How "Cold Heart" was made from 4 classic Elton John songs

Elton John, with some help from Dua Lipa and PNAU, has just scored a new hit record. However, this new song, Cold Heart, isn't really new! It's actually a remix of four classic Elton John songs; Kiss The Bride, Sacrifice, Where's The Shoorah? and Rocket Man.
SOURCES:
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[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks to Bellroy for sponsoring this video. To get *10% off* their range use this link: bellroy.com/promotions/2021/youtube?promotional-campaign=david-bennett-mzeji-qcvwx 🎒 and check out my *Geoguessr* attempt here on the 2nd channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5WneX-YoMqZp80 🌍😃

[@girlgeniusnyc272]

YAY Bellroy! Thank you for being sustainable!!

[@TheInselaffen]

I'd rather see you playing piano than Geoguessr. Make No. 2 a Performance Channel please.

[@john-lenin]

“Consectutive”?

[@adamgrimsley2900]

Best owls you can buy...delicious

[@joshuataylor3550]

So we officially ran out of music?

[@RFGfotografie]

When you can make 4 songs be 1 song and get a new hit from it, you're a genius.

[@marcoc7388]

And not only that, PNAU also made it sound flawless, I can't believe it.

[@jonasturklbach2705]

& Dua's voice compliments Eltons perfectly imo

[@bennemann]

I disagree. People throw around the word genius way too lightly. This is clever, sure, but not genius. We should reserve this word for the likes of Freddy Mercury.

[@marcoc7388]

@@bennemann Ok Boomer

[@mrquail5299]

@@bennemann I’m sorry, but in terms of overall musical talent, Elton blows Freddie out of the water when it comes to being a genius

[@lucypreece7581]

I always admire the fact that Elton loves younger more modern artists and like praises them and stuff. I always feel a lot of like more mature performers hate on modern artists and get a superiority complex and think the nobody is ever going to be as good as them at making music but seeing Elton get really passionate and almost fanboyish over like modern artists is so great.

[@HeadbangoO]

Well, he knows he's in a genre where people are replaced each generation (or faster), that's how he buys relevance...

[@TheSameYellowToy]

Reminds me of when Billie Eilish said she didn't know who Van Halen was on TV. A bunch of people sent her hate for that, but one of the members of Van Halen posted a tweet telling people to stop harassing her, that it's okay that she didn't know about them, that they didn't know who she was either so they checked out her music and liked it, and that they hoped she'd give their music a chance and like it. Van Halen earned a lot of my respect for how maturely and down-to-earth they were about that.

[@RafaelPellizzari]

Oh, Sir John definitely doesn't need to buy relevance lol. His humility astonishes me. Hats off!

[@stephfahey1101]

Reminds me of when Dolly Parton and Linda Perry stood up for Grimes in an interview where Sheryl Crow was very critical of modern music and how it's more computer-driven. Sheryl Crow was very bitter in that interview lol.

[@rampageclover9788]

Yeah coz they suck

[@CatelynnMarie]

I’m a massiiiiive Elton fan for so many years now and was so emotional on first listen of this track. It’s such a great mashup. Gives nostalgia while also giving modern. I’m so happy this came to be

[@alexgerman5490]

the future of music. some might call it Future Nostalgia

[@CatelynnMarie]

@@alexgerman5490 you’re an icon

[@drewskie20100]

you should listen to his album “Good Morning to the Night” he did with PNAU (the artist who remixed Cold Heart) in 2012. they basically did a full album of mashups using songs throughout his entire catalogue. it’s like an album of Cold Hearts 😍

[@aliceelrod8344]

I am right there with you, I was so emotional on first listen, so awestruck and thrilled! The nostalgia is so sweet! ❤️🎵

[@raconnor185]

The best part is that it doesn't sound like mashups. It's really a whole new song in itself!

[@aleshaserada2476]

So that's why there are four characters in the music video! The bunny is the Rocket Man, the kitty wanted to kiss the bride, the deer made the sacrifice, and the lion is Shoorah for whatever reason.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

I never noticed that! Nice!

[@Alvaroliv]

Nice

[@47d75]

I love Elton John, but I'm not very familiar with his 1980's catalogue, so I didn't realize until now some of the samples, such as Kiss the Bride. Thank you.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks 🙂🙂

[@herrp8765]

Same here. I was overseas during that decade (meaning outside the US), so I wasn't too familiar with Elton's tunes if they didn't get airplay on German radio.

