Huey Lewis and the News' 'The Power of Love' - A Song That Transcended Time and Movie
Steven Spielberg and Bob Zemeckis approached Huey Lewis and the News with an unexpected proposal: they wanted one of their songs for the film "Back to the Future." The band, comprised of Huey Lewis on vocals, Chris Hayes on guitar and songwriter, and others, was initially hesitant. Chris Hayes recalls the collaboration process, stating that he had written a chord progression on tape while going through a jogging phase. The demo arrived at Spielberg's office, but Zemeckis felt it wasn't upbeat enough.
Lewis reflects on how the song took shape: "I went back to the guys and we worked on it." Johnny Colla, their saxophonist, contributed significantly to the arrangement. On the original demo, the song featured a minor key verse and double-bridge chords; however, Colla suggested minimizing these elements for a more uplifting start.
The Power of Love was released to widespread acclaim, topping the charts with its catchy guitar riff and gospel-inspired bridge section. The song became an integral part of the "Back to the Future" franchise, despite having no direct connection to the film's storyline. Chris Hayes reveals that he had no idea how popular it would be: "I threw in a couple of chords that were a little bit different... It was like going back to my music theory classes and jazz/gospel roots."
Lewis adds: "We were given a synopsis of the screenplay, and I remember thinking to myself: 'This doesn't sound plausible or like it's going to be good.'" The song went on to become the band's biggest hit, their first No. 1 single, and helped propel Huey Lewis and the News onto the international stage.
Interestingly, when the studio pushed for an earlier release date due to the song's massive radio success, they were aware of the film's immense popularity worldwide. The timing proved pivotal in the band's career advancement as they leveraged this momentum to tour extensively across Europe and beyond.
With its infectious melody and unexpected origins, 'The Power of Love' stands as a testament to creative collaboration and serendipity, reminding us that even seemingly unlikely projects can yield remarkable results when passion and skill come together.
Steven Spielberg and Bob Zemeckis approached Huey Lewis and the News with an unexpected proposal: they wanted one of their songs for the film "Back to the Future." The band, comprised of Huey Lewis on vocals, Chris Hayes on guitar and songwriter, and others, was initially hesitant. Chris Hayes recalls the collaboration process, stating that he had written a chord progression on tape while going through a jogging phase. The demo arrived at Spielberg's office, but Zemeckis felt it wasn't upbeat enough.
Lewis reflects on how the song took shape: "I went back to the guys and we worked on it." Johnny Colla, their saxophonist, contributed significantly to the arrangement. On the original demo, the song featured a minor key verse and double-bridge chords; however, Colla suggested minimizing these elements for a more uplifting start.
The Power of Love was released to widespread acclaim, topping the charts with its catchy guitar riff and gospel-inspired bridge section. The song became an integral part of the "Back to the Future" franchise, despite having no direct connection to the film's storyline. Chris Hayes reveals that he had no idea how popular it would be: "I threw in a couple of chords that were a little bit different... It was like going back to my music theory classes and jazz/gospel roots."
Lewis adds: "We were given a synopsis of the screenplay, and I remember thinking to myself: 'This doesn't sound plausible or like it's going to be good.'" The song went on to become the band's biggest hit, their first No. 1 single, and helped propel Huey Lewis and the News onto the international stage.
Interestingly, when the studio pushed for an earlier release date due to the song's massive radio success, they were aware of the film's immense popularity worldwide. The timing proved pivotal in the band's career advancement as they leveraged this momentum to tour extensively across Europe and beyond.
With its infectious melody and unexpected origins, 'The Power of Love' stands as a testament to creative collaboration and serendipity, reminding us that even seemingly unlikely projects can yield remarkable results when passion and skill come together.
u know what's wild? I was listening to this song for the first time in ages & it still gets me pumped up 
! i'm not surprised though, it's like the ultimate feel-good anthem. but what's crazy is how it came about from that collaboration with Spielberg and Zemeckis... it's like a perfect example of how sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches 
. Chris Hayes' guitar work really makes the song special, don't @ me 
. i also love how Huey Lewis initially thought it was gonna be a dud but ended up being this huge hit 
! The Power of Love for real tho 
. Like, it's literally a demo tape from 1985 that somehow became a No. 1 single in the US 
. And don't even get me started on how it went from having a "minor key verse" to becoming some kind of iconic guitar riff masterpiece 
. But let's not forget, it was Spielberg and Zemeckis who basically bullied Lewis into writing this song for their movie 
. Like, can't we just appreciate it for what it is: a weirdly catchy pop-rock anthem that somehow became part of our collective consciousness? 
And what's the deal with Chris Hayes' claim that he had no idea the song would be so popular? Did he not hear about its success at all? 
but at the same time its actually kinda catchy & its cool how it became a big hit for huey lewis & co 
but what if they had stuck with that minor key verse instead? 
i mean, we can never know for sure 
but still, its dope how johnny colla added that jazz vibe to the song 
i mean, the power of love is defo an iconic song, but like, it's so tied to back to the future now its hard for me to separate the two. i remember listening to that movie soundtrack as a kid and just loving 'the power of love' - it was always one of my jams. but at the same time, it feels weird how much of an impact that song had on huey lewis and the news's career after back to the future came out... like, they were already a decent band before, right? 
It's insane how 'The Power of Love' just took off from this random collab with Spielberg & Zemeckis... who knew that funky guitar riff would be the key to their success? 
It's amazing how Chris Hayes' unique chord progression led to something so catchy and memorable.
The fact that Spielberg and Zemeckis saw potential in it is a testament to their vision. I guess you could say their collaboration sparked something special. What I love about this song is how it blends different styles, like jazz and gospel, to create that signature Huey Lewis sound.
The Power of Love may have started as an unlikely project, but it ended up being a defining moment in their career and ours, too.
The way it evolved from a minor key verse to that super catchy guitar riff... magic, right? 
And can you imagine not knowing the impact your contribution would have on a band's career? Mind blown. 
Back to the Future, for real! 
! Can you believe it's been decades since its release in 'Back to the Future' and it's still a fan fave? The collaboration between Huey Lewis and the News, Steven Spielberg, and Bob Zemeckis is just too cool. I mean, who would've thought that Chris Hayes' jogging session chord progression would become a iconic part of rock history 
!