Kim Carnes is an American singer-songwriter. She is noted for her distincti… Read Full Bio ↴Kim Carnes is an American singer-songwriter. She is noted for her distinctive, raspy voice which she attributes to many hours spent singing in smoky bars and clubs.
Born in Pasadena, California, Carnes pursued a songwriting career from an early age. She was a member of the New Christy Minstrels from 1966 to 1970. Kenny Rogers was also a member, and during this time Carnes met and married Dave Ellingson, with whom she would write most of her songs. For a short while in the early 1970s, she and Ellingson formed the folk duo Kim and Dave. Their track "Nobody Knows"" features on the Vanishing Point soundtrack, alongside another Carnes-Ellison track, "Sing Out for Jesus", performed by Big Mama Thornton.
Carnes began releasing solo music in the early 1970s. Her self-titled album in 1975 contained her first hit, You're a Part of Me" – later re-recorded as a duet with Gene Cotton. Carnes recorded her third album, Sailin', with producer Jerry Wexler. One track, "Love Comes From Unexpected Places", won best song at the 1977 American Song Festival and gained some additional notice after it was recorded by Barbra Streisand on her 1977 album, Superman.
In 1980, Carnes and Ellingson were invited to write a concept album for Kenny Rogers. Gideon follows the story of a fictional cowboy, with each track focusing on a moment in his life. Rogers asked Carnes to record "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" as a duet, and it became a major hit on the country and pop charts. Her cover version of the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles song "More Love" became her first solo hit single in 1980 when it reached the U.S. Top 10.
In 1981 she recorded the Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss song "Bette Davis Eyes". As the first single released from the album Mistaken Identity, it spent 9 weeks at number one on the US singles charts and became a worldwide hit. The single went on to become the #1 bestseller for the year and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It is second only to Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" (released later in 1981 and late enough to be the number one single of 1982), which spent 10 weeks at number one, as the biggest hit of the entire decade of the 1980s. In 1986, she recorded "Room Enough For Two," theme to CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam" starring Pam Dawber and the late Rebecca Schaeffer.
It is ironic that Carnes' best known and most popular song "Bette Davis Eyes" written in 1974 was originally rejected by Carnes. It was only after a new instrumental arrangement was done by Bill Cuomo that Carnes agreed to record it and it became a huge hit. Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song and approached Carnes and the songwriters to thank them. Davis wrote to Carnes after the song was released and stated that she was very pleased with the song as it made her seem very up to date with her grandson. She had Carnes sing the song live for her at a tribute held just before her death.
Carnes continued to record and released several albums into the 1990s. These releases failed to reach the level of success of "Bette Davis Eyes", but by this time she was a highly respected songwriter, and collaborated with such artists as Barbra Streisand. Carnes has written three number one country songs: “The Heart Won’t Lie”, a hit duet for Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer”, a huge hit duet she performed with Kenny Rogers, and “Make No Mistake She’s Mine”, a duet performed by Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap. The latter song was originally "Make No Mistake, He's Mine," a No. 51 Pop hit in 1984 for Carnes and Streisand featured on Streisand's album Emotion. Also in 1984, Carnes sang on the No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit "What About Me?" with Rogers and James Ingram.
Co-writing with others, Carnes has had songs covered by such country stars as Deana Carter, Kevin Sharp, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis and Tanya Tucker. She wrote "You Don't Love Me Anymore," a hit song on Tim McGraw's album A Place In The Sun.
In 2004, she re-appeared with a self-released album Chasin' Wild Trains.
In August 2005, her 1981 single “Draw Of The Cards” hit #1 on the internet radio request site FreezeFrameRadio.com.
She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Discography
* Rest on Me (1972)
* Kim Carnes (1975)
* Sailin' (1976)
* St Vincent's Court (1979)
* Romance Dance (1980) US #57
* Mistaken Identity (1981) US #1
* Voyeur (1982) US #49
* Cafe Racers (1983) US #97
* Barking at Airplanes (1985) US #48
* Light House (1986) US #116
* View from the House (1988)
* Checking Out The Ghosts (1991)
* Gypsy Honeymoon: Best of Kim Carnes (1993)
* Chasin' Wild Trains' (2004)
Born in Pasadena, California, Carnes pursued a songwriting career from an early age. She was a member of the New Christy Minstrels from 1966 to 1970. Kenny Rogers was also a member, and during this time Carnes met and married Dave Ellingson, with whom she would write most of her songs. For a short while in the early 1970s, she and Ellingson formed the folk duo Kim and Dave. Their track "Nobody Knows"" features on the Vanishing Point soundtrack, alongside another Carnes-Ellison track, "Sing Out for Jesus", performed by Big Mama Thornton.
Carnes began releasing solo music in the early 1970s. Her self-titled album in 1975 contained her first hit, You're a Part of Me" – later re-recorded as a duet with Gene Cotton. Carnes recorded her third album, Sailin', with producer Jerry Wexler. One track, "Love Comes From Unexpected Places", won best song at the 1977 American Song Festival and gained some additional notice after it was recorded by Barbra Streisand on her 1977 album, Superman.
In 1980, Carnes and Ellingson were invited to write a concept album for Kenny Rogers. Gideon follows the story of a fictional cowboy, with each track focusing on a moment in his life. Rogers asked Carnes to record "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" as a duet, and it became a major hit on the country and pop charts. Her cover version of the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles song "More Love" became her first solo hit single in 1980 when it reached the U.S. Top 10.
