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
Rated 'X'
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For making movies Rated X
Posing for a magazine, picture in a limousine
Someone simulating sex
Never thought that she could be
Lonely with her vanity
Wasted days and lonely nights
Working for the sugar man
Cause satisfaction's guaranteed all night
Drinking champagne is a past time
Making hot love is a main line
Money buys love and a wild time
Making hot love is a main line
Hot Love!
She wakes up, and breaks up
And wonders why love is unkind
She waits up, and makes up
And looks in the mirror to find
Pink champagne and diamond rings
Fascinating bright young things
Dancing at the discotechs
Starring from the silver screen
See you in a midnight dream - Rated X
Drinking champagne is a past time
Making hot love is a main line
Money buys love and a wild time
Making hot love is a main line
Drinking champagne is a past time
Making hot love is a main line
Money buys love and a wild time
Making hot love is a main line
Hot Love!
Come on, gimme' hot love
Satisfaction guaranteed
The song Rated 'X' by Pat Benatar is a commentary on the superficiality and emptiness of the entertainment industry, particularly in regards to sex and fame. The lyrics describe a woman who is popular for her appearances in X-rated movies and magazines, as well as her luxurious lifestyle. Despite her seemingly glamorous existence, the woman is ultimately left feeling lonely and unfulfilled. She turns to alcohol and relationships to numb her pain, but ultimately finds no escape from the hollowness of her life.
The song suggests that the pursuit of fame and pleasure at any cost will only lead to emptiness and disillusionment. The repeated refrain of "making hot love is a main line" emphasizes the addiction-like nature of seeking pleasure at all costs. The references to champagne, diamond rings, and discotheques serve to paint a picture of a shallow, hedonistic lifestyle that may seem appealing on the surface but ultimately leaves one feeling lost and alone.
Overall, Rated 'X' is a cautionary tale about the dangers of societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards and the allure of fame, money, and pleasure. It highlights the importance of finding true connections with others and pursuing genuine happiness, rather than seeking validation and happiness through superficial means.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a personality, enjoying popularity
For making movies Rated X
Posing for a magazine, picture in a limousine
Someone simulating sex
She's famous for making X-rated movies and posing for magazines with simulated sexual content, enjoying the popularity that comes with it.
Never thought that she could be
Lonely with her vanity
Wasted days and lonely nights
Working for the sugar man
Make each other happy man
Cause satisfaction's guaranteed all night
She never imagined that her vanity would lead to lonely days and nights, working for a man who pays her for sexual satisfaction guaranteeing that they both leave happy.
Drinking champagne is a past time
Making hot love is a main line
Money buys love and a wild time
Making hot love is a main line
Hot Love!
Drinking champagne is just a hobby when compared to the main line she follows - having sex for money and buying love and wild times with that money.
She wakes up, and breaks up
And wonders why love is unkind
She waits up, and makes up
And looks in the mirror to find
She wakes up after breaking up and wonders why love is unkind, waits up to make up, and looks in the mirror to find the answer.
Pink champagne and diamond rings
Fascinating bright young things
Dancing at the discotechs
Starring from the silver screen
See you in a midnight dream - Rated X
She sees herself as a bright young thing observing life from the silver screen and enjoying the finer things like pink champagne, diamond rings, discotechs and, at night, re-living sexual experiences in her dreams.
Come on, gimme' hot love
Satisfaction guaranteed
She wants hot love and satisfaction guaranteed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MC CULLOCH, NICK GILDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jane Miller
I remember this album. So many great songs! This was one of my favorites....
Juan Martin
I love this song just like every other song Pat has sung. She is the definitely the undisputed queen of rock, but can also sing all other genres just as well. She and husband Neil rock, the best married musical couple ever.
rockhoundtg
This wasn't one of Pat's hits, but it's one of my favorites of her :)
Erin Williams
I'll never get tired of this song
wiibaron
Thank you PB[and Spyder] for all the years of great songs you gave us. This album came out my senior year in HS, and was on my Xmas list that year. Every song is great and I went through 3 cassettes before getting a CD of it late 90s.It is a gotta have album and I listen to it every couple of months even now 35 years later. Same with Crimes, Precious, and Nervous. 4 of the best albums ever to hit rock and roll ears!
Brad Thomson
Ditto !
PatBenatarFan1
Love Pat! This song would have been a great single release. A lot of hidden treasures with Pat Benatar!
Fernando León
One of my favorite songs of hers
62TBirdMan
Her first 3 albums are awesome...not a bad song in the bunch.
Donna Kowalski
Pat Benatar is a rock goddess.
My favorite female singer forever.
I Love You Pat ❤😀