The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)

"The Power of Love"
Single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome
B-side	"The World Is My Oyster", "Holier Than Thou"
Released	19 November 1984 (1984-11-19) December 1993 (1993-12) 2000 (2000)
Format	7", 12", cassette, CD Single
Length	5:30
Label	ZTT - ZTAS 5
Writer(s)	Holly Johnson, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole, Brian Nash
Producer(s)	Trevor Horn
Frankie Goes to Hollywood singles chronology
"Two Tribes" (1984) "The Power of Love" (1984) "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (1985)

	Power of Love - Peel Sessions 1983 excerpt
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"The Power of Love" is a song originally recorded and released by English band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It was written by Holly Johnson, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole and Brian Nash, four of five members of the band. It was released by the group as their third single.

Initially issued as a single in November 1984, and taken from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome, "The Power of Love" followed its two predecessors, "Relax" and "Two Tribes", to the top of the UK singles chart. It scored the band an early December number-one. "The Power of Love" was also a top 10 hit in several European countries, in New Zealand, and in Canada. The Power Of Love is often regarded as a Christmas song, despite being released in November 1984, and having no reference to Christmas within the song lyrics. However, the accompanying video features the Nativity, and the single cover was The Assumptions of the Virgin. The song spent just one week at Number One in the UK. The song which outsold it was the charity song Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid, which until 1997 was the best selling single ever in the UK.

Since then, reissues and/or remixes of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood recording of this song have been top 10 UK hits on two other occasions, hitting #10 in 1993 and #6 in 2000. "The Power of Love" has also charted in the UK in a version by Holly Johnson (a solo recording from 1999), and a 2012 version by Gabrielle Aplin. Aplin's recording of the song also went to #1 in the UK, exactly 28 years after the original Frankie Goes To Hollywood single topped the charts.

Aplin's version also enjoyed a resurgence in 2014 thanks to it being the soundtrack to the advert/trailer for TV series "Resurrection".

Holly Johnson, who co-wrote the song, later reminisced: "I always felt like The Power Of Love was the record that would save me in this life. There is a biblical aspect to its spirituality and passion; the fact that love is the only thing that matters in the end."

Frankie Goes To Hollywood version (1984)

The track was first featured during the John Peel Sessions the band performed on during 1983, which was slower and emphasised the track's original camp ironic content (such as the Hooded Claw from the cartoon series The Perils of Penelope Pitstop).

"The Power of Love" became Frankie Goes To Hollywood's third consecutive (and last) #1 UK single in December 1984. To commemorate the Christmas release, Godley & Creme directed a nativity themed video for the single, and the artwork for the single also used traditional Christian iconography. The original showing of the video on The Tube featured the nativity occupying the whole screen, however the borders of band members were added for later showings due to pressure from UK broadcasters.

The 12" mix of the song featured actor Chris Barrie aping DJ Mike Read's banning of the single "Relax", as well as his impression of Ronald Reagan, instructing the listener in prayer. The single also featured a Christmas message from the band, entitled "Holier Than Thou".

On the cover is a reproduction of the Assumption of the Virgin by Titian, a 16th-century painting in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari of Venice.

The single has been reissued in various formats over the years. The 1993 reissue charted at #10 UK; the 2000 remix version hit #6 UK.

Track listing

All discographical information here pertains to UK releases only (unless otherwise noted)

7": ZTT / ZTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

"Make love your goal"

1. "The Power of Love" (7" mix) - 5:27
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (7" mix) - 4:13

Also available as a Picture disc carrying the same tracks. (PZTAS5)

12": ZTT / 12 ZTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (Extended version) - 9:28
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (Scrapped) - 1:38
3. "Holier Than Thou" (The first) - 1:08
4. "The World Is My Oyster" (Trapped) [Instrumental] - 2:29
5. "Holier Than Thou" (The second) - 4:10
6. "The Power of Love" (Instrumental) [Unlisted] - 2:27

• Released in a "hearts and crosses" 12" envelope.
• "Holier Than Thou" is a recording of band members attempting to record a Christmas message for fans and generally messing about in the recording studio. The final song on the disc is the continuation of the instrumental version of "The Power of Love" that begins side A, here finally reaching its conclusion. This section of music actually begins during the final part of the "Holier Than Thou" section, when Peter Gill is jokingly listing what he wants for Christmas.
• Also released as a picture disc carrying the same tracks (PZTAS5)

12": ZTT / 12 XZTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (7" mix) - 5:27
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (12" mix) - 4:23
3. "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (Pleasure fix) - 9:46
4. "The Only Star in Heaven" (Star fix) - 3:52

• Released in a white gatefold sleeve with 5 photos.

