Hazell Dean (born Hazel Dean Poole, 27 October 1952, Chelmsford, Essex) is … Read Full Bio ↴Hazell Dean (born Hazel Dean Poole, 27 October 1952, Chelmsford, Essex) is a British Dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading Hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top ten hits "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)", "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" and "Who's Leaving Who". She has also worked as a songwriter and producer.

She started her career in 1970s, but achieved a chart success in the 1980s working with the famous Stock Aitken Waterman team. Dean was elected three times as the 'Best Live Performer' by the Federation of American Dance Clubs (U.S.), and twice as a 'Best British Performer' by Club Mirror awards (UK). She participated twice in the A Song for Europe contest. In 1976, she took eighth place (out of twelve) with the ballad, "I Couldn't Live Without You for a Day", written by contest veteran Paul Curtis. 1984 saw Dean finish in seventh place of eight, with another dramatic ballad, "Stay In My Life", which she wrote herself. She also provided backing vocals for Samantha Janus in 1991's Eurovision Song Contest.

In February 1984 she entered the UK Singles Chart with the double A-sided single, "Evergreen" / "Jealous Love" which peaked at #63.Two months later however, she scored her first Top 10 hit with the re-release of "Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man)", which peaked at No 6. Dean then released the follow-up "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" (produced by Stock Aitken Waterman) in August which hit No 4. "Whatever I Do" was originally recorded by Michael Prince as "Dance Your Love Away", but the song was re-written by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken because Dean disliked the chorus. Its No. 4 placing gave Stock Aitken Waterman their first Top 10 hit. Further singles, "Back In My Arms (Once Again)" and "No Fool (For Love)" both peaked at No 41. These singles were included on her debut mainstream pop album, "Heart First", which did not sell well and failed to chart.

In 1985 Dean signed with label EMI Records, releasing the single "They Say It's Gonna Rain", which reached No 58 on the UK Singles Chart, although she secured a No 1 single in South Africa with this Stock Aitken Waterman produced single. Subsequent singles fared worse with "ESP", "Stand Up" and "Always (Doesn't Mean Forever)" failing to reach the UK Top 75. In early 1988 however, she achieved her biggest hit in four years with "Who's Leaving Who", which reached No 4. The follow-ups, "Maybe (We Should Call it a Day)", made #15, and "Turn It Into Love" (which was originally recorded by Kylie Minogue and included on her debut album, Kylie) peaked at No 21. Her second album Always (Hazell Dean album) was released in late 1988 and featured many of the singles from the past 3 years, as well as new material. The album charted at No 38 in the UK.

Dean left EMI and signed with Lisson Records, releasing two singles for the label. The first was a cover of Yvonne Elliman's "Love Pains" in 1989, produced by PWL producers Phil Harding and Ian Curnow. It reached #48 on the UK Singles Chart. It was nearly two years before she released her next single, the SAW penned and produced "Better Off Without You", which was originally recorded by Lonnie Gordon. The song peaked at #72. After the failure of these two singles, Dean no longer continued to work with Stock Aitken Waterman and began working with Ian Levine who had previously remixed and produced tracks with her in the mid 1980s.

During this time, Dean produced and wrote songs for Bad Boys Inc, Bona Riah (produced "House of Rising Sun"), Miquel Brown (produced "It's a Sin"), MEN 2 B (co-wrote "Love Satisfaction"), Upside Down and Sandra Feva.

1996 saw the release of Dean's next album, The Winner Takes It All, which was released on Carlton Records. This album contained covers of ABBA songs. The title track was released as a single. In 1999, Dean released a cover version of Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" and, in 2001, a remixed version of "Who's Leaving Who" was released. Neither of these singles charted.

In 2007, Dean returned to record with Ian Levine, completing the track "Trade Him for a Newer Model" for the album Disco 2008. The music video for Trade Him for a Newer Model was released on YouTube by Levine in 2007. In 2009, a number of songs (that have never before been available on any Dean album in their original form) were released on iTunes, including some never before released remixes, while Cherry Red Records re-issued Dean's first mainstream pop album "Heart First" in early 2010.

