Grammy Alert!
Song#: 1220 Date: 10/16/1982
Debut: 69
Peak: 13
Weeks: 16
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: Benatar was definitely on a roll with her previous album "Precious Time" hitting #1 and going double-platinum. Her follow-up LP, "Get Nervous," would be another hit, but not quite as large. The album would reach #4 and only go single-platinum. It's success was helped along by this first single that would be her highest peaking since 1980's #9 "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." It also won Benatar her third Grammy in the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female category.
ReduxReview: I remember this sounding so large when it first came out. When the band kicks in right after the vocal intro, it just seemed huge. Nowadays it doesn't sound all that big because everything sounds like that now. But the whole song seemed like a shift in style for her, like she was moving away from the harder-edged rock into a more mainstream sound. It ended up being a good move because her biggest hits were yet to come.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Triple Shot! 1) This is a remake of a song that was released twice prior to Benatar's version. American singer Helen Schneider, who had a successful recording career in Germany, first released the song on her 1981 album "Schneider with a Kick." Then that same year, Rachel Sweet did a version on her album "And Then He Kissed Me." In all three cases, the lyrics are different. 2) The song's composer, D.L. Byron, was asked to write a song for the upcoming film "Times Square." He was given a plot synopsis and came up with this song. It ended up not being used so he decided to record the tune himself for his second solo LP for Arista. Prickly label head Clive Davis rejected the song as non-commercial. Frustrated, Byron gave a copy of the song to his drummer who was going to work with Helen Schneider in Germany. Helen recorded the song and had great success with it. Then Rachel Sweet asked to record it (with lyric changes). Still, the song remained virtually unknown. Byron though the song could really be a hit so he submitted it to Benatar. Months later, he got the call that she wanted the song (with lyric changes, of course). 3) Watching old music videos, it's funny to catch future celebrities pop up in them. Benatar's WWII-themed "Shadows of the Night" video has two. Both Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton appear in the video before they hit the big time.
_________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment