Sometimes a song is so big it swallows the artist whole. You know the melody. You’ve probably belted out the chorus in a car while nobody was looking. But if you ask the average person who sang the original version of The Power of Love, they’ll likely guess Celine Dion.
They'd be wrong.
Before the Canadian diva took it to the top of the US charts in the 90s, an American singer named Jennifer Rush—born Heidi Stern—created a masterpiece in a Frankfurt recording studio. It’s a weirdly beautiful story of a New Yorker who had to move to West Germany to become a global superstar. Honestly, the 1984 original has a grit and a synth-heavy moodiness that later covers just can't quite replicate.
The Song That Conquered the World (Except America)
Jennifer Rush was the daughter of opera singers, and you can hear that training in every bar of The Power of Love Jennifer Rush. She co-wrote the track with Gunther Mende, Candy DeRouge, and Mary Susan Applegate. It wasn't an instant explosion. In the UK, the song was a "slow burner," taking a record-breaking 16 weeks to climb the charts.
Once it hit the top, it stayed there for five weeks.
👉 See also: Cuatro estaciones en la Habana: Why this Noir Masterpiece is Still the Best Way to See Cuba
It eventually became the biggest-selling single of 1985 in Britain. It even landed in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling single by a female solo artist in the UK—a record it held until Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" broke it in 1992.
But here’s the kicker: back home in the United States, the song barely made a dent. It stalled at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100. Why? Some say the production was "too European" for American radio at the time. Others blame a messy release schedule where Air Supply and Laura Branigan both dropped their own versions around the same time, muddying the waters for the original.
Why the Jennifer Rush Version is the Definitive One
If you listen to the 1984 recording today, it feels like a time capsule of 80s synth-pop. It starts with those cold, atmospheric whispers—"The whispers in the morning, of lovers sleeping tight"—before a massive, gated-reverb drum beat kicks in.
It's dramatic. It’s moody. It’s kinda dark.
✨ Don't miss: Cry Havoc: Why Jack Carr Just Changed the Reece-verse Forever
Celine Dion’s version is technically perfect, sure. But Jennifer Rush brings a certain vulnerability to it. She sounds like she’s actually in the relationship, not just performing a song about it. There’s a specific "back-row wail" in her voice that feels raw. It makes sense that she was living in Germany when she recorded it; there’s a Teutonic precision to the synth arrangement that balances out the American soul in her vocals.
The Technical Magic Behind the Ballad
The track was produced by Mende and DeRouge in Frankfurt. They used a mix of traditional ballad structure and the emerging electronic sounds of the mid-80s.
- Key: Ab Major
- Tempo: A slow, pulsing 82 BPM
- Instrumentation: Heavy emphasis on the Roland Juno-60 and DX7 synthesizers.
The arrangement builds perfectly. It starts with just the pads and her voice, and by the time you reach the final chorus, it’s a wall of sound. If you’re a musician, try playing it on a keyboard; the bass progression is surprisingly complex for a pop ballad.
The "Curse" of the One-Hit Wonder
In the UK and US, Jennifer Rush is often unfairly labeled a one-hit wonder. That’s a very English-centric view. In Continental Europe—specifically Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—she was a titan. Her follow-up albums like Movin' and Heart Over Mind went multi-platinum. She did duets with Elton John ("Flames of Paradise") and Placido Domingo.
🔗 Read more: Colin Macrae Below Deck: Why the Fan-Favorite Engineer Finally Walked Away
She basically lived the dream of a successful career, even if the "Big Three" (Celine, Whitney, Mariah) eventually overshadowed her in the global pop consciousness. There's a certain irony in the fact that she co-wrote a song that would make Celine Dion tens of millions of dollars, yet Jennifer herself remains a bit of a cult figure outside of Europe.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
- "Celine Dion wrote it." Nope. Jennifer Rush co-wrote the lyrics and the melody.
- "It's the same song as Huey Lewis." Definitely not. Huey Lewis and the News released "The Power of Love" (of Back to the Future fame) in 1985. They aren't related, though the title clash caused some confusion for record buyers at the time.
- "It was a flop in the 80s." Only in the US. In the rest of the world, it was the definitive anthem of the decade.
How to Experience the "Power" Today
If you want to truly appreciate the song, skip the Greatest Hits radio edits. Find the original 1984 12-inch extended remix. It’s over seven minutes long and lets the atmospheric intro breathe. It really highlights the "sultry" tones that fans talk about on Reddit and music forums.
Even in 2026, the song's legacy is weirdly strong. It’s a staple of "Now That's What I Call Music" anniversaries and remains a go-to for televised singing competitions. But nothing beats that original Frankfurt recording.
Next Steps for Music Fans:
Go back and listen to the Jennifer Rush version followed immediately by the Celine Dion cover. Pay attention to the percussion and the way the bridge is delivered. You'll notice that while Celine goes for the "power," Jennifer stays in the "love." If you're a songwriter, study the lyrics—they are a masterclass in using simple, relatable imagery (thunder, heartbeats, "lost in your arms") to create an epic emotional arc.