Hard (Sophie song)

Last updated

"Hard"
Sophie - Hard.jpg
Single by Sophie
from the album Product
A-side "Lemonade"
Released4 August 2014 (2014-08-04)
Length2:54
Label Numbers
Songwriter(s) Sophie Xeon
Producer(s) Sophie Xeon
Sophie singles chronology
"Lemonade"
(2014)
"Hard"
(2014)
"MSMSMSM"
(2015)

"Hard" is a song recorded by the English musician Sophie. It was released on 4 August 2014 as a single, later appearing on the artist's compilation album Product (2015). [1] [2] It was also released on vinyl as the B-side to "Lemonade". [3] When creating the song, Sophie thought about "physics and materials"; the musician said the song "is made from metal and latex". [4] Pitchfork named it the "Best New Track". [5] It was named one of the best songs of the year by Pitchfork (alongside "Lemonade"), [6] Spin , [7] Tiny Mix Tapes , [8] Dazed , [9] and in the annual Pazz & Jop critics poll. [10] The New York Times named "Hard" one of Sophie's most essential songs. [11]

Charts

In 2021, the "Lemonade / Hard" vinyl appeared at the Official Physical Singles Chart and the Official Vinyl Singles Chart. [12]

Chart performance for "Lemonade / Hard"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
UK Physical Singles Chart (OCC) [12] 5
UK Vinyl Singles Chart (OCC) [12] 3

Related Research Articles

<i>Odelay</i> 1996 studio album by Beck

Odelay is the fifth studio album by American musician Beck, released on June 18, 1996, by DGC Records. The album featured several successful singles, including "Where It's At", "Devils Haircut", and "The New Pollution", and peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard 200. As of July 2008, the album had sold 2.3 million copies in the United States, making Odelay Beck's most successful album to date. Since its release, the album has appeared in numerous publications' lists of the greatest of the 1990s and of all time.

<i>Either/Or</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Elliott Smith

Either/Or is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Either/Or was recorded in several locations, mostly in Portland, Oregon – while Smith was still a member of Heatmiser – and was produced by Smith, Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf. Either/Or was released on February 25, 1997, on the Kill Rock Stars record label, following Heatmiser's dissolution. Book-ended by its two singles, "Speed Trials" and "Ballad of Big Nothing", Either/Or did not chart in the US, but was acclaimed by critics.

<i>The Woods</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Sleater-Kinney

The Woods is the seventh studio album by American rock band Sleater-Kinney. It was released in 2005 on Sub Pop. The album was produced by Dave Fridmann and recorded in late 2004. The album received widespread critical acclaim.

<i>Actor</i> (album) 2009 studio album by St. Vincent

Actor is the second album by musician St. Vincent, released by 4AD on May 4, 2009, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The artist was influenced by scores to films by Disney and Woody Allen. To prevent writer's block, she watched films without the sound and composed music for her favorite scenes. After arranging the music using GarageBand, she then wrote lyrics and added gentle vocal melodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Jealous Lovers</span> 2002 single by The Rapture

"House of Jealous Lovers" is a song by American indie rock band the Rapture. It was released as the lead single from their second studio album, Echoes, in March 2002, through DFA Records in the US and Output Recordings in the UK. It was eventually re-released in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You (Ha Ha Ha)</span> 2013 single by Charli XCX

"You (Ha Ha Ha)" is a song by British singer Charli XCX taken from her major label debut studio album, True Romance (2013). It was released as the album's 4th single in February 2013, along with several remixes. A music video for the song was released on YouTube on 10 January 2013.

<i>R Plus Seven</i> 2013 studio album by Oneohtrix Point Never

R Plus Seven is the sixth studio album by American electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never, released on September 30, 2013, as his debut album on Warp Records. The album's musical palette draws heavily on the synthetic sounds of MIDI instruments, 1980s synth presets, and VSTs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Move That Dope</span> 2014 single by Future

"Move That Dope" edited version titled as "Move That Doh" is a song by American rapper Future featuring Pharrell Williams, Pusha T and Casino. It was released on February 6, 2014 as the fourth single from the former's second studio album Honest. The song peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was produced by frequent collaborators Mike Will Made It and P-Nasty. Casino's verse is removed from the radio edit version of the song.