MC: ZTT / CTIS 105 (United Kingdom)

"I'll protect you from the holocaust"

1. "[oh fire!]" - 0:16
2. "The Power of Love" (Extended version, too) - 8:54
3. "Scrapped" - 1:38
4. "Holier Than Thou" - 1:08
5. "Trapped" - 2:29
6. "Holier Than Thou" - 4:10
7. "The Power of Love" (Instrumental) [Unlisted] - 2:27
8. "my uncle is a monster" [Unlisted] - 0:29
9. "absolutely obscene" (Relax version) [Unlisted] - 0:28

This complete cassette was re-released in 2012 on CD Sexmix Disk 1 Tracks 7-12.

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report[1]	4
Austrian Singles Chart[2]	8
Canadian Singles Chart[3]	7
Dutch Singles Chart[4]	10
French Singles Chart[5]	20
German Singles Chart[6]	4
Irish Singles Chart[7]	2
Italian Singles Chart[8]	6
New Zealand Singles Chart[9]	2
Swedish Singles Chart[10]	14
Swiss Singles Chart[11]	2
UK Singles Chart[12]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification
Italy (FIMI)[13]	Gold
United Kingdom (BPI)[14]	Gold

Reissues

1993 reissues

The 1993 re-issues featured the church in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden on the cover.

CD

ZTT / FGTH3CD (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" - 5:29
2. "The Power of Love" (Original extended mix) - 9:29
3. "Rage Hard" (Original DJ mix) [Vocal edit] - 4:13
4. "Holier Than Thou Edit" (No Rest for the Best - Edit) - 3:29

CD

ZTT / FGTH3CDX (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" - 5:29
2. "The Power of Love" (Original extended mix) - 9:29
3. "Rage Hard" (Original DJ mix) [Vocal edit] - 4:13
4. "The Power of Love" (Alternative mix) - 5:07

CD

ZTT-Warner / 4509-94954-2 (Germany)

1. "The Power of Love" (1994 radio love mix) - 3:47
2. "The Power of Love" - 5:29

2000 reissues

CD

ZTT / ZTT 150 CD (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle club mix edit) - 4:13
2. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle club mix) - 8:41
3. "The Power of Love" (Minkys Yaba mix edit) - 5:05

12"

ZTT / ZTT 150 T (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle club mix) - 8:38
2. "The Power of Love" (Minky's Yaba mix) - 8:10

2012 reissue

MP3 download (United Kingdom)^[15]

1. "The Power of Love" (Original 7" mix) - 5:30
2. "The Power of Love" (Original 7" instrumental) - 5:30
3. "The Power of Love" (Original 12" mix) - 9:30
4. "The World Is My Oyster" - 4:17
5. "The Power of Love" (Alternative mix) - 5:08
6. "The Power of Love" (Best listened to by lovers) - 4:30
7. "The Power of Love" (Instrumental, singlette version) - 3.34

• Best Listened to by Lovers is an orchestral instrumental from Anne Dudley's arrangement recorded as part of the original Welcome to the Pleasuredome album sessions in 1984 which was used for the first part of the original Power of Love 12" single, with added guitars. It was first released on the compilation CD Frankie Said earlier in 2012.
• Original 7" Instrumental is an instrumental version of the regular single / album track, and is unique to this release.

Holly Johnson version (1999)

"The Power of Love"
Single by Holly Johnson
from the album Soulstream
Released	1999
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop
Length	5:04
Label	Pleasuredome
Writer(s)	Peter Gill, Holly Johnson, Mark O'Toole
Holly Johnson singles chronology
"Disco Heaven" (1999) "The Power of Love" (1999) "Follow Your Heart" (2014)

Holly Johnson, former singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, recorded his own version of "The Power of Love" for his 1999 album Soulstream. It was released as the third single from the album, reaching #56 in the UK. The single stayed in the charts for 2 weeks.^[16] A music video was created to promote the single.^[17]

The single was released by two separate CD versions, each featuring different tracks,^[18] with the second CD featuring "All U Need Is Love (Demo Version)", a demo version of the Soulstream album track.^[19]

Track listing

CD Single (CD1)

1. "The Power of Love" (Radio mix) - 5:08
2. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (12" definitive mix) - 5:36
3. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (Doogs House mix) - 5:04

