12 Songs That Are Truly Cold | Playlist 🎧

“12 Songs That are Truly Cold” includes music from artists Breaking Benjamin, Demi Lovato, Kaskade, and Maroon 5 among many others.

Dang – it’s nippy up in here! *Starts shivering uncontrollably for dramatic effect* The chill – rather the freeze– is real on “12 Songs That are Truly ‘Cold.’” Regardless of the season, the coldness of the selected songs is sure to evergreen, sigh. In some cases, the keyword doesn’t refer to temperature – it can also refer to attitude, emotions, or perhaps even being ‘iced out.’ Artists whose music appears on the ‘latest and greatest’ include Breaking Benjamin, Demi Lovato, Kaskade, and Maroon 5 among many others.

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1. Rich Brian, “Cold”

Amen • 88rising / EMPIRE • 2018

“People sayin’ that my words are colder than the winter / It’s Brian, not Brita, so I’ll never have a filter.” 18-year old Indonesian rapper Rich Brian shines on his 2018 debut album, Amen. Among the highlights from Amen is “Cold,”which features a lush, slick backdrop.  Compared to the more deadpan title track that precedes it on Amen, The song is a ‘bigger statement’ for Brian, who incorporates more vocal inflection.

Besides the aforementioned lyrical highlight, Brian also shines when he spits:

“Rappin’ on these instrumentals, feelin’ like a hero
Never usin’ triplet flows because I’m not a Migo.”

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2. Breaking Benjamin, “Red Cold River”

Ember • Hollywood • 2018

Soft and Breaking Benjamin don’t belong the same sentence. Nonetheless, initially, “Red Cold River”, a song from their 2018 album, Ember, seems like frontman Benjamin Burnley is going to keep things, well soft.  Ultimately, the softness is only temporary, occurring on the introduction and recurring for brief spells during the song.  For the most part, however, Breaking Benjamin are ‘turned all the way up’ on the dynamic, minor-keyed record. The accompanying music video has a tragic storyline.

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3. Kaskade, “Cold as Stone”

Ft. Charlotte Lawrence

Cold as Stone – Single • Columbia • 2018

“So, let me, let me out / I can’t love you anymore / Let me, let me out / I don’t love you like before.” Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Kaskade has been in the game for years – understatement.  Even so, it’s sort of hard to believe he’s in his late forties – how time passes by.  Anyways, Kaskade does what he does best – gives an awesome backdrop (lush, rhythmic, and smooth) to a gifted female vocalist (Charlotte Lawrence) to paint over.  Lawrence does just that on “Cold as Stone,” where she has to put an end to a bad relationship.

So, I’m cold as stone
The only way I know
To keep my soul
And never let it show
That I don’t really know what I’m doing
All I know is I’m crashing down.”

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4. Jeezy, “Cold Summer”

Ft. Tee Grizzley

Pressure • Def Jam • 2017

Gon’ drop the top, you can feel the breeze / 30 in the Glock, all you gotta do is squeeze / It just touched down, all you gotta do is sell ‘em / And they gon’ ask you questions but you better not tell ‘em…” One of the best songs from Pressure, the 2017 studio album by the ever-hardnosed Jeezy, is single, “Cold Summer”. It checks off all boxes for a Jeezy song. It features dynamic production, unapologetic rhymes, and full-fledged ‘G-status.’ The hook is grimy, chocked-full of punch, and we’re not talking about Fruit Punch! Tee Grizzley guests on the second verse.

“Hey I’m ‘bout to fuck it up, I’m bought in like 10
A couple bad tings and they all light-skinned
‘Hey, how you comin’ down?’ In a rose gold Hummer
Wife beater chinchilla, it gon’ be a cold summer.”

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5. Maroon 5, “Cold”

Ft. Future

Red Pill Blues • Interscope • 2017

“Cold” (Red Pill Blues) finds Maroon 5 firmly planted in the electro-/urban-pop vein. Frontman Adam Levine establishes this vibe early-on on the chorus: “Cold enough to chill my bones / It feels like I don’t know you anymore /I don’t understand why you’re so cold to me.”

Levine nails the vocals, particularly the falsetto. A spirited first verse follows, as he depicts a dying, continually empty relationship.  He asks:

“Are we taking time or a time out?
I can’t take the in between
Asking me for space here in my house
You know how to fuck with me.”

On the second verse, he goes on to challenge his soon-to-be ex. Essentially, things have gone sour for guy and girl. Future puts his two cents in on the third and final verse, with mediocre results. Still, the rapper gets his point across.

“We goin’ two separate ways
You ain’t been actin’ the same
You gotta go, but where your heart used to be
You gold dig every day.”

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6. Khalid, “Cold Blooded”

American Teen • RCA • 2017

“…Cold blooded / You want what I’m giving up / But my love is not enough.” Sigh, with American Teen, Khalid delivered an album chocked-full of hits which seem ready-made for playlists.  Just saying!  Another gem from his 2017 Grammy-nominated album, “Cold Blooded”, features swoon-worthy production. In addition to the awesome backdrop, the melody shines, particularly on the pre-chorus.

