Jennifer Rush – “Ring of Ice”:
Cold Fire in a Synth-Pop Storm
First released in West Germany in September 1984 and later in the UK in November 1985, “Ring of Ice” was the follow-up to Jennifer Rush’s global breakout hit “The Power of Love.” Where that chart-topper delivered sweeping romance, “Ring of Ice” was a harder-edged, synth-driven meditation on distance, emotional walls, and passion sealed behind glass. It didn’t just showcase her dynamic vocal range — it proved that Rush could command a storm as easily as she could whisper a vow.
A Wall of Sound, Made of Steel
Written by Jennifer Rush, Candy DeRouge, and Gunther Mende, and produced by DeRouge and Mende, “Ring of Ice” exemplifies mid-’80s synth-pop polish with a distinctly Euro-rock edge. The track is built around pulsing drum machines, crystalline keyboards, and Rush’s towering vocals. Unlike many of her peers, she doesn’t simply soar above the mix — she drives through it, bringing clarity and heat to a composition laced with chill.
The instrumental shimmer is tense, like ice cracking under pressure. And her voice? Part flame, part frost.
Lyrics of Love on Lockdown
The song explores the emotional paralysis of a relationship caught between closeness and coldness. Lines like: “We lay inside the ring of ice / You’re close enough to touch / But somehow out of reach” suggest a love suffocated by fear or self-protection. It’s not a pleading love song — it’s a tightly coiled declaration of survival. There’s intensity in every word, yet Rush sings with restraint, embodying a character both passionate and guarded.
It’s vulnerability armored in sound.
Chart Performance and Global Reach
“Ring of Ice” didn’t chart in the United States, but it achieved solid success internationally, especially across Europe and in South Africa. In the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 14 on the Singles Chart in January 1986, proving that Jennifer Rush’s momentum from “The Power of Love” carried over strongly. In West Germany, it climbed to No. 22, while in Finland it landed at No. 15. Ireland embraced the track warmly as well, pushing it to No. 9. However, perhaps the most remarkable success came in South Africa, where “Ring of Ice” reached No. 1 and remained on the charts for an impressive 27 weeks. Despite common misconceptions, the song did not chart in Austria or Switzerland, though it still played a key role in solidifying Rush’s reputation as a consistent hitmaker in European markets.
Video: Glamour Meets Isolation
The music video is a stylized, studio-set performance clip — dimly lit, with soft glows, mirrors, and minimalist staging. Rush appears aloof, poised, and powerful, dressed in bold ’80s fashion and delivering her lines with the cool focus of someone in emotional self-defense.
There’s no literal narrative, only atmosphere — emphasizing the inner freeze that defines the song.
A Synth-Pop Power Cut That Still Burns
Though often eclipsed by the commercial dominance of “The Power of Love,” “Ring of Ice” remains one of Jennifer Rush’s most compelling sonic statements. It was re-recorded for her 1998 Classics collection and remixed in 2022 by Stereoact, testifying to its enduring appeal.
It’s a song of passion trapped in stasis — where emotion simmers under ice, and where every note threatens to shatter the surface. Decades later, its emotional architecture still resonates. In a world full of lovesick ballads, “Ring of Ice” is the sound of fire refusing to go out.