On this day (August 24) in 1985, Huey Lewis and the News topped the Hot 100 with “The Power of Love.” Lewis wrote it as the theme song for Back to the Future. The movie was a box office hit, which helped the single become the band’s first No. 1 on the all-genre chart.
Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and Steven Spielberg approached Huey Lewis about writing a song for Back to the Future. They told him that the film’s protagonist, Marty McFly, would have been a huge Huey Lewis and the News fan. While he was flattered by the offer, he wasn’t sure how to write a song for a movie. Moreover, he didn’t want to write a song called “Back to the Future.” They assured him that he didn’t need to do that. He could write whatever he wanted. So, he told them he’d send them the next thing he wrote.
Videos by American Songwriter
“The Power of Love” has nothing to do with the movie’s plot. Instead, it was a little more personal. “It was my young family,” Lewis told People about the inspiration for the song. “It was 1985, and I was married in ’83 and had two kids, one born in ’84 and one in ’85. That was that that was about.”
Huey Lewis and the News Wrote Two Songs for the Movie
Huey Lewis and the News also provided the song “Back in Time,” which plays over the end credits and draws from the film’s plot. “Sean Hayes and I put together ‘Back in Time’–and it turned out that it’s actually quite easy to write for film,” Lewis said. “In a way, it’s easier, in that you don’t have to invest yourself in it. So, that was a lot of fun.”
Studio executives wanted to use “Back in Time” as the single from the soundtrack. Logically, it makes more sense than “The Power of Love.” However, according to Songfacts, music supervisor Bone Howe knew a hit when he heard one. He knew that “The Power of Love” would be huge and pushed to give it a prominent place in the movie, as well as a single release.
Featured Image by Chris Walter/WireImage
-
SHREVEPORT, LA – CIRCA 1947: Hank Williams performs on KWKH Radio circa 1947 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – Kix Brooks (L) and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform at San Jose Arena on October 22, 1994 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) -
English singers, musicians, and songwriters Mick Jagger (at microphone), Keith Richards and Bill Wyman (far right) of the rock band 'The Rolling Stones,' perform on stage at Madison Square Garden, November 28, 1969. Jagger stands with his hands on his hips, eyes closed, and lips pursed together as he sings. (Photo by David Fenton/Getty Images) -
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – APRIL 01: Rex Allen, Jr. performs on stage at the Country Music Festival held at Wembley Arena, London in April 1986. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) -
Country swing singer and songwriter Tex Williams performs on NBC radio circa 1947. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
