So Hard


"So Hard" is a song by the British pop group Pet Shop Boys and was the first single released from the 1990 album Behaviour. 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". 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.

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!"

Music video

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. The video also shows people dancing and having fun on the streets with Neil and Chris in the background.

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 " single.
7": Parlophone / R 6269
  1. "So Hard" – 3:56
  2. *Produced by Pet Shop Boys, Harold Faltermeyer
  3. *Mixed by Julian Mendelsohn
  4. *Engineered by Brian Reeves
  5. *Additional programming by Dominic Clarke
  6. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
  7. *Produced by Pet Shop Boys
  8. *Mixed and engineered by Pete Schwier
  9. *Additional programming by Dominic Clarke
12": Parlophone / 12R 6269
  1. "So Hard" – 6:30
  2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
  3. "So Hard" – 7:30
12": Parlophone / 12RX 6269
  1. "So Hard" – 5:27
  2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 9:22
12": EMI USA / V-56194
  1. "So Hard" – 6:30
  2. "So Hard" – 3:56
  3. "So Hard" – 7:30
  4. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
CD: Parlophone / CDR 6269
  1. "So Hard" – 3:56
  2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
  3. "So Hard" – 6:30
CD: EMI / 560 204177-2
  1. "So Hard" – 6:20
  2. "So Hard" – 3:25
  3. "So Hard" – 7:42
  4. "So Hard" – 4:00
CD: EMI / E2-56195
  1. "So Hard" – 6:30
  2. "So Hard" – 3:56
  3. "So Hard" – 7:30
  4. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
  5. "Paninaro" – 8:40

    Mixes

Mixes by Julian Mendelsohn
Mixes by David Morales
Mix by The KLF

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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.