Pat Benatar was one of the big female rock stars of the 1980s. She scored a ton of hits, some are considered to be among the most memorable from that decade. Here’s her complete list of 80s songs, in order of release.
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Who is Pat Benatar?
Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski; January 10, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, and four-time Grammy Award winner.
Top 10 Pat Benatar Songs of the 1980s
Pat Benatar is one of the most beloved singers in music history. Her powerhouse vocals and performances were a huge part of what made her so successful during the 1980s, when she released her first five albums. While many fans are familiar with those five albums, there are some other gems that deserve to be heard. So we’ve put together a list of our favorite Pat Benatar songs from the 1980s:
1) We Belong
American rock singer Pat Benatar, released through Legacy Music Group on October 16, 1984, as the lead single from her sixth studio album, Tropico (1984).It matched the success of “Love Is a Battlefield” on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States, peaking at #5. It reached #3 on Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks chart and #34 on the Adult Contemporary.
The song earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance alongside Linda Ronstadt, Tina Turner, Madonna, and Whitney Houston. It was awarded a Gold certification in Canada for sales in excess of 50,000 units.
2) Love Is a Battlefield
Pat Benatar, recorded and released on September 12, 1983, as a single from Benatar’s live album Live from Earth (1983), though the song itself was a studio recording. The song was ranked at number 30 in VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s.
It reached number one on the Australian singles chart in February 1984 and remained there for five weeks, becoming the 11th biggest-selling single of the year. In the Netherlands, the song topped the charts for four weeks; it reached number two on the 1984 year-end chart. The song was re-released in the United Kingdom in March 1985 and reached number 17. It was awarded a gold certification in Canada as well.
The single was unlike most of Benatar’s previous work, as it featured an electronic dance element, but guitars and drums were still present. In 1984, the song won Benatar her fourth consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
3) Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Pat Benatar and written by Eddie Schwartz. In 1980, it was released as the second single from her second album Crimes of Passion, which became her biggest-selling album.
“Hit Me with Your Best Shot” sold well over a million copies in the U.S., achieving a gold certification by the RIAA. The song is one of Benatar’s most recognizable tracks. Heard at many baseball and soccer games, the song has been featured on many compilation albums, including both multi-artist works as well as those just focusing on Benatar (such as 10 Great Songs and Greatest Hits).
4) Fire and Ice
Pat Benatar, released on July 6, 1981 as the lead single off her third album, Precious Time.Tom Kelly, and Scott Sheets. It peaked at #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. The song also won Benatar her second Grammy award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1982.
5) Shadows of the Night
It came out in September 1982 as the lead single from her fourth studio album, “Shadows of the Night” garnered Benatar her third Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1983.
6) Invincible
“Invincible” is the Grammy-nominated lead single from Pat Benatar’s sixth studio album Seven the Hard Way (1985), released on July 6, 1985. The song was a huge hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 14, 1985. The song was also used prominently in the 2002 film Hysterical Blindness starring Uma Thurman.
7) You Better Run
Pat Benatar recorded “You Better Run” for her second album, Crimes of Passion (1980). The song was released as the album’s lead single, withOut-A-Touch ” as the B-side. It peaked at number 42 on the U.S.
8) All Fired Up
“All Fired Up” is a song written by and first released by Kerryn Tolhurst of the Rattling Sabers in 1987 which charted nationally, peaking at number 94 on the Australian Singles Chart.[1][2][3] It became much better known when covered by Pat Benatar for her album, Wide Awake in Dreamland, and released as the lead single in 1988.
Precious Time is the third studio album by American singer Pat Benatar, released on July 6, 1981, through the Chrysalis label. The album peaked at number one on the United States’ Billboard 200,her only album to do so in any country, and was certified as Double Platinum in sales in the US.
The song won Benatar the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1982. Precious Time’s second single, the rapid guitar-driven “Promises in the Dark”, one of the few Benatar singles written by her and husband Neil Giraldo, was most successful in France, where it reached number 16, while reaching number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. It also made the Top 30 in Canada but did not chart in any other countries.
10) Little Too Late
Get Nervous is the fourth studio album by American rock singer Pat Benatar, released in October 1982. It debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart the week ending November 20 and peaked at No. 4, staying on the charts for 46 weeks.
Three songs from the album were released as singles: “Shadows of the Night”, “Little Too Late”, and “Looking for a Stranger” all reached the US Top 40. In 1983, “Shadows of the Night” garnered Benatar her third Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
FAQ
What was Pat Benatar’s first hit song?
Heartbreaker
Why did Pat Benatar stop singing?
American rock singer Pat Benatar will no longer perform one of her hit songs following a marked rise in gun violence in the U.S. Benatar, who is currently on tour, told USA Today she will not sing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” in deference to those affected by mass shootings.
How long have Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar been married?
Pat Benatar has been married to Neil Giraldo since 1982.
What was the name of Pat Benatar’s first band?
Coxon’s Army.
Who wrote most of Pat Benatar’s songs?
Pat Benatar wrote or co-wrote most of her songs, and she has a great ear for melody. She wrote many of her best-known songs with her guitarist and husband, Neil Giraldo.
Who was Pat Benatar’s first husband?
Dennis Benatar.
Is Pat Benatar a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
In 2020, she was nominated for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside fifteen other artists but despite coming in second in the fan vote was not among the inductees. She was nominated for a second time in 2022.
How many platinum albums does Pat Benatar have?
Five platinum albums, Benatar has racked up four Grammys, three gold albums, five platinum albums, and two multi-platinum albums.
Who is the bass player for Pat Benatar?
Mick Mahan is the band’s bassist and has performed with Benatar since 1995 and has appeared on albums (Innamorata and Go).