[@ethanprince356]

Sacrifice hit number 1 in 1990 and was more well known that year

[@micahlingle1060]

That whole album is really good, I’d recommend it. And that’s probably why I hate this new song, I love the originals

[@nrmnnk4057]

same for me, I only knew Rocket Man, and was searching for a MV of Cold Heart vs Rocket Man when I came across your clip, very interesting, learn new things every day.

[@asheard23]

There’s actually a lot more from “Where’s the Shoorah?” throughout “Cold Heart” than just the “Shoorah Shoorah” bit. There’s also “no-no-no NO-NO”… “over and over and overrrr” … “oh!”

[@gman6862]

This song has much more background then I realized! It’s like a modernized Elton John tribute song!

[@lupcokotevski2907]

Aussies PNAU have done an excellent job. Their collaboration with Elton produced a UK No.1 album in 2012. One of the boys in PNAU is a member of Empire of the Sun, another fab Aussie band.

[@Lux_0-60]

A man of culture 😁

[@StephenJohnson-jb7xe]

If I remember correctly Elton was a big fan of PNAU and got behind them in the early days.

[@lupcokotevski2907]

@@StephenJohnson-jb7xe Yep, Elton has supported Aussie artists going back to Daddy Cool in 1971 with their big hit Eagle Rock, and more recently Sarah Blasko. My mate went to high school with PNAU.

[@arturor5205]

I'm mad about those King Gizzard people. They seem like nice aussies too!

[@claudia-uy5gk]

Yess mate

[@lucyj8204]

The new "Cold Heart" has been intriguing me, so I've loved this video, thanks. As a cover singer, I have been struck by how complex Elton John songs are just in general - unconventional chord sequences and cadences, but always sounding and looking so effortless. What a brain!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃😃😃

[@jonathanfalkowsky672]

Also thank Bernie taupin

[@rogerrousco2921]

@@jonathanfalkowsky672 Taupin wrote the lyrics, Elton John did the music and melody, but your point is made, Bernie must also be thanked

[@shandya]

As someone who familiar with house music, where sampling old music is a common practice, I find this track creative. I understand though why people dislike it.

[@sibionic]

yes, I completely hate it.

[@georgechristie9464]

What makes it creative?

[@-syphec-3600]

@@georgechristie9464 you make music?

[@MacDeane]

@@sibionic why

[@bigred4379]

I think it’s a bit of creative genius, while others think it is a horrible lack of creativity. Whatever. I think it’s popular because the ear is subconsciously searching our inner song library to find the familiar …. And yet it just can’t quite.. there’s enough here to keep the ear listening.. tempo.. key.. sampling.. voice. Blue moves was an album many people had forgotten about.. then again, I’m a pianist.

[@iAvrilFan1]

I love this song. It's so fresh and easily stands out on the radio compared with other mediocre modern songs. Love Dua Lipa and this disco sound, it's very timeless!

[@SingleServed]

Nope, they turned wonderful classics into a mediocre modern song.

[@mercurialpierrot7073]

Disco is trash 🤣

[@prospect689]

It's groovy but it has no lyrical substance

[@benballier9580]

@@SingleServed Your opinion is terrible :)

[@sammysoppy3361]

it stands out cause elton’s original songs are the whole thing and his songs are great. the only reason

[@fcguam3939]

I am from Guam , 60 years old, and this not only brought great memories back , but at 60 i can't stop dancing to this song, and my whole body is energized 🤦🏻‍♂️😂🤣❤

[@artkincell]

I believe strongly that making new art out of old art, in this case music, is an art form in itself. As an experiment a few years ago, I partnered with a more hip hop producer and we slowed down the opening riffs of the 7" version of the Beatles Revolution to make them sound like a rhythm track.If we didn't tell anyone when we played it, most people would never know where the original sample came from. We never did anything with the track, I think it was an exercise in what CAN be done if people have the curiosity to see what can happen.

[@wbtothey]

I actually love this song. It’s a haunting ear worm & Dua is a great compliment

[@italianviking80]

PNAU produced an entire album of retooled Elton John songs. "Good Morning to the Night" was released in 2012.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

I knew this song was made up of old Elton John songs, as the lyrics matched exactly - but never took the time to figure it out what they pulled from. It seemed the only new music is Dua Lupa's lyrics and the production which was my guess originally. Thanks for doing this and explaining exactly what they did.

