Cold Heart
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" is a song by English singer-songwriter Elton John featuring British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa and remixed by the Australian electronic music trio Pnau, released on 13 August 2021 as the lead single from John's collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions.[1] The track is a dance-pop mashup that interpolates elements from four of John's classic songs: "Rocket Man" (1972), "Where's the Shoorah?" (1976), "Kiss the Bride" (1983), and "Sacrifice" (1989).[1] The song originated from Pnau's earlier work remixing John's catalog, building on their 2012 collaborative album Good Morning to the Night, which also featured mashups of his hits.[1] Lipa contributed new vocals, blending her style with John's archival material to create an upbeat, nostalgic track produced during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[1] An official music video, directed by Raman Djafari, was released on the same day, featuring animated sequences inspired by John's career and personal life.[2][3] Commercially, "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" achieved significant global success, topping the charts in the United Kingdom for one week—marking John's eighth UK number-one single and first since 2005—as well as in Australia for ten non-consecutive weeks and Canada.[4][5][6] In the United States, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming John's first top-10 hit there since 1998 and extending his record for the longest span of top-40 hits across six decades.[7] The single also led the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts, with the latter for a record-extending 34 weeks.[8][9] Critically acclaimed for its innovative fusion of past and present pop, the song won Collaboration of the Year at the 2022 American Music Awards and Top Dance/Electronic Song at the Billboard Music Awards.[10][11] It received nominations for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.[10] By November 2025, "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" had amassed over 2.5 billion streams on Spotify, underscoring its enduring popularity.[12]Background
Development
The friendship between Elton John and Dua Lipa was established in November 2020 during Lipa's virtual Studio 2054 livestream concert, where John joined her remotely to perform a duet of his 1972 hit "Rocket Man."[13] This appearance marked the beginning of their mutual admiration, with John having previously praised Lipa's work on his Apple Music radio show Rocket Hour since 2017.[1] The collaboration on "Cold Heart (PNAU remix)" originated from John's initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic to revisit and remix tracks from his catalog in partnership with contemporary artists, forming the basis of his 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions.[14] PNAU, the Australian electronic trio consisting of Nick Littlemore, Peter Mayes, and Sam Littlemore, was specifically invited to lead the remix efforts due to their established history with John, stemming from their 2012 album Good Morning to the Night, which topped the UK charts by mashing up samples from over 40 of his 1970s-era recordings.[15][16] John had initially approached PNAU in January 2020 during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour to discuss a new joint project, which evolved into contributions for The Lockdown Sessions amid pandemic lockdowns.[16] Conceptually, the track aimed to fuse elements from John's 1970s and 1980s songs—including "Rocket Man" (1972), "Where's the Shoorah?" (1976), "Kiss the Bride" (1983), and "Sacrifice" (1989)—into a cohesive modern dance-pop medley, intended to bridge generational gaps by revitalizing his classics for younger audiences through PNAU's electronic production style.[17] Discussions for involving Lipa intensified in early 2021, following John's personal outreach to her amid ongoing pandemic restrictions, building on their budding rapport to incorporate her vocals as a fresh, contemporary element.[17][18]Recording process
The recording of "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" took place amid COVID-19 restrictions between 2020 and 2021, with production revived in May 2020 during lockdowns and core assembly beginning in March 2021.[19][20] PNAU members Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes worked remotely across locations, with Littlemore based in Sydney, Australia, sending initial cut-up vocals and beats from Elton John's "Sacrifice," while Mayes handled much of the assembly in his solo studio in Los Angeles due to pandemic isolation preventing in-person collaboration.[21][20] File-sharing facilitated the integration of archival stems from Elton John's catalog, including vocals from "Rocket Man," "Kiss the Bride," and "Where's the Shoorah?," selected by John himself for the mashup without any new original recordings from him beyond approvals.[19][21] Dua Lipa's vocals were recorded separately as new elements after the core mashup was assembled, with Lipa contributing remotely from Malibu, California, early one morning via FaceTime invitation from Elton John and David Furnish; these parts were finalized prior to the track's August 2021 release.[17][20] PNAU, building on their prior 2012 remix album Good Morning to the Night with John, layered the elements using digital audio workstations including Pro Tools 10 for main production and Ableton Live 10 for initial writing.[20] Technical modernization involved manual cutting and layering of the 116 bpm elements without heavy time-stretching, incorporating synths like the Juno 2 and Jupiter 6 alongside 15 drum tracks saturated with FabFilter Saturn for beats, and effects such as spring reverb, Eventide H3000, and Waves H-Delay to blend the archival material into a cohesive disco-infused sound.[20] Stems with separate effects were then sent to mix engineer Josh Gudwin for final polishing.[20]Music and lyrics
