"Power of Love" by Laura Branigan

Song#:  3303
Date:  10/24/1987
Debut:  97
Peak:  26
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:   Branigan's fifth album, Touch, didn't get off to a great start with its first single, the Stock Aitken Waterman product "Shattered Glass," stalling early at #48. Since that upbeat track couldn't gain an audience, the label then chose this ballad for a second single. It did better making the Pop Top 30 while reaching #19 at AC. The better result didn't necessarily play into album sales with Touch already topping out at #87. It was Branigan's worst showing on the album chart to-date and her second in a row to not at least reach gold level sales. This song would also prove to be Branigan's last to reach the Pop Top 40.

ReduxReview:  It's back - the song that never dies. There's not much I can really add about the tune that I haven't covered in its other versions (see below). While Branigan's take is not my favorite of the four charting version ("favorite" is a strong word here), I do admire the passion and gusto that she put into her vocal. Near the end it sounded like was gonna bust a lung, but weirdly it didn't sound as screamy and piercing and Celine Dion's massive, technically perfect wail on the tune. Thankfully, this is the last time I have to hear this freakin' song for the blog. I say good riddance to the "Power of Love."

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  This is a remake of a song originally written and performed by Jennifer Rush. Her version became a major hit in Europe and other countries in 1985. It would finally make the US Pop chart in 1986, but would only get to #57. However, before she could chart with the song in the US, Australian group Air Supply would hit the chart first with their take on the song. It didn't do well peaking at #68. Branigan would have the best result on the song with her 1987 version, but then a newly minted star came along and finally got the song to #1. Celine Dion would cover the song for her 1993 album The Colour of My Love. It served as the LP's second single and it would become Dion's first US #1 Pop hit and third US AC chart topper. The song would also earn Dion a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. With Dion creating a new standard for the song, other artists just bowed down and no one else has attempted to release a version as a single since.

_________________________________________________________________________________