Hard to Love (Blackpink song) explained

Hard to Love
Type:song
Artist:Blackpink
Album:Born Pink
Language:English
Released:September 16, 2022
Studio:The Black Label (Seoul)
Genre:
Length:2:43
Lyricist:
  • Wexler
  • Atterberry
  • Wolfgang
  • Park
Composer:
Producer:
  • Freddy Wexler
  • 24
  • R. Tee

"Hard to Love" is a song by South Korean girl group Blackpink, sung as a solo by member Rosé. It was released on September 16, 2022, as the fifth track on Blackpink's second studio album Born Pink (2022). It is an upbeat dance, guitar pop, pop rock and disco track with elements of city-pop, 90's rock and roll and "edgy" pop. The track's lyrics revolve around a protagonist expressing hidden insecurities about their ability to be loved.

"Hard to Love" debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Global 200 and entered the national charts in countries such as Australia, Canada, and South Korea. It was also a top-ten hit in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Background

In March 2021, Korean-New Zealand singer Rosé released her debut single album, R, accompanied by the lead single "On the Ground". The album debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart and became the best-selling album by a female soloist in the chart's history.[1] [2] Meanwhile, "On the Ground" peaked at number one on the Billboard Global 200 and became the highest-charting song by a Korean female soloist on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3]

On July 31, 2022, YG Entertainment officially released the album trailer video on the group's official social media accounts, announcing that the group's new world tour would start in October, following a pre-release single in August and the album itself in September.[4] "Hard To Love" was announced as the fifth track of Born Pink on September 7, 2022, through the group's official social media accounts.[5] The song marks the singer's third solo track since the release of her debut single album in March 2021. Blackpink included the song on the set list of their Born Pink World Tour (2022–23), where Rosé performed it as part of her solo stage.[6]

Lyrics and production

The lyrics of the song were written by Freddy Wexler and Bianca Atterberry. Wexler conjured "Hard to Love" while he was on a jam session with his friends. He later sent a demo of the song to Teddy Park in June 2022 and was video called by him, Lisa, and Rosé the next day. Over the next month, he would FaceTime with Park and the group, who suggested changes. Wexler explained that he was "intimidated at first", because music is "almost a religious experience for K-pop fans, so there's a pressure to deliver something that is worthy". However, it turned out better than he could have ever imagined: "Generally, it's never as good as it was in your head, [but] this was an exception".[7] The final version of "Hard to Love" was fully recorded by Blackpink member Rosé at The Black Label in Seoul, South Korea.

"Hard to Love" is an upbeat dance, guitar pop, pop-rock[8] and lite-disco track with elements of 90's rock and roll and "edgy" pop.[9] [10] [11] The city pop-esque[12] is built around a soft piano, funk-inspired guitar, disco handclaps, "glowing" neo-soul keys and "thick" bass groove.[11] [13] [14] In the lyrics, the singer expresses hidden insecurities about their ability to be loved. Rosé tells the female perspective, describing how a woman can "make it feel like heaven" and then end up hurting the lover: "Never meant to cause you a problem/Here I am, yet once again/With the same old story".[11] The song is performed in the key of F major with a tempo of 105 beats per minute in common time.[15]

Commercial performance

"Hard to Love" debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Global 200 and at number 19 on the Billboard Global Excl. US.[16] In South Korea, the song debuted at number 146 and peaked at number 87 on the Circle Digital Chart, and also peaked at number 22 on Billboards South Korea Songs chart.[17] [18] It debuted at number 65 on the ARIA Singles Chart and at number 68 on the Canadian Hot 100, and also reached the top ten in Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Credits and personnel

Credits adopted from Melon and Tidal.[20] [21]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Hard To Love"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Hong Kong (Billboard)[22] 12
Indonesia (Billboard)[23] 14
Malaysia (Billboard)[24] 4
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[25] 6
Philippines (Billboard)[26] 7
Singapore (Billboard)[27] 14
Singapore (RIAS)[28] 5
South Korea (Billboard)[29] 22
South Korea (Circle)[30] 87
Taiwan (Billboard)[31] 13
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[32] 5

Monthly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korea (Circle)[33] 161

