The Pasadenas didn't belong in the '80s. The band was caught in a time warp; they bounced between '50s doo wop, '60s Motown, and early-'70s funk and R&B. However, they presented these influences when mainstream pop music had become too shallow and over-produced; instead of sounding dated, the group was actually a refreshing change of pace.
The band wasn't given much attention in America, but they were superstars in their native England. Formed by twins David Milliner and Michael Milliner along with Andrew Banfield, Hammish Seelochan, and Aaron Brown, the Pasadenas used to be a dance group called Finesse.
In the late '80s they signed with Columbia Records and became The Pasadenas. Not one member overshadowed the other; each of them wrote lyrics and helped with production and arrangements. While their peers, such as Breathe, Johnny Hates Jazz, and Terence Trent D'Arby, also mined soul records from the past, many of The Pasadenas' songs, such as the Smokey Robinson homage "Enchanted Lady," could've been mistaken for the real thing. The band didn't try to modernize the urban grooves of the '60s and '70s; they simply resurrected the excitement soul music used to bring.
In May 1988, the group released their debut single, "Tribute (Right On)." It peaked in the Top Five of the U.K. charts, one of many hits for The Pasadenas. The band's concerts received rave reviews for their tight musicianship and choreographed dance moves. Their first LP, To Whom It May Concern, appeared in October 1988, selling in excess of one million copies. The group's final album, Yours Sincerely, was released in 1992. The band landed on the U.K. Top 40 charts five times that year, with the single "I'm Doing Fine" selling more than 200,000 copies. In 2002 Cherry Red Records reissued To Whom It May Concern on CD.
The band released the superb album “Phoenix” in 1995 but only in Japan.
Album Discography:
1988: To Whom It May Concern
1991: Elevate
1992: Yours Sincerely
1995: Phoenix
1995: Tribute: The Best Of The Pasadenas
2003: Definitive Collection
I'm Doing Fine Now
The Pasadenas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing, baby, is gonna stop me, stop me
Nothing, baby, is gonna stop me, stop me
Remember the day you up and left?
I nearly cried myself to death (oh yeah)
And then I met someone else
She made me stop and get an hold of my self, oh yeah
I'm doing fine now
Without you, baby
I'm doing fine now
Without you, baby
Remember the day you walked away
I ran behind you and I begged you to stay, oh yeah
But you never heard a word I said
We kept on steppin' and turning your head, oh girl
I'm doing fine now
Without you baby
I'm doing fine now
Without you, baby
I'm doing fine, baby
I'm doing fine without you
I'm doing fine, baby
I'm doing fine without you
Remember the day you up and left? (Remember, remember, shoo, doo, doo)
I nearly cried myself to death, oh yeah
And then I met somebody else (feel so happy)
She made me stop and grab a hold of myself, yeah
I'm doing fine now (I'm really doing fine)
Without you, baby (girl, gotta keep you on the line)
I'm doing fine now (yes, I'm really doin' fine)
Without you, baby (hey)
I'm doing fine now (girl, you really didn't think that I could make it)
Without you, baby (now I'm on my own, things are really going on)
I'm doing fine now (I'm doin' fine without your lovin', baby)
Without you, baby
The Pasadenas’ song “I’m Doing Fine Now” is a heartfelt anthem of moving on and finding strength to stand up on one's own after a heartbreak. The lyrics open with a powerful declaration that "nothing" can stop the singer from thriving and feeling happy again. The verses recount the memories of an ended love affair and the initial pain felt when the someone special left. The chorus then hits hard as the singer declares that he is now doing fine without the lover that once caused so much pain. The repetition of this line emphasizes the power of moving on and thriving despite a painful experience.
The second verse references the singer’s desperate attempts to try to stop his lover from leaving but ultimately realizing that it was a futile battle. The lyrics suggest that his lover paid no heed to his pleas and continued to walk away. However, this heartbreak served as a wake-up call for the singer to reflect on his life and take control of his emotions. It was then that he met someone who made him snap out of his self-pity and gain confidence in himself to move on.
Overall, “I’m Doing Fine Now” captures a universal experience of love, loss, and finding the strength to move on. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has been in a difficult relationship and needed to find their own way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing, baby, is gonna stop me, stop me
I am unstoppable and nothing can hold me back, baby.
Remember the day you up and left?
Do you remember the day you left me, dear?
I nearly cried myself to death (oh yeah)
I was so heartbroken that I almost died, you know.
And then I met someone else
And then I found someone who makes me happy again.
She made me stop and get an hold of myself, oh yeah
She helped me regain my composure and sort myself out, you dig?
I'm doing fine now
I'm good now, things are great.
Without you, baby
I no longer need you by my side, honey.
Remember the day you walked away
Do you recall the day you left me walking away?
I ran behind you and I begged you to stay, oh yeah
I chased you down and pleaded for you to stay, you know.
But you never heard a word I said
But you turned a deaf ear to my words.
We kept on steppin' and turning your head, oh girl
We kept moving, but you refused to look back, darling.
I'm doing fine, baby
No worries, baby, I am good.
I'm doing fine without you
I don't need you, my life is together.
Remember the day you up and left? (Remember, remember, shoo, doo, doo)
Do you still remember the day you left me high and dry? (it was a significant event)
And then I met somebody else (feel so happy)
But then I found someone else and now I feel so happy.
I'm doing fine now (I'm really doing fine)
Seriously, I am doing great now.
Without you, baby (girl, gotta keep you on the line)
I am fine without your presence in my life, honey. (I don't need to keep holding on to you)
I'm doing fine now (yes, I'm really doin' fine)
I swear I am doing really, really well right now.
Without you, baby (hey)
I can go on without you, no problem. (I don't need you in my life)
I'm doing fine now (girl, you really didn't think that I could make it)
Look at me now, honey, you never thought I could make it without you. (I proved you wrong)
Without you, baby (now I'm on my own, things are really going on)
Without you by my side, I am on my own and doing great things. (I'm thriving)
I'm doing fine now (I'm doin' fine without your lovin', baby)
Honey, I am doing just fine even without your love. (I don't need you to love me to be happy)
Without you, baby
I am living my life without you, and it's all good. (Goodbye, baby.)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marshall Sherman, Thomas Randolph Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D.E. Latham
FAR AND AWAY, this is one of the best anthems to sing over a breakup or refusal. Thank you PASADENAS for reviving a hit made famous once by band NEW YORK CITY!!
Roots Rock
Could not have said it any BETTER!
philip norris
An excellent track often, unfortunately, overlooked these days.
Bíró Niki
V
albert abitbol
This was one of my favorite band in the 90 's I still like to hear them with tribute and other songs
David Sutton
Such a good song -- it hasn't aged at all! Brings back happy memories . . . Ah me!
that guy from ceti alpha V
A quick story. I lost my dad in late 1991. We were supposed to see Star Trek VI when it opened at the cinema. I went anyway and this was playing in the cinema lobby when I got my tickets. The song made me feel better and I loved the film.
Grogster2007
One of the best soul songs ever written
David Hubbert
What a tune enough said.
daniel dixon
Heard this yesterday on the radio. What a banger 😀