Pat Benatar "We Live For Love"

One-time aspiring opera singer Pat Benatar burst onto the rock scene in late 1979 when her debut, In The Heat Of The Night, became a surprise smash on the strength of her gritty-styled rock and roll. The first hit from that record, "Heartbreaker," epitomized that song and rewarded Benatar with her first US Top 40 hit.

For the follow-up single, "We Live For Love," Benatar opted for a decidedly different approach. While she would primarily become known for guitar-driven rock, "We Live For Love" made greater use of keyboards and was more in line with the New Wave-styled rock of contemporaries like Blondie. Benatar's vocal also was more on the ethereal side than her throaty growl.

Released as a single in March, "We Live For Love" slowly climbed the charts, finally cracking the Top 40 in mid-May of 1980. Without the same distinctive stamp of "Heartbreaker," the song quickly fizzled out. It topped out at #27 where it peaked for two weeks before falling off the charts. Although it failed to match the success of her initial foray into the Top 40, it would not be a coda but the beginning of a career that would see Benatar become one of the most popular artists of the '80s.

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