CD Single (CD2)

1. "The Power of Love" (Millennium mix) - 5:36
2. "In the House of the Rising Sun (DNA instrumental mix)" - 5:32
3. "All U Need Is Love" (Demo version) - 4:59

CD Single (Promo)

1. "The Power of Love (Radio mix)" - 5:08
2. "The Power of Love (Millennium mix)" - 5:33
3. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (12" definitive mix) - 5:36
4. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (Doogs House mix) - 5:04
5. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (DNA instrumental mix) - 5:30

Remixes and B-sides

• "The Power of Love" (Radio mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (12" definitive mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (Doogs House mix)
• "The Power of Love" (Millennium mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (DNA instrumental mix)
• "All U Need Is Love" (Demo version)

Critical reception

Jon O'Brien of Allmusic reviewed the Soulstream album, and spoke of the song, stating "The William Orbit-esque production of the empowering opener "Lady Luck," and the subtle trip-hop-tinged title track show that Johnson still occasionally had his finger on the pulse. But unnecessary reworkings of 1984 chart-topper "The Power of Love" and the 1994 flop, gay anthem "Legendary Children (All of Them Queer)," only highlight the creative rut he appeared to be stuck in."^[20]

Chart performance

Chart (1999)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[21]	56

Gabrielle Aplin version (2012)

"The Power of Love"
Single by Gabrielle Aplin
from the album English Rain
Released	9 November 2012
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2012
Genre	Pop
Length	4:05
Label	Parlophone
Writer(s)	Peter Gill Holly Johnson Mark O'Toole
Producer(s)	Mike Spencer David Kosten
Gabrielle Aplin singles chronology
"The Power of Love" (2012) "Please Don't Say You Love Me" (2013)

In 2012 English singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin released a cover version of the song produced by Mike Spencer and David Kosten. It was released on 9 November 2012 as a digital download as the lead single from her debut studio album English Rain (2013). The song was selected as the soundtrack to the John Lewis 2012 Christmas advertisement.^[22] The song was also used during an episode of Hollyoaks on 16 November 2012 after the sudden death of one of the show's main characters.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "The Power of Love" was first released onto YouTube on 9 November 2012. It shows Aplin in a room in a large house, playing a piano. Then, near the end of the video, fairy lights in the room light up. The video was directed by Alexander Brown.

Track listing

Digital download
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Power of Love"	4:05

Chart performance

On 11 November 2012 "The Power of Love" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 36, a week later it climbed to number 5. On 9 December 2012 the single reached number 1.^[23] Aplin's version was certified gold in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2013.^[24]

On 8 December 2013, the song re-charted at #88 on the UK Singles Chart, due to downloads.^[25]

Charts

Charts (2012–14)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[26]	5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27]	75
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28]	44
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[29]	47
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[30]	22
Ireland (IRMA)[31]	20
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[32]	3
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33]	4
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Platinum	70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36]	Gold	400,000^
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts

Chart (2012)	Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[37]	53
Chart (2014)	Position
Australia (ARIA)[38]	92

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	9 November 2012	Digital download	Parlophone
Ireland

Cover versions

• Dutch symphonic rock band Within Temptation covered the song during a special programme on the Belgian radio station Q music during their special programme Within Temptation Friday,^[39] where the band choose some songs to cover not related to their style of music. The song was then included on their cover album The Q-Music Sessions, released in June 2013.
• Il Divo covered the song on their album "The Promise"
• Dune covered the song on their album Forever, with the London Session Orchestra.
• Slow Moving Millie covered the song on her album Renditions.
• Oomph! covered the song on their greatest hits album Delikatessen.
• ASP covered the song on their MCD Stille der Nacht.
• Feeder covered the song on their album Picture of Perfect Youth.
• James Arthur covered the song in the semi-final of the ninth series of The X Factor.
• Amici Forever covered the song on the 2006 Australian Tour Edition re-release of their 2005 album Defined.
• Anneke van Giersbergen covered the song on the 2009 compilation Pure Air.
• Christina Marie covered the song in the Battle Round with Nathan Amzi and in the Final of the third series of The Voice UK.
• Members of several European metal bands, including Nightwish, Epica and Within Temptation recorded a cover in support of the Red Cross aiding victims of sexual violence in war-zones.^[40]
• Singer-songwriter Julio D covered the song^[41] in middle 2016.

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Preceded by "I Should Have Known Better" by Jim Diamond	UK number one single 8 December 1984	Succeeded by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid