The Emotional Power of Jennifer Rush’s Classic Love Song
The Power of Love
Jennifer Rush’s timeless love ballad “The Power of Love” is a classic, beloved by millions of fans around the world. But why does this song resonate so deeply with so many people? Let’s take a closer look at the lyrics, the music, and the message of this beautiful ode to love.
The Story Behind the Song
“The Power of Love” was written in 1984 by three songwriters: Mary Applegate, Gunther Mende, and Candy DeRouge. Originally a hit in Germany for singer Laura Branigan, the song was later popularized by Jennifer Rush in 1985, becoming a massive international success and defining Rush’s career.
As Rush herself has noted, the song’s lyrics describe a love that is all-encompassing and all-consuming. She has described the song as “a hymn to love, to the deepest and most intense feelings that people can experience.”
The Lyrics
The song’s lyrics are beautifully poetic and overflowing with emotion. The opening verse sets the tone:
The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes
The chorus, of course, is the song’s most iconic and memorable moment:
The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove
More than a feeling that’s the power of love
The lyrics go on to describe the intensity and overwhelming nature of true love, with lines like:
You don’t need money, don’t take fame
Don’t need no credit card to ride this train
It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
The Music
The melody of “The Power of Love” is equally as powerful as the lyrics. The memorable opening notes played on the piano are instantly recognizable, and the soaring chorus is the explosive climax that the song builds towards.
Interestingly, the song’s original arrangement by Germans Mende-Musik, which was produced by Mende, was a slower, more synth-driven version than the more famous Rush version. But Rush, who had previously worked as a backup singer in the same studio where Mende recorded, convinced the producers to slow down the tempo to the form audiences know so well today.
The Cultural Impact
It’s difficult to overstate the impact that “The Power of Love” has had on popular culture around the world. The song has been covered by countless artists over the years, and has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and commercials.
More than that, though, the song has become a universal anthem for love, a song that people turn to when they want to express the depths of their feelings to their partners. It’s been played at countless weddings, and has been the soundtrack to countless romantic moments.
The Legacy of Love
Jennifer Rush has said that she is humbled and honored by the enduring popularity of “The Power of Love.” She notes that every time she performs the song, she is struck by the power and emotion of the audience’s response.
In a world filled with so much noise and turmoil, it’s comforting to know that a simple love song can still cut through all the distractions and remind us of the beauty and power of love. “The Power of Love” may be a song, but it’s also a force that has the ability to connect us all to our most profound emotions and unite us in a powerful and universal experience.
