Rocktrospectiva: Pet Shop Boys' "So Hard" Turns 35

Released on 24 September 1990 "So Hard" a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, was 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". It peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom, No. 1 in Finland,  No. 27 in Australia, No. 24 in New Zealand, No. No. 2 in Italy, No. 77 in Canadá, No. 62 and No. 62 in the USA Billboard Top 100 No. 62.

According to history, 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!"

The 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. According to Chris Lowe, the duo wanted to capture that night life style of the city on the video, that also 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

Critics were favourable for the track striking enough of a modern pop stance to encourage alternative and top 40 radio airplay. Pet Shop Boys they do make excellent pop records. and this was typical Pet Shop Boys despite the change of producer: brash disco backing, dry sophisticated singing and a great tune, with all radio formats unite! This commercial pop single - featuring that typically inescapable chorus 

Track List: 

Standard 7" and cassette single: 

1. So Hard 

2. It Must Be Obvious 

 

UK 12" single:

 

1. So Hard (extended dance mix)

2. It Must Be Obvious

3. So Har (dub mix)

 

UK 12" single The KLF vs Pet Shop Boys: 

 

1. So Hard (The KLF vs Pet Shop Boys)

2. It Must Be Obvious (UFO mix)

 

UK CD Single: 

 

1. So Hard 

2. It Must Be Obvious

3. So Hard (Extended dance mix)

 

US maxi-CD single: 

 

1. So Hard (extended dance mix 

2. So Hard (Single)

3. So Hard (Dub)

4. It Must Be Obvious

5. Paninaro (12" remix)