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This Is Hardcore
Pulp Lyrics

You are hardcore, you make me hard
You name the drama and I'll play the part
It seems I saw you in some teenage wet dream
I like your get-up, if you know what I mean

I want it bad
I want it now
Oh, can't you see I'm ready now?
I've seen all the pictures, I've studied them forever

I want to make a movie, so let's star in it together
Don't make a move till I say "action"
Oh, here comes the hardcore life
Put your money where your mouth is tonight

Leave your make-up on and I'll leave on the light
Come over here, babe, and talk in the mic
Oh yeah, I hear you now
It's gonna be one hell of a night

You can't be a spectator, oh no
You got to take these dreams and make them whole
Oh, this is hardcore
There is no way back for you

Oh, this is hardcore
This is me on top of you
And I can't believe it took me this long
That it took me this long

This is the eye of the storm
It's what men in stained raincoats pay for
But in here it is pure, yeah
This is the end of the line

I've seen the storyline played out so many times before
Oh, that goes in there
Then that goes in there
Then that goes in there

Then that goes in there
And then it's over
Oh, what a hell of a show
But what I want to know

What exactly do you do for an encore?
'Cause this is hardcore

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Candida Doyle, Jarvis Branson Cocker, Mark Andrew Webber, Nick Banks, Peter Thomas, Stephen Patrick Mackey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

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05This Is Hardcore6:25

PT6M25S

09Seductive Barry8:31

10Sylvia5:44

11Glory Days4:55

12The Day After the Revolution5:27

13Like A Friend4:31

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Comments from YouTube:

Todd Robson

8y↑1.5K

I think this is Pulps finest moment, a work of art.

townsie

17w

Chaz and dave, they laid the foundations for pulp

townsie

17w

Chaz and dave, they laid the foundations for pulp

Dinel Jones

19w

Can any1 give me a song that has a similar feel to it… this beat is literally…
Hardcore.

Andreia Silva

27w

I'm just looking at the Tardisssss in your profile, A pulp fan who is a Doctor Who Fan Loved it, but now i just realized that this comment is from 6 years go so nevermind<3

Lee Heaps

27w

And with a raise of his arm Jarvis finished britpop.right then right now.a masterclass

45 More Replies...

xwexarexbulletsx

11y↑392

What I love about Pulp is that their songs are not just songs with a rythmn. Jarvis acts like a storyteller in all of their songs. They're not making music, they're making stories with a soundtrack. They're almost making movies.

townsie

17w

Chaz and dave

Laughing Stock

22w↑2

2 words: The Kinks.

Vera Zett

29w↑1

And sparks

Harry Rag

48w↑10

That's true. Only him and Ray Davies can do that kind of art.

ASocialCJ

7y↑628

This is absolute, unbridled brilliance. The musical backdrop to the sexually deviant lyrical raunch is mind blowing in its poignancy. Build, release, repeat gradually until finally the ending climax - which lets a few bars linger quietly as if it's the "afterglow" moment of lying back to light the cliche (but necessary) cigarette. It is, in essence the soundtrack of our darkest fantasies done bluntly but executed with perfection. </rant>

ConfusedOilPainter

17w

I don't think you could have sounded more pretentious if you tried with that lame comment dude

Sane One

30w

@ASocialCJ All he said was LMAO You got way too turnt 🤣 there’s plenty of songs that are more or as emotional. It’s just very well produced

MARSBELLA1

34w

What does the song mean? I know what HCP is dont mean that - PULP wouldnt just write a song about that.

True Aspect

36w↑1

This song is a musical representation of sex, the foreplay, the climax and the fading euphoric aftermath. A lot like you described.

jake b

48w

One of the best videos of the 90's, hands down

15 More Replies...

Carolina Mareco

1y↑41

Fino, precioso, con clase, una verdadera pieza de arte.

Greg Thackray

29w

Verdadera! : )

Jay Pee

3y↑241

I'm a Black Metal fan., but this track is obscenely good.........

D.F.

