The Warrior

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Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as we spin "The Warrior" by Scandal from their 1984 album Warrior here at THE ZOO! This anthem, penned by Holly Knight and Nick Gilder, is a total banger about empowerment and standing tall. Knight shared in a Songfacts interview that the song reflects her own warrior spirit, born from growing up in a dramatic family where she learned to fight for her beliefs with class and open-mindedness. She described it as less about love or battle and more about not taking flak while chasing dreams. The track’s animal energy, with lines like “I don’t wanna tame your animal style,” captures the wild balance of passion and restraint in relationships, as Knight noted in the same interview.

The music video for "The Warrior" is a wild trip, but lead singer Patty Smyth wasn’t stoked about it. In a Reddit thread, she vented about how the label pushed a dark, conceptual video over her pleas for a simple concert-style one. A French makeup artist and costumer chopped her hair and slathered on heavy makeup, making her barely recognizable in bizarre outfits. Smyth jokingly called herself a “bat” in the video, which she felt was overly serious despite some gorgeous costumes. Still, its heavy MTV rotation helped rocket the song to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, snagging a BMI Airplay Award in 1984.

Another cool tidbit? The song’s iconic riff and vibe made it a perfect fit for modern soundtracks. It’s the opening theme for both the 2017–2019 Netflix series GLOW and the 2024 Knuckles miniseries on Paramount+, proving its timeless grit. Fans on Reddit have called for it to be the “hero song” for Stranger Things Season 5, citing its epic 80s energy. The album’s cover art also stands out—commenters on Songfacts rave about its memorable design, with one fan recalling hearing the track at Fort Dix in 1984, cementing its place in 80s nostalgia.

Scandal, fronted by the powerhouse Patty Smyth, kicked off in the early 1980s in New York City. Smyth, born in 1957, grew up in a musical family and started singing in local clubs as a teen. Her gritty voice and bold stage presence caught the eye of guitarist Zack Smith, and together they formed Scandal in 1981. Their 1982 self-titled EP, featuring hits like “Goodbye to You,” blew up, selling 500,000 copies and becoming Columbia Records’ most successful EP ever. With Columbia’s muscle behind them, they dropped Warrior in 1984, produced by Mike Chapman, who’d worked with Blondie and The Knack. The album hit #17 on the Billboard 200, went platinum, and launched Scandal into the spotlight, though internal conflicts led to their breakup in 1985. Smyth went solo, scoring a #2 hit with “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” in 1992, and later married tennis legend John McEnroe in 1997.

The band reunited in 2004 after a VH-1 Bands Reunited episode, and they’ve been performing sporadically since. You can catch up with them on their official website or follow their vibes on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans, or should we say Zoo Freaks, can join the love fest at the Patty Smyth and Scandal Fan Group on Facebook, where devotees share memories, photos, and updates about the band’s legacy. Keep it locked to THE ZOO for more retro gems!

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