Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar song)

"Heartbreaker"
U.S. vinyl single picture sleeve
Single by Pat Benatar
from the album In the Heat of the Night
B-side"My Clone Sleeps Alone"
ReleasedOctober 26, 1979
Recorded1979
StudioMCA Whitney Studios (Glendale, California)
Genre
Length3:29
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
  • Geoff Gill
  • Cliff Wade
Producer(s)
Pat Benatar singles chronology
"If You Think You Know How to Love Me"
(1979) 		"Heartbreaker"
(1979) 		"We Live for Love"
(1980)

"Heartbreaker" is a song by American singer Pat Benatar from her debut studio album In the Heat of the Night (1979). Written and composed by Geoff Gill and Cliff Wade, the song had first been recorded by English singer Jenny Darren on her 1978 album Queen of Fools, and Benatar adjusted the original lyrics, as such references as "A to Zed" and "moonraker" would have likely confused American listeners.

"Heartbreaker" was the second single released off In the Heat of the Night after the first, "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", failed to reach the US Billboard Hot 100. A sleeper hit, "Heartbreaker" proved to be Benatar's breakthrough single, reaching number 23 on the Hot 100 while spending four and a half months on the chart, the fourth longest of all of her singles.[3] It was more popular on album-oriented rock stations as it peaked at number 13 on Tunecasters Rock Tracks chart in March 1980.[4] The song reached number 16 in Canada, number 14 in New Zealand, and number 95 in Australia.

VH1 ranked the song the 72nd best hard rock song of all time.

Use in other media

The song is featured as downloadable content for the music video game series Rock Band,[5] and is a playable song for the game Guitar Hero World Tour. The song is also a playable song for the game Karaoke Revolution: Presents American Idol as well as downloadable content for its sequel, American Idol Encore. Heartbreaker is also featured as a Jam Track in Fortnite Festival, a rhythm game spin-off of Fortnite Battle Royale. The tenth season premiere of Supernatural featured "Heartbreaker" in the recap montage of the previous season. Former American Idol finalist Allison Iraheta regularly covers the song as part of her set on the Glam Nation Tour.[6] This song was also performed by Benatar and her band in the Charmed episode "Lucky Charmed." It also featured during a chase/shootout scene in the 2021 film Nobody. A cover of the song by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton featuring Benatar and American musician Neil Giraldo was released with Parton's album Rockstar.[7]

Track listing

7"[8]
  • A. "Heartbreaker" – 3:26
  • B. "My Clone Sleeps Alone" – 3:27
7" (Netherlands and Germany)[9][10]
  • A. "Heartbreaker" – 3:26
  • B. "So Sincere" – 3:28
12" Promo (Japan)[11]
  • A. "Heartbreaker" – 3:26
  • B. "We Live for Love" – 3:53
2009 Digital single[12]
  1. "Heartbreaker" – 3:28
  2. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" – 2:52

Charts

References

  1. ^ Christgau, Robert (April 28, 1980). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Deggabs, Eric (1998). "Pat Benatar". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 94-95.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 57.
  4. ^ "Pat Benatar artist popular songs at Tunecaster".
  5. ^ "Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar // Songs // Rock Band®". Rockband.com. March 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  6. ^ "Iraheta happy in support mode for 'big brother' Lambert". Archived from the original on August 4, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  7. ^ Young, Alex (May 9, 2023). "The Tracklist for Dolly Parton's Rock Album is a Sight to Behold". Consequence Sound. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker (1979, Santa Maria Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1979.
  9. ^ "Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker (1979, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1979.
  10. ^ "Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker (1979, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1979.
  11. ^ "Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker (1979, Special D.J. Copy for Disco, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1979.
  12. ^ "Heartbreaker - Single by Pat Benatar".
  13. ^ "Lyrics: Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar". Top40db.net. December 22, 1979. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  14. ^ "Cashbox for 22-Mar-1980". Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
  15. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970 – 1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. pp. 32–33. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. ^ "charts.nz > Pat Benatar 'Heartbreaker'". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.