14w↑1

Same

Maks Szmyd

49w↑3

Same

Sten Sarapson

50w↑3

Hahaaahaa
I have found my people

evilotis01

1y↑4

@Armany Mendoza bless all 3 of you

Armany Mendoza

1y↑6

Same

1 More Replies...

eric billingsley

1y↑57

Possibly one of the greatest music videos ever produced. The song - on its own - is truly epic, but with this video accompaniment, this song becomes truly transcendent. Of course - being a fan of film noir helps.

Roy Zemach

8y↑150

This is one of the greatest songs written in the last 20 years.

The V Countdown

47w↑4

Hello Im writing from the future: YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

Allan Smithee

5y↑25

You're wrong. This is one of the greatest songs written in the last 50 years.

Gabi S

5y↑151

Their sound is so unique, their songs are so freakin brilliant. Can't understand why they were so underrated, and why they didn't enjoy as much succes as Radiohead for example ... They are only known for "Common People" worldwide, if that ...

68majortom

@bandroom03 I forgot a lot of their stuff but This Is Hardcore is an excellent tune from a very underrated LP ✌️

bandroom03

9w↑1

@68majortom we are the same .
I totally agree with these songs

kemekoist

16w

@Laughing Stock Thank you for your review. I agree. I sort of think some of their songs were not easily understood especially with international audience. And most of all Pulp was not so much interested in total record sales. For me, Radiohead music is ok but somehow don't cut deep into my soul. This is just my humble opinion from a small tatami room in Tokyo.

Laughing Stock

22w↑1

Quite simply, Radiohead have produced brilliant songs more consistently and with greater originality over a longer period. And I am a Pulp fan. There are simply too many below-par songs for Pulp to be considered "great". However, they do have some truly superb moments - and this is a fucking masterpiece.

11 More Replies...

Chris Marsh

1y↑27

By far Pulps best song. I could listen on an endless loop until the end of time.

Graysyk

5y↑89

Very underrated track here in the States. The kids would love this song based on the lyrical content. Besides that, this song is so freaking phenomenal.

Natalia M

They used to play this video on MTV all the time in the 90’s, tho.

Jessica H

39w↑2

Totally lucked out having a DJ that played this kind of stuff in Dallas.

irlanda Serrano

3y↑4

Amo pulp 😍😘🤩😆😉😊😋😎😍😘🐱🦄🥞🎇🦊

Stefano Sorrentino

1y↑199

Pulp were the most interesting band of the Brit Pop era.

Keyser

20w↑4

I'm not a huge fan of Pulp... But this song is an absolute masterpiece.

Chris Smith

2y↑112

If Stanley Kubrick had ever directed a music video, then this would've been it. An inspired masterpiece.

M Hoppy

50w↑1

There’s also a bit of busby Barclay in there near the end I think?

Lucas Acosta

3y↑63

This is a Masterpiece, State of the Art. there's no flaws in this video. 2019 and still rocks...

flamingwoodz

7y↑601

Man this video is so fresh. Hard to believe it is 17 years old.

Natalia M

@Samp 75 It used to be played on MTV all the time.

I Hope

A friend send me this video and you are right I thought this was from the 2010's

René Martinez

2y↑1

Man this comment is so fresh. Hard to believe it is 4 years old.

Michael G

2y↑1

22 years? I remember that Jarvis wrote something in this album's liner notes to his fans: "Face it: you are young." And I was like, "YEAH! Yeah, I am young!"
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot so much anymore.

Arturo Alejo

2y↑1

@Count Snikksnakk for ever...

12 More Replies...

zanardi27

3y↑50

Absolute perfection, from the composition, song story and lyrics. A huge 1990s artistic highpoint.

amelia nolde

6y↑69

This is Hardcore is definitely the best Pulp's era. Never gonna get tired of this album. And this song is just great.

Nicholas Lambert

2y↑13

god I loved this post Britpop era (97-2000). So many bands releasing follow ups to huge commercial hit albums, all trying to consciously pivot away from the sound that made them successful, and in the process making these weird, slightly self indulgent, amazingly produced gems - Blur by Blur, In It for the Money by Supergrass, and this album. Obviously a little biased as I was about 14/15 then, just starting to discover and develop my taste in music.

Feels like a different life!

Legion XVIII

5y↑15

This was the cultural high water mark of 90's British rock. Timeless. Simply the best.

Ratkeller

8y↑60

Their best song in my opinion. It's great they don't have much of those dark tracks, makes the few there are stand out.

hte spageti

8y↑186

If you really listen and understand the lyrics, this song is clearly about sex and porn. About a man who only experienced porn in his life and losing his virginity. Its a pretty brilliant song if you ask me

Rogelio Aguas

18w↑1

no, Jarvis Cocker explained the song was about how the porn industry abuses or uses the actors, and compares it to the music industry

Stephen Rylands

43w

Heroin use. Thats what it's about.

Georgy Krasnokutskiy

2y↑3

I think it's about the trials and tribulations of a sensitive person coming in terms with the fame and it's implications, such as lack of privacy and having your most intimate feelings and moments on display for everyone to see. And porn, or rather a life of a porn star is metaphor for it.

Tadhg Knight

2y↑6

balmsalve stories like this are what make pulp songs so great, they created endlessly interpretable masterpieces through moaning about things whilst high.

balmsalve

2y↑13

I've got the select magazine from 1998 where they talk about making this, and basically it was just them on a grim one taking smack in posh hotels watching an insane amount of hardcore porn on the hotel TVs and getting a bit doomy about it.

3 More Replies...

pincmin

2y↑115

I need an oral history of this video where director and musicians discuss all the hidden references and inspiration for the lyrics.

Marius Popp

11w

@pincmin Main reference is a book collecting movie backstage photos from the Hollywood melodrama golden era (40s to 60s) which Jarvis liked a lot. Can't remember title now but it's on Pulp fan site Acrylic Afternoon

Rogelio Aguas

17w↑1

@agile beast it's on a book, but the quote is on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Hardcore_(song)#Background

agile beast

17w

@Rogelio Aguas do you have the link of the interview?

Quickflash2 Studios

26w↑2

@pincmin it’s not “rocks” it’s “rats”

8 More Replies...

djbethell

6y↑222

This never ages. A song and a video for every generation.

k Maz

djbethell destroy Fairfield eben when occupy aws mgs bad hapens to je nd.

ChOwToo

6y↑7

Heaven is this song and sipping your whiskey. Is a bad idea if you have to drive. Might give you a hard time getting up for work! You have been warned.

Komori Aimi

6y↑14

You know a song is good when it's atemporal and this is hardcore is one of those. So good.

Ivón Arteaga

6y↑1

eeeeaa

GATIBENJI

2y↑8

Este vídeo es una obra de arte, así como la canción.

George P

8y↑20

I feel like this is a song that can't be enjoyed to its full potential without the music video.

Deepsixxx

8y↑1

It doesn't get more gay than this Tyler.... Prolapse

Lee Heaps

2y↑28

This is when britpop finished.jarvis signals it with a swipe of his arm.the end was here.amazing song.still gives me goosebumps

Kevin Kibble

2y↑3

"And then it's over"

kaaru

3y↑11

The This is Hardcore album is a collection of masterpieces. Beautiful and yet rough. So real and intimate. It's by far one of the sexiest albums ever made. This track itself is like a foreplay, it's all about the anticipation, the build-up before the actual act. It's sex translated to music.

Stephen Rylands

43w

Correct it is Melancholic. Thats because it's about heroin and nothing to do with foreplay or sex.

markuspietari

45w

I find it ironic and melancholic, on the contrary.

I Garibay Arellano

2y↑13

Daaaamn I'm really sad that we will never see them playing together again. Imagine this LIVE

13dirty666

7y↑1.1K

why was this not a James Bond theme

Bravo Sierra

21w

Can some smart cookie please do that. It would get my ‘like’ for sure.

MrNeeskens

40w

Cause the Bond saga is just what Cocker critizices in this song and so many in the Pulp repertoire

jeannine sandmayer

@Nieghorn Totally agree, can you imagine if Ian Fleming was alive to watch some poonce, pretty boy play his character lead with blue eyes and a paunch? He was never Daniel Craig in the post sense - Stick to the 'Bold and the Beautiful' Brosnan.

Richard Dale

Too good for that bollocks

33 More Replies...

-invisible light-

2y↑7

Truly one of the greatest albums of all time. This record means so much to people; me being one of them.

