PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP

Released: Released: June 14, 1988

Charts:  US: #19    UK: #19 

"All Fired Up" was originally written by Kerryn Tolhurst and performed by the Australian band Rattling Sabres in 1987. Pat Benatar covered the song for her 1988 album “Wide Awake in Dreamland”, adjusting some lyrics to fit her perspective and releasing it as the lead single. The cover earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, in 1989. The song reached number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart, marking Benatar's last US top 40 single to date.

After experimenting with a new amp and guitar, Tolhurst created the song's riff and chord progression, originally titled "Working Against The Clock." The final title, "All Fired Up," came to him while stuck in traffic, completing the song. Kerryn Tolhurst was a member of Country Radio and The Dingoes, and a notable songwriter and session musician. He also produced albums for Bruce Henderson, Jimmy Norman and Russell Crowe.

"All Fired Up" can be seen as an anthem of empowerment and personal transformation. The lyrics convey a sense of awakening and newfound purpose. In the beginning, the protagonist is living passively, unaware of the potential for change, expressed in the lines, "Livin' with my eyes closed, goin' day to day." This suggests a life of complacency, without direction or meaning.

As the song progresses, there is a shift in attitude: "Lookin' for a reason, searchin' for a sign." The protagonist begins to actively seek purpose and energy, symbolized by the "kick inside" that fuels their desire for change. The repeated refrain, "All fired up," becomes a powerful declaration of their motivation and readiness to embrace life's opportunities.

The song also reflects on the imperfections of life, acknowledging that "Ain't nobody livin' in a perfect world." This universal recognition of struggles adds a relatable layer, as it reminds listeners that everyone faces challenges and yearns to be understood.

“Wide Awake in Dreamland” was Pat Benatar's final album of the 1980s and marked her last fully rock-oriented album before transitioning to a bluesier sound with “True Love” in 1991. The album was primarily recorded at Neil Giraldo's studio, with much of the songwriting done by Giraldo and drummer Myron Grombacher. Benatar, credited as Pat Giraldo, co-wrote four of the tracks.