2010 saw Hazell Dean sign to the dance label, Energise Records, who also have The Three Degrees, Sonia, Tina Charles and Nicki French signed to them. With Energise, Dean recorded an updated version of her 1980s single, "They Say It's Gonna Rain". The new track was produced by KlubKidz and has remixes from the Sleazesisters, Glamma and PMG. She also released the singles "Shattered Glass", "In The Name Of Love", "This Is My Life", "We Belong/Can You Feel It" & I Close My Eyes & Count To Ten" In 2013, she released an album entitled "In The Name Of...".

Cherry Red Records released a Deluxe Edition of Always on 23 April 2012. On 10 September 2012, a new 21 track greatest hits collection called Evergreen: The Very Best of Hazell Dean was released through Music Club Deluxe Records. The CD pressing features a bonus disc of 11 remixes and rare extended mixes of Dean's 1980s hits. On 21 December 2012, Dean performed at the Stock Aitken Waterman "Hit Factory Live" reunion concert at London's O2 Arena, along with many other former SAW acts.

2015 saw Hazell Dean release the single "24 Hours" through Energise. The single included mixes by Dean & Ware, and Matt Pop. Also included was the 2015 version of her classic Top 5 smash, Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go).

After the success of "Searchin'", Dean made her gay club début at Heaven in London and has subsequently enjoyed a large homosexual following. Always acknowledging the support she has received from the gay community throughout her career, Dean frequently performs at Gay Pride events both in the UK and abroad.

Dean continues to perform live and records with various producers, with tracks appearing via her official website.

Back In My Arms
Hazell Dean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And the words of the song say everything
When I switch on the radio

Because it brings back all the memories
And it seems so long ago

Oh
But there's a rain outside on the window pane

Is it cold inside your heart?
If I don't get back to you somehow
I know it's gonna tear me apart

Once again
Let's give it another try

Because I need you back in my arms and then
Once again
The love in my heart won't die
Even if you say good-bye
Once again.

And I think I see you everywhere
And sometimes I call your name
And I feel the hurt inside of me

I wonder do you feel the same?
Oh
But if we tuni our backs on a broken heart
And look each other in the eye

If our love has the strength to take us t
We only have to keep it alive

Once again
Let's give it another try

Oh
But there's a rain outside on the window pane

Once again
Let's give it another try

I said I need you
Oh
I need your lovin'
Yeah

Oh
Back in your arms again

Once again
Let's give it another try

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hazell Dean's song "Back In My Arms" are a plea to a lost lover to return to the relationship. The singer turns on the radio and hears a song that brings back memories and reminds her of the love she once felt for the person who left her. She wonders if the person still feels the same way and if there is a chance they can rebuild their relationship. The repeated phrase "once again" is a plea for the person to come back and give the relationship another try.

The line "But there's rain outside on the window pane" adds a sense of melancholy to the song and suggests that the singer is heartbroken without her lover. She worries that if they can't make it work, it will tear her apart. The final lines of the song, "I need you back in my arms" and "I need your lovin'," reiterate the singer's desperate desire to have her lover back in her life.

Line by Line Meaning

And the words of the song say everything
The lyrics of this song express everything I need to say

When I switch on the radio
Whenever I listen to music

Because it brings back all the memories
The music reminds me of past experiences

And it seems so long ago
It feels like ages have passed since those days

But there's a rain outside on the window pane
It's raining outside and the weather is gloomy

Is it cold inside your heart?
Do you still have feelings for me?

If I don't get back to you somehow
If I don't try to get back together with you

I know it's gonna tear me apart
It will emotionally hurt me

Once again
Again and again

Let's give it another try
Let's try again in our relationship

Because I need you back in my arms and then
Because I miss you and I long to be with you again