Myka Karynn Greene

8y↑391

i like this song better than common people...

Natalia M

Me too. This is on another level.

bandroom03

This album I also love help the aged! Good album 👍🏻

itookallthenames

2y↑2

I always felt like common people was for the rest of my class, and this song was for me

phi latio17

2y↑8

John Fiebke I believe park life and song 2 were bigger hits.

Dewsus Christ

3y↑2

@John Fiebke ye i think you can appreciate pulps music as you move up the ages with them its what makes them so brilliant.

3 More Replies...

singIeservingfriend

5y↑17

A shame to think there will never be a band as grand as Pulp ever again

snedpop

8y↑36

What an album - being quite young when I fell in love with "Different Class" initially I felt that "This is Hardcore" was a bit of a disappointment in that it was so different but it grew on me over time; I think it is a very bitter sweet sort of album (by no means perfect) that takes Pulps recognised kitchen sink storytelling and batters it over the head in a sort of melancholic crescendo.

Josey Wales

7y↑6

@snedpop This is hardcore the song is so powerful in my opinion , I lived the song.I loved the album too , help the aged, seductive Barry, I had a passionate affair with someone who I shouldn't have,while listening to this album

Jean-Michel Oblette

10y↑2

Undoubtedly one of the greatest videos ever made! The "eye of the storm" part just gives me shivers every single time...

Shaun Hensley

7y↑124

Wow, just now discovered this band. So fucking sublime.

danny haobam

7y↑16

+Shaun Hensley Lucky you and Unlucky you. You missed the glory days but then you didnt miss all. The music remains as brilliant and fresh as ever. Pulp is a different class altogether.

zaftra

7y↑1

+Vadim Levin very true, massivley underrated.

Vadim Levin

7y↑11

+Shaun Hensley Then I sincerely advice you to listen to their "Different Class" album. It is the best album of the 90s imho and one of the best musical albums ever produced.

LissyLis

7y↑7

You have some catching up to do!!!

claudio gherardini

36w↑6

Stunning, music, texts, movie, characters, actors, atmosphere .... totally stunning

Eleareth Withywindle

8y↑143

16 years later, it still being sublime...

Sawyer Hill

2y↑8

I genuinely think this is one of the greatest music videos ever made

Sir Rather Splendid

1y↑5

One of the best music videos of all time. Possibly THE best. Every time I come back to it I'm simply blown away.

Konstantin J

8y↑334

I actually love the fact that this song is not THAT popular. It makes every view a special moment for a little number of people. This is hardcore.

Forentalk

@Franca De Medici It has something agonizing indeed

Steffan Hoffmann

2y↑1

@Alianger the comment related to when it was released possibly

Steffan Hoffmann

Agreed. In a close contest a majority is 1

enrique Carreon

2y↑3

@Franca De Medici i didnt know that fact about this song. this song means a lot to me, i first heard it when i was 8 y/o , back then i didnt even knew english. now im 30 and i still consider it my favorite song of all time.

Franca De Medici

2y↑4

This song came out while I was in Art School in Australia and I enjoyed it’s sophistication on every level, the lyrics, the use of orchestral music as a reference to a historical time period, the video and of course Jarvis’s swag. According to interviews of Pulp, this song and album was deemed too depressing by Pulps audience and marked the end of the group!

4 More Replies...

Flora Tan

1y↑63

The definition of “eargasm”

lavo 3108

2y↑1

Great song ! Excellent video ! Perfect homage to Roman Noir and Pulp Litterature ! Simply love it !

Wayne

42w↑5

How underrated was this song at the time? I mean, I lived through Britpop and for some reason this and its namesake album were scene as the end of that era. For me this is one of the very best Pulp songs and surely in anyones top 10 of the Britpop era.

D.F.

12w↑1

I only found it because a local, small radio station played underground, alternative singles. And ho boy did it change my life

Theadora Borealis

5y↑520

The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Pulp, Placebo, Depeche Mode, then Massive Attack, Portishead...so many...too many to be named... BRITISH ARE THE BEST. PERIOD. And i am french.

Natalia M

Massive Attack. Another timeless jewel.