Composition
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" is classified as synth-pop and dance-pop infused with disco and house elements, blending nostalgic samples into a contemporary electronic track.[22][21] The song runs for 3:22 in duration.[12] It is primarily composed in B-flat minor at a tempo of 116 beats per minute, creating an upbeat rhythm ideal for club and radio play with high danceability and energy levels.[23] The instrumentation features prominent synthesizers that evoke an 1980s pop revival, alongside electronic drums and pulsating basslines that drive the disco-tinged groove.[21][24] These elements contribute to a vibrant, layered soundscape, with house-inspired beats providing a steady, infectious pulse suited for dance floors.[21] The track follows a verse-chorus form, incorporating seamless transitions between remixed segments drawn from Elton John's catalog, such as verses from "Sacrifice" and choruses from "Rocket Man."[19] It builds progressively to a euphoric drop featuring hypnotic chanting refrains, enhanced by post-chorus elements from "Kiss the Bride" and an outro chant from "Where's the Shoorah?," fostering a sense of escalation and release.[21][19] Production techniques include timestretching and pitch-shifting of archival vocals to align disparate song elements, alongside newly recorded contributions from Dua Lipa that are layered with Elton John's for harmonic depth.[19] Auto-Tune is applied to the vocals, imparting a polished, modern sheen that complements the electronic production.[20] Overall, the remix transforms nostalgic components from Elton John's earlier work into a fresh, radio-friendly hit that bridges generations through its euphoric, anthemic energy.[21][19]Mashup elements
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" incorporates elements from four classic Elton John songs, reimagined by the Australian production trio PNAU to create a cohesive dance track. The primary sources include the chorus hook from "Rocket Man" (1972), a bridge sample from "Kiss the Bride" (1983), the verse melody from "Sacrifice" (1989), and an instrumental riff derived from the gospel-style choir in "Where's the Shoorah?" (1976). These selections draw from John's extensive catalog, with PNAU accessing master tapes spanning his career to extract and layer vocal and instrumental fragments.[19][20][1] PNAU employed sophisticated blending techniques to unify the disparate elements, reharmonizing the melodies by adding new chords and bass lines to fit a single key and a consistent tempo of 116 beats per minute. For instance, the verse from "Sacrifice" opens the track with Elton John's original vocals delivering lines like "It's a human sign when things go wrong," while Dua Lipa's contemporary delivery bridges transitions into the slowed-down chorus from "Rocket Man," where she sings "And I think it's gonna be a long, long time." The pre-chorus excerpt from "Kiss the Bride"— "Well, this is what I should have said, I thought it but I kept it hid"—provides a subtle emotional pivot, and the outro features a sampled choir riff from "Where's the Shoorah?" for atmospheric depth. This weaving of vocals and samples, without extensive time-stretching to preserve authenticity, ensures seamless flow while highlighting the challenges of gelling melodies and lyrics from different eras.[20][21][25] Lyrically, the track adapts themes of love, longing, and emotional distance by interweaving phrases from the source material, such as the temptation and sacrifice motifs in "Sacrifice" and the isolation in "Rocket Man," culminating in a unified "cold heart" narrative of relational detachment. No new lyrics were written; all content derives from John's originals, with Lipa's vocal style refreshing the delivery to emphasize vulnerability and human connection across the blended segments.[19][21][1] Unique alterations enhance the track's appeal, including extended choruses from "Rocket Man" to boost catchiness through added layers of drums, strings, and bells. Subtle nods to John's signature piano style appear via synth recreations using vintage equipment like Roland synthesizers, evoking the originals' warmth within the modern production framework. These modifications prioritize emotional resonance, transforming nostalgic fragments into a fresh, radio-friendly hit.[20][21]Release and promotion
Single release
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" was released on 13 August 2021 as the lead single from Elton John's album The Lockdown Sessions, available initially as a standard digital download and for streaming through EMI and Mercury Records.[1][22][26] The collaboration was first teased on social media by John and Lipa on 11 August 2021, building anticipation ahead of the digital launch.[27][28] Subsequent remixes followed, including the PS1 Remix issued on 17 September 2021 and the Claptone Remix on 8 October 2021, both released digitally via the same labels.[29][30] This single formed part of John's broader catalog revival initiatives, which gained momentum after his 2018 announcement of a farewell tour marking his retirement from road performances.Marketing campaigns
The marketing campaign for "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix" emphasized digital engagement and cross-generational appeal, building anticipation through coordinated social media announcements from Elton John and Dua Lipa on their Instagram accounts two days prior to the August 13, 2021 release. These joint posts, featuring teaser clips and personal messages about their collaboration, quickly garnered widespread attention and contributed to the viral buildup, aligning with the song's themes of connection amid isolation.[27][31] To sustain momentum in electronic and dance communities, a series of additional remixes was released, including The Blessed Madonna's version on September 10, 2021, which incorporated deeper house influences and a visualizer to appeal to club audiences and extend the track's lifecycle beyond its initial pop rollout. This strategy helped maintain radio play and streaming traction in niche genres.[32] Promotional tie-ins integrated the single with broader initiatives, such as its inclusion on Elton John's collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions, and live debuts during the resumption of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in January 2022, where John performed it at the tour's relaunch in New Orleans to bridge his classic catalog with contemporary energy. Press efforts included high-profile interviews that underscored the song's origins in pandemic-era remote sessions, emphasizing themes of resilience and virtual collaboration during lockdown, as discussed in media coverage around the album's narrative.[17][33] Merchandise offerings tied into the album release with limited-edition blue vinyl pressings of The Lockdown Sessions on December 10, 2021, bundling the track alongside other collaborations, while a UK-exclusive limited-edition CD single of "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" with an art card was made available briefly in August 2021, selling out rapidly and appealing to collectors.[34] The global rollout focused on major markets in Europe and North America through streaming platforms and radio airplay, strategically leveraging Dua Lipa's established pop fanbase for crossover appeal while capitalizing on Elton John's enduring legacy to target multigenerational listeners, resulting in top-charting success across 15 countries.[17] In October 2024, Elton John joined Dua Lipa onstage at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a performance of "Cold Heart" during her debut concert there, promoting her upcoming 2025 Radical Optimism tour.[35]Critical reception
Reviews
Upon its release as the lead single from Elton John's 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions, "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix" received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its joyful revival of the artist's classic hits through a modern dance lens. Rolling Stone described it as a "giddy, glitter-dusted delight," highlighting how the track mashes up elements from John's "Sacrifice," "Rocket Man," "Kiss the Bride," and "Where's the Shoorah?" into an infectious, upbeat collaboration.[36] Similarly, NPR noted its timeless appeal, calling it a "roller rink-ready jam" that blends nostalgia with contemporary energy, making it a late-summer standout during the pandemic.[37] Dua Lipa's vocals were frequently highlighted for injecting fresh vitality into the mix, with NPR dubbing her the "modern disco queen" whose performance on the "Rocket Man" refrain adds a seamless, welcoming warmth to the proceedings.[37] The Independent echoed this, praising the remix for granting the sampled songs a "tendon-twanging freshness" through Lipa's dynamic delivery.[38] Critics lauded PNAU's production for its innovative mashup approach, avoiding any sense of gimmickry by creating a cohesive dance track from disparate elements. NPR emphasized the "seamless" split of vocal duties between Lipa and John's samples, resulting in a unified groove that feels effortlessly integrated.[37] NME positioned it as an "imperious" fit within the disco-revival trend, draping John's legacy over a vibrant, club-ready framework.[39] While largely celebrated, some reviews offered minor critiques, noting occasional flatness in certain contexts, such as live renditions where pre-recorded elements felt disconnected. The Guardian observed in a concert review that a video-screen duet version came across as "odd and flat."[40] Overall, the track earned strong marks, with NME awarding the album 4/5 stars and Rolling Stone giving it 3.5/5; the album's Metacritic aggregate score stands at 70/100 based on 10 reviews.[39][36][41] Reviews often underscored the song's intergenerational appeal, bridging John's enduring catalog with Lipa's contemporary pop stardom to create a collaborative beacon of unity. Its release amid global lockdowns further amplified themes of pandemic-era escapism, offering an uplifting, dancefloor escape that resonated as a symbol of resilience and reconnection.[36][37]Accolades
