Pat Benatar is having a big year. She’ll finally be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November, and she’s playing our iHeart Radio Music Festival, but some fans are leaving her shows a little disappointed that they don’t get to hear one of her biggest hits live. In an interview with USA Today, Benatar mentions that they’re not performing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” on the tour.
She says, “Fans are having a heart attack and I’m like, I’m sorry, in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings, I’m not singing it,” then continues, “I can’t say those words out loud with a smile on my face.” I mean come on, song's meaning is about strength and resiliency. Surviving heart break.
I get it to a point, but the song is not about LITERALLY shooting someone. Context is key and I think we all get it. No word on when or IF she'll start performing the song ever again.