Song#: 1153
Date: 08/21/1982
Debut: 71
Peak: 29
Weeks: 12
Genre: Sythpop
Pop Bits: Carnes got stuck in the difficult (but enviable) position of trying to follow-up a #1 album ("Mistaken Identity") and a Grammy-winning #1 song that became 1981's biggest chart single ("Bette Davis Eyes"). Keeping with the dark-synth feel of "Bette," Carnes recorded this title-track to her next LP "Voyeur," which she co-wrote with her husband Dave Ellingson and keyboardist Duane Hitchings. Upon recording the song, Carnes and Co. said that they had the same special feeling as they did after recording "Bette." They may have had the same great feeling, but record buyers did not. The single barely made the Top 30 and it caused the album to stall at a lowly #49.
ReduxReview: I've always been torn by this album and single. On one hand, it seems to me that Carnes may have been pushed off the synthpop ledge by her label because of the success of "Bette." If that worked, then repeat and apply to a full album (whereas "Mistaken Identity" was diverse in sound). I think it was a major misstep and it played out as such with record buyers. On the other hand, I absolutely loved this song and album. I consider the LP a dark, synthpop masterpiece. Carnes fully dove into this project and embraced the dark side. She also wrote/co-wrote eight of the ten songs which was a step up from her four contributions to "Mistaken Identity." It's a consistent listen from beginning to end and remains a favorite of mine. But, it kind of killed Carnes momentum and it basically took away her shot a pop superstardom. So I'm torn because the whole project was the completely wrong move, yet I'm so glad it exists as I dearly love it.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: Despite the failure of the single, it was enough to catch the attention of Grammy voters. Carnes was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
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I completely agree that this was a phenomenal song/single. I don't agree that it hampered her career. What I think killed nearly all the momentum from BDE was the godawful follow-up, "Draw Of The Cards". I would be hard-pressed to identify a worse follow-up to a number one song than that mess. The much better follow-up to that song was the far better title track from the album, but by then, the damage was done. From my perspective no song ever did more damage to a promising career than "Draw Of The Cards."
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I talk about what a poor follow-up "Draw" was on that song's post. It definitely did kill momentum, but I think she could have overcome that thanks to the #1 album and single and Grammy. So for me "Voyeur" was kind of the nail in the coffin. However, I still love the "Voyeur" album and I think it was too harshly judged and totally overlooked. Thanks for the comment!
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