Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

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"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
File:Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Single.jpeg
Single by Elton John
from the album Blue Moves
B-side "Shoulder Holster"
Released 1 November 1976
Recorded Eastern Sound, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 22 March 1976
Length 3:48
Label Rocket (UK)
MCA (US)
Songwriter(s) Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Script error: The function "ucfirst" does not exist. singles chronology
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
(1976)		 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
(1976)		 "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)"
(1977)
Music video
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" on YouTube

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was John's second single released by The Rocket Record Company. The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship which is falling apart.

The song also appeared the following year on Greatest Hits Volume II, though for copyright reasons it no longer appears on the current version of that album. It now appears on Greatest Hits 1976–1986, The Very Best of Elton John and in Greatest Hits 1970–2002, as well as a number of other compilations.

Reception

Billboard Magazine praised John's vocal performance, calling it "almost painfully sincere and believable" and also commented on the complexity of the backing vocals.[1]

Personnel

Commercial performance and certifications

The song was a Top 20 hit, reaching No. 11 in the United Kingdom, No. 6 in the United States and No. 3 in Canada.[2] In addition, the song went to No. 1 on the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts.[3][4] In the US, it was certified Gold on 25 January 1977 by the RIAA.[5]

Chart history

Blue version

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
EJ&BlueSingle.jpg
Single by Blue featuring Elton John
from the album One Love
B-side "Sweet Thing"
Released 9 December 2002
Genre
Length 3:41 (album version)
3.31 (radio edit)
Label Virgin, Innocent
Songwriter(s) Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer(s) Stargate
Blue singles chronology
"One Love"
(2002)		 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
(2002)		 "U Make Me Wanna"
(2003)
Music video
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" on YouTube

The song was covered in 2002 by English boy band Blue for their second studio album, One Love (2002). The song was recorded as a collaboration with Elton John, and was the second single from the album. It peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 15 December 2002 and also reached number one in Hungary and the Netherlands. It peaked within the top 10 in an additional 16 countries.

Track listing

UK CD1

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Lonely This Christmas" – 2:08
  3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Ruffin Ready Soul Mix) – 3:51
  4. "Recording Studio Footage" – 3:30

UK CD2

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:44
  3. "Sweet Thing" – 3:38
  4. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Video) – 3:31

UK cassette

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "Album Medley" – 5:44
  3. "Sweet Thing" – 3:38

Charts

Certifications

Sales and certifications for "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Region Certification Sales/shipments
Belgium (BEA)[53] Gold 25,000
France (SNEP)[54] Gold 250,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[55] Gold 40,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56] Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Gold 400,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Other versions

The song was covered by Joe Cocker in 1991 for the Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album.

Cocker is quoted in the album liner notes: <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

Way back in '68 I met Elton in the office of the publisher Dick James. I was given a tape of 'Border Song' which for some obscure reason I turned down. I hope I've made up for it with this rendition of 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' that shows the deeper side of Reg and Bernie's writing.

In 1993, argentinian singer Pedro Aznar covered and translated the lyrics in spanish called "Ya no hay forma de pedir perdón", which made the single popular and a favourite among Argentina.

In 2004, Elton John and Ray Charles performed the song on Charles' duet album, Genius Loves Company. It would turn out to be the last recording Charles ever did before his death that June.[58] The duet was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. It was also performed by smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G on the soprano saxophone featuring Richard Marx on his 2004 album At Last...The Duets Album later that year.

The single was the lead single for the eight-track remix compilation Good Morning to the Night in collaboration with Australian remixer Pnau, which came out on 16 July 2012. In 2015, the song was covered by Diana Krall. This version was included on her Wallflower album.

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 1, 1977
  11. ↑ Australian-charts.com
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Musicoutfitters.com
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  16. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ "Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. ↑ "Musicline.de – Blue feat. Elton John Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. See Best column.
  26. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  27. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Blue – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". Top Digital Download.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  29. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  30. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". Top 40 Singles.
  31. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". VG-lista.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20021221". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  35. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" Canciones Top 50.
  36. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". Singles Top 60.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ↑ "Blue: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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