On October 17, 1985, Jennifer Rush took the stage on Top of the Pops to perform The Power of Love — the song that had just become a sensation across Europe. With her commanding voice and poised delivery, Rush brought a live intensity to the chart-topping ballad, turning television performance into high drama.
The Power of Love had first been released the year before, written by Rush with Candy DeRouge, Gunther Mende, and Mary Susan Applegate. While its early reception was modest, by the autumn of 1985 it had reached No. 1 in the UK, staying there for five weeks and ending the year as Britain’s best-selling single. The performance on Top of the Pops captured that exact moment when the song was at its peak, a breakthrough that made Rush an international name.
The ballad’s enduring appeal lies in its duality. Opening in near-whispers—“The whispers in the morning of lovers sleeping tight”—it gradually builds into a sweeping, emotional climax. Rush’s performance on Top of the Pops showcased her vocal control, balancing vulnerability with sheer power. The staging was simple, but the delivery was enough to leave an impression on millions of viewers who tuned in that evening.
Over the years, The Power of Love has been covered by many artists, most famously Céline Dion in the 1990s, but Jennifer Rush’s original remains iconic. It was the first version to conquer international charts and the one that introduced audiences to her extraordinary vocal presence. Watching the 1985 Top of the Pops clip today is more than nostalgia—it’s a reminder of a song that defined an era and a performance that captured lightning in
Quick Facts & Trivia
Released in December 1984, the song climbed international charts through 1985.
Hit No. 1 in the UK for five weeks and was the UK’s best-selling single of 1985.
Reached No. 1 in Canada, Australia, and several European countries.
U.S. release lagged until 1986, peaking at No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Spanish-language version (Si tú eres mi hombre y yo tu mujer) also became a hit.
The Top of the Pops performance aired at the height of its UK success.
Later covered by Céline Dion, Air Supply, and Laura Branigan, but Rush’s original is still considered definitive.
Jennifer Rush originally felt the song was “too simple” and nearly left it off her debut album. Her producer convinced her it had huge potential.
The early demo was recorded with a Roland 808 drum machine and a cheap keyboard, before being built into the soaring ballad we know today.
In Spain and Latin America, a Spanish version titled “Si tú eres mi hombre y yo tu mujer” became a hit in its own right, giving Rush a rare bilingual success.
The Top of the Pops performance came at the exact moment the single was No. 1 in the UK—a rare case of TV aligning perfectly with chart history.
Years later, Céline Dion admitted she was inspired by Rush’s emotional delivery when she recorded her own version in 1993.
