Background and composition In 2007, German
Eurodance trio
Cascada recorded a cover of "What Hurts the Most" for their second studio album,
Perfect Day (2007). The cover was produced and recorded by band members
Yanou and
DJ Manian at Plazmatek Studio Cologne in
Cologne,
Germany. The song serves as the first single from
Perfect Day (2007). It was first released in Sweden on November 21, 2007, in digital and physical formats, through Zooland Records. The song was later released in the United Kingdom as a digital single on December 3, 2007, and as a CD single a week later, through All Around the World. The releases featured remixes by several disc jockeys, including
Darren Styles, Spencer & Hill and Flip & Fill. "What Hurts the Most" was solicited to mainstream radio stations on December 11, 2007, in the United States, following its digital and physical release within the two weeks before. In Germany, the cover was released as a CD and digital single on January 4, 2008, through Zeitgeist. In contrast to the original version, Cascada's cover of "What Hurts the Most" deviates from the country sound and replaces it with
Europop electronic beats and elements typical of DJ Manian and Yanou productions. According to the digital music sheet published at Musicnotes.com by BPJ Administration, the song is composed in a key of F minor while carrying a tempo of 144 beats per minute. Horler's vocals range between a high register of A3 to a low register of C5.
Critical reception Alex Fletcher of
Digital Spy gave the song a three-star rating, saying that "it's not as good as previous single 'Everytime We Touch' for sure, but its teasing, lucid intro, which bursts into the hand-clap-inducing, hip-swiveling chorus after a flurry of robotic drum beats is certainly a good giggle." Kurt Kirton of
About.com named it one of the album's standout tracks. Chuck Taylor of
Billboard gave "What Hurts the Most" a positive review, writing that "this track is remixed into a frothy uptempo anthem, complete with requisite percussive thump and an exulted vocal (with 12 mixes in all) that leaves the lyric's potential heartbreak in the dust." Taylor ended his review, asking "Wouldn't it be wondrous if American programmers renewed their vow in 2008 to put variety on the airwaves—or do we really need a fifth entry in the top 10 from
T-Pain?"
Chart performance In Sweden, Cascada's cover of "What Hurts the Most" debuted on the
Swedish Singles Chart on November 22, 2007, at number five, where it peaked. The song rose to number 80 in the following week. On March 22, 2008, the cover peaked at number 52. In Canada, the song managed to peak at number 54 and lasted on the chart for eleven weeks.
Music video The music video for "What Hurts the Most" was filmed in Los Angeles was released on January 24, 2008, to the US digital markets.
International version The video opens with Horler sitting in a studio apartment living room holding a note saying "I can't sorry". It moves to a scene, that is intercut throughout the video, where Horler is seen performing in front of a lit up brick wall. When the first verse begins, Horler leaves the room to open the door, allowing her friends to enter. One friend sees the note and tears it up in disgust. More friends came into the apartment and soon began partying. After the chorus ends, the video moves to a tattoo parlor, where Horler receives a tattoo. As the second chorus commences, she is against a wall, appearing heartbroken, while her former love interest gestures toward the wall, attempting to try to reach out to her. Scenes of the house party continue to play throughout the rest of the video. Near the end of the second chorus, Horler is sitting against a white brick, with mascara running from her eyes, telling that she was crying. On the wall is a window in which the love interest appears to be frustrated. As the song approaches the last chorus, the house party ends with the guests exiting Horler's apartment. The video ends with Horler opening the door to see her former lover, who exchanges a smile with her, and shutting the door on him, leaving with a smile on her face.
US version Same as the International version but the first minute of the video features Horler singing in the living room. As the song approaches the chorus, Horler leaves the room and moves to a secluded room where she is seen crying. In that scene, there is also an opening that shows an image of the protagonist's former lover staring into the opening. After the chorus ends, Horler sits at a tattoo parlor while the artists gives her a tattoo. She is then seen sitting against a wall while the love interest gestures to the other side, attempting to reach out to her. As the video nears the final chorus, Horler is at a house party with her friends, appearing lonely and heartbroken.
Credits and personnel • Recorded and produced at Plazmatek Studio Cologne in Cologne, Germany • Songwriting – Jeffrey Steele, Steve Robson • Production – Manuel Reuter, Yann Peifer • Vocals – Natalie Horler
Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications Release history ==See also==