The Biggest Song of the 1980s Spent 9 Straight Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

The Biggest Song of the 1980s Spent 9 Straight Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Image via Scott Appel/startraksphoto.com By  Ryan Louis Mantilla Published 1 minute ago

Ryan is a lifestyle and culture journalist born and raised in the Philippines. He primarily covers film, television, music, and all things pop culture. Beyond writing, you can find him buried in thriller novels or off exploring the world on occasion. He deeply romanticizes a slow, peaceful life — even though he’s almost always drowning in deadlines (insert skull emoji here).

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Throughout Kim Carnes' music career, she has delivered some of the most beloved tracks in her discography. These include "Voyeur," "More Love," "Invisible Hands," "Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer," and more. For avid fans, these tracks might top the list of the best Kim Carnes songs. For casual listeners, however, there's no denying the impact of "Bette Davis Eyes," especially when it was released in 1981. The sultry, synth-driven single from Carnes' sixth studio album, Mistaken Identity, wasn't just a chart-topping hit — it became her hallmark song. Its unforgettable melody and Carnes' distinctive raspy voice brought a unique edge to the track, making it one of the defining sounds of the early '80s. Of course, its lyrics are what sealed the deal for everyone, bringing to life the woman who's "precocious," "knows just what it takes to make a pro blush," and has, well, "Bette Davis Eyes."

Released on March 10, 1981, the hit song — which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks — was originally written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. That’s not to say Carnes didn’t write her own material; on Mistaken Identity in particular, she had solo and co-written tracks like “Hit and Run,” “Draw of the Cards,” “Break the Rules Tonite (Out of School),” “Still Hold On,” “Miss You Tonite,” and the title track. And while she didn’t have a hand in writing her biggest song ever, her performance and total embodiment of it made it feel as though it were written especially for her. Though the song has been covered by several artists over the years, as cliché as it may sound, no one has quite matched the original's charisma. And that’s something that truly sets her performance apart.

Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" Became a Beloved Queer Anthem Years Later

“Bette Davis Eyes” proved to be not only Carnes’ biggest hit, but one of the biggest tracks of the ‘80s. Besides topping the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks, the single became Billboard’s biggest hit of 1981. Carnes currently has two GRAMMY wins under her belt, with one win owed to the single, for which she won Record of the Year during the 24th Annual GRAMMY Awards. It was also nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, with the album receiving a nod for Album of the Year. But the song was more than just a radio hit and a fan favorite at the time; it is also a classic among millennials and Gen Zs decades later.

“Bette Davis Eyes” may not have been intended as a queer anthem. Still, it has been embraced by LGBTQ+ audiences over the years, presumably because of the lyrics themselves and Carnes’ entire delivery of the song. There’s an edge to her performance that gives it a sapphic undertone. She’s not queer herself, per se, but her lyrics are always open to interpretation. And however the lyrics were intended, they suggest otherwise. Though the song doesn’t specifically reveal the narrator’s sexual identity, the female narrator describes the femme fatale so endearingly despite her mystery and potential danger. The alluring woman in question is described as having lips like a “sweet surprise” and is likened to actresses such as Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, and ultimately, Bette Davis. A multi-faceted song at its best, it can also come off as a warning to be wary of the woman, though the description makes her irresistibly captivating despite the risk.

Related 50 Years Ago, David Bowie Released a Song Originally Written for Elvis Presley — He Turned It Down and Bowie Made It a Hit

This precious hit could have belonged to The King.

Posts 7 By  Fiona MacPherson-Amador Nov 18, 2025

What Bette Davis Really Thought About Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes"

The inspiration behind the song was, of course, American actress Bette Davis, a popular figure during the Golden Age of Hollywood. An icon, Davis is known for her starring roles in All About Eve, Jezebel, Mr. Skeffington, Dark Victory, The Letter, The Petrified Forest, The Little Foxes, and Dangerous. More importantly, Davis is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses not only of her time but in the entire history of Hollywood, who is also famous for her prominent, wide eyes trademark. Davis, who was 73 at the time of the release of “Bette Davis Eyes,” joined Carnes for a photo shoot for People.

She also expressed her fondness for the song, calling it “terrific.” She said in an interview: “I was flabbergasted, and I thought it was fun, and I thought the words were pretty terrific. As a matter of fact, I wrote the girl who wrote the words and asked her how she knew me this well. But the big thrill of that was the reaction of my grandson, Ashley. That his grandmother was in the rock ‘n’ roll area, with a record … he looked at me completely differently from then on.”

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