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Songs That Are Truly Cold [Photo Credit: Pixabay]ā€œ12 Songs That are Truly Coldā€ includes music from artists Breaking Benjamin, Demi Lovato, Kaskade, and Maroon 5 among many others.

Dang ā€“ itā€™s nippy up in here! *Starts shivering uncontrollably for dramatic effect* The chill ā€“ rather the freezeā€“ is real on ā€œ12 Songs That are Truly ā€˜Cold.ā€™ā€ Regardless of the season, the coldness of the selected songs is sure to evergreen, sigh.Ā In some cases, the keyword doesnā€™t refer to temperature ā€“ it can also refer to attitude, emotions, or perhaps even being ā€˜iced out.ā€™ Artists whose music appears on the ā€˜latest and greatestā€™ include Breaking Benjamin,Ā Demi Lovato, Kaskade, and Maroon 5Ā among many others.


1. Rich Brian, ā€œColdā€

AmenĀ ā€¢ 88rising / EMPIRE ā€¢ 2018

Rich Brian, Amen Ā© 88rising/EMPIREā€œPeople sayinā€™ that my words are colder than the winter / Itā€™s Brian, not Brita, so Iā€™ll never have a filter.ā€ 18-year old Indonesian rapper Rich Brian shines on his 2018 debut album, Amen. Among the highlights from Amen is ā€œCold,ā€which features a lush, slick backdrop.Ā  Compared to the more deadpan title track that precedes it on Amen, The song is a ā€˜bigger statementā€™ for Brian, who incorporates more vocal inflection.

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

ā€œRappinā€™ on these instrumentals, feelinā€™ like a hero
Never usinā€™ triplet flows because Iā€™m not a Migo.ā€

2. Breaking Benjamin, ā€œRed Cold Riverā€

EmberĀ ā€¢Ā Hollywood ā€¢ 2018

Breaking Benjamin, Ember Ā© HollywoodSoft and Breaking Benjamin donā€™t belong the same sentence.Ā Nonetheless, initially, ā€œRed Cold Riverā€,Ā a song from their 2018 album, Ember, seems like frontman Benjamin Burnley is going to keep things, well soft.Ā  Ultimately, the softness is only temporary, occurring on the introduction and recurring for brief spells during the song.Ā  For the most part, however, Breaking Benjamin are ā€˜turned all the way upā€™ on the dynamic, minor-keyed record. The accompanying music video has a tragic storyline.


3. Kaskade, ā€œCold as Stoneā€

Ft. Charlotte Lawrence

Cold as StoneĀ ā€“ Single ā€¢ Columbia ā€¢Ā 2018

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

So, Iā€™m cold as stone
The only way I know
To keep my soul
And never let it show
That I donā€™t really know what Iā€™m doing
All I know is Iā€™m crashing down.ā€

4. Jeezy, ā€œCold Summerā€

Ft. Tee Grizzley

PressureĀ ā€¢ Def Jam ā€¢ 2017

Jeezy, Pressure Ā© Def JamGonā€™ 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 ā€˜em / And they gonā€™ ask you questions but you better not tell ā€˜emā€¦ā€ One of the best songs from Pressure, the 2017 studio album by the ever-hardnosed Jeezy, is single, ā€œCold Summerā€. It checks off all boxes for a Jeezy song. It features dynamic production, unapologetic rhymes, and full-fledged ā€˜G-status.ā€™ The hook is grimy, chocked-full of punch, and weā€™re not talking about Fruit Punch! Tee GrizzleyĀ guests on the second verse.

ā€œHey Iā€™m ā€˜bout to fuck it up, Iā€™m bought in like 10
A couple bad tings and they all light-skinned
ā€˜Hey, how you cominā€™ down?ā€™ In a rose gold Hummer
Wife beater chinchilla, it gonā€™ be a cold summer.ā€

5. Maroon 5, ā€œColdā€

Ft. Future

Red Pill Blues ā€¢ Interscope ā€¢ 2017

Maroon 5, Red Pill Blues Ā© Interscopeā€œColdā€ (Red Pill Blues) finds Maroon 5Ā firmly planted in the electro-/urban-pop vein. Frontman Adam LevineĀ establishes this vibe early-on on the chorus: ā€œCold enough to chill my bones / It feels like I donā€™t know you anymore /I donā€™t understand why youā€™re so cold to me.ā€

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

ā€œAre we taking time or a time out?
I canā€™t take the in between
Asking me for space here in my house
You know how to fuckĀ with me.ā€

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.

