Take It Anyway You Want It

The song "Take It Anyway You Want It" from Pat Benatar's 1981 album Precious Time is a high-energy track that showcases her ability to blend pop sensibilities with hard rock grit. While not released as a single, the song gained traction on Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) radio stations, resonating with fans for its catchy hooks and Benatar's commanding vocals. In a 2021 interview with In the Studio with Redbeard, Benatar and her husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo, discussed the album's rapid success, noting that Precious Time went platinum in just thirteen days. The song itself, described by Apple Music as working up a "pop lather," reflects the album's polished yet raw energy, with Giraldo's searing guitar riffs amplifying Benatar's vocal prowess. Though no specific anecdotes about the song's creation have surfaced in interviews, its inclusion in the album marked a pivotal moment in Benatar's career, as Precious Time became her first to hit number one on the Billboard 200.

Another layer of trivia comes from the song's context within the early MTV era. While "Take It Anyway You Want It" did not have its own music video, the album's other tracks, like "Fire and Ice" and "Promises in the Dark," benefited from heavy MTV rotation. Benatar was a trailblazer on the channel, with her video for "You Better Run" being the second ever played when MTV launched on August 1, 1981, just a month after Precious Time's release. This exposure helped cement her status as a rock icon, and songs like "Take It Anyway You Want It" rode the wave of her growing fame. On Facebook, fans often share nostalgia for the album, with some Pat Benatar fan groups praising the track's infectious energy during live performances, where Benatar's 4.5-octave voice shines.

Pat Benatar, born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski on January 10, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, began her journey in music with a strong classical foundation. Her mother, Millie, was an opera singer who gave up her career to raise Pat and her brother, Andrew. Benatar honed her powerful voice through musical theater at Lindenhurst High School on Long Island, eventually earning a spot at the prestigious Juilliard School. However, at 19, she made a bold choice to forgo Juilliard, instead marrying her high school sweetheart, Dennis Benatar, and moving to Virginia. There, she worked as a bank teller and housewife, but the monotony drove her to perform with a local cabaret band, Coxon's Army, on the Richmond club circuit. This experience ignited her passion, leading her to divorce Dennis in 1979 and move to New York City to pursue a solo career.

In New York, Benatar's big break came at the cabaret club Catch A Rising Star, where her performances caught the attention of a Chrysalis Records agent. Signed in 1978, she was paired with guitarist Neil Giraldo, who became her musical collaborator and, later, her husband in 1982. Her debut album, In the Heat of the Night (1979), featured hits like "Heartbreaker," establishing her as a rock force. By the time Precious Time was released, Benatar had already won two Grammy Awards and was a leading figure in rock music. Her official website, benatargiraldo.com, offers tour dates and fan club details, while her Facebook page, with over 697,000 followers, and Instagram account share updates on her tours with Giraldo. On X, she engages with fans, often called "Zoo Freaks" in the spirit of her vibrant community.

Fan communities thrive online, with sites like Future Rock Legends discussing her 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and groups like the Pat Benatar Fan Club on Facebook fostering fan connections. These platforms celebrate her enduring legacy, from her early days in Richmond to her status as a four-time Grammy winner with over 36 million albums sold worldwide. Benatar's journey from a small-town singer to a global rock star underscores her resilience and talent, making tracks like "Take It Anyway You Want It" timeless anthems for fans worldwide.