Luther Vandross – Power of Love / Love Power

About the song

In the realm of soul music, few voices resonate with the raw emotion and heartfelt sincerity of Luther Vandross. His velvety vocals, capable of soaring heights and tender whispers, have captivated audiences for decades, imbuing each note with an authenticity that has cemented his status as a legendary R&B icon. Among his vast repertoire of soulful gems, “Power of Love/Love Power” stands as a testament to the enduring power of love, a ballad that celebrates the transformative force of affection and connection.

Released in 1991 as the lead single from Vandross’s album of the same name, “Power of Love/Love Power” quickly established itself as a timeless classic. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture the universal human experience of love’s profound impact on our lives, its ability to transcend challenges and bring hope even in the darkest of times.

Vandross’s masterful delivery of the song’s lyrics, a harmonious blend of his own songwriting and the contributions of Marcus Miller, paints a vivid portrait of a heart ignited by the transformative power of love. The opening lines, “I’ll protect you from the hooded claw / Keep the vampires from your door,” set the stage for a journey of emotional liberation and empowerment.

As the song progresses, Vandross’s voice swells with emotion, conveying the protagonist’s growing sense of surrender to love’s transformative embrace. The lyrics, “Feels like fire I’m so in love with you / Dreams are like angels / They keep bad at bay-bad at bay,” underscore the profound ability of love to dispel darkness and usher in a sense of serenity and hope.

The song’s poignant chorus serves as a triumphant declaration of love’s enduring power, echoing the protagonist’s unwavering belief in its ability to overcome any obstacle:

“Love is the light / Scaring darkness away-yeah I’m so in love with you / Purge the soul / Make love your goal”

Vandross’s vocal performance in the chorus is nothing short of breathtaking, his voice soaring to impassioned heights as he conveys the depth of the protagonist’s devotion. Each note is infused with a palpable sense of conviction, resonating with listeners who have experienced the transformative power of love in their own lives.

“Power of Love/Love Power” is more than just a song; it’s an anthem of hope and resilience, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, love has the power to heal, inspire, and transform. Vandross’s masterful interpretation of the lyrics, coupled with the song’s timeless melody and uplifting message, has cemented its place as an enduring classic, a testament to the universal language of love and its ability to connect us all.

Video

Lyrics

When I say goodbye it is never for long
‘Cause I know our love still lives on
It will be again exactly like it was
‘Cause I believe in the power of love

When you’re close I can feel the power
When it’s love I can always tell
Love for me is the best thing now
It’s something that I know so well

Hold me closer and every minute
Of every hour, feel the power of love, yeah
Hold me tighter and take me higher
And feel the fire of the power of love

Did you know that your feelings show
You thought your love was locked up inside
But when your senses start to overload
Love is something you should never hide

You’ve got to believe in love
It’s a feeling that’s next to none
Can’t stop until we are one
With the power of love

Tell everyone to try
I promise you’ll reach the sky
One thing that we can’t deny
Is the power of love

So close your eyes and you can feel it
Comin’ straight from above, it’s the power of love
You can’t deny it, so don’t even try it
Let the feelin’ sweep you off your feet

You’ve got to believe in love
It’s a feeling that’s next to none
Can’t stop until we are one
With the power of love

Tell everyone you see
How much better the world could be
For them and for you, for me
With the power of love

Ooh, ooh, ooh
My-my-my-my-my-my
You’ve got to feel the power
Yeah, yeah

So listen up and you will hear it
A symphony from above, it’s the power of love
So glad we’ve found it, now there’s no way around it
Just let the feeling sweep you off your feet

You’ve got to believe in love
It’s a feeling that’s next to none
Can’t stop until we are one
With the power of love

Tell everyone to try
I promise you’ll reach the sky
One thing that you can’t deny
Is the power of love

When we walk down the street
We don’t care who we see or who we meet
Don’t need to run, don’t need to hide
‘Cause we’ve got something burning inside, yeah

We’ve got love power
It’s the greatest power of them all, ooh… ooh…
We’ve got love power
And together we can’t fall, sing it with

We’ve got love (Love) power (Power)
It’s the greatest power of them all
Oh, we’ve got love (Love) power (Power)
And together we can’t fall, and all the good

, yes, we do
(It’s the greatest power of them all)
(We’ve got love) Love-love-love (Power)
(And together we can’t fall) We’ll never fall if we’ve got

Tell the world we
Got love (Power) tell the people about it
(And together we can’t fall) And it’s all because we’ve got, we’ve got

We’ve got love (Love) power (Power)
Oh, it’s the greatest power of them all and if you believe me
We’ve got more love (Love) power (Power)
And together we can’t fall, I know, can’t fall

We can’t fall (Love) when there’s a love power (Power)
‘Cause it’s the greatest power of them all