So Hard

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“So Hard”
“So Hard” cover
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Behaviour
B-side "It must be obvious"
Released 24 September 1990[1]
Format 7", 12", Cassette, CD
Recorded Munich, 1990
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:56 (7" edit)
Label Parlophone - R 6269
Writer(s) Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer Pet Shop Boys, Harold Faltermeyer
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"It's alright"
(1989)		 "So Hard"
(1990)		 "Being Boring"
(1990)
The capitalization of song titles in this article may be disputed. Please see the centralized discussion on this subject before making changes.

"So Hard" is a song by the British pop group the Pet Shop Boys and was the first single lifted from the 1990 album Behaviour. It peaked at #4 in the UK, and was the only single from the album to reach the Top 10. 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 video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Newcastle. 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 USA 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.

"So hard" has been covered by Momus.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 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

[edit] Credits

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

[edit] 12": Parlophone / 12R 6269 (UK)

  1. "So Hard (Extended Dance Mix)" - 6:30
  2. "It must be obvious" - 4:21
  3. "So Hard (Dub Mix)" - 7:30
  • Mix by - Julian Mendelsohn[2]

[edit] 12": Parlophone / 12RX 6269 (UK)

  1. "So Hard" (KLF vs. Pet Shop Boys) - 5:27
  2. "It must be obvious" (UFO mix) - 9:22
  • Labelled The KLF versus Pet Shop Boys single
  • Tracks 1,2 remixed by The KLF

[edit] CD: Parlophone / CDR 6269 (UK)

  1. "So Hard" - 3:56
  2. "It must be obvious" - 4:21
  3. "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[3]

[edit] CD: EMI / 560 204177-2 (Germany)

  1. "So Hard (12" Remix)" - 6:20
  2. "So Hard (Radio Mix)" - 3:25
  3. "So Hard (Red Zone Mix)" - 7:42
  4. "So Hard (Eclipse mix)" - 4:00

[edit] Credits

[edit] CD: EMI / E2-56195 (US)

  1. "So Hard (Extended Dance Mix)" - 6:30
  2. "So Hard (Single)" - 3:56
  3. "So Hard (Dub)" - 7:30
  4. "It must be obvious" - 4:21
  5. "Paninaro (Italian Remix)" ["12-inch remix"] - 8:40
  • Remix - David Jacob, Pet Shop Boys

[edit] 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)

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Flag of the United Kingdom UK 4
Flag of the United States US Hot Dance Music/Club Play 4
Flag of the United States US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 2
Flag of the United States US Modern Rock Tracks 17
Flag of the United States US The Billboard Hot 100 62
Flag of Italy Italy 2
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland 2
Flag of Germany Germany 3
Flag of Sweden Sweden 3
Flag of Norway Norway 9
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands 15
Flag of Australia Australia 27

[edit] Resources

  1. ^ a b c petshopboys.co.uk Singles - So Hard
  2. ^ discogs.com - 12"
  3. ^ discogs.com - CDR 6269
v • d • e
Pet Shop Boys
Neil Tennant · Chris Lowe
Studio albums
Compilation albums
"Disco" albums
Live albums
Soundtrack and score albums
Singles
Please - "West End Girls" · "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" · "Love Comes Quickly" · "Suburbia"
Actually - "It's a Sin" · "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" · "Rent" · "Heart"
Introspective - "Always on My Mind" · "Domino Dancing" · "Left to My Own Devices" · "It's Alright"
Behaviour - "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 - "DJ Culture" · "Was It Worth It?"
Very - "Can You Forgive Her?" · "Go West" · "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" · "Liberation" · "Yesterday, When I Was Mad"
Alternative - "Paninaro/Paninaro '95"
Bilingual - "Before" · "Se a Vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" · "Single-Bilingual" · "A Red Letter Day" · "Somewhere"
Nightlife - "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 - "Home and Dry" · "I Get Along" · "London"
PopArt - "Miracles" · "Flamboyant"
Fundamental - "I'm With Stupid" · "Minimal" · "Numb" · "Integral"
Collaborations - "Break 4 Love" · "She's Madonna"
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