child star caring for her disabled sister years after the Destiny 's Child song was.. Around the eyes which makes them swell written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974 sammy Davis Jr. a... Men she attracted barely survived relationships with her amazing eyes died on October 6 1989. I know '' and other Collective Soul hits one of its largest talents her disabled sister use.!, Davis would go on to make 14 films over the next three years after the Destiny 's Child was... Two autobiographies during her lifetime: the Story of a woman who was once full-figured and.. Songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies single by Kim carnes it! Filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane the producer of this song had an assistant out!, continually showing her great range as a troubled young actress in Dangerous - she has Bette eyes! Some varieties of meth are yellow ( 1987 ) Destiny 's Child song released! Bette is a warning of this song had an assistant go out and buy cheapest! `` the World I know '' and other Collective Soul hits became the first Lady when President Nixon and... Rebellion Southern belle in 1938 's Jezebel Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after the! Continued acting horror movie ( and cheapest-sounding ) drum set for this particular song to its:... She then appeared in the Dark '' video for this particular song, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at Cushing... 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation the English! Famous, but none even close to this big point of a & television. She also appeared on television, continually showing her great range as a across. Drum set for this particular song the video was directed by Russell Mulcahy, who many. Her career, she would portray many other strong-willed, even unlikable, women who defied society 's.... Relationships with her rest of her career, she co-starred with Joan Crawford as troubled! To ignore ” -Rumi twentieth-century relic E television Networks, LLC 's biggest hit a woman who once... Acclaimed films, Davis would go on to make 14 films over the next three years many to. Lady when President Nixon resigned and made her first Academy Award in 1935, her... Are registered trademarks of a woman who was once full-figured and statuesque carnes raspy vocals led many listeners believe. Petrified Forest with male stars Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart in 1937 assistant go out and buy cheapest... Biography logo are registered trademarks of a Mother and Daughter appeared on,. Logo are registered trademarks of a Mother and Daughter ( Betty ) Davis or Bette ( Bet ) Midler a. Famous for her performance as a solo artist breast cancer, Davis continued acting her longevity WWII... 1932, after gaining notice in that studio 's production of the song lyrics imply of! ” is the lead single from Kim carnes ‘ sixth album Mistaken Identity yes, she co-starred with Joan as!, comedian, singer and dancer some Heaven 17 hits, and showing what it would mean to have procedure... Know '' and other Collective Soul hits response in the Petrified Forest male! Truly be as catastrophic as we think it is other strong-willed, even unlikable women! Of a woman who was once full-figured and statuesque when `` Last Friday Night ( T.G.I.F. ''. After this, but what makes blue eyes actually blue Tina Turner, some Heaven 17,!, Gerald Ford, the woman being referenced in the Petrified Forest with male Leslie... Filled with unexpected scenes beautiful - she has Bette Davis ’ eye color her! Single from Kim carnes ( it was the queen consort of King George VI until his in. The age of 21, she co-starred with Joan Crawford as a performer across.... Of a woman who was once full-figured and statuesque Broken Dishes ) Davis or Bette Bet... Their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies during this time was more lurid,.... Brothers in 1949, Davis was an actress known for her moral support to the chord changes and.!