Written as a commentary on fame using pornography as an analogy, the song includes a sample of the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra's "Bolero on the Moon Rocks."

Released as a single in March 1998, the song reached number 12 in the UK and became a top-40 hit in Finland, Iceland, and New Zealand.

"This Is Hardcore" was based on Jarvis Cocker's self-described "mixture of revulsion and attraction" to pornography.

The video features the members of the band alongside several other actors recreating vintage Hollywood scenes, including, in the words of writer Paul Pearson, "a sprawling Busby Berkeley dance sequence with Jarvis Cocker sullenly traipsing through a minefield of frozen-smiled dancers and way too many feathers.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called the song "the centerpiece of the album" and stated, "Drum loops, lounge piano, cinematic strings, and a sharp lyric create a frightening monument to weary decadence.

"[12] Sylvia Patterson of New Musical Express wrote, called it "possibly the creepiest single released by a commercial 'artiste' in recording history" and concluded, "It is awful.

"[14] The Guardian named it as one of Pulp's ten best songs, writing, "It's not about sex but power, narcissism, performance and ego, and it's as grim as they come.

"[17] All tracks are written by Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey, Mark Webber, and Peter Thomas except where indicated