She was born in the neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York City, New York on January 10, 1953 as Patricia Andrzejewski. She graduated from Lindenhurst High on Long Island in 1971. She married her lead guitarist, Neil "Spyder" Geraldo, in 1982, and she has two children, named Haley and Hana.
In 1973, Benatar quit her job as a bank teller to pursue a singing career after being inspired by a Liza Minnelli concert she saw in Richmond. She got a job as a singing waitress at a flapper-esque nightclub named "The Roaring Twenties", and got a gig singing in lounge band Coxon's Army. They garnered enough attention to be the subject of a never-aired PBS special, and the band's bassist, Roger Capps, would go on to be the original bass player for the Pat Benatar band.
This period also yielded Benatar's first solo single – 1974's "Day Gig" – until her eventual major label debut on Chrysalis Records in 1979. The song was released via Trace Records, and was both written and produced by Coxon's Army band leader Phil Coxon.
Benatar's big break came in 1975 at an amateur night at the comedy club "Catch a Rising Star" in New York City. Her rousing rendition of Judy Garland's "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" earned her a call back by club owner Rick Newman, who would later become her manager.
After many years of producing big budget albums, Neil and Pat have continued to produce albums together, even though they have decided to end their association with major labels. They have chosen instead to place the care of their children above industry demands, and make records at home in their own professional quality studio. Each summer when their girls get out of school for vacation, they all pack up, board a tour bus, and set out to play as many shows as they can fit into the summer months. Pat and Neil maintain a close, and much more personal, relationship with their fans, than they were able to do in 80's during the heights of their commercial success.
http://www.benatargiraldo.com
Evil Genius
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A certified genius at the age of five
They planned his future so carefully
He was everything they hoped he'd be
He was a model child, a devoted son
Loved and admired by everyone
He played out every role, a "T.V. hero"
He lived his life in a video fantasy
He was good at school, never failed a grade
They gave him hopes and dreams, and taught him not to hate
He had rules he learned to break for fun
Now he's hidin', 'cause his fingerprints on the gun
Why'd ya' have to do it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind?
Why'd ya' put us through it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind anytime you held a grudge?
Was it something said that pushed you over the line?
Your best interests were in our minds
You kept it so well hidden, we never knew
No one ever expected anything like this from you
Why'd ya' have to do it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind?
Why'd ya' put us through it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind anytime you held a grudge?
Why'd ya' have to do it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind?
Why'd ya' put us through it Evil Genius?
Was it justified in your mind anytime you held a grudge?
The opening lines of the song "Evil Genius" by Pat Benatar describe a child who seemed to have everything going for them. He was declared a certified genius at the age of five, and his parents planned his life and future with care. He was a model child, loved and admired by all, played every role with ease, and lived his life through a video fantasy.
Despite his achievements and good behavior, something went wrong. The chorus of the song asks the question- why did this child, now an adult, choose evil over good? What pushed him over the edge? What made him commit a crime that put his victims and himself through hell? Was it justified in his mind?
The details of the crime, such as the fingerprints left on the gun, suggest a premeditated act of violence, perhaps an act of revenge. The song paints a troubling picture of the contrast between the idyllic childhood and the tragic end of this character's story.
Overall, "Evil Genius" is a cautionary tale of how easily someone can stray from a path of righteousness into one of evil, and how we should always pay attention to the mental and emotional well-being of those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
They were so ecstatic when the letter arrived
They felt incredible happiness and excitement upon receiving the letter
A certified genius at the age of five
At the young age of five, he was officially recognized as a genius
They planned his future so carefully
His parents took great care in designing his future
He was everything they hoped he'd be
He lived up to his parents' expectations perfectly
He was a model child, a devoted son
He was the ideal child, devoted to his parents
Loved and admired by everyone
He was well-loved and respected by all those who knew him
He played out every role, a "T.V. hero"
He played every role, pretending to be a hero from TV
He lived his life in a video fantasy
He lived his life as if it were a video game or fantasy
He was good at school, never failed a grade
He excelled in school, never receiving a failing grade
They gave him hopes and dreams, and taught him not to hate
His parents instilled in him aspirations and taught him to avoid hate
He had rules he learned to break for fun
He learned to break rules for amusement
Now he's hidin', 'cause his fingerprints on the gun
He is now in hiding because his fingerprints are on the gun
Why'd ya' have to do it Evil Genius?
Why did you feel the need to do what you did, you evil genius?
Was it justified in your mind?
Did you think what you did was justified in your mind?
Was it something said that pushed you over the line?
Did someone say something that pushed you too far?
Your best interests were in our minds
We only had your best interests at heart
You kept it so well hidden, we never knew
You concealed it so well that we were unaware
No one ever expected anything like this from you
Nobody could have predicted you would do something like this
Why'd ya' put us through it Evil Genius?
Why did you subject us to this, you evil genius?
Was it justified in your mind anytime you held a grudge?
Did you ever feel justified in holding a grudge?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NEIL GERALDO, PAT BENATAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind