Search - Kim Carnes :: Bette Davis Eyes 2002

Basically, "BDE '97" Revisited

J. Collins | 02/19/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoyed the import remixes of "Bette Davis Eyes" from a few years back, this disc will not disappoint. The main reason I can't recommend it to all Carnes fans is simple: these mixes are an acquired taste. Though this disc includes 8 versions of the song, all featuring Carnes' vocals, it's neither imaginative or unique. When BDE originally charted in '81, dance remixes for Pop artists were still relatively rare, and though "Draw Of The Cards" (also from '81s "Mistaken Identity") was offered in an extended vinyl version, BDE was not.Flash forward sixteen years or so to 1997, when the track was re-issued in a handful of uptempo remixes on EMI Records, Australia. The original track's beats per minute was a bit slow for the average dance floor (approx 110 bpm), but this was drastically sped up to around 130 bpm for the Oz remixes. The original backing music was non-existant, and the synthesized replacement tracks were fairly generic. To be fair, the remixes were a hit in several countries, though I don't believe they charted in the U.S.This new collection of mixes is quite similar, though it's more Trance than generic Techno. To their credit, the various remixers for this disc DO bring Carnes' voice up in the mix so you can hear her clearly. But they also emphasize the breathiness of her vocals, and very little of her lower range growl. Several of the tracks speed up her voice digitally, so that she sings (on key) to a faster tempo. This effect sounded eerie to me, but might appeal to others.Of the eight tracks included, three are edits: Radio Edit (3:10), Dance Radio Mix (3:05), and the Single Cut (3:10). These are pretty similar to each other, though the backing tracks vary in arrangement. There are also five longer cuts: the Longy & Tron Remix (5:51), DJ Sam-pling's Club Mix (7:35), Big World Extended (4:51), the Over-X-Posure Crew Mix (5:55), and the R Wood vs. DJ Spacecase Remix (6:20). The extended mixes have more variation in tempo and song structure...some repeat vocal snippets over and over, some have long instrumental breaks. As I mentioned, it all sounds very Trancey, and I'd guess that the average BPM is 125-130. If I had to pick a favorite mix, it'd probably be the "Big World Extended" version. It starts out like a routine thumpathon, but gradually integrates the basic elements of the original song. I love an imaginative remix as much as the next DJ, but with a classic song like BDE, I think it's important to keep the basic song structure intact.If you're a diehard KC fan, you might want this disc simply to be a completist. If you like KC and you get into modern dance music, I think it's a safe bet. Fans of her more Rock and Pop oriented material probably won't be missing much if they pass on this CD. This release (on longtime HI-NRG label ZYX Records) is packaged very plainly with a single (pictureless) title insert card that includes remix titles, times and production credits."