singles were released in the UK and US. The track peaked at number 37 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Although the song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart, as the song was released as a radio-only song, the single peaked on the Italian charts on 11 May 2006 at number 19 and spent a week in the chart. Afterward, the song peaked on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 28 on 28 August 2006. A live piano version of "The Hardest Part", paired with the Prospekt's March track "Postcards from Far Away", appeared on Coldplay's 2009 live album LeftRightLeftRightLeft. Critics were positive towards the song. In the Entertainment Weekly review of the album, music contributor David Browne wrote that the song "is imbued with the sense of regret and letting go that we've heard from the band before, but with added musical muscle." Michael Hubbard of MusicOMH wrote: "'A Message' and 'The Hardest Part' sound like companion pieces, both big songs." Critic Kelefa Sanneh of Rolling Stone noted that the song gets "less catchy as it goes along". Adrien Begrand from PopMatters wrote that "The Hardest Part" is a "pleasant slice of R.E.M. style pop." Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun reported that the song sounded "like the Smiths meets REM." David Cheal of The Daily Telegraph noted, "...'The Hardest Part' is lovely, straightforward, instantly accessible pop-rock". Music video The music video for "The Hardest Part" was shot on 3 March 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The video uses footage from the television series Attitudes, which aired on the Lifetime television network from 1985 to 1991. The video is digitally enhanced to appear as though Coldplay is performing the music alongside the act appearing on stage. American actress Linda Dano, who played Felicia Gallant on the US soap opera Another World, is also featured. The dancers on the stage are 84-year-old Barbara Moseley and 25-year-old Gene Spencer, whose performance was actually filmed in 1990. The music video was directed by Mary Wigmore. Track listings Personnel Chris Martin – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, synthesizer Guy Berryman – bass guitar Jonny Buckland – electric guitars Will Champion – drums, backing vocals Charts References External links 2000s ballads 2006 singles Coldplay songs Parlophone singles Songs written by Chris Martin Songs written by Guy Berryman Songs written by Jonny Buckland Songs written by Will Champion