Hard to Say I'm Sorry

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
Artwork for Italian release
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago 16
B-side	"Sonny Think Twice"
Released	May 17, 1982 (1982-05-17)
Format	7" single
Recorded	1982
Genre	Soft rock, progressive rock
Length	5:06 (Album Version, with "Get Away") 3:51 (Alternate Edit) 3:40 (Single Version)
Label	Full Moon/Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Peter Cetera and David Foster
Producer(s)	David Foster
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Chicago singles chronology
"Song for You" (1980) "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (1982) "Love Me Tomorrow" (1982)

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a song by American rock group Chicago. It was written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster, and released on May 17, 1982 as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11 of that year.^[1] It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978. In the fall of 1982, while it was moving down the Hot 100, it just left the top 50 within two weeks from #4.

History

The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. There were minimal horns on the track, instead featuring more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a contemporary 1980s styling. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.

The album version of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into a second song titled "Get Away," which was closer to the older horn-driven Chicago sound. Most adult contemporary radio stations at the time did not play the entire album track, however, choosing to cut it off just before "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into "Get Away." About half the Top 40 radio stations played the longer version with "Get Away".

Deviating from Chicago's practice of having mostly band members playing on their albums, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" featured several session musicians. The song featured producer David Foster on the piano, as well as three members of the American rock band Toto: Steve Lukather on guitar, while David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributed synthesizers. The song's vocals were performed by Peter Cetera.

The song was also featured in the movie and soundtrack for Summer Lovers, a 1982 film written and directed by Randal Kleiser, starring Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah and Valerie Quennessen, and filmed on location on the island of Santorini, Greece.

Music video

The band appears in a black colored room with diamonds on the wall. Danny Seraphine magically appears from his drum kit.

Personnel

• Peter Cetera - vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar
• David Foster - piano
• Steve Lukather - electric guitar
• David Paich - synthesizer
• Steve Porcaro - synthesizer
• Danny Seraphine - drums
• Strings arranged by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock

Chart performance

Az Yet version

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
Single by Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera
from the album Az Yet
Released	February 3, 1997 (1997-02-03)
Format	CD
Recorded	1996
Genre	R&B, adult contemporary
Length	3:17
Label	LaFace Records
Writer(s)	Peter Cetera and David Foster
Producer(s)	Babyface
Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera singles chronology
"Last Night" (1996) "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (1997) "You're the Inspiration" (1997)

In 1996, the R&B band Az Yet included a cover version on their self-titled debut album. The single, which featured cameo vocals by Peter Cetera, was produced by legendary songwriter Babyface and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single reached platinum status^[13] and was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Performance by an R&B Group or Duo).

Track listing

CD-Single

1. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (David Foster Remix) 3:18
2. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" (Album Version) 3:17

Charts

Certifications

Other cover versions

• In 1983, a Czech cover of the song, titled "Černý páv" (The Black Peacock), was recorded by Hana Zagorová feat. Stanislav Hložek and Petr Kotvald
• In 1999, a Eurodance remix of the song, titled "Hold Me Now", was recorded by DJ Kaos for Dancemania SPEED 3.
• In 2003, the Canadian boy band b4-4 recorded a cover version included as a bonus track on the "limited edition" of their second album In Your Face.
• In 2005, Idol 2005 contestant Jonah Hallberg covered the song on the compilation released by the show featuring a song covered by each finalist.
• In 2007, Irish boy band Westlife covered the song on the B-side to their single "Home", the first single from the album Back Home.
• In 2008, Barry Manilow covered the song on his album The Greatest Songs of the Eighties.
• Keith Harkin, of the successful Irish musical production Celtic Thunder, covered the song as part of the CD/DVD combo It's Entertainment in 2009, being release in early 2010.
• In 2010, Yuna Ito recorded a cover version of the song as part of her project Yuna Ito ~ Respects, the third cover of the project, released on September 29.
• In 2015, X Factor Indonesia contestant Ramli Nurhappi covered the song competition week 6 theme Love Song.
• In 2016, The Voice Kids Indonesia contestant Fahira Rizani covered the song at Blind Audition.

Sampling

• German eurodance group Aquagen sampled the verses of the song (omitting the chorus) on the 2002 album Weekender.^[26] The song was also remixed in 2009 as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry 2K9" on Aquagen's 2009 album So Far So Good (The Very Best Of).

See also

• List of RPM number-one singles of 1982
• List of number-one hits of 1982 (Switzerland)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982 (U.S.)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1982 (U.S.)

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics