Pat Benatar is currently on her tour and fans are excited to hear one of her popular songs be performed live. However, the singer refuses to perform it as a form of protest.
According to People Magazine, the 69-year-old singer revealed in an interview that she will no longer perform "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" on tour.
The reason behind it is that she feels like the lyrics are offensive to families and loved ones of those who passed away in mass shootings.
"We're not doing 'Hit Me with Your Best Shot' and 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," she told USA Today.
The singer added a message to fans who wanted to hear the song, saying they should go home and listen to it on their own.
The outlet noted that the song was released in 1980 and it's about asking a romantic interest to hit them with their best shot.
The lyric goes, "Hit me with your best shot. Fire away."
Speaking about the lyrics of the track, Benatar said the title is tongue in cheek but she people have to draw the line.
She added that she couldn't say those words with a smile on her face.
"I'm not going to go on stage and soap box - I go to my legislators - but that's my small contribution to protesting. I'm not going to sing it. Tough," she added.
As of this writing, the singer has not revealed whether she'll perform the song again in future performances.
According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 356 mass shootings in 2022 so far and more than 24,000 have died in those incidents.
The most recent one was during the Fourth of July weekend in Highland Park, Illinois, that claimed the lives of seven people.
Benatar isn't the only singer making a big move for gun violence in the United States as The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan announced that he's going to perform at a virtual concert dedicated to Highland Park victims.
The "Together and Together Again" show will be on July 27 at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Although the show is free, viewers can donate and purchase merchandise through the stream itself. Proceeds will go to the families of the victims.
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