“And I feel your fear
Surrounded by your skin
You feel my heartbeat vibrate so violent
Inside of your head
I see it in your eyes (see it in your eyes)
That you’re no good for me
And love is blind.”

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7. alt-J, “In Cold Blood”

Relaxer • Atlantic • 2017

Alt-J outdo themselves on “In Cold Blood”, a standout from their 2017 album, Relaxer. It features a sharp, gritty sound palette. Furthermore, the record features the use of binary code, and more notably, clever word play.  An incredibly fun record, it’s also a deadly, murderous one.

Essentially, a fun, summer pool party turns into a killer one:

“Lifeless back slaps the surface of the pool
Pool killer, killer pool, pool killer…
Pool, summer, summer, pool, pool, summer vibes killed
In cold blood.” 

The identity of the murderer is never reviewed, but the quirky, sometimes ridiculous lyrics do suggest there’s a pool killer. Alt-J themselves admit the lyrics aren’t “massively deep”.

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8. Michael Kiwanuka, “Cold Little Heart”

Love & Hate • Polydor • 2016

Michael Kiwanuka is talented British musician who oozes with soul yet is equally gifted as a singer/songwriter.  Like so many underrated musicians, Kiwanuka continues to be something like a “best kept secret.” He shouldn’t be. He was absolutely radiant on his 2016 sophomore album, Love & Hate, which features our song at hand, “Cold Little Heart.” “It’s an ambitious opener, clocking in at a lengthy 10 minutes in duration. Despite the length, it’s incredibly emotional and thoughtful, serving as a brilliant tone-setter for Love & Hate. Vocally, Kiwanuka wows.

“And I know
In my heart, in this cold heart
I can live or I can die
I believe if I just try
You believe in you and I.”

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9. Major Lazer, “Cold Water”

Ft. Justin Bieber & MØ

Cold Water – Single • Mad Decent • 2016

On “Cold Water”, Major Lazer mixes an urban-pop sound with a reggae-tinged, dance beat. The verse sounds less dance-oriented, embracing more of an urban contemporary sound and vibe.  The guitars coupled with lighter synths suit featured guest Justin Bieber, who sings the verses and chorus.  His tone is rich, showcasing deeper, mature pipes. The chorus clearly differentiates itself from the verse, thanks to a more aggressive synths.  Swedish pop star MØ provides backing support to Bieber on the chorus.  Her biggest moment comes on the powerful bridge.  Ultimately, this “H₂O” joint is a bop.

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10. Tory Lanez, “Cold Hard Love”

I Told You • Interscope / Mad Love • 2016

“Cold Hard Love”  ( I Told You ) features an excellent beat. Mysterious, the lush production is #winning and sensual in quality. Sex is written all over it, with Canadian rapper/singer Tory Lanez delivering filthy, sexy falsetto that is on-point. He truly flaunts his ‘head voice’ as he sings, “Put your records on, hot sex all up in the air / Waking up my fingers all up in your hair.” Add a superb bass line to the mix that hearkens back to classic soul, and the vibe is magnificent.

Unsurprisingly, the chorus is potent – sexy as the rest:

“It don’t take a lot to keep it unpredictable
As long as you let me love your heart and touch your soul
And when you give it up to me, you give your all
Cause all that I give in return is
Cold, hard, hard love.”

On the third and final verse, he raps instead of singing, showing both versatility and edge with his rhymes.

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11. Demi Lovato, “Stone Cold”

Confident • Hollywood / Island • 2015

“…Stone cold / You see me standing, but I’m dying on the floor.” On “Stone Cold,” Demi Lovato delivers nuanced vocals sure to leave everyone stone cold.  While the ballad slackens the pace in the context of Confidence, it doesn’t lose even the tiniest smidgen of allure, energy, or intensity.  Incredibly engaging, Lovato wows with her pipes, particularly the bite she exhibits, not to mention her powerful upper register.

“Stone cold, baby
God knows I try to feel happy for you
Know that I am, even if I can’t understand
I’ll take the pain
Give me the truth
Me and my heart, we’ll make it through
If happy is her, I’m happy for you.”

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12. Tinashe, “Cold Sweat”

Aquarius• RCA • 2014

“This pressure ain’t for everybody / Weighing so heavy on my body, body.” “Cold Sweat” is a lengthy, moody, grinding cut on Aquarius, the debut album from urban contemporary singer Tinashe. Even at its subtlest, the record has bite and grit. The sound is a bit nebulous, but this quality – this vibe actually bodes well for Tinashe.  By the end, she projects her lovely, somewhat underrated instrument.

“Spine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice, drippin’, cold sweat.”

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Photo Credits: 88rising, Atlantic, Columbia, Def Jam, EMPIRE, Hollywood, Interscope, Island, Mad Decent, Mad Love, Polydor, RCA

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