| "Hardest to Love" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Weeknd | |
| from the album After Hours | |
| Released | March 20, 2020 |
| Studio |
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| Genre | |
| Length | 3:31 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
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"Hardest to Love" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours (2020). [3] The Weeknd wrote and produced the song alongside Max Martin and Oscar Holter.
While previewing the album to Jem Aswad of Variety , the Weeknd shared some information about Hardest to Love's development, stating:
"This one I did originally with [co-writer/co-producer] Oscar [Holter], and then Max [Martin] finished it with me. I wrote this song very fast and it was the last song on the record that I finished. When I made this song I was nervous because I felt like I went overboard with the ambition — I’m ambitious, but I thought maybe this is too much. It wasn’t until 'Blinding Lights' [became one of the biggest hits of Weeknd’s career] that I knew, a) I could finish this album and b) I could put this song on it. And sometimes it just comes down to the melody. This was the fastest melody that I ever made — I went into a room for 20 minutes and wrote the entire song, and then Max produced it". [4]
The song was first previewed in a teaser video posted to the Weeknd's Twitter account on March 19, 2020. [5]
"Hardest to Love" features the Weeknd reminiscing on his past behaviors in a relationship, blaming himself for its demise. [6] The song refers to some softer points in the U.K. hardcore continuum dating back to the late '90s via drum-'n'-bass while modernizing it with finesse. [7]
"Hardest to Love" received universal acclaim. "On the standout ‘Hardest to Love,’ Tesfaye delivers one of the most affecting vocal performances of his career over a glitchy pop soundscape. The song's catchiness belies its melancholy, a sophisticated combination that's a testament to Tesfaye's depiction of a relationship that results in a confusing morass of emotions that we seldom process them in a linear fashion: anger, sadness, gratitude, elation, loneliness. Tesfaye navigates these conflicting emotions in a way that captures the experience of being lost in that swirl," noted Slant Magazine columnist Seth Wilson. [8] Yahoo Entertainment writer Larry Fitzmaurice exclaimed, "The Weeknd delivers After Hours' most shocking deviation from that gloom and doom aesthetic with the sky-climbing ‘Hardest to Love,’ a featherweight slice of drum 'n' bass that resembles a lost track from Björk's classic Homogenic". [9] Rolling Stone journalist praised the song, "On ‘Hardest to Love,’ a fleet, pretty Max Martin co-write with a Nineties-evoking drum ‘n’ bass feel, he's the cold-hearted ex stamping out love's final embers, adding a quintessentially Weeknd-ish kicker: "It’s hard to let me go," at once self-cancelling and self-absorbed". [10]
Vice editor Ashwin Rodrigues said, "On ‘Hardest to Love,’ The Weeknd admits his shortcomings as a romantic partner on top of electric, water droplet synths and a constant, low vibrating drum n bass beat. The track features a hard-to-shake chorus and production that would really put the sound system of a brand new, electric German SUV to the test". [11] Tom Breihan of Stereogum analyzed, " ‘Hardest To Love’ adapts glimmering Max Martin melodies to fit the rushing pulse of car-commercial drum-‘n’-bass. The record seamlessly combines elite-aesthete sound clouds with big-money pop music. His voice is magnificent. Tesfaye's only gaining greater control of his instrument; he floats airily over these fantastically rich soundscapes that he's commissioned". [12] ‘Hardest to Love’ is a taut and disciplined assemblage ready for mass consumption. The piece is built on a stuttering drum beat and major-key melody and is positively uplifting," asserted The Wall Street Journal writer Mark Richardson. [13]
"‘Hardest to Love’ pays homage to liquid drum ‘N’ bass, building a sense of irony as the upbeat instrumental belies a heartfelt confession of wrong-doing. An angelic choir can be heard, creating a sense of hope, greatly showcasing how effective the production throughout this album is," observed Clash Magazine reviewer Ramy Abou-Setta. [14] GQ Magazine writer Max Cea added, "It’s dark and moody, and comes from the perspective of a lonely narrator capturing the way a lot of people are feeling as they pace their living rooms and feverishly refresh the news". [15]
Following the release of its parent album, "Hardest to Love" debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2020. [16] On the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart, the song reached its peak of number seven. [17] In the singer's native country of Canada, "Hardest to Love" reached number 36 on the Canadian Hot 100. [18]
Credits adapted from Genius. [19]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [20] | 36 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [21] | 40 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) [22] | 38 |
| Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40) [23] | 21 |
| France (SNEP) [24] | 52 |
| Greece (IFPI) [25] | 37 |
| Iceland (Tónlistinn) [26] | 22 |
| Italy (FIMI) [27] | 49 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) [28] | 28 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [29] | 2 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [30] | 15 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [31] | 39 |
| UK Audio Streaming (OCC) [32] | 34 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [33] | 25 |
| US Rolling Stone Top 100 [34] | 6 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [35] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [36] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | March 20, 2020 | [37] |
