"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes

Oh eighties

I just realized that in all of my time as a "blogger", I have yet to write about a hit from the Eighties. In my opinion the Eighties was the MOST significant music era. Bands like Heart, KISS, Bon Jovi, Madonna and Guns N' Roses reigned supreme. Music from the Eighties has a certain "je ne sais qoui". Songs like "Don't Stop Believing" can make you scream your vocal chords hoarse while songs like "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" can bring tears to your eyes. Songs today never match the intensity and power of those Eighties hits.

Last night I was sitting at The Cactus, (A bar, not a plant),  listening to the live entertainment (who is amazing by the way - check him out), when he started to play "Bette Davis Eyes". I've heard this song countless times but always seem to forget about it. This morning I finally remembered it when scanning through my cell phone notes, (yes, I keep notes in my phone on songs I want to download). Every once in awhile you stumble on a song that just does it for you. This song has literally been on repeat for the last five hours of my life and I'm still loving it.

The ever so lovely Bette Davis

The song was originally written in 1974 by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss, but made famous by Kim Carnes in 1981. For those of you who don't know, Bette Davis was an actress most famous in the 1930's for playing a variety of roles - mainly strong, liberated women. While not traditionally beautiful she did possess huge, doe-like, bedroom eyes. Jack Warner described Bette as "having a magic quality that transformed this sometimes bland and not beautiful little girl into a great artist." Davis has commented, "Hollywood always wanted me to be pretty, but I fought for realism." This is further proof that beauty without personality is meaningless. Being yourself will make you more beautiful than any makeup or hair product ever could. Eye candy is nice but let's be honest, at the end of the day it's not as fun to take home a trophy as it is to take home someone that can make you laugh.

This is how I bend over

Davis actually wrote Carnes and the writers of the song to let them know she was a fan of the song, and thanked them for "making her a part of modern times." Although I always prefer men over women vocalists Carnes and her raspy growl perfectly suit this song. The song describes a femme fatale, with "Greta Garbo's stand off sighs" and "Bette Davis Eyes"." The woman in the song is "ferocious", "precocious" and "can make a pro blush". Although the song isn't about Bette Davis it certainly describes the type of woman she was known for being. It talks about a woman that uses her sexuality to her advantage - something I think every woman should do. I believe you get a better response from people by wearing a push up bra rather than burning one. Shake your head if you want but I've never been a girl that has gotten into the women's liberation movement because my motto has always been, "Do what you can with what you have." ;)


P.S. Found an amazing cover of this song by Brandon Flowers (Killers) --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kg8hxn8myw



Her hair is Harlowe gold

Her lips sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She's got Bette Davis eyes


She'll turn her music on you
You won't have to think twice
She's pure as New York snow
She got Bette Davis eyes

And she'll tease you
She'll unease you
All the better just to please you


She's precocious and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
She got Greta Garbo stand off sighs
She's got Bette Davis eyes


She'll let you take her home
It whets her appetite
She'll lay you on her throne
She got Bette Davis eyes

She'll take a tumble on you
Roll you like you were dice
Until you come out 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


And she'll tease you
She'll unease you
All the better just to please ya


She's precocious, 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


She'll tease you
She'll unease you
Just to please ya
She's got Bette Davis eyes

She'll expose you, when she snows you
She knows ya
She's got Bette Davis eyes

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"The Number of the Beast" - Djali Zwan (Cover of Iron Maiden)

I'm not opposed to metal or hard rock. I think that if you are open to it you'll find that even if you hate a specific genre, there's always a few gems to be found within it, (yes... even top 40 I�ll admit). I wouldn't call myself a fan of Iron Maiden, but I do like a few of their songs. One song particularly I've always liked is"Number of the Beast", not just because of the rhythm but also because of the symbolism and story behind it. And let's be honest - anything taboo or spooky is always fucking fascinating.  

The song is inspired by a nightmare bandleader, Steve Harris, had after watching the movie Damien: Omen II and also by the storyline of the poem "Tam O' Shanter". The ancient Scottish poem tells the story of a drunk man who sees a strange vision on his way home from the bar. The opening verse of the original Iron Maiden song features scripture from The Book of Revelation:

"Woe to you O earth and sea for the Devil sends the beast with wrath because he knows the time is short" in Chapter 12, Verse 12; "Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast for it is a human number/its number is six hundred and sixty six," in Chapter 13, Verse 18.

Maiden was widely criticized by religious groups as devil worshipers following the release of this song. There were many rumors and weird coincidences associated with the recording of the song and album "Number of the Beast". Apparently the band manager crashed his car while they were recording this song and the total amount for his repairs was $666. The song reached 18 on the UK Charts, (6+6+6 = 18). Rumors circulated that while the band was in studio recording  the album there were creepy occurrences like strange noises, lights turning off by themselves etc. 

The short lived super group Djali Zwan covered "The Number of the Beast" and their version was featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Spun". Djali Zwan was formed by Smashing Pumpkins lead singer, Billy Corgan, and featured members from Slint, Tortoise, Chavez and A Perfect Circle. This song marked the first time Matt Sweeney stepped up to sing for Djali Zwan. Sweeney and his whiny drawl were the perfect choice for this mellowed out version of the legendary song. I love when artists take a fast-paced, heavy song and slow it down.  It gives the song a whole new identity.  In this version you are much more aware of the lyrics and the story the song is telling. 

I left alone, my mind was blank, I needed time to think

To get the memories from my mind
What did I see? Can I believe that what I saw
That night was real and not just fantasy?


Just what I saw in my old dreams
Were they reflections of my warped mind staring back at me
'Cause in my dreams, it's always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair

Night was black, was no use holding back
'Cause I just had to see, was someone watching me?
In the mist, dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real or just some kind of Hell?

6 6 6, the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released
Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry, hands held to the sky
In the night, the fires are burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan's work is done
6 6 6, the number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight
This can't go on, I must inform the law
Can this still be real, or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes
Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid their eyes
6 6 6, the number of the beast
6 6 6, the one for you and me

I'm coming back, I will return
And I'll possess your body, and I'll make you burn
I have the fire, I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take its course

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