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.
Whatever I Do
Hazell Dean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once again
Once again
Once again.
I fight the night to be alone has never frightened me
Behind the light the shadow of your memory.
Oh
Who are you when I can't get you out of my life?
Bet you didn't know that I would pack away my things and go
And now it's true gonna get along in spite of you.
Don't want to hear your alibis
Don't want your part time compromise.
Who are you when I can't get you out of my life?
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you.
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
I'm gonna get over you.
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I stand alone, another victim of your fantasy.
I face the world
I'm searching for my destiny.
Oh
Who are you to tie me down when you were not always around?
Who are you when I can't get you out of my life?
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
Over you, once again
Once again
Once again
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
I stand alone, another victim of your fantasy
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
The lyrics to Hazell Dean's song "Whatever I Do" describe a person who is trying to move on from a past relationship, but is struggling because the memories of the relationship still haunt them. The repetition of the lines "Once again" emphasize the ongoing struggle and the constant battle that the person faces to stay away from the past lover. The lyrics suggest that the person has been hurt before by the lover, who has turned the "knife" and made the person feel like a "victim of your fantasy."
The lyrics also express a sense of determination and strength from the person as they refuse to be tied down or sacrificed for the sake of the relationship. They have the courage to leave and "pack away my things and go," showing that they are not willing to be held back by the past lover. The chorus is a mantra for the person to remind themselves that they are never going back to the lover, no matter what they do or where they go.
Overall, the lyrics to "Whatever I Do" is a powerful anthem for anyone who has gone through a difficult breakup and is trying to move on. It expresses the complex emotions of love, hurt, determination and strength in a relatable way, making it a popular song for many people going through similar struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Over you, once again
I am once again feeling the pain of being over you.
Once again
I keep going through this cycle of pain and heartbreak.
Once again
I can't seem to escape the feelings that come with loving you.
Once again.
I'm trapped in this cycle of heartbreak and longing for you.
I fight the night to be alone has never frightened me
I am not afraid to be alone, and I will fight to stay that way.
Behind the light the shadow of your memory.
You still haunt me, even though you are not here with me.
Who are you to turn the knife? I am not your sacrifice.
You have hurt me enough, and I refuse to continue being your victim.
Who are you when I can't get you out of my life?
You continue to affect me even though you are not here.
Bet you didn't know that I would pack away my things and go
You underestimated me, but I am strong enough to leave you behind.
And now it's true gonna get along in spite of you.
I am going to move on with my life, regardless of how you treated me.
Don't want to hear your alibis
I don't want to hear your excuses for the way you treated me.
Don't want your part time compromise.
I won't accept anything less than your full commitment and love.
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you.
I have made up my mind to move on from you and never look back.
Whatever you do
Wherever you go
I'm gonna get over you.
No matter where you go or what you do, I am going to get over you.
I stand alone, another victim of your fantasy.
You created a fantasy that I could never live up to, and now I am alone because of it.
I face the world
I'm searching for my destiny.
I am determined to move on and find my purpose in life.
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
I am never going to come back to you, no matter what.
Over you, once again
Once again
Once again
I am once again struggling to get over you and move on with my life.
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
No matter where I go or what I do, I am never coming back to you.
Whatever I do
Wherever I go
I'm never coming back to you
No matter what happens, I am never going to come back to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AITKEN, STOCK, WATERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind