Hard to Say I'm Sorry
| "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Chicago | ||||
| from the album Chicago 16 | ||||
| B-side | "Sonny Think Twice" | |||
| Released | May 17, 1982 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length |
5:06 (Album Version, with "Get Away") 3:51 (Alternate Edit) 3:40 (Single Version) | |||
| Label | Full Moon/Warner Bros. | |||
| Writer(s) | Peter Cetera and David Foster | |||
| Producer(s) | David Foster | |||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | |||
| Chicago singles chronology | ||||
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"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a song by American rock group Chicago. It was written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster, and released on May 17, 1982 as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11 of that year.[1] It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978. In the fall of 1982, while it was moving down the Hot 100, it just left the top 50 within two weeks from #4.
History
The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. There were minimal horns on the track, instead featuring more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a contemporary 1980s styling. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.
The album version of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into a second song titled "Get Away," which was closer to the older horn-driven Chicago sound. Most adult contemporary radio stations at the time did not play the entire album track, however, choosing to cut it off just before "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into "Get Away." About half the Top 40 radio stations played the longer version with "Get Away".
Deviating from Chicago's practice of having mostly band members playing on their albums, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" featured several session musicians. The song featured producer David Foster on the piano, as well as three members of the American rock band Toto: Steve Lukather on guitar, while David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributed synthesizers. The song's vocals were performed by Peter Cetera.
The song was also featured in the movie and soundtrack for Summer Lovers, a 1982 film written and directed by Randal Kleiser, starring Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah and Valerie Quennessen, and filmed on location on the island of Santorini, Greece.
Music video
The band appears in a black colored room with diamonds on the wall. Danny Seraphine magically appears from his drum kit.
Personnel
- Peter Cetera - vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar
- David Foster - piano
- Steve Lukather - electric guitar
- David Paich - synthesizer
- Steve Porcaro - synthesizer
- Danny Seraphine - drums
- Strings arranged by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
|
Year-end charts
|
| Preceded by "Even the Nights Are Better" by Air Supply |
Billboard Adult Contemporary (chart) number-one single August 21, 1982 – September 4, 1982 |
Succeeded by "Blue Eyes" by Elton John |
| Preceded by "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single September 11, 1982 – September 18, 1982 |
Succeeded by "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band |
| Preceded by "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor |
Canadian Singles Chart September 11, 1982 – September 18, 1982 |
Succeeded by "Jack & Diane" by John Mellencamp |
| Preceded by "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band |
Swiss number-one single September 26, 1982 – October 3, 1982 |
Succeeded by "I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida |
Az Yet version
| "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera | ||||
| from the album Az Yet | ||||
| Released | February 3, 1997 | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
| Genre | R&B, adult contemporary | |||
| Length | 3:17 | |||
| Label | LaFace Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Peter Cetera and David Foster | |||
| Producer(s) | Babyface | |||
| Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera singles chronology | ||||
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In 1996, the R&B band Az Yet included a cover version on their self-titled debut album. The single, which featured cameo vocals by Peter Cetera, was produced by legendary songwriter Babyface and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single reached platinum status[13] and was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Performance by an R&B Group or Duo).
Track listing
CD-Single
- "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (David Foster Remix) 3:18
- "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Album Version) 3:17
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[14] | 5 |
| Canadian Singles Chart[15] | 26 |
| Dutch Singles Chart[16] | 3 |
| German Singles Chart[17] | 72 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart[18] | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart[19] | 59 |
| UK Singles Chart[20] | 7 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 8 |
| US Rhythmic Top 40[21] | 9 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[22] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] | Platinum | 15,000* |
| United States (RIAA)[24] | Platinum | 1,100,000[25] |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
| Preceded by "I Shot the Sheriff" by Warren G |
New Zealand Singles Chart April 27, 1997 – May 4, 1997 |
Succeeded by "Don't Leave Me" by Blackstreet |
Other cover versions
- In 1983, a Czech cover of the song, titled "Černý páv" (The Black Peacock), was recorded by Hana Zagorová feat. Stanislav Hložek and Petr Kotvald
- In 1999, a Eurodance remix of the song, titled "Hold Me Now", was recorded by DJ Kaos for Dancemania SPEED 3.
- In 2003, the Canadian boy band b4-4 recorded a cover version included as a bonus track on the "limited edition" of their second album In Your Face.
- In 2005, Idol 2005 contestant Jonah Hallberg covered the song on the compilation released by the show featuring a song covered by each finalist.
- In 2007, Irish boy band Westlife covered the song on the B-side to their single "Home", the first single from the album Back Home.
- In 2008, Barry Manilow covered the song on his album The Greatest Songs of the Eighties.
- In 2010, Yuna Ito recorded a cover version of the song as part of her project Yuna Ito ~ Respects, the third cover of the project, released on September 29.
- In 2015, X Factor Indonesia contestant Ramli Nurhappi covered the song competition week 6 theme Love Song.
Sampling
- German eurodance group Aquagen sampled the verses of the song (omitting the chorus) on the 2002 album Weekender.[26] The song was also remixed in 2009 as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry 2K9" on Aquagen's 2009 album So Far So Good (The Very Best Of).
See also
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1982
- List of number-one hits of 1982 (Switzerland)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1982 (U.S.)
References
- 1 2 3 "Chicago – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Hits of the World – Australia". Billboard 94 (41): 79. October 16, 1982. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry – Austriancharts.at". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "50 Singles". RPM 36 (4). September 11, 1982. ISSN 0033-7064. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Top 100 Single". Charts.de (in German). Media Control. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Chicago – Hard to Say I'm Sorry – Hitparade.ch". Hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "1982-10-09 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1988.htm
- ↑ http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1982.shtml
- ↑ http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1982.htm
- ↑ RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - Az Yet Singles, Retrieved on 2009-07-16
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "100 Hit Tracks". RPM 65 (18). July 7, 1997. ISSN 0033-7064. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Dutchchart.nl – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Single – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera, Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Chart.de (in German). Media Control. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Az Yet feat. Peter Cetera – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "1997-06-21 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- 1 2 "Az Yet – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Az Yet – Hard to Say I'm Sorry". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Az Yet – Hard to Say I". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard (BPI Communications Inc.) 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ↑ Aquagen - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (CD). Discogs.com.
External links
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