[@stripes8812]

Gotta love how humble this man is. Sir Elton you're a legend.

[@markleon411]

I've been a fan of Pnau for many years and the concept they came up with to rearrange Elton John's older songs was unique and innovative. Elton John was hugely impressed with their own back catalogue and gave them free reign. The result was, "Good Morning To The Night". "Cold Heart" feels like a continuation of, "Sad".

[@iLikeTheUDK]

I can probably bet that Cold Heart basically happened when someone in PNAU messed around with some Elton John songs in a DAW and then went "OMG they go together this is so awesome" and decided to make that into a full track and also bring Dua Lipa in to sing some stuff

[@amytobias4]

PNAU did a whole album of songs exactly like this with Elton in 2012 called 'Good Morning to the Night'

[@PaulyJ123]

Elton gave them Carte Blanche to do whatever they wanted with his masters

[@adityadutta5324]

Can you tell me what DAW is?

[@coraz98]

some call it ripping off from existing song, i call it art Btw, Daft Punk did these mashups a lot of times and they were hated too 🙈 Nice video man!

[@supremecud147]

this song is my mothers fav song, and elton being my fav artist i heard all of these in the song itself. beautifully made

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Yeah, I think they did it really tastefully and really breathed new life into these classics 🙂🙂

[@supremecud147]

@@DavidBennettPiano I agree

[@jcs3330]

When I first heard this, I found myself humming along and breaking into 2 of the other Eltons sample unknowingly....but now I realise why....how crazy,! and genius of Elton's and his producer.

[@RomanHarrington4]

This video just made really appreciate the song so much more because it’s clear how much creativity was used to take existing material from an artist, to make a new song, that sounds authentic to that artist yet still incredibly contemporary to music happening now

[@CartoonyAndor19]

I just put on a playlist and when I heard the start I was like “oh cool, a modern version of Sacrifice” then the rocket man part stared and I was like “JOOOOO A MEDLEY”

[@michaelolympus5994]

It's more like a mashup rather than a medley.

[@TheZieglerm]

As a native of the birthplace of House music (Chicago, IL), the beat of this song speaks to my soul. The lyrics - provided by various songs from Elton John's catalog over the years - sparked my interest in learning more about Elton's catalog and I imagine will do the same for many who weren't raised on or exposed to tons of his music. Sampling and re-introducing amazing art is an awesome way to expose new generations to the pioneers and trailblazers of the industry. Thanks to this song, I can now enjoy original versions of these songs AND the reimagined one. Thanks so much for this amazing breakdown vid.

[@agtac76]

I was wondering about this song on how it was made. I knew that it was at least 2 songs, didn't know about the 4. Thank you, David, for posting this video! It answered my questions. :)

[@StratsRUs]

I've always liked DJ mixes where they sample just one line.And then go heavy on the treatment and punch of the music. Elton doesn't need to prove himself, he just enjoys what he and Bernie have achieved. And this is fun enough.Novelty and Circus are the order of the day. Elton has mansions not houses.

[@Ramboost007]

*Call On Me enters the chat*

[@245thegreat]

@@Ramboost007 no one cares

[@kevindunn8185]

Sir Elton John.

[@LumiMoonCh]

Just watched the official video of Cold Heart; it's amazing. The music, the visuals, the performances. They have created something special with this track.

[@TonyTube407]

I just think that the inclusion of Where's the Shoorah was the best thing ever! I've had his album Blue Moves since I was very little and recognized it immediately when I first heard Cold Heart. Obscure, AND amazing!!

[@d.e.t4147]

I think what they’ve done is brilliant!

[@senecagrace5169]

I cannot get enough of this new song!!! I absolutely LOVE it!! And I make sure everyone around me while driving can hear it!!

[@liorigessi4451]

I am addicted to “Cold Heart” I listen this song every morning….. absolute master piece.

[@SeanCwilich]

I KNEW IT! I recognized 2 of the songs used in that song to begin with! Sacrifice & Rocket Man!

[@GLamoRousCooKie]

We need to acknowledge the people who actually made this song/remix; PNAU producers. They're brilliant.

