Kim Carnes is explaining how she actually feels about JoJo Siwa‘s cowl of her hit tune, “Bette Davis Eyes” … and solely TMZ has her full assertion.

Kim tells TMZ … “After I first noticed my unique efficiency positioned side-by-side—after which layered on prime of—a brand new model of ‘Bette Davis Eyes,’ I can solely communicate to the way it initially struck me. The phrasing, the tone, even the little inflections—all of it felt a bit too shut.”

She continues … “I am all for feminine artists lifting one another up. This enterprise could be brutal, and I strongly reject the type of hate and private assaults I’ve seen on-line—whether or not directed at me, JoJo Siwa, or anybody else. That type of conduct doesn’t belong in music, or wherever.”

Kim provides … “On the identical time, I consider artists have the best to talk brazenly about how one thing makes them really feel—particularly when it’s as private as your voice. Lately, our voice is likely one of the few issues we really personal. So when it appears like your voice is being borrowed, it strikes a deeply private chord.”

JoJo launched her model final week and Kim notes … “Bette Davis Eyes has been lined many occasions—by Kylie, Taylor, Gwyneth, and others—and I’ve all the time appreciated listening to completely different interpretations. When Donna Weiss, Jackie DeShannon’s co-writer, first introduced me the tune in 1980, I noticed an opportunity to make it my very own.

“I got here up with a model of the melody that was distinctive to me and my voice. We introduced collectively an unimaginable group of musicians, together with Invoice Cuomo—who, amongst different issues, got here up with that unforgettable synth lick—and we recorded the whole monitor reside in a single take. No overdubs, no manipulation. What you hear on that file is what we performed. And the end result was magic.”

Kim tells us … “I am proud that my model of BDE nonetheless resonates, with over 130 million streams a 12 months. And I am excited to be releasing a brand new EP of remixes quickly, that includes some superb artists from the dance world.”

She concludes … “I’ve all the time tried to guard and rejoice the legacy of this recording—and that’s actually all I need to say.”