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Hard to Say I'm Sorry

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Hard to Say I'm Sorry

| cover = Hard To Say Im Sorry Single cover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Artwork for Italian release

| type = single

| artist = Chicago

| album = Chicago 16

| B-side = Sonny Think Twice

| released = 17 May 1982 (US)
2 July 1982 (UK)

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Soft rock

| length =

* 5:06 (album version, with "Get Away")

* 3:42 (single version)

| label = Full Moon, Warner Bros.

| writer = Peter Cetera, David Foster

| producer = David Foster

| prev_title = Song for You

| prev_year = 1980

| next_title = Love Me Tomorrow

| next_year = 1982

| misc =

}}

"'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'" is a power ballad written by bassist Peter Cetera, who also sang lead on the track, and producer David Foster, for the group Chicago. It was released on May 17, 1982, as the lead single from the album 'Chicago 16'. On September 11 it reached No. 1 for two weeks on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. It was the group's second No. 1 single. It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978 and it spent twelve weeks in the top 5 of the 'Billboard' Hot 100. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in September of the same year. Songwriter Cetera, a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), won an ASCAP Pop Music Award for the song in the category, Most Performed Songs.

History



The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horn-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. With minimal horns, the track instead featured more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted guitar in a 1980s power ballad styling. A second movement of the song, "Get Away", prominently does feature the Chicago horns, and it was co-written by Robert Lamm.

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, including Steve Lukather on guitar and David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributing synthesizers. The song's vocals were performed by Peter Cetera, who also plays acoustic guitar. The only other member of Chicago besides Cetera that played on the track was drummer Danny Seraphine.

The song was also featured as the ending theme 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



Chicago made a music video for the song. According to Cetera, the videos for "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "Love Me Tomorrow" were shot on the same day. The band appears in a black colored room with diamonds on the wall.

Personnel



"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"

*Peter Cetera lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar

*David Foster acoustic piano, Minimoog bass

*Steve Lukather guitar

*David Paich synthesizers

*James Pankow trombone

*Steve Porcaro synthesizers, synthesizers programming

*Danny Seraphine drums

*Strings arranged by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock

"Get Away"



* Peter Cetera lead and backing vocals, bass guitar

* Bill Champlin keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

* Robert Lamm keyboards, backing vocals

* Lee Loughnane trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet

* James Pankow trombone, horn arrangements

* Walter Parazaider woodwinds

* Danny Seraphine drums

* Michael Landau, Chris Pinnick guitars

Chart performance



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



All-time charts



Certifications and sales



Az Yet version



{{Infobox song

| name = Hard to Say I'm Sorry

| cover = Hard to Say I'm Sorry by Az Yet.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera

| album = Az Yet

| released =

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = R&B

| length = 3:17

| label =

| writer = Peter Cetera, David Foster

| producer = Babyface

| chronology = Az Yet

| prev_title = Last Night

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = You're the Inspiration

| next_year = 1997

| misc =

}}

American R&B group Az Yet included a cover version on their self-titled debut album (1996). The song, released as a single on February 3, 1997, was produced by Babyface. A remix by David Foster features vocals from Peter Cetera. Foster won a BMI Pop Award for this version. The song peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. It reached platinum status and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an R&B Group or Duo with Vocal.

Track listing

'CD-single'

# "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (David Foster Remix featuring Peter Cetera) 3:18

# "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (Album Version) 3:14

# "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (Acappella) 3:14

# "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (Chase Extended Mix) 5:14

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Release history



Notable cover versions



* In 2015, country music star Tim McGraw released a "behind-the-scenes" video of him and his band performing "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" as a warm-up for his show in Chicago. At the end of the song he turns to the camera and says, "Hello, Chicago."

* In January 2017, Roger Federer tweeted a video of him singing the song with fellow professional tennis players Tommy Haas and Grigor Dimitrov, with David Foster at the piano, while at the Australian Open. Haas is the son-in-law of Foster.

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



Category:1982 songs

Category:1982 singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:1997 singles

Category:Chicago (band) songs

Category:Az Yet songs

Category:1980s ballads

Category:1990s ballads

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Song recordings produced by David Foster

Category:Songs written by David Foster

Category:Songs written by Peter Cetera

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Full Moon Records singles

Category:LaFace Records singles

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Rock ballads

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