It's so Hard

It's So Hard was released in the spring of 1998 as the third official single from Anouk's debut album Together Alone. Following the enormous success of Nobody's Wife, expectations were high, as many wondered whether Anouk could deliver another major rock hit.

While Nobody's Wife focused mainly on personal frustration and confrontation, It's So Hard leaned more heavily into Anouk's raw alternative rock sound. The song stood out for its heavy guitars, energetic live feel and powerful vocal performance.

The videoclip for It's So Hard was notable for being the first Anouk video to prominently feature her full live band. This emphasized the growing importance of her live reputation, which became increasingly strong during festivals and club performances throughout 1998.

Although the single received heavy airplay on TMF and MTV Europe, It's So Hard did not achieve the same commercial success as Nobody's Wife. Nevertheless, the track became a fan favourite and remained a regular part of Anouk's live performances for many years.

The first pressing of the maxi-single temporarily included a free T-shirt. The single also featured exclusive live recordings of It's So Hard and Mood Indigo, recorded on 14 October 1997 at Stairway to Heaven in Utrecht.