The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush song)

"The Power of Love"
Single by Jennifer Rush
from the album Jennifer Rush
Released December 1984 (1984-12) (U.S)
24 June 1985 (1985-06-24)
Format
Recorded
Genre Pop
Length

6:00 (Album version)

4:20 (Single version)
Label CBS
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Gunther Mende
  • Candy DeRouge
Jennifer Rush singles chronology
"Ring of Ice"
(1984)		 "The Power of Love"
(1984)		 "Destiny"
(1985)

"Ring of Ice"
(1984)		 "The Power of Love"
(1984)		 "Destiny"
(1985)
Audio sample
Jennifer Rush - "The Power of Love"
  • file
  • help

"The Power of Love" is a song co-written and originally recorded by Jennifer Rush in 1984. It has been covered by several artists, most notably by Celine Dion, Laura Branigan and Air Supply.

Rush's original version, released in her native United States at the end of 1984 and in Europe during 1985, went to number one in the United Kingdom in October 1985 and became the biggest-selling single of the year in that country. It was also a number one single in several other European countries, as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Dion's version went to number one in the United States, Canada and Australia in 1994. The song has been translated into several languages, becoming a pop standard.

Overview

"The Power of Love" was first recorded by Jennifer Rush for her 1984 eponymous album. It was released as a single in West Germany in December 1984. In June 1985, "The Power of Love" was issued as a single in the United Kingdom, where it topped the chart for five weeks in October 1985 and became the best-selling single of the year.[1] As of March 2017, it has sold 1.45 million copies in the UK.[2]

The massive success of "The Power of Love" in the UK followed with widespread international success for the single in the last months of 1985 and the first of 1986, including a German re-release with a resultant number-nine charting. Eventually "The Power of Love" reached number one in Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Spain (where Rush topped the chart with a version in Spanish called "Si tú eres mi hombre y yo tu mujer", translated as "If you are my man and I'm your woman"), number three in Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium, and number seven in the Netherlands.

CBS held off on releasing "The Power of Love" in North America feeling the disc was too European. It finally saw release in the United States and Canada in January 1986 but despite rising to number one in Canada, "The Power of Love" failed to become a significant US hit, stalling at number fifty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week-ending of 5 April 1986 and spending 13 weeks within the Hot 100. The song was performed by Rush on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in March 1986 and American Bandstand in April 1986.

Other songs of the same title in 1985

This was the last of three singles in the British top 100 with the title 'The Power Of Love' in 1985. The other two were The Power Of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, which peaked at No.1 in December the previous year, and The Power Of Love by Huey Lewis and the News, which peaked at No.9 three weeks before this song hit No.1.

Official versions

Track listings

Europe 1st press 7" (CBS CBSA 5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Original Album Version]"6:00
2."I See a Shadow (Not a Fantasy)"4:20
Europe promo 7" (CBS PROSI 24)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Special Radio Edit]"4:43
2."The Power Of Love [Original Album Version]"6:00
Europe 1st press 12" (CBS CBSA 12.5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Original Album Version]"6:00
2."Nobody Move"3:12
3."Into My Dreams"4:00
Europe 2nd press 7" (CBS CBSA 5003) / U.K. 1st press 7" (CBS A 5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Orchestral Remix]"6:00
2."I See a Shadow (Not a Fantasy)"4:20
Europe 2nd press 12" (CBS CBSA 12.5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Orchestral Remix]"6:00
2."Nobody Move"3:12
3."Into My Dreams"4:00
U.K. 1st press 12" (CBS TX 5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love [Orchestral Remix]"6:00
2."Come Give Me Your Hand"3:49
3."I See A Shadow (Not A Fantasy)"4:20
U.K. promo 7" (CBS A 5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Remix]"4:20
2."The Power Of Love [Orchestral Remix]"6:00
U.K. 2nd press 7" (CBS A 5003) / U.S. 7" (Epic 34-05754)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love [Remix]"4:20
2."I See a Shadow (Not a Fantasy)"4:20
U.K. 2nd press 12" (CBS TX 5003)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Extended Remix]"7:10
2."Come Give Me Your Hand"3:49
3."I See A Shadow (Not A Fantasy)"4:20
Spain 7" (CBS A 6975)
No.TitleLength
1."Si tu eres mi hombre y yo tu mujer"5:10
2."The Power Of Love [Remix]"4:20
Europe re-released CD single (6614112) [1995]
No.TitleLength
1."The Power Of Love [Special Radio Edit]"4:43
2."The Power Of Love [Orchestral Remix]"6:00
3."Ave Maria (Survivors Of A Different Kind)"3:48

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Platinum 1,450,000[2]