Jean Sanchez

38w

Yeah we french have only one rock band that comes close to this and it's noir désir

marcvesper

47w

For all our sins, the British have souls too, and wonder still.

Scott UFOROX

NIN

s i c o s f e r a

DAVID BOWIE

46 More Replies...

Ianis Guerin

2y↑3

My first expérience with the song of Pulp in 1998. Is was a great sensual sensation. Love fromBordeaux. France.

Banbury litho

3y↑93

Happy 21st Birthday to this is Hardcore, Pulp’s little known utter masterpiece

Bear of the Interest

Don't think it's that little-known anymore, it's got over 4M views!

Steffan Hoffmann

Outstanding comments

wisienkakochacie

5y↑21

Pulp's masterpiece, from their best album.. .actually TIH is that good you can place the vinyl next to the very best of Bowie not feeling disconcerted at all

XXFrancisXX

1y↑7

Fantastic finally found it again after years. Makes me feel of Portishead/Pink Floyd. This and Babies my fav Pulp songs.

ragekawawa

2y↑10

it's a damn shame Russell left before This is Hardcore - he would have been perfect in this video

irisss

2y↑1

seeing him in this mv would have been truly a blessing

Mateus Paes C. Coelho

10y↑6

I remember watching this on MTV when I was like 14 or something, and just thinking OMG who are these guys? This is absolutely brilliant. The song is amazing and the video is probably the best ever made. And it enhances the dramacity of the music in a way I don't think many artists have ever been able to do. Maybe Radiohead in Paranoid Android and Karma Police. But to me this one tops'em all. Genious work by Pulp.

Zed

1y↑3

2021 and this is still ahead of it's time.

Victor Emilio Contreras Angola

8y↑2

Definitivamente una banda extraordinaria ¡¡¡¡, combinación de pasión, música y
genialidad

Giselle Lousek

1y↑5

Tremendo arte por todos lados

uberbabeINC

1y↑3

Wonderful Hollywood homage, specifically Douglas Sirk’s “Written on the Wind” 1956. Still watching (and listening to) this 20+ years later. 6:25 of Masterful Controlled Tension and Release.
Bravo Pulp!

vincentvangogodancer

1y↑6

The song is a amazing but the video is so beautiful. What a treasure.

Future Legend Records

1y↑4

great production & song

Andrew Howden

5y↑17

A bloody masterpiece.

Neil 'Chuck' Barnard

1y↑3

This song should have been huge... luckily us fans here are still affected by this masterpiece!!! 🥰

Dr Tune

1y↑1

I had been "away" from Pulp for many years but it all still sounds _amazing_. What a treat to come back to

valéria

7y↑10

how dare you disliking this? :c this song & video are surely masterpieces, i think

Vernon Allen

6y↑24

Fantastic video, my favourite pulp song, why wasn't this a huge hit?

Sixto Martín García

9y↑160

3:44 - 4:15 Best seconds in music history.

Idomsky Yael

100%

Vlad Jack

2y↑3

would like those seconds last forever...

Rainbow Quartz

4y↑14

This is where I turn it up, I also like the "and that goes in there" part too.

taylor crosthwaite

5y↑3

Sixto Martín García YES!

hsanajotti

Maravilhoso!

Ghost Ninja

2y↑3

As someone who was only familiar with Pulp's poppier stuff before this, it blew my fucking mind when I first heard it.

Andy D

6y↑16

This is one hell of a song. Gives me the shivers.

Lytton Martin

6y↑33

Pulp finally got a proper budget to make a video... about damn time! What would their videos have been like for their previous albums with a similar budget? Probably their best video ever. Bravo!

Ian S. Mozdzen

2y↑1

Amazing. Just stunning. thank you, Pulp!

Tony Bates

4y↑2

This makes me tear up at the end - it's an absolute masterpiece.

"That goes in there,
and that goes in there,
and that goes in there . . . " wow.

these old homes.

4y↑4

Honestly wasn't much of a Pulp fan, however, this song coupled with the music video is honestly awe-inspiring.

Andressa Aguiar

6y↑3

amo....letra e vídeo mais que perfeitos.

Roxana Cardenas

8y↑6

Such a beautiful song, its just so dreamy and melodic <3

Brownalebelly

2y↑3

I have the CD but had totally forgotten what a masterpiece this is.

Rachael

2y↑12

it's like it should be a Bond song but it's even too good for that

Mircalla De Karnstein

2y↑14

Jarvis always liked cinema, in fact he went to study cinema before the stardom that was Different Class. The album This is Hardcore was a very risky bet but that's was Pulp wanted: to show the B side of the pop party, the hangover, the ugly part that nobody likes, but it exists. Jarvis is a master who still being one of the best.
( I know they made music from long before, but their work was far from being recognized by the masses)

Norberto Osvaldo Velazquez

41w↑1

Temazo!!

Tarina66

50w

Yes absolutely stunning a masterpiece of Music and art. Thank you Pulp :)

Mircalla De Karnstein

2y↑2

ooohh wow!!! no siento el tiempo que pasó desde que salió This is Hardcore... un disco adelantado a sus tiempos. Grande Jarvis!!!

daniel fdez

8y↑1

un verdadero gozo para los sentidos.Increiblemente genial este temazo!!!

xyhmo

1y↑3

Omg, this song is such a masterpiece. Truly.

abel mallasca perez

2y↑1

Esta canción es buenasa!! No sé como se me enchina la piel...
buena banda y buena canción .si no fuera por ser cliente común y silvestre de Spotify no hubiera conocido a esta banda genial!!

ShoreAddict

2020 and still sounding amazing!

Felipe Herrera

12w

Que tremenda canción, Pulp realmente es genial, grandes de la música.

C 10

This song brings me back to 1998. Watching the video in 2020 just shows how amazing Pulp really were back then. This is their finest work.

DocFumeur

This song is so great. The beginning + main part + finishing successive parts of it are so great, that is real music narrative JC gave us.

Perhaps Pulp's Masterpiece.

Tom29

15w↑1

What exactly do you do for an encore, you ask?

Well, Jarvis, you DO IT AGAIN 😝💘

Sue Higginbottom

8y↑6

I want this played at my funeral !!

Victor Calderon-Zurita

5y↑1

Love this video,it's so amazingly filmed and edited. This is Hardcore is my all time favorite Pulp song,it give me goosebumps

Polly Davydova

4y↑3

Im stuck: I rewatched this already seven times in two days. This is just beautiful and I cant tear myself away!

luis reyes sau

11y↑2

Tremenda estética , THIS IS POPart-CORE!!!!

sfmuscleboy2006

10y↑4

This song is one of the most twisted songs I've ever heard, but I totally love it. Almost afraid to see what the video was like, b/c this song is so twisted. Luckily, they don't make it any creepier. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to watch! In my top 5 favorite Pulp songs, wait...it's in my top 2. Disco 2000 and this are tied.

Walther Creed

2y↑1

How many times did I cried on this song... perfect song to empty your head and move on...

devtherevLS

10y↑1

This Is Hardcore is one of the greatest albums of all time. It's a masterpiece. Don't get me wrong, Different Class is fucking quality but it doesn't have the drama, poignancy and self-realisation that it's successor does. Not one song on that album which is anything less than 'very good'. Total classic.

Ianis Guerin

2y↑1

A perfect song. My favoride song of Pulp. Love from Bordeaux. France.

DOWN2DIE

2y↑1

I wish I could hit the Like button 100000 time, this is a masterpiece.

jaime torres fragoso

4y↑2

a masterpiece!

Marce Patricia

4y↑1

Como entra el piano es maravilloso obra maestra de Pulp ❤ 2:07 amo esa parte del video

Stuart Burnside

9y↑4

The opening lines are from the Douglas Sirk classic 'Written on the Wind' and the entire video looks like a luridly coloured 50's Sirk melodrama. Bloody hell, Pulp have fantastic taste in film!

drvinilo

3y↑2

Éste video es con toda probabilidad el más hermoso de la historia del rock.

Theadora Borealis

5y↑12

The Beauty of This Music still makes me cry 15 years after.
Hypersensitive people, watch out !

stephen wylie

5y↑2

Theadora Borealis I get the same feeling it's so moving.very powerful..

Dreamer Phantom

26w↑1

te amo pulp
abraços pulp
beijos this is hardcore

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