Yesterday’s song, Because You Loved Me, went over well with most, but our dear friend David did not care for it.  He mentioned another song, and since I like the one he mentioned, although I had never heard this version, I decided to try to redeem myself and play this tonight.  Now, I had heard this song by others, but never by Jennifer Rush, and frankly, when I heard this version, I can see why David prefers it to the others!

The song was co-written and originally recorded by Jennifer Rush in 1984, though it has been covered by many others including Air Supply, Celine Dion, and Laura Branigan. 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.

CBS held off on releasing The Power of Love in North America feeling the disc was too European, though I’m not quite sure what that means. It finally saw release in the United States and Canada in January 1986 but despite rising to number one in Canada, The song failed to become a significant US hit, stalling at number fifty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Jennifer Rush says she wrote the lyric about her boyfriend, the Harvard graduate Steven Engebretson. She said he was just her second boyfriend; the couple was still together long after the song was released.

The Power of Love
Jennifer Rush

The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling by like thunder now
As I look in your eyes

I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake

‘Cause I’m your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I’ll do all that I can

Even though there may be times
It seems I’m far away
Well, never wonder where I am
‘Cause I am always by your side

‘Cause I’m your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I’ll do all that I can

We’re heading for something
Somewhere I’ve never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I’m ready to learn
Of the power of love

The sound of your heart beating
Made it clear suddenly
The feeling that I can’t go on
Is light years away

‘Cause I’m your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I’m gonna do all that I can

We’re heading for something
Somewhere I’ve never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I’m ready to learn
Of the power of love
Ooh, the power of love

Songwriters: Wolfgang Detmann / Jennifer Rush / Mary Susan Applegate / Gunther Mende
The Power of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC