So Hard

Last updated

"So Hard"
Pet Shop Boys - So hard.jpg
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Behaviour
B-side "It Must Be Obvious"
Released24 September 1990 (1990-09-24)
Studio Red Deer (Munich, West Germany) [1]
Genre
Length
  • 3:56
  • 6:30 (extended mix)
Label Parlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"It's Alright"
(1989)		"So Hard"
(1990)		"Being Boring"
(1990)
Music video
"So Hard" on YouTube

"So Hard" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1990 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990). The song is about "two people living together; they are totally unfaithful to each other but they both pretend they are faithful and then catch each other out". [2] It peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom and reached the top three in at least seven European countries, including Finland, where it reached No. 1.

Contents

Background

"The original was harping back to Giorgio Moroder with loads of all these retro instruments", recalled Chris Lowe. "Then David Morales took the chord progression from the middle section and made this classic pumping house track. It's quite funny, because we did this gig in Los Angeles and Frankie Knuckles played this track at the party afterwards. Neil came over and said, 'Why don't we make records like this?' I said, 'Neil, it is us.' So that's how much we know about dance music!" [3]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard felt that "So Hard" "maintains the fun and frothy disco melodrama of past efforts, while striking enough of a modern pop stance to encourage alternative and top 40 radio airplay." [4] James Muretich from Calgary Herald said the song, "about a couple faithfully unfaithful to each other", "reflect a detached sadness set against a dreamy synthesizer background that barely sashays across the dancefloor." [5] Liverpool Echo stated, "It might be called "So Hard" but the Pet Shop Boys make it all sound so easy. That's probably why people think they're too clever for their own good. But they do make excellent pop records. This is typical Pet Shop Boys despite the change of producer: Brash disco backing, dry sophisticated singing and a great tune." [6]

Paul Lester from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, writing, "Notwithstanding the radar signals, laser beams and acidic bleeps which squiggle at the start, "So Hard" is immediately, unmistakably Pet Shop Boys." [7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "All radio formats unite! This commercial pop single - featuring that typically inescapable chorus - is the logical choice for any sensible programmer." [8] Nick Robinson from Music Week said, "A welcome return, this time with Harold 'Axel F' Faltermeyer co-producing, and a typical semi-orchestral pop song with those familiar heavy dance beats and another catchy chorus." [9] Roger Morton from NME wrote that "So Hard" is "familiar Pet Shoppies territory", with its "superior hit factory pulse, boys town keyboard slashes and darkly tainted love-lyric." [10]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Newcastle and North Tyneside. Filming locations included the Bigg Market, Newcastle Quayside, Railway Terrace in Wallsend, Byker, Whitley Bay and the Tyne and Wear Metro. The black and white video co-stars Paul Gascoigne's sister Anna Gascoigne. The video also shows people dancing and having fun on the streets with Neil and Chris in the background. [2]

Track listing

The single's B-side is "It Must Be Obvious", with the US release also featuring the remix of "Paninaro", which was originally released on Disco . Remixes were done by Julian Mendelsohn, the KLF and David Morales. The KLF remixed "So Hard" and "It Must Be Obvious", available on the "So Hard (The KLF vs Pet Shop Boys)" single.

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "So Hard"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United Kingdom24 September 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Parlophone [2] [48]
8 October 199012-inch remix vinyl [49]
Japan17 October 1990Mini-CD EMI [50]

Cover versions

A cover version by Scottish musician Momus was included on the 2001 compilation Very Introspective, Actually: A Tribute to the Pet Shop Boys.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls & Boys (Blur song)</span> 1994 single by Blur

"Girls & Boys" is a song by English rock band Blur, released in March 1994 by Food Records as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Parklife (1994). The frontman of Blur, Damon Albarn wrote the song's lyrics with bandmembers Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, while Stephen Street produced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Policy of Truth</span> 1990 single by Depeche Mode

"Policy of Truth" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 7 May 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album Violator (1990). It is the only Depeche Mode single to chart higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart than on the UK Singles Chart, and it became the band's second chart-topper on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go West (song)</span> 1979 single by Village People

"Go West" is a song by American disco group Village People, released in June 1979 by Casablanca Records as the second single from their fourth studio album of the same name (1979). The song was written by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis, while Morali produced it. It was successful in the disco scene during the late 1970s and a top-20 hit in Belgium, Ireland and the UK. "Go West" found further success when it was covered in 1993 by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Being Boring</span> 1990 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Being Boring" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in November 1990 by Parlophone as the second single from their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990). The song was written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, and produced by them with German producer Harold Faltermeyer. It reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, marking the duo's first single to miss the top 10 since "Opportunities " in 1986. Its music video was directed by fashion photographer Bruce Weber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino Dancing</span> 1988 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Domino Dancing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1988 by Parlophone as the lead single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Finland and Spain. Its music video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)</span> 1996 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Se a vida é " is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 12 August 1996 as the second single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). The song is based on "Estrada Da Paixão" by African-Brazilian band Olodum, which Pet Shop Boys heard during the South American leg of their Discovery tour in 1994. The band shares songwriting credits with Pet Shop Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can You Forgive Her? (song)</span> 1993 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Can You Forgive Her?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). The lyrics describe in the second person a young man's humiliation when his girlfriend accuses him of still being in love with a childhood friend; the woman is "not prepared to share you with a memory", and is "going to go and get herself a real man instead". The title of the song derives from the Anthony Trollope novel of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?</span> 1991 single by Pet Shop Boys

