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Hard to Love (Blackpink song)

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"Hard to Love"
Song by Blackpink
from the album Born Pink
LanguageEnglish
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2022
StudioThe Black Label Studio (Seoul)
Genre
Length2:43
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Freddy Wexler
  • Bianca Atterberry
  • Max Wolfgang
  • Teddy
Producer(s)
  • Wexler
  • Teddy
Audio video
"Hard to Love" on YouTube

"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

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

Rosé performing “Hard to Love” during the Born Pink World Tour.

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

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The lyrics of the song were written by Freddy Wexler and Bianca Atterberry. Wexler conceived "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 admitted he initially felt "intimidated" since music holds an "almost religious experience" for K-pop fans, creating pressure to deliver something exceptional. However, he shared that the outcome "turned out better than [he] could have ever imagined," noting, "Usually, 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.[8]

"Hard to Love" is an upbeat blend of dance, guitar pop, pop-rock, and lite-disco, infused with elements of '90s rock and roll and edgy pop. The track has a city pop-like feel, built around soft piano, funk-inspired guitar riffs, disco-style handclaps, "glowing" neo-soul keys, and a "thick" bass groove.[9][10][11] 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".[9] The song is performed in the key of F major with a tempo of 105 beats per minute in common time.[12]

Commercial performance

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"Hard to Love" debuted at number 27 on the Billboard Global 200 and at number 19 on the Billboard Global Excl. US.[13] 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 Billboard's South Korea Songs chart.[14][15] 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.

Accolades

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Award and nominations for "Hard to Love"
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2023 Circle Chart Music Awards Artist of the Year – Global Digital Music (September) Nominated [16]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born Pink.[17]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ko, Seung-hee (March 23, 2021). "로제, 솔로앨범 초동 44만장 집계…女 솔로 최고 기록". Herald Kyungje (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Abanes, Mariel (April 23, 2021). "BLACKPINK's Rosé sells half a million copies of solo single album 'R'". NME. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Frankenberg, Eric (March 25, 2021). "How Rose's 'On the Ground' Dominated Internationally to Debut Atop Billboard's Global Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Robinson, Ellie (July 31, 2022). "Blackpink share snippet of fiery new song in 'Born Pink' teaser video". NME. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "BLACKPINK Reveals 8-Song Tracklist for Sophomore Album 'BORN PINK'". Billboard. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "What Is Blackpink's Song Setlist For 'The Born Pink World Tour?'". Uproxx. November 9, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Mike Wass (September 15, 2022). "Blackpink's Rebel Yell: 'Pink Venom' Collaborators on Making the K-Pop Stars' Liberating and Defiant New Album". Variety. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (September 16, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on BLACKPINK's 'Born Pink': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Eden Arielle Gordon (September 21, 2022). "Blackpink's "Born Pink" Is a Strong Offering That's Best When It's Vulnerable". PopSugar. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (September 16, 2022). "Born Pink – BlackPink". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Ramos, Alex (September 21, 2022). "Blackpink - Born Pink". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Key & BPM for Hard to Love - From Born Pink by Blackpink". Tunebat.com. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Frankenberg, Eric (September 29, 2022). "Here's Where Every Song on Blackpink's 'Born Pink' Debuts on the Global Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  14. ^ "2022 Week 39 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Circle Chart. September 18–24, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (South Korea Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Artist of this Year - Global Digital Music Nominees". Circle Chart Music Awards. December 17, 2022. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  17. ^ Blackpink (2022). Born Pink (liner notes). YG Entertainment. YGP0181.
  18. ^ "Blackpink – Hard to Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  22. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboared. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  23. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Indonesia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  25. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  27. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Singapore Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  28. ^ "Hard to Love". Recording Industry Association Singapore. September 16–22, 2022. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  29. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (South Korea Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  30. ^ "CIRCLE CHART - 써클차트". Circle Chart. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  31. ^ "Blackpink (Taiwan Songs) - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "Blackpink Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  33. ^ "Circle Digital Chart – September 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
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