Kim Carnes is openly sharing her thoughts regarding JoJo Siwa‘s rendition of her iconic song “Bette Davis Eyes” and exclusively provided her full statement to TMZ. In her response, she elaborates on the emotions and artistic sentiments that arise when a beloved song is interpreted anew.
Kim explains to TMZ… “When I first viewed my original performance juxtaposed with a fresh interpretation of ‘Bette Davis Eyes,’ I can only articulate how it initially impacted my feelings. The phrasing, the tone, and even the subtle inflections all felt a little too reminiscent of my own rendition.”
She continues, stating … “I wholeheartedly support female artists uplifting one another. The music industry can be incredibly harsh, and I strongly reject the wave of hate and personal attacks I’ve witnessed online—whether directed at myself, JoJo Siwa, or anyone else. Such behavior has no place in music, or in any aspect of life.”
Kim adds … “At the same time, I believe artists have the right to express candidly how something affects them—especially when it involves something as personal as one’s voice. Nowadays, our voice is one of the few things we truly own. Thus, when it feels like your voice is being borrowed, it strikes a profoundly personal chord within.”
JoJo released her version last week, and Kim notes … “Bette Davis Eyes has been covered numerous times—by notable artists such as Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow, and many others—and I have always appreciated hearing different interpretations. When Donna Weiss, co-writer with Jackie DeShannon, first introduced me to the song in 1980, I realized it provided me with an opportunity to make it uniquely my own.
“I developed a version of the melody that was distinctive to my style and my voice. We assembled an incredible team of musicians, including Bill Cuomo—who, among other contributions, created that unforgettable synth riff—and we recorded the entire track live in a single take. There were no overdubs, no manipulation involved. What you hear on that record is exactly what we performed. The outcome was pure magic.”
Kim informs us … “I take pride in the fact that my version of BDE continues to resonate, garnering over 130 million streams each year. Additionally, I am thrilled to be releasing a new EP of remixes soon, featuring some amazing artists from the dance music scene.”
She concludes … “I have always endeavored to protect and celebrate the legacy of this recording—and that’s truly all I wish to convey.”
Previously, Kim posted and then deleted a passionate take on the cover, but now she delves deeper with a more nuanced response in this latest statement.