"How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990). It was released in the United Kingdom on 11 March 1991 as a double A-side with "Where the Streets Have No Name ", serving as the third single from Behaviour. For the single, Brothers in Rhythm remixed the track. The track was subsequently released as a solo single in the United States and France; it peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100. As "Being Boring" and "It's Alright" were not released in the US, tracks from these releases were used on a number of US releases. The accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Alright (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1989 single by Pet Shop Boys

"It's Alright" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 26 June 1989 as the third and final single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. Originally performed by Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge, the song came to the attention of Pet Shop Boys on a house compilation issued by DJ International Records in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing</span> 1993 single by Pet Shop Boys

"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). The song, both written and produced by the duo, describes a person normally hesitant to unwind and show his feelings, who—because of some event in his life—suddenly becomes willing to loosen up. It was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 1993 by Parlophone as the album's third single, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, where it was released in January 1994, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk</span> 2000 single by Pet Shop Boys

"You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 3 January 2000 as the third and final single from their seventh studio album, Nightlife (1999). It reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart but failed to chart in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yesterday, When I Was Mad</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Yesterday, When I Was Mad" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released as the fifth and final single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993), on 29 August 1994 by Parlophone. The single, both written and produced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song was remixed by Jam & Spoon for its single release, among other things removing a compression effect applied to Tennant's voice during the verses. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. One of the B-sides is a cover of the Noël Coward song "If Love Were All".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberation (Pet Shop Boys song)</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Liberation" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released by Parlophone as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Very (1993). It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the lowest-charting single from Very in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. The single's B-side, "Decadence", featuring Pat O'Brien was on the Further Listening: 1992–1994 re-release of Very, and the B-sides compilation Alternative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Before (song)</span> 1996 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Before" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 April 1996 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). Upon its release, the single peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Finland, and number one in Hungary. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-Bilingual</span> 1996 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Single-Bilingual" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 11 November 1996 as the third single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). The track peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is named "Single" on the album version but was retitled "Single-Bilingual" because Everything but the Girl also had a song named "Single", which had been released the previous May. The album version cross-fades with the previous track, "Discoteca", of which both the album and single versions feature an interpolation at the end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absolutely Fabulous (song)</span> 1994 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Absolutely Fabulous" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released by Parlophone and Spaghetti Records as a single for 1994's Comic Relief under the artist name "Absolutely Fabulous"; it is based on the BBC sitcom of the same name created by Jennifer Saunders and features sound bites taken from the first series of the show. The single peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number seven on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was more successful in Oceania, debuting and peaking at number two in both Australia and New Zealand; in the former country, it is the band's highest-charting single, and in both, it was their last top-10 entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Red Letter Day</span> 1997 single by Pet Shop Boys

"A Red Letter Day" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 17 March 1997 as the fourth single from their sixth studio album, Bilingual (1996). The single peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, making it another top 10 single for the group. However, it then fell straight out of the UK top 40 the following week. At the time, this was a record as the biggest such fall to ever occur in UK chart history, but it was then beaten the following year by Embrace with their single "My Weakness Is None of Your Business".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Boy</span> 1999 single by Pet Shop Boys

"New York City Boy" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 22 September 1999 as the second single from their seventh studio album, Nightlife (1999). In the UK, the single peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the charts in numerous European countries, peaking at number three in Spain, and number four in Finland and Hungary. In the US, the song hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 53 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More</span> 1999 single by Pet Shop Boys

"I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give It Any More" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their seventh studio album, Nightlife (1999). Released on 19 July 1999 as the album's lead single, it peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, and number 66 on the US Hot Singles Sales chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)</span> 1991 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. The song is a medley of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", a 1967 song by Frankie Valli, though in an arrangement informed by the 1982 disco version of the song by the Boys Town Gang rather than the original. The song accompanied "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?", the third single from their fourth studio album, Behaviour (1990), as a double A-side in the United Kingdom (both singles were released separately in the United States). Released in March 1991 by Parlophone, the song became the duo's 15th consecutive top-20 entry in the UK, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. ↑ Zuberi, Nabeel (May 2001). Sounds English: Transnational Popular Music . University of Illinois Press. p.  100. ISBN   9780252026201.
  2. 1 2 3 "So Hard". petshopboys.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Q , May 2001
  4. ↑ Flick, Larry (29 September 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 85. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Muretich, James (18 November 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  6. ↑ Liverpool Echo . 29 September 1990. p. 12.
  7. ↑ Lester, Paul (22 September 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . 6 October 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Robinson, Nick (29 September 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 21. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Morton, Roger. "The Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  11. ↑ So Hard (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. R6269, 2040627.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ So Hard (UK cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. TCR6269, 2040624.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ So Hard (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. 12R6269, 2040626.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ So Hard (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. 12RX6269, 2040926.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ So Hard (UK CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. CDR 6269, 2040622.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ So Hard (German maxi-CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 1990. CDP 560- 20 4177 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ So Hard (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Pet Shop Boys. EMI USA. 1990. V-56194.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ So Hard (US maxi-cassette single sleeve). Pet Shop Boys. EMI USA. 1990. 4V-56194.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ So Hard (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. EMI USA. 1990. E2-56195.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  23. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9171." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9082." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  25. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. IV. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  26. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
  27. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – So Hard". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  29. ↑ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. VII. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  30. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  32. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  33. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". VG-lista. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "Top 10 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 2. 12 January 1991. p. 29. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  35. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  36. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  37. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  38. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  39. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  40. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  41. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  42. ↑ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  43. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending November 17, 1990". Cash Box . Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  44. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1990 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  45. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 36. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  46. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  47. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  48. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week . 22 September 1990. p. 31.
  49. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week. 6 October 1990. p. 39.
  50. ↑ "ソー・ハード | ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ" [So Hard | Pet Shop Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 22 January 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.