Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)

"Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" is a Hi-NRG song written and produced by British hitmaking team Stock Aitken & Waterman, which became a hit for singer Hazell Dean in 1984.

Hazell Dean, having had a top 10 hit in early 1984 with "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)", was looking for a follow-up single. Through her label Proto Records, she contacted music producers Stock Aitken & Waterman, who had by then worked with fellow Proto records artists Divine and Agents Aren't Aeroplanes, but were virtually unknown by then.

The song was originally titled "Dance Your Love Away", and was given to Dean to record. Dean, however, hated the chorus and Mike Stock and Matt Aitken rewrote it, with the song being re-titled "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)". "Dance Your Love Away" was later rewritten and given to artist Michael Prince, who released it as a single in 1985, with the lyrics changed but maintaining a similar musical structure as "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)".

The single was released in July 1984, and it became an instant smash, peaking at #4 in the UK charts and spending 11 weeks charted. It became the singer's highest placed single in the UK, along with her 1988 single "Who's Leaving Who". It became Stock Aitken & Waterman's first of many top 10 singles in the UK charts.

Due to this success, Dean went on to record her album with Stock Aitken & Waterman. The resulting LP, Heart First, released in November 1984, was fully produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman, except for "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)".

Dean re-recorded the song for her 1995 album The Best Of Hazell Dean.

Cover versions

American artist Laura Branigan recorded a cover version of the song for her 1987 album Touch. Her version was also produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman.

References