Commerciality is essential for artists to achieve success and recognition. However, receiving publicity and enjoying successful record sales are not the only ways to ensure critical acclaim. There are various awards that celebrate and recognize artists for their achievements and musical talent.
The Grammy Awards is one of the most important ceremonies in the industry, and many believe it recognizes and rewards musical talent. The Award often celebrates famous works of artists, but there have been times when many believe that the ceremony overlooked some equally influential well-known hits. So, commerciality might not always bring recognition.
For many, a great example is how one of Pat Benatar’s most famous hit never received a Grammy, even though it is pretty popular among the general audience. This particular song has been engraved on our minds with its catchy melody and chorus, but it seems like the committee of the Grammy Awards hadn’t come across Pat’s hit.
Online music platforms, such as Spotify, might help us to understand which tracks the audience enjoys most. Anyone can check out the streaming numbers and see which song of an artist is the most listened one. While some tracks may be at the top of the streaming list, commercial success is not the only factor that ensures receiving an award.
This is evident since Pat Benatar’s most-listened song on Spotify and on many other digital platforms didn’t attract the attention of the Grammy committee. Even though most of you will immediately start humming the melody after seeing the name ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot,’ the track never received a Grammy.
The song was a major commercial success both in the States and worldwide, and it sold more than a million copies only in the U.S. Benatar also received significant recognition in the national and international music charts, and the track became her first hit to be featured in the Top 10 charts of the U.S.
Even though ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot’ didn’t receive any Grammy after its commercial success, Benatar has been awarded four Grammys throughout her career. The rocker received her first Grammy for her album, ‘Crimes of Passion,’ in 1981. This record also featured ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot.’
Her second one came when she scored the award in 1982 for the track, ‘Fire and Ice.’ The singer was awarded two more times, in 1983 and 1984, respectively, for the songs’ Shadows of the Night’ and ‘Love Is a Battlefield.’ These tracks were also commercial successes but ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot’ has become a timeless classic in pop culture.
In the end, Benatar became a four-time Grammy Award winner, but the popularity and commercial success of ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot’ didn’t help the song to receive another award. However, this didn’t prevent the track from becoming a favorite among the general audience and helping the rocker establish her career as a successful artist.
