So Hard

This article is about the 1990 Pet Shop Boys song. For other uses, see So Hard (disambiguation).

"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".^[1] 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.

"So Hard"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Behaviour
B-side	"It Must Be Obvious"
Released	24 September 1990 (1990-09-24)^[1]
Studio	Munich
Genre	Dance-pop synth-pop
Length	3:56 6:30 (extended mix)
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Chris Lowe Neil Tennant
Producer(s)	Pet Shop Boys Harold Faltermeyer
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"It's Alright" (1989) "So Hard" (1990) "Being Boring" (1990)
Music video
"So Hard" on YouTube

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!"^[2]

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."^[3] 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."^[4] 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."^[5]

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."^[6] 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."^[7] 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."^[8] 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."^[9]

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.^[1]

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.

Standard 7-inch and cassette single^[10]^[11] "So Hard" – 3:56 "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21 UK 12-inch single^[12] A1. "So Hard" (extended dance mix) – 6:30 A2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21 B1. "So Hard" (dub mix) – 7:30 UK 12-inch single (The KLF vs Pet Shop Boys)^[13] A. "So Hard" (The KLF vs. Pet Shop Boys) – 5:27 B. "It Must Be Obvious" (UFO mix) – 9:22 UK CD single^[14] "So Hard" – 3:56 "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21 "So Hard" (extended dance mix) – 6:30

German maxi-CD single^[15] "So Hard" (12-inch remix) – 6:13 "So Hard" (radio mix) – 3:22 "So Hard" (Red Zone mix) – 6:45 "So Hard" (Eclipse mix) – 3:40 US 12-inch and maxi-cassette single^[16]^[17] A1. "So Hard" (extended dance mix) – 6:30 A2. "So Hard" (single) – 3:56 B1. "So Hard" (dub) – 7:30 B2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21 US maxi-CD single^[18] "So Hard" (extended dance mix) – 6:30 "So Hard" (single) – 3:56 "So Hard" (dub) – 7:30 "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21 "Paninaro" (12-inch remix) – 8:40

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "So Hard" Chart (1990–1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[19] 27 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[20] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[21] 8 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[22] 77 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[23] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)^[24] 3 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[25] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)^[26] 3 Ireland (IRMA)^[27] 3 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[28] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[29] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[30] 11 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[31] 24 Norway (VG-lista)^[32] 9 Portugal (UNEVA)^[33] 8 Spain (AFYVE)^[34] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[35] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[36] 2 UK Singles (OCC)^[37] 4 US Billboard Hot 100^[38] 62 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[39] 17 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[40] 4 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[41] 2 US Cash Box Top 100^[42] 66

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "So Hard" Chart (1990) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[43] 83 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)^[44] 74 Germany (Official German Charts)^[45] 75 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[46] 99

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.

References

1. "So Hard". petshopboys.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
2. Q, May 2001
3. Flick, Larry (29 September 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
4. Muretich, James (18 November 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
5. Liverpool Echo. 29 September 1990. p. 12.
6. Lester, Paul (22 September 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
7. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 October 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
8. Robinson, Nick (29 September 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
9. Morton, Roger. . NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
10. 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)
11. 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)
12. 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)
13. 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)
14. 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)
15. 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)
16. 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)
17. 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)
18. 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)
19. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
20. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
21. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
22. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9171." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
23. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9082." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. IV. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
25. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
26. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – So Hard". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
28. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. VII. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
30. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
31. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
32. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". VG-lista. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
33. "Top 10 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 2. 12 January 1991. p. 29. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
34. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
35. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
36. "Pet Shop Boys – So Hard". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
37. "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
38. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
39. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
40. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
41. "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
42. "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending November 17, 1990". Cash Box. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
43. "Jaaroverzichten 1990 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
44. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 36. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
45. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
46. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 28 July 2019.