"The Hardest Thing" is the third single released by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 boy band, 98 Degrees

98 Degrees

98 Degrees is an American adult contemporary boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California....

, from their second studio album, 98 Degrees and Rising

98 Degrees and Rising

-Holland Edition:-Singles:*True to Your Heart – July 21, 1998*Because of You – September 15, 1998*Hardest Thing – June 8, 1999*I Do  – July 24, 1999-Chart positions:...

. "The Hardest Thing" peaked at #5 in the US and also experienced moderate success in Oceania

Oceania

Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...

, peaking at #24 on the Australian ARIA

Australian Recording Industry Association

The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...

 Singles Chart, and #5 on the New Zealand RIANZ

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand

The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...

 Singles Chart.

Song meaning

The song is about a man who is torn between two women that he loves: one being his significant other and the other being his mistress. This is apparent when Dr. Zhivago is referenced in the second verse of the song. In the end, the man chooses to say goodbye to his mistress because it is only fair to his significant other, who has always trusted him. This becomes clear in the first verse of the song when he says, "I've got somewhere else to be, promises to keep/Someone else who loves me and trusts me fast asleep." However, as he is saying goodbye to the mistress, he has to hide his true feelings (love) from her; hence, the title of the song: "The Hardest Thing". As he says goodbye to his mistress, he thinks, "It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do to look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you." However, he knows that their love is real and that they will meet again when the time is right: "I know that we'll meet again/Fate has a place and time/So you can get on with your life."

Music video

The music video takes place inside a boxing arena. Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey

Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released...

, the protagonist in the video, is the man who is torn between two women. Nick is a boxer in the video, and his mistress is a show girl. His significant other is not in the video.

Track listings

US single

1. "The Hardest Thing" (radio version) – 3:47
2. "Because of You" (Hex Hector Dance Mix) – 3:07
3. "Invisible Man" – 4:42

UK 12" vinyl

• A1. "The Hardest Thing" (Love to Infinity Master Mix) – 6:35
• B1. "The Hardest Thing" (album version] – 4:34

UK maxi-CD

1. "The Hardest Thing" (radio version) – 3:47
2. "The Hardest Thing" (album version) – 4:34
3. "The Hardest Thing" (Love to Infinity Master Mix) – 6:35
4. "The Hardest Thing" (music video) – 3:31

Peak positions

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...  Singles Chart	24
New Zealand RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...  Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	2

End-of-year charts

End-of-year chart (1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	37