1985 Rock No. 1 Hit, Written for a Timeless Classic Movie, Ranked Among 'Top Love Songs' of All Time
It started as a movie tie-in, but decades later, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News is still packing enough punch to land among the greatest love songs ever recorded.
When Lewis' rock band was tapped to create a track for Back to the Future, no one could have predicted it would evolve into a cross-generational anthem-now recognized by Billboard as one of the "Top Love Songs of All Time."
The hit was ranked No. 40 on the famed music publication's lineup of the 50 top love songs ever, which was compiled based on real data: "actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart (from its inception on Aug. 4, 1958, through Feb. 14, 2026)." The list comprises songs that have the word "love"-or a variation, like "lover, loving," etc.-in its title, while leaving out any tracks that "are clearly about a non-romantic love," the outlet clarified.
"Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods," Billboard additionally shared about how it put together the list.
Related: 1970 Classic Signature Song About Love Became a No. 1 Hit 56 Years Ago Today
How the Song Came to Be
The story behind the song is almost as iconic as the track itself. Frontman Lewis was approached by filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, to write a theme song for the film. Initially reluctant (he famously didn't want to pen something explicitly titled after the movie), Lewis was told he could write anything he wanted.
What came out of that freedom was "The Power of Love," a high-energy pop-rock track that, notably, doesn't reference the film's plot at all. Instead, it leans into universal themes-romance, resilience, and emotional strength-helping it transcend its blockbuster origins.
"I knew it was a good song, but I didn't actually think it was going to work for him because it had nothing to do with the movie, ostensibly," Lewis confessed of the track, per Louder. "It was actually a love song, and Marty McFly had no love interest to speak of. That wasn't what the movie was about."
"But they loved it. When I sent the demo, they called back immediately to say it was fabulous. When we actually finished and mixed it, they flew up to see us – I think it was Zemeckis, Michael J. Fox, and a small entourage," he added.
Related: 1967 Classic No. 1 Hit Ranked Among ‘Best Inspirational Songs' of All Time
Chart-Topping Success
Released in June 1985, the song quickly became a commercial smash. It soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the band's first chart-topper in the U.S. And it didn't stop there. It went on to hit No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart, it became the group's only Top 10 hit in the UK, and even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
The track's success helped cement the band's dominance in the mid-1980s, a period when they were already riding high off multi-platinum albums and a string of radio staples.
The Band Behind the Anthem
Formed in the late 1970s, Huey Lewis and the News built their reputation on a polished blend of rock, pop, and rhythm and blues. By the time "The Power of Love" arrived, they were already household names, thanks to hits like "I Want a New Drug" and "The Heart of Rock & Roll."
The song-and its association with Back to the Future-pushed them into another stratosphere, however. In fact, the band would go on to rack up multiple Top 10 hits and three No. 1 singles during their peak.
Next, 34 Years Later, the World's Best-Selling Soundtrack Still Belongs to This 1992 Classic
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 9:38 AM.