Track Highlights: Pat Benatar's "Battlefield of Love"
Pat Benatar's powerhouse voice and fierce spirit are the stuff of rock 'n' roll legend, and her hit "Love Is a Battlefield" is no exception. This gritty anthem of teenage heartache touts the artistic freedom and experimentation that often produce the most memorable music.
Before it became a Number 1 rock album hit on Billboard, "Love Is a Battlefield" stood as a humble demo sung by Mike Chapman with an acoustic guitar. Neil Giraldo, Benatar's husband and collaborator, and co-producer, saw the potential in this dark, minor-key ballad and the quirky production elements it could boast.
"Battlefield" called out to me, just like John Lennon’s 'Working Class Hero', Giraldo shares, 'I love songs with a darker edge, and "Battlefield" had that ethereal gloom to it. It was a unique song, and I knew I could turn it upside down and make it even more interesting.
The day he acquired his new Linn drum machine marked the beginning of a revolutionary mash-up. Giraldo created an infectious 6-bar loop while fiddling with the machine, built the song around that groove, and layered guitars and keyboards on top.
"I made a 'mistake' with that loop, but it ultimately became the foundation for 'Battlefield', Giraldo admits, 'I added the single snare and hi-hat for a live, authentic feel. People thought it wouldn’t work, but I liked the raw, edgy vibe it brought.
Neglecting traditional song structure and conventional production, "Battlefield" thrives on its formidable rhythm, Giraldo's rich, multi-instrumental arrangements, and a blues-tinged edge that sets it apart from similar ‘80s hits.
"Our recording process was more primitive, but it had its merits," Giraldo confesses with a grin, 'If we were making that record today, I'd overthink it and perhaps ruin the song's raw charm.
With a little talking introduction, Benatar's whistling, and a story that resonated with a generation of rebellious hearts, "Love Is a Battlefield" cemented its place as a timeless rock anthem. As we celebrate Benatar's indomitable spirit and edgy artistic vision, let's be grateful for the vagaries that lead to truly iconic music.
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- Neil Giraldo, co-producer of "Love Is a Battlefield", admired its darker edge, likening it to John Lennon’s 'Working Class Hero'.
- Giraldo's revolutionary use of his Linn drum machine created an infectious 6-bar loop, which served as the foundation for "Battlefield".
- The raw, edgy vibe of "Battlefield" was achieved by Giraldo adding a single snare and hi-hat to the loop, despite initially being met with skepticism.
- Reflecting on the recording process of "Love Is a Battlefield", Giraldo confessed that its primitive approach had its merits, fearing that overthinking it would ruin the song's raw charm.
