I make no secret of my admiration of Pat Benatar.  She is easily one of finest singers ever to hit the rock and roll business.  Aside from taking the industry by storm in the 70s, she has continued an incredible odyssey of musical invention through the 80s, the 90s and well into the new millennium.  Teamed with one on the finest song writers, producers and guitarists in rock and roll, the great Neil "Spyder" Giraldo, there has been pretty much nothing they have not done and cannot do, and do better then anyone.

I saw her in play in Tacoma a few months ago and the only indication of her age and the length of her career, is that she may not be able to hit all the high ones any more.  I assure you however, that she suffers no lack in that regard, for she sounds as incredible to me as the first time I heard her sing on some top 20 countdown in High School.

So since I haven’t posted anything for entertainment this week here are two videos by her.  The first is from the Tonight Show in 1993 when she was touring Gravity’s Rainbow.  The song is Somebody’s Baby, likely the second most powerful song she has ever recorded, second only to Hell is for Children, her incredible and oft misunderstood child abuse anthem.

The second clip is the video for the same song, which should do a good job explaining what the song is about and why it is so immensely powerful.  Pay attention to the details.  Also know that at least one of those people showcased therein is now dead. 

When I am faced with situations where I am tempted to condemn and judge people, I do try to remember the lesson in humanity her song offers.  All people, the stars, the nobodys, the politicians, the criminals, the villains and the heroes, we all used to be Somebody’s Baby.  It doesn’t excuse anything or mitigate anything or even prove anything.  But it does remind me that they are still humans at some deeper level.  We are all linked together, and the evil done to one is a felt by all, even as we triumph together.  I won’t make this into some new age mantra, but if you think about it, it is true.

And it truly makes me wonder how some people became the people they are today, myself included.  Our journeys are all varied and incredible in their own right.  We made choices and also had some choices made for us.  We all traveled a long road to today.  In many ways, I wish we could all share our stories, and see how we got to where we are, the cross roads, the turns.

Would we see ourselves in the travels of others? 

Submitted for your consideration.

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