Heartbreaker

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as we spin "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar from her killer debut album In the Heat of the Night! This track’s got a wild story behind it. Did you know "Heartbreaker" wasn’t originally Benatar’s tune? It was first recorded by English singer Jenny Darren in 1978 for her album Queen of Fools. Benatar and her team tweaked the lyrics, ditching British references like "A to Zed" and "moonraker" that might’ve thrown off American listeners. The result? A hard-hitting anthem that became Benatar’s breakthrough, climbing to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hanging on the charts for four and a half months. It’s got that raw energy, with Neil Giraldo’s blistering guitar solo near the end, which fans on X call totally underrated. The song’s been a pop culture beast, popping up in the Supernatural season 10 premiere, a chase scene in the 2021 flick Nobody, and even as a playable track in Guitar Hero World Tour and Fortnite Festival. How’s that for a song that keeps breaking hearts across decades?

Another cool tidbit comes from the Zoo Crew’s crate-digging: "Heartbreaker" was the third single from In the Heat of the Night, pushed hard by Benatar and Giraldo after the first two singles, covers of "I Need a Lover" and "If You Think You Know How to Love Me," didn’t catch fire. Their gut was spot-on, as this track’s catchy, in-your-face vibe made it a staple on album-oriented rock stations, hitting #13 on Tunecasters Rock Tracks in 1980. Fans on Facebook in groups like Pat Benatar Fan Club still rave about how Benatar’s four-octave voice belts out those fierce lyrics, calling it a defining moment for women in rock. Oh, and check this—Dolly Parton covered it in 2023 for her Rockstar album, with Benatar and Giraldo joining in. Talk about a cosmic collab!

Now, let’s rewind and talk about how Pat Benatar became the rock goddess we know. Born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, she was a mezzo-soprano with pipes that could shake the heavens. As a kid, she sang her first solo in a school play at age eight, and her teachers knew she was destined for stardom. But life took a detour—she married her high school sweetheart Dennis Benatar at 19 and worked regular jobs, far from the stage. By the mid-’70s, she was done playing it safe. She ditched the day jobs, got divorced (but kept the Benatar name), and started gigging in clubs and cabarets. Her big break came on Halloween 1977 at New York’s Catch a Rising Star, where she rocked a vampire costume for an amateur contest and blew everyone away. That night, still in her spooky getup, she performed again, catching the eye of record execs. By 1978, she was signed to Chrysalis Records, and in 1979, In the Heat of the Night dropped, launching her into orbit.

Benatar’s grit and talent made her a trailblazer, racking up two multi-platinum albums, five platinum albums, and 15 Billboard Top 40 singles, plus four Grammys. She was one of MTV’s early darlings, and her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 sealed her legend status. You can keep up with her and Neil Giraldo on their official site, benatargiraldo.com, where they share tour dates and news. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Zoo Freaks, if you’re deep in the Benatar fandom, join the Pat Benatar Fan Club on Facebook or check out fan sites like patbenatar.com for more love and lore. Keep rocking, and don’t let this heartbreaker mess around with ya!