Taking Sides: Billy Squier vs. Pat Benatar

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― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 01:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally speaking, despite the goofy, career-scuttling prancin' in the video for "Rock Me Tonight", I'd say "The Stroke" beats anything Pat can bring to the table.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Heartbreaker, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Fire & Ice, and Treat Me Right are all much hotter than any Bill Squire tune.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Friday, 13 May 2005 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Taking Sides:

Pat Benatar "We Live For Love" vs
Billy Squier "Learn How To Live"

Take a guess which option is not an acceptable answer.

― ZionTrain (ZionTrain), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

i have never had a crush on billy squier, so pat wins.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember being confused as a young lad as to why "Love Is A Battlefield" was the A-side to the infinitely superior "Hell Is For Children".

Still, I'll side with Benatar on this one...

― John Justen (johnjusten), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:43 (twenty-one years ago)

really this is just about "Love is a Battlefield" vs. "The Stroke"

As such, it's tough as fuck but I gotta say LiaB--for that classic video, if nothing else.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Squier by a mile. no contest.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I went and bought a CD comprising Benatar's first two albums a few months ago and found it not nearly as satisfying as I had hoped, despite the obvious stand-out tracks which are already well known. Then I reacquired "Precious Time" on vinyl for a few bucks, played it wondering if I would like it as much as I did when it came out and sure enough it still sounded as fantastic if not better than it did then! (It's nice to learn that some of the things you were crazy about as a wee lad don't necessarily have to embarass you later on)

But I'm not sure I've really given Billy Squier enough of a fair shot to choose between the two, either. I seem to recall buying two of his singles back in the day ("The Stroke" was one of them and yes it was really something, I agree) but I haven't heard even one note by him in a very, very long time. I wonder where he was from geographically, come to think of it...

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:48 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Stroke" has really held up phenomenally well.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:49 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Stroke" has really held up phenomenally well.

Dizzee Rascal would totally agree with you

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:07 (twenty-one years ago)

he seems to be more of a "Big Bounce" fan, but I've never heard that one.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard even one note by him in a very, very long time

"99 Problems" to thread

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:27 (twenty-one years ago)

BILLY SQUIER FOR ROCKIN THE FAGGY PARACHUTE PANTS

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:35 (twenty-one years ago)

i think billy has a bigger chest

― bat penetar, Friday, 13 May 2005 04:45 (twenty-one years ago)

OK Alex -- lemme say that talking about how "Tina Marie" and Taylor Dayne are shit and then startin' threads about Pat Benatar is something I don't ... understand ...

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, for a start, the mere fact that pitted Pat Benatar in a thread doesn't mean I like Pat Benatar, but rather that I'm curious about how ILM Nation feels about her. Secondly --- if you read my first post -- I cited how Billy Squier crushes her with the might of "the Stroke".

That all said, Pat Benatar has more talent in her danduff than Taylor Dane will ever hope to muster. I can't say I honestly know enough about TEEEENA Marie to say the same (well, what I've heard of hers I think is utter forgettable shit, but since Chuck champions her so vociferously, I figure there must be something there of substance).

Taylor Dane, furthermore, just made shitty ballads and mawkish, howly dance pop with all the sex appeal of a shrill, deafening fog horn. Pat Benatar was sexy AND rocked. Claims Dane will never be able to make.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:38 (twenty-one years ago)

the mere fact that pitted Pat

that should've read: the mere fact that I pitted Pat ...

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Taylor Dayne's "foghorn" blasts Pat Benatar off the face of the earth forever.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

And how is Pat Benatar any less "mawkish?" - jeezis.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Taylor Dane makes dreadful, shitty, awful, laughably indefensible music.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

And how is Pat Benatar any less "mawkish?" - jeezis

She at least can deliver a lyric without hitting the smartbomb button.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:55 (twenty-one years ago)

That faux-"stroke!!!" sample, are there any earlier tracks that try this? I need to know, so I can make an informed decision, you know...

― angelo flores (flores), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:59 (twenty-one years ago)

that should've read: the mere fact that I pitted Pat ...

Alex, you shouldn't pit pats when you can pat pits. Oh pitter patter and bat penetar, let's call the whole thing off!

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Friday, 13 May 2005 06:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"Kenny G is a far superior saxophonist to Albert Ayler because at least he can deliver a saxophone line without hitting the smartbomb button" - Alex in NYC

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 May 2005 06:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh for fucks sake, let's not bring Kenny G into this. Please. The idea of Kenny G and Billy Squier makes me nauseous.

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Friday, 13 May 2005 06:29 (twenty-one years ago)

On second thought, Billy really is my kinda lover. Everybody wants him. Anyone who disagrees is in the dark. (Sorry, but my emotions are in motion here).

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Friday, 13 May 2005 08:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy Squier never performed a song as ripping as "Invincible."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 13 May 2005 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

And, Alex: Pat Benatar had wrapped her pipes around "Prove Your Love" or "Don't Rush Me," to her loss.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 13 May 2005 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Benatar, I guess. I never want to hear most of her hits ever again, but in their day they were listenable and competent.

Now. Something I've been wanting to say for years: hold in your mind for a moment Natalie Merchant's "Because the Night."

Does it or does it not sound like it could easily have been recorded by Pat Benatar around the time of "Love Is a Battlefield"?

― The Mad Puffin, Friday, 13 May 2005 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

There's more Pat Benatar in Patti Smith than Patti (or the rest of us) knew at the time.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 13 May 2005 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

TS: Pat Benetar dancing in the "Love is a Battlefield" video v. Billy Squier dancing in the "Rock Me Tonight" video

― J (Jay), Friday, 13 May 2005 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Squier. Everybody Wanst You is classic.

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Friday, 13 May 2005 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Squier is fucking awesome.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 13 May 2005 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Benetar all the way.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 13 May 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

(although I will concede that The Stroke is the Word)

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 13 May 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought it was "grease"?

― angelo flores (flores), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

In the battle of the pre-fame bands, Piper destroys Coxson's Army. But I'd go with Billy over Pat solo, too, even though he probably uses sex as a weapon sometimes.

― brianiac (briania), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Stroke" vs. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" is basically what it comes down to for me. At this point, I'll take the former.

Teena Marie has a MUCH greater history before her hit single "Lover girl", which was sadly unrepresentative and really banal compared to her dance/disco material before. Her close association with Rick James in the late 70s/early 80s was a major factor.

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 13 May 2005 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i reeeally like Billy Squier. the production on Don't Say No & Emotions in Motion is so. fucking. tight. The Big Beat is testament to this, having been sampled countless times, def. including the aforementioned dizzee rascal tune AND 99 problems (i think). such a cool sound.

― joey b, Friday, 13 May 2005 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Now. Something I've been wanting to say for years: hold in your mind for a moment Natalie Merchant's "Because the Night."
Does it or does it not sound like it could easily have been recorded by Pat Benatar around the time of "Love Is a Battlefield"?

-- The Mad Puffin (pfnwrit...), May 13th, 2005

To complete the circle, I've always thought "Shadows Of The Night" would have made a fine Springsteen track circa Born To Run. Rare case of a shameless crib actually rising to the occasion.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 13 May 2005 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

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