Kim Carnes vs. JoJo Siwa | Head 2 Head

In the 27th edition of Head 2 Head (2025), Kim Carnes and JoJo Siwa contend for the best rendition of “Bette Davis Eyes.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song and compare their performances.  After deliberation, we decide which performance is the best or moves us more subjectively.  In the 27th edition of Head 2 Head (2025), Kim Carnes and JoJo Siwa contend for the best rendition of “Bette Davis Eyes”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Kim Carnes, “Bette Davis Eyes” 

“Her hands are never cold / She’s got Bette Davis eyes.” “Bette Davis Eyes” is a quintessential 1980s song, popularized by Kim Carnes. Penned by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, DeShannon originally recorded and released it in 1975.  Carnes’ definitive version arrived in 1981, appearing on her Grammy-nominated album, Mistaken Identity. Val Garay produced the iconic song where “She’ll turn her music on you,” and “You won’t have to think twice!” The eyes mentioned throughout the song belonged to the legendary Hollywood actress Bette Davis (1908 – 1989).  “Bette Davis Eyes” spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Nominated for three Grammys, it won two: Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 24^th Annual Grammy Awards.

“She’ll take a tumble on you / Roll you like you were dice 🎲.” Word! Kim Carnes eats on “Bette Davis Eyes”.  Her distinct, raspy vocals perfectly capture the memorable, novel lyrics and tuneful melodies.  It’s not all about pitch on “Bette Davis Eyes.” Sometimes, there’s playful, talk-singing.  Among the playful moments are “She’s precocious and she knows just / What it takes to make a pro blush,” as well as the variation, “She’s ferocious…” Both lyrics appear from the unforgettable, varied choruses:

“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 means to make a pro blush

She got Greta Carbo stand off sighs

She got Bette Davis eyes.”

Beyond her memorable vocal performance, the musical accompaniment shines too.  This superbly produced record thrives on its quintessential 1980s music cues: guitars, keyboards (synths), drums, drum programming, etc. The minute you hear that riff, you know you’re listening to those Bette Davis eyes! A striking instrumental for a striking oldie! “Bette Davis Eyes” is one of the best pop songs ever.

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2. JoJo Siwa, “Bette Davis Eyes”

Sometimes, it’s best to let classics be classics. Someone should’ve advised JoJo Siwa of this.  But, the polarizing media personality decided to record her version of “Bette Davis Eyes”. “Bette Davis Eyes” is a quintessential 1980s song, popularized by Kim Carnes, and originally recorded by one of its songwriters, Jackie DeShannon (Donna Weiss is the other songwriter). To recap, this number one hit earned two highly coveted Grammys (Record and Song of the Year). Siwa had huge shoes to fill.  She didn’t make the landing, unfortunately.

Carnes’ definitive version features her distinct, raspy vocals.  It is a playful, novel performance. JoJo Siwa also brings the rasp and playfulness to “Bette Davis Eyes.” A lot of rasp… too much rasp… Her vocals are incredibly coarse, and the pitch is imperfect.  The musical backdrop is updated for the 2020s, as expected.  It still features the familiar riffs of the ‘80s version.  The modernized production isn’t enough to save Siwa’s cover.  The song doesn’t suit her, in my opinion. It is tough to cover such a popular song, something JoJo has discovered with the widespread criticism she’s received. The criticism for “Bette Davis Eyes” was warranted. One source of criticism was Kim Carnes (🫢 🤭), who told TMZ, “The phrasing, the tone, even the little inflections—it all felt a bit too close.” I’ll leave it there, for now.

@itsjojosiwa

Bette Davis Eyes is out now everywhere you listen to music🤍✨ Thank you for the love on the song, I can’t believe it hit #1 on the charts in the U.K.🥹 that is absolutely crazy. Thank you so very much. I see the support and I appreciate you all🤍

♬ Bette Davis Eyes – JoJo Siwa

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, who captured those “Bette Davis Eyes” the best? Was it the cover that turned the definitive version by Kim Carnes? Or, was it the cover of the definitive version by JoJo Siwa? This one is easy peasy. I agreed with Carnes’ criticisms of JoJo’s cover. I would add the obvious: without a doubt, 🏅 Kim, you sang it better. But, you didn’t need me to tell you that, did you? Even if Siwa had a chance in this head-to-head, the accolades the Carnes earned, and the dominance of that song would still be far too much to overcome.

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