[@thehumancrayon3264]

My feelings on Cold Heart are somewhat torn. On the one hand, I quite enjoy hearing Elton John on the radio (obviously). On the other, I keep finding myself singing along with Rocket Man and Sacrifice when the song has gone on to other things. So it's fun, but also jarring. I'd much rather just listen to the originals (but again, Elton John from a blender is still better than nothing at all).

[@Eleora1997Msia]

when is an old sad song became remix and relax version. it's old it's cold but it's gold. giving us nostalgic and make our heart touch, now that's matter the most. this song give me earworm

[@1stp4ward]

This new song out of 4 old songs is brilliant. But then again so were the four older ones by themselves.

[@michelleb.1416]

This song combo is Brilliant! I can listen to it over and over again. I love it!! Its so uplifiting...

[@kevinmackfurniture]

Elton talking about this song is the cherry on top.

[@tesseg]

I love this track and am really happy Elton John agreed to it.

[@rpavlik1]

I'm not a huge Elton fan but I knew it pinged several "familiar tune" switches in my brain. Thanks for showing so nicely how it's put together.

[@sr_echo]

Love every time this song comes on the radio, and this breakdown makes me love it even more That really was so creative to weave how many samples and have it come out so sick!

[@yepperooyepperoo5800]

It"s a great song. Listen to it over and over. So upbeat.

[@ElishaRosado]

Very genius of him!!!! Wow!!! Let’s see if this becomes a trend that other artists will do with their own songs.

[@cliffs4008]

I was just thinking that

[@ethanprince356]

Elton also had a number 1 this year with a cover of the Pet Shop Boys’ It’s A Sin.

[@asterickjones]

It wasn't #1 though, it only peaked at #47 in May 2021.

[@ethanprince356]

@@asterickjones It was number one, stayed there for a week.

[@amadeus2166]

@@ethanprince356 no it peaked at #47 on the official uk charts, it hit number one of the big top 40 which is a different chart.

[@ethanprince356]

@@amadeus2166 oh okay thanks for telling me the difference

[@cowboybuddhaful]

Wow just brilliant analysis! Incredible that you can get a song like this from 4 old songs.

[@dacull5755]

Really like this new song, don't get me wrong the original sacrifice inspired me to ask for elton john's love songs cassette for christmas, but to be in the charts and young people talking about how they like it that I know something about this artist and the songs in the track. The Last shoorah?! I never heard before but the way it was sung in this song was like a choir of angels embracing you into the afterlife..

[@alanshapiro5669]

Shoorah is from "Blue Moves" a fabulous double album.

[@jennakeith5711]

I knew about Sacrifice and Rocket Man but not the other two! Thank you for this!

[@marccastell7776]

Absolutely brilliant breakdown of this amazing 'New' but 'Old' song!!! Thank you for this!

[@mandymoore5774]

Absolutely amazing song! He has gone above & beyond w this song. A solid tribute to his in depth talent. I definitely heard Rocketman on my own ear but I didn’t realize they were actually 4 separate songs. The chorus was absolutely superb as well. Just amazing on all levels!

[@b500l8]

Until this latest release I always thought Reg was singing 'Coco Hall' never crossed my mind to look it up haha

[@DavidHalChester]

This is fantastic. So wonderful. You really know your stuff. It's an excellent presentation. Just wonderful. I love it!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@abeparsons7914]

Always wondered where the “this is what I should have said” part came from, cheers!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃👍🏼

[@DrAmaFie]

In the section where they use the original "Cold Heart" in the remixed version, I really thought I could hear Elton's voice underneath Dua Lipa's - I feel like that's my brain playing tricks on me because I know he sang it originally!

[@goldengirl6805]

Sacrifice is a GREAT SONG. I absolutely love it.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I cn understand that this is a new form of music, and it's a way to repackage old material. But I'd just like to say I really like old materials.

[@needlessnoise]

good thing they didnt go anywhere, you can just listen to the old stuff forever if you want

[@fraxinus_ash]

I see it as potentially making older music accessible to a new generation. Which is no bad thing! The youths need to be listening to some Elton!

[@mooghead]

The Sacrifice vocal isn't a sample from the published track as such, the full multitrack has been around for a while, very interesting it is too. A raw lead vocal for Rocket Man is available in isolation too.

