It’s been more than 40 years since Pat Benatar first rocked the stage with his gritty, powerful voice, skintight spandex suits, and a refreshingly fierce demeanor that rejected the notion that rock ‘n’ roll was strictly a boys’ club. I was.
Now she’s 70 years old, but her star career is just beginning. In November, the four-time Grammy winner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside her husband and longtime collaborator Neil Girard. That same month, she and her 1982 married Girardot invinciblereimagining their jukebox music Romeo and Juliet.
Benatar, who grew up on Long Island and briefly worked at a bank before his music career, said in Rockhall’s inaugural address.
In honor of her 70th birthday on Tuesday, let’s take a look back at some of Benatar’s most important tracks.
“Heartbreaker”
The glittering rock anthem that served as her breakthrough single, “Heartbreaker,” was a sleeper hit from her 1979 debut album. in the heat of the night.
Although it failed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 upon release, the song remains one of Benatar’s most famous songs, and she told Vulture in December to define her career. He says he thinks it’s a song.
“This is the culmination of three and a half years of trying to convince everyone of what I am talking about. They didn’t understand until I did. [Giraldo]was the person I was looking for,” she said. [Giraldo] played. ”
“Hit your best shot”
When released from the 1980 album, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” became Benatar’s first US Top 10 hit. crime of passion.
Benatar said to the Vulture She still considers the song “everybody’s favorite” and “a great song”, and Starr said its meaning has changed for her in the wake of the rise in gun violence and mass shootings in America. He said he would never continue singing.Travel.
“I stopped doing it for multiple reasons. I’m too young to sing. People get mad when I say this, but you have to understand that you have to believe it.” You have to mean it,” she said. I’m not going to sing it to you, I can’t do it, it’s just a sacrifice for me, I’m not saying you can’t find it, do it again.”
as she explained United States of America today In July: “[The title] It’s tongue-in-cheek, but a line needs to be drawn. You can’t say that word out loud with a smile. I’m not going to go on stage and go to the soapbox — I’m going to the legislator — but that’s my modest contribution to the protest. tough. ”
“Love is a battlefield”
War becomes the ultimate metaphor for love on this single from Benatar’s 1983 album. live from earth
The song contains Benatar’s signature war cry, “We are young!” — has become popular among a new generation of fans as well, due to its frequent use in media such as Gree, 30 rock When 13 Going On 30.
“This is why we want to have variety, otherwise the songs will remain locked in time. I never want. The definition of a song, or people’s definition of a song, is Stay solid,” Benatar told The Vulture. “It’s a creature — every time it appears in another incarnation it enhances what it means to you. It changes the meaning. That’s what it is.” 13 Going On 30 did it for me That’s the spark. If it happens organically, which it should, that’s what inspires you to continue.”
“Shadows of the Night”
This track was written by DL Byron for the 1980 film. Times Squarebut did not make the cut, and found state success only after Benatar restored her own version for her 1982 album get nervous.
Set during World War II, the music video stars Benatar as The Riveter, who dreams of fighting the Nazis, and co-stars Bill Paxton and Judge Reinhold.
“invincible”
Lead single from Benatar’s 1985 album Seven the Hard Way‘Invincible’ saw silver screen success when it was used as a movie theme The Legend of Billie Jean.
Benatar told Vulture that the top 10 hit, which she considers to be her most anthemic, is “You can’t stay innocent/Let’s stand up and face our enemies/It’s a matter of death or death/We becomes invincible.”
“‘Invincible’ is a big hit, especially now, thanks to the Me Too movement,” says Benatar.
