Hitting With Her Best Shot

After striking gold on her very first attempt with "Heartbreaker," an anthem for outrage, Pat Benatar's grip on the charts was as firm as her spandex outfits from the early '80s on. "I Need a Lover" (written by the then-unknown John "Cougar" Mellencamp), "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Treat...

By Lee Zimmerman

June 1, 2006

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After striking gold on her very first attempt with "Heartbreaker," an anthem for outrage, Pat Benatar's grip on the charts was as firm as her spandex outfits from the early '80s on. "I Need a Lover" (written by the then-unknown John "Cougar" Mellencamp), "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Treat Me Right," "Love Is a Battlefield," and "You Better Run" were tough, tenacious, feminist-friendly tirades against male manipulation that made men shudder and women rejoice. Some found Benatar's blustery bravado over the top, and indeed, she rarely pulled punches (her "Hell Is for Children" remains a powerful statement about child abuse). A later album that found her belting the blues signaled a slight shift in stance. But now that she's in full comeback mode, Benatar remains as edgy as ever.

Pat Benatar performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $35. Call 954-727-0950, or visit www.jointherevolution.net.

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