In 1981 she recorded the Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss song "Bette Davis Eyes". As the first single released from the album Mistaken Identity, it spent 9 weeks at number one on the US singles charts and became a worldwide hit. The single went on to become the #1 bestseller for the year and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It is second only to Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" (released later in 1981 and late enough to be the number one single of 1982), which spent 10 weeks at number one, as the biggest hit of the entire decade of the 1980s. In 1986, she recorded "Room Enough For Two," theme to CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam" starring Pam Dawber and the late Rebecca Schaeffer.
It is ironic that Carnes' best known and most popular song "Bette Davis Eyes" written in 1974 was originally rejected by Carnes. It was only after a new instrumental arrangement was done by Bill Cuomo that Carnes agreed to record it and it became a huge hit. Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song and approached Carnes and the songwriters to thank them. Davis wrote to Carnes after the song was released and stated that she was very pleased with the song as it made her seem very up to date with her grandson. She had Carnes sing the song live for her at a tribute held just before her death.
Carnes continued to record and released several albums into the 1990s. These releases failed to reach the level of success of "Bette Davis Eyes", but by this time she was a highly respected songwriter, and collaborated with such artists as Barbra Streisand. Carnes has written three number one country songs: “The Heart Won’t Lie”, a hit duet for Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer”, a huge hit duet she performed with Kenny Rogers, and “Make No Mistake She’s Mine”, a duet performed by Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap. The latter song was originally "Make No Mistake, He's Mine," a No. 51 Pop hit in 1984 for Carnes and Streisand featured on Streisand's album Emotion. Also in 1984, Carnes sang on the No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit "What About Me?" with Rogers and James Ingram.
Co-writing with others, Carnes has had songs covered by such country stars as Deana Carter, Kevin Sharp, Sawyer Brown, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis and Tanya Tucker. She wrote "You Don't Love Me Anymore," a hit song on Tim McGraw's album A Place In The Sun.
In 2004, she re-appeared with a self-released album Chasin' Wild Trains.
In August 2005, her 1981 single “Draw Of The Cards” hit #1 on the internet radio request site FreezeFrameRadio.com.
She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Discography
* Rest on Me (1972)
* Kim Carnes (1975)
* Sailin' (1976)
* St Vincent's Court (1979)
* Romance Dance (1980) US #57
* Mistaken Identity (1981) US #1
* Voyeur (1982) US #49
* Cafe Racers (1983) US #97
* Barking at Airplanes (1985) US #48
* Light House (1986) US #116
* View from the House (1988)
* Checking Out The Ghosts (1991)
* Gypsy Honeymoon: Best of Kim Carnes (1993)
* Chasin' Wild Trains' (2004)
Mistaken Identity
Kim Carnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did she tell you it's over
Did she throw you out in the night
And here you come to your other lover
Thinkin' that a restless heart
Will get you high again
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
You won't find me when you come callin'
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Did you think I'd be waiting for you
Did you think I'd be holding my breath
To hear the songs of your footsteps
Sayin' its all over with her
And now you need me
Now you need me
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
You won't find me when you come callin'
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
So don't try to call me anymore with your lies
Don't be a fool and make the
Mistake of thinking I still love you
Oh anyone can tell I'm find
And I don't need you
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
You won't find me when you come callin'
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Did she throw you out in the night
And here you come to your other lover
Thinkin' that a restless heart
Will get you high again
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Did you think I'd be waiting for you
Did you think I'd be holding my breath
To hear the songs of your footsteps
Sayin' its all over with her
And now you need me
Now you need me
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
You won't find me when you come callin'
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
So don't try to call me anymore with your lies
Don't be a fool and make the
Mistake of thinking I still love you
Oh anyone can tell I'm find
And I don't need you
But I've change the number
Of my telephone
You won't find me when you come callin'
And I'll say
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
Must be a case of mistaken identity
I'm not the girl you want me to be
In the song Mistaken Identity by Kim Carnes, the lyrics speak to a person who has been thrown out by his significant other and is looking for comfort from his other lover. However, the singer has already moved on and changed her number, making it clear that she doesn't want to be a part of his situation anymore. She addresses him in the chorus and says that he must be mistaken, as she is not the person he wants her to be. She is no longer waiting for him, and wants him to move on as well.
Through the lyrics of this song, Kim Carnes expresses the idea that people can change and move on, even in the midst of a difficult situation. She encourages the person to stop relying on her, as she won't be there anymore. The song is also a message to anyone who has ever experienced a similar situation, that it is important to stand up for oneself and not let others take advantage of them.
Overall, Mistaken Identity is an empowering song that encourages listeners to move on from toxic relationships and to stand up for what they believe in. It shows that people can and do change and that one shouldn't rely on someone else's love to feel complete.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KIM CARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@vitordragon
A sad and sexy song at the same time! I just love Kim´s voice. My youth in the early 80s.
@robinislip597
Still a Beautiful album to this day
Thank you Kim Carnes you are a Blessed gift to the world
@miraclemorgan1061
Perfect Song, perfect Timing!
@BarkleyConners
I just found my "Mistaken Identity Collection" cd on Razor & Tie in a drawer. It still holds up.
@elisepollydee2128
after all these years..still a great song.
@oliverchris9460
I love the album photography, some kind of "intriguing". When I purchased this album in 1981, I did fall in love with Kim.....until now, 2020 and beyond. And this 2021 (April 1981), it is turning its 40 anniversary.
@kenperk9854
Can't believe it has only 27k views. Incredible. Kim's best song followed by Draw of the Card, When I'm Away From You, More Love, Hit and Run, Don't Call It Love
@SAHogan-ih3bo
KP: Sorry, pal, but you missed the elephant in the room: "Miss You Tonite."
@doozerace
No "Bette Davis Eyes"? Damn!
@derhundvorderwelt
Draw of the Card,
is her best song