Huey Lewis & The News – The Power of Love:
Pop-Rock, Time Travel, and a Hook That Won’t Quit
The song was released in June 1985 as the lead single from the Back to the Future soundtrack. It was also included as a bonus track on international editions of the band’s fourth studio album, Fore!. The Power of Love is peak ‘80s energy—big guitars, punchy rhythm, and a chorus built to echo through stadiums. But beyond the movie tie-in, it was also a tight, confident statement from a band at the top of its game.
Huey Lewis & The News were already riding high with hits like “I Want a New Drug” and “Heart and Soul” when Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg came calling. They wanted a song for their upcoming film Back to the Future, and they wanted Huey’s band to be Marty McFly’s favorite. Lewis didn’t want to write a song called “Back to the Future,” so Zemeckis told him: “Just write whatever you want.” So Huey did—and the next song they wrote was “The Power of Love”
This wasn’t a side project single. It was a full-force, radio-ready track that became one of Huey Lewis & The News’ most iconic moments.
Not About Time Travel, But It Worked
The lyrics don’t mention time machines or flux capacitors, but the vibe was perfect. The song plays during Marty’s skateboard dash to school, and again when his band auditions for the Battle of the Bands—where Huey himself makes a cameo as the unimpressed judge who says they’re “just too darn loud”. That moment sealed the song’s place in movie history.
Musically, it’s a mix of pop rock and power pop, with a driving rhythm and Huey’s signature gritty vocals. It’s fast, fun, and built to blast from car stereos and boomboxes alike. There’s a tight rhythm section, crisp guitar riffs, layered keyboards, and a beat that keeps the track moving without ever going over the top.
The chorus is impossible to forget—hooky, uplifting, and built to last. You don’t just hum it. You belt it.
Video: DeLorean Cameos & Nightclub Nostalgia
The music video features the band playing at Uncle Charlie’s, a real-life club they used to frequent, while Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) shows up in the DeLorean. A couple steals the time machine for a joyride, and the whole thing plays out like a mini sequel to the movie. It’s pure ‘80s fun, and the video became a staple on MTV.
Chart Power and a Movie Boost
The Power of Love hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1985—Huey Lewis & The News’ first chart-topper. It also cracked the Top 10 in the UK, Canada, and several other countries. Thanks in part to Back to the Future’s global success—and a cameo from Huey himself as a stern high school judge—the track became embedded in pop culture almost instantly.
The music video tied it all together, splicing performance footage with scenes from the film and cementing the song as an essential part of the Back to the Future universe.
Why It Still Works
The Power of Love still lands because it’s just that good. The lyrics are light but sharp, the melody’s unforgettable, and the groove keeps things driving forward. It’s not overproduced or gimmicky—it’s a rock-pop track with heart, confidence, and a perfectly tuned sense of fun.
You can hear it today and still feel the wheels turning, the engine revving, the DeLorean doors flipping up. Whether or not you’re headed to 88 miles per hour, it’ll always feel like the future just showed up with a guitar riff and a grin.