So Hard#Charts

"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!"Q, May 2001

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."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= 29 September 1990 |page= 85 |accessdate= 28 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} 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."Muretich, James (18 November 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. 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."Liverpool Echo. 29 September 1990. p. 12.

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."{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Lester|magazine=Melody Maker|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52198955459/|date=22 September 1990|access-date=24 February 2023}} 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."{{cite magazine|title= Previews: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |date= 6 October 1990 |page= 18 |accessdate= 3 November 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-06.pdf}} 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."{{cite magazine|first= Nick |last= Robinson |title= Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 29 September 1990 |page= 21 |accessdate= 31 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-09-29.pdf}} 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."{{cite web|first= Roger |last= Morton |title= The Pet Shop Boys – Behaviour |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000684reviews.html |work= NME |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000817185004/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000684reviews.html |accessdate= 24 November 2020|archive-date= 17 August 2000 }}

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.

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.

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• Standard 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Parlophone|id=R6269, 2040627}}{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Parlophone|id=TCR6269, 2040624}}

1. "So Hard" – 3:56
2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21

• UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Parlophone|id=12R6269, 2040626}}

: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){{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Parlophone|id=12RX6269, 2040926}}

:A. "So Hard" (The KLF vs. Pet Shop Boys) – 5:27

:B. "It Must Be Obvious" (UFO mix) – 9:22

• UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDR 6269, 2040622}}

1. "So Hard" – 3:56
2. "It Must Be Obvious" – 4:21
3. "So Hard" (extended dance mix) – 6:30

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• German maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=German maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Parlophone|id=CDP 560- 20 4177 2}}

1. "So Hard" (12-inch remix) – 6:13
2. "So Hard" (radio mix) – 3:22
3. "So Hard" (Red Zone mix) – 6:45
4. "So Hard" (Eclipse mix) – 3:40

• US 12-inch and maxi-cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=EMI USA|id=V-56194}}{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=US maxi-cassette single sleeve|publisher=EMI USA|id=4V-56194}}

: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{{cite AV media notes|title=So Hard|others=Pet Shop Boys|year=1990|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=EMI USA|id=E2-56195}}

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" (12-inch remix) – 8:40

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

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Category:1990 singles

Category:1990 songs

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Pet Shop Boys songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Harold Faltermeyer

Category:Songs written by Chris Lowe

Category:Songs written by Neil Tennant

Category:Black-and-white music videos