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" garnered significant industry recognition shortly after its release, reflecting its commercial and cultural impact. The track won Collaboration of the Year at the 2022 American Music Awards, highlighting the successful pairing of Elton John and Dua Lipa.[42] It also secured the Top Dance/Electronic Song award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, acknowledging its dominance in the genre.[43] In addition to these wins, the song received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2022 Brit Awards, marking Elton John's first such nod in two decades.[44] It also received nominations for Best Collaboration and Song of the Year at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.[45] The collaboration was further honored as Variety's Hitmakers of the Year in 2022, celebrating its global chart-topping performance.[17] These accolades, announced from late 2021 through late 2022, underscore the rapid post-release momentum of the single. Critical praise for its innovative mashup approach provided context for the track's award wins.Commercial performance
Chart performance
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" achieved significant commercial success upon its release, topping charts in several countries and demonstrating strong global appeal through streaming and airplay. The track reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for one week on October 15, 2021, marking Elton John's first UK chart-topper in 16 years and Dua Lipa's third overall.[4] It also debuted at number 33 on August 26, 2021, before climbing the ranks after spending three weeks at number two.[4] In other territories, the song secured number-one positions in Australia for 10 non-consecutive weeks, Canada, and New Zealand, contributing to its number-one status in a total of 13 countries worldwide.[5] It entered the top 10 in over 30 countries, including a peak of number two in France and number three in Germany, reflecting its broad international reach. The track's performance was bolstered by viral usage on TikTok, which amplified its visibility among younger audiences, alongside substantial radio airplay that sustained its chart momentum.[17] On the US Billboard Hot 100, "Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)" peaked at number seven on the chart dated January 15, 2022, after entering at number 81 on August 28, 2021, and spending a total of 52 weeks on the ranking.[46] It also dominated the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, holding the top spot for a record-extending 34 weeks, the longest reign in the chart's history, with over 60 weeks total.[47] The song exhibited remarkable longevity, charting for over 72 weeks on the UK Singles Chart and ranking fourth on the UK year-end chart for 2021. In terms of streaming, it amassed over 2.5 billion plays on Spotify as of November 2025, underscoring its enduring popularity driven by digital platforms.[48]| Chart (2021–2025) | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 1 | 72+ |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 7 | 52 |
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) | 1 | 60+ |
| Australia (ARIA) | 1 | 100 |
| Canada (Billboard) | 1 | 50+ |
| France (SNEP) | 2 | 45 |
| Germany (GfK) | 3 | 38 |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 1 | 50+ |
Certifications and sales
"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" has achieved significant commercial success, earning multiple certifications across various countries for its sales and streaming equivalents. In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single 4× Platinum on December 6, 2024, equivalent to 4 million units.[49] In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded it 4× Platinum status, corresponding to 2.4 million units. The song also received Diamond certification from Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) in France for 500,000 units, 15× Platinum from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in Australia (1,050,000 units), and 3× Gold from Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) in Germany (200,000 units), Gold from Pro-Música Brasil in Brazil (40,000 units).) Globally, the track exceeded 20 million units equivalent by 2025, according to estimates. Its performance was primarily streaming-driven, accumulating over 2.5 billion streams on Spotify as of November 2025.[48] The single's UK chart-topping position represented Elton John's first number one as lead artist there since "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" in 1997.[50]| Country | Certifying Body | Certification | Units (thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | 4× Platinum | 4,000 |
| United Kingdom | BPI | 4× Platinum | 2,400 |
| France | SNEP | Diamond | 500 |
| Australia | ARIA | 15× Platinum | 1,050 |
| Brazil | Pro-Música Brasil | Gold | 40 |
| Germany | BVMI | 3× Gold | 200 |