So Hard

"So Hard" is a song by the British pop group Pet Shop Boys and was the first single lifted from the 1990 album Behaviour. It peaked at #4 in the UK. 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".^[1]

"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!"^[2]

The video 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.^[1]

The single's B-side was "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 KLF versus Pet Shop Boys single.

Track listing

7": Parlophone / R 6269 (UK)

1. "So Hard" – 3:56

Produced by Pet Shop Boys, Harold Faltermeyer
Mixed by Julian Mendelsohn
Engineered by Brian Reeves
Additional programming by Dominic Clarke

2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21

Produced by Pet Shop Boys
Mixed and engineered by Pete Schwier
Additional programming by Dominic Clarke

Personnel

Artwork by 3a, Mark Farrow, Pet Shop Boys
Photography by Eric Watson

12": Parlophone / 12R 6269 (UK)

"So Hard" (Extended Dance Mix) – 6:30
"It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
"So Hard" (Dub Mix) – 7:30

Mix by Julian Mendelsohn^[3]

12": Parlophone / 12RX 6269 (UK)

"So Hard" (KLF vs. Pet Shop Boys) – 5:27
"It Must Be Obvious" (UFO mix) – 9:22

Labelled The KLF versus Pet Shop Boys single
Tracks 1 and 2 remixed by The KLF

12": EMI / V-56194

"So Hard" (Extended Dance Mix) – 6:30
"So Hard" (single) – 3:56
"So Hard" (dub) – 7:30
"It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21

CD: Parlophone / CDR 6269 (UK)

"So Hard" – 3:56
"It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
"So Hard" (Extended Dance Mix) – 6:30

Produced by Pet Shop Boys, Harold Faltermeyer
Edited by Danton Supple
Engineered by Brian Reeves
Mixed by Julian Mendelsohn^[4]

CD: EMI / 560 204177-2 (Germany)

"So Hard" (12" remix) – 6:20
"So Hard" (Radio mix) – 3:25
"So Hard" (Red Zone Mix) – 7:42
"So Hard" (Eclipse mix) – 4:00

Remixed by David Morales

CD: EMI / E2-56195 (US)

"So Hard" (Extended Dance Mix) – 6:30
"So Hard" (single) – 3:56
"So Hard" (dub) – 7:30
"It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
"Paninaro" (Italian Remix) ["12-inch remix"] – 8:40

Remix – David Jacob, Pet Shop Boys

Mixes

Mixes by Julian Mendelsohn

Album/single version (3:56)
Extended dance mix (6:30)

Available on the Further Listening bonus disc with the Behaviour reissue

Dub Mix (7:30)
9" edit (4:59)

Mixes by David Morales

Red Zone Mix (7:45)

An abbreviated (2:48) version of this mix appears on Disco 2

12" mix (6:26)
Radio mix (3:37)
Dub (7:37)
Eclipse Mix (4:02)

Mix by The KLF

The KLF Versus Pet Shop Boys (5:27)

Chart performance

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart^[5]	27
Austrian Singles Chart^[6]	14
Belgian Singles Chart	5
Canadian Singles Chart^[7]	36
Dutch Singles Chart^[8]	11
Finland Singles Chart (Suomen virallinen lista)^[9]	1
French Singles Chart^[10]	52
German Singles Chart^[11]	3
Irish Singles Chart^[12]	3
Italian Singles Chart^[13]	2
Japanese Singles Chart (Tokyo)	5
New Zealand Singles Chart^[14]	21
Norwegian Singles Chart^[15]	9
Polish Singles Chart	9
Spain (AFYVE)^[16]	2
Swedish Singles Chart^[17]	3
Swiss Singles Chart^[18]	2
UK Singles Chart^[19]	4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[20]	42
U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs Chart^[21]	17
U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart^[20]	4
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Chart^[20]	2

Cover versions

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

Resources

1 2 3 petshopboys.co.uk Singles - So Hard
↑ Q, May 2001
↑ "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard (Vinyl) at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
↑ "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard (CD) at Discogs - CDR 6269". discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
↑ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ "charts.de". charts.de. 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: P". Hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ Steffen Hung. "Pet Shop Boys - So Hard". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ "Pet Shop Boys | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
1 2 3 Pet Shop Boys (2009-12-21). "Pet Shop Boys - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
↑ "Eurythmics Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-06-23.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Pet Shop Boys

Chris Lowe Neil Tennant

Studio albums	Please Actually Introspective Behaviour Very Bilingual Nightlife Release Fundamental Yes Elysium Electric Super

Compilation albums	Discography: The Complete Singles Collection Alternative Essential PopArt: The Hits Story: 25 Years of Hits Party Ultimate Format

Remix albums	Disco Disco 2 Disco 3 Disco 4

Live albums	Concrete Pandemonium

Extended plays	Christmas

Soundtracks and scores	It Couldn't Happen Here Closer to Heaven Battleship Potemkin The Most Incredible Thing

Other songs	"King's Cross" "The Loving Kind" "The Night I Fell in Love" "I'm Not Scared" "In Private" "Nothing Has Been Proved" "So Sorry, I Said" "Don't Drop Bombs" "Euroboy"

Film, stage and television	It Couldn't Happen Here Closer to Heaven Pet Shop Boys: A Life In Pop The Most Incredible Thing

Notable tours and concerts	MCMLXXXIX Performance Discovery Somewhere Nightlife Release Fundamental Pandemonium Progress (as special guests) Electric Inner Sanctum

Related articles	Discography x2 Reputation Results Electronic Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys West End Girls

Book

Pet Shop Boys singles

Please (1984–1986)	"West End Girls" "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" "Love Comes Quickly" "Suburbia"

Disco (1986)	"Paninaro"

Actually (1987–1988)	"It's a Sin" "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" "Rent" "Heart"

Introspective (1988–1989)	"Always on My Mind" "Domino Dancing" "Left to My Own Devices" "It's Alright"

Behaviour (1990–1991)	"So Hard" "Being Boring" "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?"/"Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You)" "Jealousy"

Discography (1991)	"DJ Culture" "Was It Worth It?"

Very (1993–1994)	"Can You Forgive Her?" "Go West" "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" "Liberation" "Yesterday, When I Was Mad"

Alternative (1995)	"Paninaro '95"

Bilingual (1996–1997)	"Before" "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)"/"To Step Aside" "Single-Bilingual" "A Red Letter Day"

Nightlife (1999–2000)	"I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More" "New York City Boy" "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk"

Release (2002–2003)	"Home and Dry" "I Get Along" "London"

PopArt (2003–2004)	"Miracles" "Flamboyant"

Fundamental (2006)	"I'm with Stupid" "Minimal" "Numb"

Disco 4 (2007)	"Integral"

Yes (2009)	"Love etc." "Did You See Me Coming?" "Beautiful People"

Ultimate (2010)	"Together"

Elysium (2012)	"Winner" "Leaving" "Memory of the Future"

Electric (2013-14)	"Axis" "Vocal" "Love Is a Bourgeois Construct" "Thursday" "Fluorescent"

Super (2016)	"The Pop Kids" "Twenty-something" "Inner Sanctum" "Say it to me"

Non-album singles	"One More Chance" "Absolutely Fabulous" "Hallo Spaceboy" "Somewhere" "Break 4 Love" "She's Madonna" "Love Life"

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