"Cold" is a song by the British band

Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new wav ...

. Released in July 1993, it served as the second single from the band's '' Elemental''. The single peaked at number 72 on the

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Lyrical content

According to the Elemental EPK, the song is an account of an encounter with a German photographer who was trying to take pictures of

Roland Orzabal Roland Orzabal (born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana; 22 August 1961) is a British musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is best known as a co-founder of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint v ...

while he was on-stage. He wasn't in the mood for photos and kept turning his face away and giving her the 'cold' shoulder. He eventually received a note from her later that said 'how can someone who makes such warm music to be so cold'. The first 2 verses of the song describe this event. The song's lyrics, written by Orzabal, also contain references to prior associates of Tears for Fears such as the line "Listened to my old friend Nockles, hoped that it would warm the cockles" which is a reference to former TFF keyboardist and one time co-writer Nicky Holland whose nickname was "Nockles". Orzabal also takes a swipe at former Tears for Fears business manager Paul King with the lyric "King got caught with his fingers in the till. Where's your calculator, will you leave it in your will?" after alleged discrepancies were discovered in King's prior management of the band's financial affairs. King declared bankruptcy in 1990 and, after being found guilty of later fraudulent activities, was imprisoned in 2004 and disqualified from being a company director for a period of 10 years.

Releases

The 7-inch and CD single included the

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"New Star". This song can be heard on ''

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'', the official album of the

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. It can also be heard during the opening credits of the 1994 film ''

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'' and appears on the film's soundtrack album. It was also later included on the 1996 compilation album ''

Saturnine Martial & Lunatic ''Saturnine Martial & Lunatic'' is a compilation album by the British pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 3 June 1996. It is a collection of B-sides and rare tracks, spanning some ten years of recording from the band's era signed to Mercur ...

'' and the 2001 greatest hits album '' Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears''.

Music video

The music video was filmed over five days at the

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, England, and at

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...

in London. It employs the use of stop motion photography and features Orzabal inside a block of ice (actually clear fibreglass) as people are trying to chisel him out.

Track listings

UK 7-inch: IDEA19 # "Cold" – 5:06 # "New Star" (Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths) UK CD single: IDECD19 # "Cold" # "New Star" (Orzabal, Griffiths) # "Deja-Vu & The Sins of Science" (Orzabal, Griffiths)

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1993 singles 1993 songs Mercury Records singles Songs written by Roland Orzabal Tears for Fears songs