ā€œWe goinā€™ two separate ways
You ainā€™t been actinā€™ the same
You gotta go, but where your heart used to be
You gold dig every day.ā€

6. Khalid, ā€œCold Bloodedā€

American TeenĀ ā€¢Ā RCA ā€¢Ā 2017

Khalid, American Teen Ā© RCAā€œ…Cold blooded / You want what Iā€™m giving up / But my love is not enough.ā€ Sigh, with American Teen, Khalid delivered an album chocked-full of hits which seem ready-made for playlists.Ā  Just saying!Ā  Another gem from his 2017 Grammy-nominated album, ā€œCold Bloodedā€,Ā features swoon-worthy production. In addition to the awesome backdrop, the melody shines, particularly on the pre-chorus.

ā€œAnd 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 youā€™re no good for me
And love is blind.ā€

7. alt-J, ā€œIn Cold Bloodā€

Relaxer ā€¢ Atlantic ā€¢ 2017

alt-J, Relaxer Ā© AtlanticAlt-J outdo themselves on ā€œIn Cold Bloodā€,Ā 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.Ā  An incredibly fun record, itā€™s also a deadly, murderous one.

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

ā€œLifeless back slaps the surface of the pool
Pool killer, killer pool, pool killerā€¦
Pool, summer, summer, pool, pool, summer vibes killed
In cold blood.ā€Ā 

The identity of the murderer is never reviewed, but the quirky, sometimes ridiculous lyrics do suggest thereā€™s a pool killer. Alt-J themselves admit the lyrics arenā€™t ā€œmassively deepā€.


8. Michael Kiwanuka, ā€œCold Little Heartā€

Love & HateĀ ā€¢ Polydor ā€¢ 2016

Michael Kiwanuka, Love & Hate Ā© Interscope

Michael Kiwanuka is talented British musician who oozes with soul yet is equally gifted as a singer/songwriter.Ā  Like so many underrated musicians, Kiwanuka continues to be something like a ā€œbest kept secret.ā€ He shouldnā€™t be. He was absolutely radiant on his 2016 sophomore album, Love & Hate, which features our song at hand, ā€œCold Little Heart.ā€ ā€œIt’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.

ā€œAnd 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.ā€

9. Major Lazer, ā€œCold Waterā€

Ft. Justin Bieber & MƘ

Cold WaterĀ ā€“ Single ā€¢ Mad Decent ā€¢Ā 2016

Major Lazer, Cold Water Ā© Mad DecentOn ā€œCold Waterā€, Major LazerĀ 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.Ā  The guitars coupled with lighter synths suit featured guest Justin Bieber, who sings the verses and chorus.Ā  His tone is rich, showcasing deeper, mature pipes.Ā The chorus clearly differentiates itself from the verse, thanks to a more aggressive synths.Ā  Swedish pop starĀ MƘĀ provides backing support to Bieber on the chorus.Ā  Her biggest moment comes on the powerful bridge. Ā Ultimately, this ā€œH2Oā€ joint is a bop.


10. Tory Lanez, ā€œCold Hard Loveā€

I Told YouĀ ā€¢ Interscope / Mad Love ā€¢ 2016

Tory Lanez, I Told You Ā©Ā Interscopeā€œCold Hard Loveā€ Ā ( 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 LanezĀ delivering filthy, sexy falsetto that is on-point. He truly flaunts his ā€˜head voiceā€™ as he sings, ā€œPut your records on, hot sex all up in the air / Waking up my fingers all up in your hair.ā€ Add a superb bass line to the mix that hearkens back to classic soul, and the vibe is magnificent.

Unsurprisingly, the chorus is potent ā€“ sexy as the rest:

ā€œIt donā€™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.ā€

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


11. Demi Lovato, ā€œStone Coldā€

ConfidentĀ ā€¢ Hollywood / Island ā€¢ 2015

Demi Lovato, Confident Ā© Hollywoodā€œ…Stone cold / You see me standing, but Iā€™m dying on the floor.ā€ On ā€œStone Cold,ā€ Demi Lovato delivers nuanced vocals sure to leave everyone stone cold.Ā  While the ballad slackens the pace in the context of Confidence, it doesnā€™t lose even the tiniest smidgen of allure, energy, or intensity.Ā  Incredibly engaging, Lovato wows with her pipes, particularly the bite she exhibits, not to mention her powerful upper register.

ā€œStone cold, baby
God knows I try to feel happy for you
Know that I am, even if I canā€™t understand
Iā€™ll take the pain
Give me the truth
Me and my heart, weā€™ll make it through
If happy is her, Iā€™m happy for you.ā€

12. Tinashe, ā€œCold Sweatā€

Aquariusā€¢ RCA ā€¢ 2014

Tinashe, Aquarius Ā© RCAā€œThis pressure ainā€™t for everybody / Weighing so heavy on my body, body.ā€ ā€œCold Sweatā€ 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.Ā The sound is a bit nebulous, but this quality ā€“ this vibe actually bodes well for Tinashe.Ā  By the end, she projects her lovely, somewhat underrated instrument.

ā€œSpine, shivers, eyes, met
Head, in it, heart, set
Cold, on my mind, yeah
Ice, drippinā€™, cold sweat.ā€

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

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the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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