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ko. Seung-hee. March 23, 2021. 로제, 솔로앨범 초동 44만장 집계…女 솔로 최고 기록. December 5, 2022. Herald Kyungje. Naver. ko. 29 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210329164909/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=016&aid=0001810969. live.
  2. Web site: Abanes. Mariel. April 23, 2021. BLACKPINK's Rosé sells half a million copies of solo single album 'R'. December 5, 2022. NME. en.
  3. Frankenberg. Eric. How Rose's 'On the Ground' Dominated Internationally to Debut Atop Billboard's Global Charts. Billboard. March 25, 2021. December 5, 2022. 26 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326120747/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9546075/how-rose-on-the-ground-dominated-internationally. live.
  4. Web site: Robinson . Ellie . July 31, 2022 . Blackpink share snippet of fiery new song in 'Born Pink' teaser video . December 5, 2022 . . en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20220802141516/https://www.nme.com/news/music/blackpink-share-snippet-of-fiery-new-song-in-born-pink-teaser-video-3280292. August 2, 2022. live.
  5. September 7, 2022 . BLACKPINK Reveals 8-Song Tracklist for Sophomore Album 'BORN PINK' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220907190110/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/blackpink-born-pink-tracklist-revealed-1235135489/ . 2022-09-07. December 5, 2022. Billboard.
  6. Web site: November 9, 2022 . What Is Blackpink's Song Setlist For 'The Born Pink World Tour?'. December 30, 2022. Uproxx.
  7. Web site: Mike Wass. September 15, 2022. Blackpink's Rebel Yell: 'Pink Venom' Collaborators on Making the K-Pop Stars' Liberating and Defiant New Album. Variety. December 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221011073648/https://variety.com/2022/music/asia/blackpink-pink-venom-album-collaborators-1235374212/. October 11, 2022. live.
  8. Web site: Blackpink – 'Born Pink' review: K-pop titans consolidate their identity. Raj. Tanu I.. September 23, 2022. NME. December 9, 2022. September 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220923092858/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/blackpink-born-pink-review-3315781. live.
  9. Web site: Park . Jun-hee . September 17, 2022 . 'Born Pink' review: Blackpink's latest is worth the wait . December 9, 2022 . The Star . en . September 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922001511/https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2022/09/17/039born-pink039-review-blackpink039s-latest-is-worth-the-wait . live .
  10. Web site: Desiree Bowie. September 16, 2022. 5 Takeaways From BLACKPINK's New Album, 'Born Pink': New Sounds, Familiar Names On 8-Track Bop. The Recording Academy. December 9, 2022.
  11. Web site: Eden Arielle Gordon. September 21, 2022. Blackpink's "Born Pink" Is a Strong Offering That's Best When It's Vulnerable. PopSugar. December 9, 2022.
  12. Web site: Blackpink – Born Pink. Stanciu. Raul. September 17, 2022. Sputnikmusic. December 9, 2022. September 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220929071519/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/85558/BLACKPINK-Born-Pink/. live.
  13. Web site: Born Pink – BlackPink. Yeung. Neil Z.. AllMusic. September 16, 2022. December 9, 2022. September 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220916213107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-pink-mw0003779530. live.
  14. Web site: Blackpink - Born Pink. Ramos. Alex. September 21, 2022. Pitchfork. December 9, 2022. September 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220921041612/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/blackpink-born-pink/. live.
  15. Web site: Key & BPM for Hard to Love - From Born Pink by Blackpink. December 6, 2022 . Tunebat.com.
  16. Eric. Frankenberg. Here's Where Every Song on Blackpink's 'Born Pink' Debuts on the Global Charts. September 29, 2022. Billboard. December 30, 2022.
  17. Web site: September 18–24, 2022 . 2022 Week 39 Digital Chart . November 28, 2022 . . ko.
  18. Blackpink Chart History (South Korea Songs). Billboard. September 26, 2022.
  19. Web site: The Artist of this Year - Global Digital Music Nominees. December 17, 2022. Circle Chart Music Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20221217180736/http://www.circlemusicawards.co.kr/eng/nominees.php. December 17, 2022. live. December 17, 2022.
  20. Web site: September 16, 2022. Born Pink - Album details. March 17, 2023 . . ko.
  21. Web site: September 16, 2022 . Born Pink - Blackpink . Tidal.
  22. Blackpink Chart History (Hong Kong Songs) . Billboared. November 29, 2022.
  23. Blackpink Chart History (Indonesia Songs) . Billboard . November 29, 2022.
  24. Blackpink Chart History (Malaysia Songs). Billboard. November 29, 2022.
  25. Web site: September 26, 2022 . NZ Hot Singles Chart . October 5, 2022 . Recorded Music NZ.
  26. Blackpink Chart History (Philippines Songs). Billboard. November 29, 2022. December 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212184810/https://www.billboard.com/artist/blackpink/chart-history/i42/. dead.
  27. Blackpink Chart History (Singapore Songs) . October 5, 2022 . Billboard.
  28. Web site: Hard to Love. 16-22 September 2022. Recording Industry Association Singapore. November 29, 2022. September 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927073718/http://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  29. Blackpink Chart History (South Korea Songs) . October 5, 2022 . Billboard.
  30. Web site: CIRCLE CHART - 써클차트 . 2022-11-29. . en.
  31. Blackpink (Taiwan Songs) - Chart History . November 29, 2022 . Billboard.
  32. Blackpink Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100). November 29, 2022. Billboard.
  33. Web site: Circle Digital Chart – September 2022. Circle Chart. ko. December 7, 2022. October 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006064427/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=09&hitYear=2022&termGbn=month&yearTime=3. live.

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