<i>Dude Incredible</i> 2014 album by Shellac

Dude Incredible is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Shellac, released on September 16, 2014 on Touch and Go Records. This is the final studio album released during Steve Albini's lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Weeks (FKA Twigs song)</span> 2014 single by FKA twigs

"Two Weeks" is a song by English singer FKA Twigs from her debut studio album, LP1 (2014). The song was released digitally on 24 June 2014 as the album's lead single. It was also released on 12-inch vinyl on 29 July 2014, featuring the song "Pendulum" as a B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie (musician)</span> British music producer and DJ (1986–2021)

Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was a British music producer, songwriter, and DJ. Her work is known for its brash take on pop music and is distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of influences from underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC Music</span> UK-based record label and art collective

PC Music is a record label and art collective based in London and run by producer A. G. Cook. It was founded in 2013, uploading its first releases to SoundCloud that year. Artists on its roster have included Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, Danny L Harle, EASYFUN, Namasenda, and Planet 1999. The label's releases have been showcased on the compilations PC Music Volume 1 (2015), Volume 2 (2016), and Volume 3 (2022). Following a decade-long run, since 2024 the label is now only dedicated to archival projects and special reissues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seasons (Waiting on You)</span> 2014 song by Future Islands

"Seasons (Waiting on You)" is a song by American synthpop band Future Islands. It is the opening track on their fourth studio album Singles, and was released as the album's lead single on February 4, 2014. The song received much critical acclaim, topping The Village Voice's annual year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll and also being named the best track of 2014 by publications such as NME, Pitchfork, and Spin. In 2019, it was named the 34th best song of the 2010s by Pitchfork, and was ranked 94th on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of the 2010s.

<i>Product</i> (Sophie album) 2015 compilation album by Sophie

Product is the debut compilation by Scottish electronic music producer Sophie. It was released by Numbers on 27 November 2015. The 8 tracks on Product appeared as singles released from 2013 to 2015. The album was made available in "silicon bubble cases", and its release coincides with the launch of a line of apparel and a "silicon product" resembling a sex toy.

<i>Vroom Vroom</i> (EP) 2016 EP by Charli XCX

Vroom Vroom is the second extended play (EP) by English singer Charli XCX, released on 26 February 2016 by Vroom Vroom Recordings. It features production work from Scottish producer Sophie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Night (Beyoncé song)</span> 2016 single by Beyoncé

"All Night" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It is the eleventh track on her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016), released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The song's music video is part of Beyoncé's 2016 film Lemonade, aired on HBO alongside the album's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom (Beyoncé song)</span> 2016 single by Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar

"Freedom" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Beyoncé featuring the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It is the tenth track on her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016), released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The song's music video is part of Beyoncé's 2016 film Lemonade, aired on HBO alongside the album's release. In the years since, the song has become an anthem for various social and political movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemonade (Sophie song)</span> 2014 single by Sophie

"Lemonade" is a song by the Scottish producer Sophie. It was released as a single on 28 July 2014 by the label Numbers. It was also released on vinyl with "Hard" as the B-side. "Lemonade" features vocal contributions from Nabihah Iqbal. The song appeared on various best-of year-end single polls. "Lemonade" was subsequently featured in a 2015 McDonald's television advert.

<i>Oil of Every Pearls Un-Insides</i> 2018 studio album by Sophie

Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides is the debut studio album by Scottish recording artist and producer Sophie and the only one to be released during her lifetime. It was released on 15 June 2018, through Transgressive, Future Classic and Sophie's own label, MSMSMSM. The title may be a mondegreen of the phrase "I love every person's insides". The album was Sophie's second full-length release after the singles collection Product (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie discography</span> Music producer

The discography of Scottish music producer Sophie consists of two studio albums, one compilation album, one remix album, one extended play, 20 singles, and 12 official remixes. Sophie was also known for production and writing work for other artists such as Charli XCX, Madonna, Kim Petras, Liz, and MØ among others.

References

  1. Murray, Robin (5 August 2014). "What the...? Sophie posts new track 'Hard'". Clash . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. Ryce, Andrew (7 August 2014). "Sophie – 'Lemonade / Hard'". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  3. Reid, Mike (23 October 2019). "Sophie reissues Product singles on vinyl, can make you feel better". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. Grant, Kristin Westcott (19 August 2014). "U.K. producer Sophie Q&A: On secrecy, synthesis & what's next". Billboard . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  5. Fallon, Patric (5 August 2014). "Sophie: 'Hard' track review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. "The 100 best tracks of 2014". Pitchfork . 15 December 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  7. "The 101 best songs of 2014". Spin . 8 December 2014. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  8. "2014: Favorite 50 songs of 2014". Tiny Mix Tapes . 8 December 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  9. Cliff, Aimee (12 December 2014). "The top 20 tracks of 2014". Dazed . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  10. "Pazz & Jop singles – All votes (2014)". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  11. Zoladz, Lindsay (31 January 2021). "Hear Sophie's 12 essential songs". The New York Times . Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 "Sophie". Official Charts Company. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2024.