Air Supply version

"The Power of Love
(You Are My Lady)"
Single by Air Supply
from the album Air Supply
Released July 1985 (1985-07)
Recorded 1985
Length 5:22
3:57 (radio version)
Label Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Peter Collins
Air Supply singles chronology
"Just as I Am"
(1985)		 "The Power of Love
(You Are My Lady)"
(1985)		 "Lonely Is the Night"
(1986)

"Just as I Am"
(1985)		 "The Power of Love (You Are My Lady)"
(1985)		 "Lonely Is the Night"
(1986)

Australian duo Air Supply covered "The Power of Love" for their 1985 eponymous album. Since the song was sung by Russell Hitchcock, the gender roles were reversed in the lyrics ("I'm your lady and you are my man" became "You are my lady and I am your man"). It was released as a single in July 1985 in the United States, and later in Canada and New Zealand. Their version was titled "The Power of Love (You Are My Lady)" so as not to be confused with "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News which was on the charts at the same time. Air Supply's version was a moderate success in New Zealand and Canada, reaching the top 40 in both countries in late 1985. In the US, it peaked at number 68. This cover was featured in the 2017 film Death Note.

Track listing

7" single
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love (You Are My Lady)"3:57
2."Sunset"2:47

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Canada (RPM)[27] 35
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[28] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 68
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[31] 13

Laura Branigan version

"Power of Love"
Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Touch
Released October 1987 (1987-10)
Format
Recorded
Genre
Length 5:19
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) David Kershenbaum
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"Shattered Glass"
(1987)		 "Power of Love"
(1987)		 "Cry Wolf"
(1988)

"Shattered Glass"
(1987)		 "Power of Love"
(1987)		 "Cry Wolf"
(1988)
Audio sample
Laura Branigan - "The Power of Love"
  • file
  • help

Laura Branigan recorded "The Power of Love" under the title "Power of Love" for her 1987 album Touch. Produced by David Kershenbaum, the track was released in October 1987 as the album's second single - after "Shattered Glass" - to reach #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 that December, becoming Branigan's seventh (and final) Top 40 hit (she would appear one more time on the Hot 100 with "Moonlight on Water" in 1990). "Power of Love" also ranked - with a #19 peak - on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (where Branigan would make one more appearance, with "Never in a Million Years #22 in 1990).

Branigan would say of "Power of Love": "[That] song...to me is the ultimate in singing. It's a real emotional tear-your-heart-out kind of song. It's [like] a classic torch song [but] with [a contemporary] feeling...It is really challenging vocally and yet it is really emotional."[32]

Track listing

7" single[33]
No.TitleLength
1."Power of Love"4:44
2."Spirit of Love"3:35

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[34] 26
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[35] 19

Celine Dion version

"The Power of Love"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album The Colour of My Love
Released 8 November 1993 (1993-11-08)
Format
Recorded
Genre Pop rock
Length 5:42 (album version)
4:46 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) David Foster
Celine Dion singles chronology
"Plus haut que moi"
(1993)		 "The Power of Love"
(1993)		 "Misled"
(1994)

"Plus haut que moi"
(1993)		 "The Power of Love"
(1993)		 "Misled"
(1994)
Audio sample
Celine Dion - "The Power of Love"
  • file
  • help
Music video
"The Power of Love" on YouTube

Canadian singer Celine Dion covered "The Power of Love" for her third English-language studio album, The Colour of My Love (1993). It was produced by David Foster and released as the first single in November 1993 in North America, in December 1993 in Japan, and in early 1994 in the rest of the world.

A music video for the song was released. It only used the radio edit, which was the opening track for all releases of the song.

"The Power of Love" became Dion's first US number-one song, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in February 1994. It also became her first Australian chart topper and second number-one single in Canada. The song also topped the adult contemporary charts in the United States and Canada. In the rest of the world, "The Power of Love" reached top ten in France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden and New Zealand. It was certified Platinum in the United States and Australia, Gold in New Zealand and Silver in France. In the United States, it has sold 1.5 million copies.

"The Power of Love" won the ASCAP Pop Award for Most Performed Song in the United States.[36] It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single, two Billboard Music Awards for Hot 100 Single of the Year and Hot Adult Contemporary Single of the Year, and for the Juno Award for Single of the Year. Thanks to "The Power of Love," David Foster was also nominated for the Juno Award for Producer of the Year.[37][38][39][40]

"The Power of Love" became one of Dion's signature songs. She performed it during all of her concert tours and included it on her live albums. "The Power of Love" was also featured on Dion's greatest hits compilations: All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999), Complete Best (2008), My Love: Essential Collection (2008) and The Best of Celine Dion & David Foster (2012). Live performances are included on À l'Olympia (album), Live à Paris (album), Live à Paris (video), Au cœur du stade (video), Live in Las Vegas: A New Day... (video), Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert (album/video), and Céline une seule fois / Live 2013 (album/video). She also performed the song at the American Music Awards of 1995 and her CBS television special That's Just the Woman in Me on 15 February 2008.

