PAT BENATAR - YOU BETTER RUN

Released: July 8, 1980

Charts:  US: #42   

"You Better Run" was originally a 1966 hit for the Young Rascals, written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere. The song reached the top 20 in the U.S. and featured a defiant tone about getting revenge on someone who wronged the narrator. Pat Benatar covered the song for her 1980 album “Crimes of Passion”. Released as the lead single, Benatar's version flips the perspective, turning the kiss-off message towards a male antagonist. The song peaked at number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 44 on the Cash Box Top 100. 

In 1981, as MTV prepared to launch, there was a shortage of American-made music videos since artists hadn’t yet started producing them regularly. While European bands and acts like Devo had some content available, Pat Benatar stood out as one of the few American musicians with a real video, specifically for her song "You Better Run" from her 1980 album “Crimes of Passion”. As a result, Benatar's video became a landmark as she was the first woman, American, and rock artist featured on MTV. Her video became part of a small rotation of clips that were played repeatedly, leading to rapid fame. Neil Giraldo, Benatar's husband and guitarist, later reflected on the unexpected impact MTV had on their careers, describing how its constant airing quickly made them recognizable everywhere.

The music video for "You Better Run" was straightforward, featuring her and her band performing in a warehouse. Over time, Benatar's videos became more conceptual, which didn’t sit well with her husband and guitarist, Neil Giraldo, who felt that intricate storylines detracted from the song's meaning. Giraldo imposed a ban on historical costumes after the "Shadows Of The Night" video, where Benatar dressed as a WWII pilot. He preferred simpler videos, like "You Better Run," which became the second video ever aired on MTV.

MTV used the video strategically to send a message to record labels, showing the kind of rock-focused, performance-driven content they intended to promote. Benatar’s genuine frustration with taking direction from video directors added an edge to her performance, aligning with the song’s sassy and aggressive tone. Directed by Nick Saxton, who had experience with acts like Earth, Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson, the video was produced on a tight budget and helped popularize the "band performing in warehouse" rock video style.