Who Wrote the Song Power of Love

Who wrote Power of Love

The question "who wrote Power of Love" has multiple answers because several hit recordings share the title. The most iconic modern version is Jennifer Rush's 1984 original, written by American songwriter and composer Jennifer Rush (born Ellen Naomi Cohen) with production and musical realization by producers Gunther Mende and Candy DeRouge. Later, Frankie Goes to Hollywood released a globally successful cover in 1985, crediting the same songwriting lineage through arrangement and adaptation. Additional high-profile covers, including Celine Dion's 1993 version, inherit the song’s credits via the original composition and subsequent interpretations. This article explains the songwriting origins, credits, and lineage across versions.

Jennifer Rush original 1984 writing credits

Jennifer Rush, the performing name of Ellen Naomi Cohen, is the credited writer of the original 1984 recording of "Power of Love." She composed the song alongside the production team of Gunther Mende and Candy DeRouge, who shaped the arrangement and production. Rush’s version was first released in Germany in 1984 and gradually gained momentum across Europe before reaching number one in the United Kingdom and several other territories in 1985. The writing credit remains with Rush, reflecting her role as composer and lyricist of the original recorded version.

Key details of the original release

Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1985 cover writing credits

In 1985, Frankie Goes to Hollywood released a cover that achieved massive commercial success, particularly in the UK. The group’s version used the existing musical composition and lyrics, crediting Jennifer Rush, Gunther Mende, and Candy DeRouge in alignment with the original songwriting. Legal and publishing sources consistently tie the cover’s rights to the writers and publishers of the original recording. While the arrangement and vocal delivery differ, the underlying songwriting credit remains with Jennifer Rush.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood version details

Celine Dion version writing credits

Celine Dion recorded "Power of Love" for her 1993 album "The Colour of My Love." Her rendition credits Jennifer Rush as the songwriter, with additional production contributions from senior producers handling her English-language recordings. Dion’s version underscored the song’s melodic and emotional strengths, expanding its reach to new audiences. The writing credit remains with Jennifer Rush, consistent with original publishing and performance rights sources. No new songwriting claim was instituted for this cover; the composition is attributed to the original writer.

Celine Dion release highlights

Understanding songwriting vs. performing credits

Songwriting and performing credits are distinct legal and creative roles. On "Power of Love," the songwriter is the person who composed the melody and lyrics, which is Jennifer Rush. Performers—such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood or Celine Dion—interpret and record the composition but do not claim songwriting credit unless they contributed to writing or arranging. Publishing rights, performance rights organizations (PROs), and official releases consistently reflect Rush as the writer across versions. Misattribution sometimes arises because of the strength of the performances, but authoritative sources uphold Rush’s authorship.

Summary of credits for Power of Love versions

Across the most prominent recordings, the answer to "who wrote Power of Love" remains consistent: Jennifer Rush. Below is a concise comparison of versions and their credited writers.

• Jennifer Rush (1984 original) — writer: Jennifer Rush; producers: Gunther Mende, Candy DeRouge.
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985) — writer: Jennifer Rush; producers: Stephen Hague.
• Celine Dion (1993) — writer: Jennifer Rush; producers: David Foster, Walter Afanasieff.

This consistency across decades and genres illustrates clear authorship and reliable publishing records, making the attribution well-established in music reference sources.

In conclusion, while multiple artists have recorded successful versions of "Power of Love," the original and enduring songwriting credit belongs to Jennifer Rush. Arrangers, producers, and performers have added interpretive elements, but the core composition is attributed to Rush. Understanding these distinctions clarifies credits and supports accurate references in ongoing music discussions.