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote about the song: "A song this powerful places extraordinary demands on those who sing it. Only a rare few are up to the task and who better than Celine Dion to revive the song first made a hit around the world by Jennifer Rush. Add Celine's interpretation to producer David Foster's arrangement and the result is nothing short of superb."[41]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[42]

Track listings

7" single
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love" (Radio edit)4:42
2."No Living Without Loving You"4:23
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love" (Radio edit)4:42
2."No Living Without Loving You"4:23
3."Did You Give Enough Love"4:22
CD single (Japan)
No.TitleLength
1."The Power of Love" (Radio edit)4:42
2."No Living Without Loving You"4:23
3."If You Asked Me To"3:55

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[77] Platinum 70,000^
France (SNEP)[78] Silver 221,000[79]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[80] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[81] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[82] Platinum 1,471,000[83]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format
United States[84] 23 November 1993
  • CD
  • cassette
  • 7"
United Kingdom[84] 17 January 1994

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chart Archive - 1980s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 Copsey, Rob (8 March 2017). "Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Singles Of All Time By Female Artists". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. Australia: St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 44, No. 6, May 03 1986". RPM. 3 May 1986. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 43, No. 25, March 15, 1986". RPM. 15 March 1986. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Charts". IRMA. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Top 40: week 48 (30 november 1985)" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Charts.nz – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  15. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Jennifer Rush: Singles". OCC. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Jennifer Rush Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1985" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  21. ↑ "End of Year Chart 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Jahreshitparade singles 1986" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 45, No. 14, December 27, 1986". RPM. 27 December 1986. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Swiss Year-end Charts 1986". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  25. ↑ Daniel Lane (10 June 2014). "Naughty Boy and Sam Smith smash 1 million UK sales with La La La". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "British single certifications – Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Power of Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  27. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 7, October 26, 1985". RPM. 26 October 1985. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  28. ↑ "Adult Adult Contemporary - Volume 43, No. 9, November 09 1985". RPM. 9 November 1985. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  29. ↑ "Charts.nz – Air Supply – The Power of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  30. ↑ "Air Supply Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  31. ↑ "Air Supply Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  32. ↑ South Florida Sun Sentinel 4 August 1987 "Branigan Gets Emotional on New 'Touch' Album" by Mary Campbell p.6E
  33. ↑ "Laura Branigan - Power of Love (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  34. ↑ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  35. ↑ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  36. ↑ "ASCAP Pop Music Awards". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 May 1995. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  37. ↑ "37th Grammy Awards - 1995". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  38. ↑ "22nd American Music Awards". Rock On The Net. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  39. ↑ "The Year in Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 24 December 1994. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  40. ↑ "Awards: Artist Summary". CARAS. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Sholin, Dave. "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  42. ↑ Celine Dion, (1993). The Colour of My Love. [Album liner notes and credits]. Columbia Records.
  43. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Céline Dion – The Power of Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  44. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Céline Dion – The Power of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  45. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 19 March 1994. p. 52. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  46. ↑ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  47. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2393." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  48. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2323." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  49. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 5 March 1994. p. 49. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Céline Dion – The Power of Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  51. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Céline Dion – The Power of Love". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  52. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 10.03.1994 - 16.03.1994" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  53. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Power of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  54. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  55. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Céline Dion – The Power of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  56. ↑ "Charts.nz – Céline Dion – The Power of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  57. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  58. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Céline Dion – The Power of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  59. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  60. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  61. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  62. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  63. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  64. ↑ "The RPM Top 100 AC Tracks of 1993". RPM. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  65. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  66. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  67. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. 12 December 1994. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  68. ↑ "RPM Top 100 AC Tracks of 1994". RPM. 12 December 1994. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  69. ↑ "Classement Singles - année 1994" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  70. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  71. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  72. ↑ "Årslista Singlar - År 1994" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  73. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week: 9. 14 January 1995.
  74. 1 2 "The Year in Music: 1994" (PDF). Billboard. 24 December 1994. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  75. ↑ "Les Chansons Classées par Points des Années 90" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  76. ↑ "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s" (PDF). Billboard. 25 December 1999. p. 20. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  77. ↑ Gavin Ryan (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  78. ↑ "Certifications Singles Argent - année 1994" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  79. ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  80. ↑ Dean Scapolo (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts 1966-2006. RIANZ. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  81. ↑ "British single certifications – Celine Dion – The Power of Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 July 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Power of Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  82. ↑ "American single certifications – Celine Dion – The Power of Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 October 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  83. ↑ Gary Trust (8 April 2012). "Ask Billboard: Does Lionel Richie Make Billboard Chart History?". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  84. 1 2 "Celine Dion – The Power of Love". Discogs. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
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