So Hard

The essence of *So Hard* lies in its narrative about veiled infidelity and the pretense of loyalty in a relationship. The song describes two people living together, both with extramarital affairs, but who pretend to be faithful until they discover each other. This lyrical approach, laden with subtle melancholy, unfolds against a backdrop of dreamy synthesizers that barely glide across the dance floor, creating an atmosphere that evokes a distant sadness. Despite its title, the British duo manages to make their performance sound fluid, a quality that, for some, could be interpreted as excessive sophistication, but which undoubtedly results in very well-crafted pop pieces.

The creation of *So Hard* in September 1990 marked the beginning of the promotion for their fourth album, *Behaviour*. The production process involved Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, who worked in the Red Deer studio in Munich, Germany. The intention was to incorporate analog synthesizers, and for this they relied on the expertise of Harold Faltermeyer. The original version of the song, according to Chris Lowe, evoked the sound of Giorgio Moroder with a profusion of retro instruments. However, producer David Morales took the chord progression from the middle section and transformed it into an energetic house track. This shift toward electronic dance music became evident when Frankie Knuckles played it at a party in Los Angeles, inspiring Neil Tennant to explore that sound. The music video, filmed in black and white in Newcastle and North Tyneside, was directed by Eric Watson and featured Anna Gascoigne. As a B-side, *It Must Be Obvious* was included, and the U.S. edition added a remix of *Paninaro*.