▁classic ▁song ▁about ▁d udes ▁saying , ▁‘ You ▁know ▁I ’ m ▁kind ▁of ▁a ▁pain ▁in ▁the ▁ass .’ ▁We ▁said , ▁‘ Let ’ s ▁just ▁talk ▁about ▁ourselves ▁in ▁the ▁song ' ". ▁ ▁The ▁song ▁was ▁compared ▁to ▁T racy ▁Chap man ' s ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁single ▁Fast ▁Car . ▁ ▁Crit ical ▁reception ▁Billy ▁D uk es ▁of ▁T aste ▁of ▁Country ▁gave ▁" H ard ▁to ▁Love " ▁three ▁and ▁a ▁half ▁stars ▁out ▁of ▁five , ▁writing ▁that ▁" the ▁song ▁doesn ’ t ▁come ▁to ▁life ▁as ▁easily ▁as ▁some ▁others ▁Br ice ▁has ▁performed ▁or ▁written " ▁but ▁" B rice ▁should ▁have ▁no ▁trouble ▁finding ▁his ▁way ▁up ▁the ▁charts ." ▁Ash ley ▁Co oke ▁of ▁R ough stock ▁gave ▁the ▁song ▁four ▁stars ▁out ▁of ▁five , ▁saying ▁that ▁" although ▁Br ice ▁didn ’ t ▁write ▁this ▁song , ▁he ’ s ▁done ▁a ▁great ▁job ▁at ▁finding ▁one ▁that ▁fits ▁his ▁sound ▁and ▁his ▁style ." ▁ ▁Music ▁video ▁The ▁music ▁video ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁Eric ▁Wel ch ▁and ▁premier ed ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁Chart ▁performance ▁" H ard ▁to ▁Love " ▁deb uted ▁at ▁number ▁ 5 1 ▁on ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Billboard ▁Hot ▁Country ▁Songs ▁chart ▁for ▁the ▁week ▁of ▁May ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁The ▁song ▁became ▁Br ice ' s ▁second ▁number ▁one ▁hit ▁on ▁Country ▁Air play