[@vicentee2687]

I heard this song on the radio had no idea who was singing but instantly was stuck in my head it's a banger

[@onewxrldmusic7303]

Here's to PNAU. Such a clever approach based on love of music. Even Elton acknowledges PNAU's ingenuity

[@fredocarroll]

Thanks for the explanation! It was most enlightening. I'd recognized three of the tracks, but I'd heard that it was four and couldn't figure out the fourth part. "Where's the Shoorah?" was way off my radar.

[@TheseUseless]

I don't care if I normally dislike this sort of poppy modern shit, this is so fucking catchy and resourceful.

[@gx1tar1er]

that pitch shifted & sped up Sacrifice sounds weird to me lol. i get so used to that -50 cent sound. i thought it's a correct pitch

[@ElGrecoOB]

There's nothing wrong with you. There is no such thing as wrong pitch. I wonder whether you're more set up by the reharmonization?

[@JazzyJonas]

I'm the same way. I'm very sensitive to pitch and it drives me nuts when my band does covers in a different key. It just sounds wrong the whole time haha

[@thomasdebercey1709]

This isn't the first time PNAU have reworked elements from Elton's catalogue. There was actually a whole album released back in 2013 called "Good Morning To The Night" which was pretty much the same concept the PNAU lads used in "Cold Heart" but stretched for an entire album. I've heard it's pretty good.

[@NickVanHouse]

Yes I was confused when they said it’s the a new thing but I remember they did this years ago. Look up “sad”

[@lostlatinlover]

I never cease to learn things from your videos! I’ve watched and rewatched this one because it demonstrates the endless variation of music. Thanks!

[@a_leaf]

Thank you so much for explaining! I was looking everywhere for "original Cold Heart" lol Hank Williams was not the same song as this. Well done Elton 👏!

[@oliverblades325]

Elton John is class

[@DavidBennettPiano]

100% 🏆

[@mreggybeans3460]

I like his songs but i dont like this one. It sounds weird

[@bigred4379]

This video was a ton of fun! Thank you!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you 😊

[@pierre6760]

Excellent work David! 👍

[@jeanwilson8056]

Classic Elton - Musical Mastermind!

[@Avivmirkin]

Thank you sooo much for this explanation! This song must have been so difficult to put together and get such an incredible outcome!

[@ocayul]

Where the shoraah is one of My favourites deep cuts of Elton john... Alovely song

[@composer7325]

Excellent, thank you, David.

[@onewxrldmusic7303]

What a wonderful presentation. And such a nice presenter.

[@trubiz4u]

Thanks for posting this because I was very curious about this song

[@RO0826]

Congratulations for demonstration!!!👏👏👏

[@sidesw1pe]

With Spotify I haven't listened to the radio for many years and didn't even know about this. Today while I was in the supermarket they were playing this, and I was confused as hell, I recognised Sacrifice and Rocket Man but didn't know what to make of it since the lyrics were together in the same song. But I loved it and it was playing in my head all day.

[@ScorpionSmurf333]

Always knew there was something with this song, but couldn't pinpoint it, so thanks!!

[@DrKashonia]

David - you are absolutely WONDERFUL putting this video together. You've done a fantastic job. And I've learned so much. Thank you so much. You're great.

[@LucaGoesOffroad]

Using "Where's The Shoorah" was a really Strawberryfieldsforeverish move!!

[@fightingforfreedom5017]

Impressive. I agree it’s a nice song, well blended. It reminds me of Bohemians Rhapsody, that exist out of 3 songs. It was the first time Freddie had absolutely freedom to make something he wanted, he said. And it turns out to be a historical masterpiece.

[@7sensesaero]

Thanks for the video. Now finally I understand, why my heart and the ears were confused all this while and saying again and again ""This isn't a new Song surely, yet it's nothing like any of the Old Songs, I have ever heard before ""

[@NS-ov6mm]

Hey David!! Your theoretical ideas are the best and I dig all the videos that you make here :) I had been wondering about how they make song's all these years and after watching Your videos, I start to understanding the process of it:)

[@DenTube619]

Such an amazingly professional video. Thank you for this.

[@MusicMotivator]

So well done David!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@dbgreene9020]

I knew that the second i heard it. Any Elton John fan will hear them all!!! Brilliant

[@Azz99022]

Loved the video! Great work!

[@bluedoc8275]

Thanks for this banger breakdown!

[@GenericGamer]

Amazing video on how this song was really well made. It’s also the embodiment of how artists can be inspired by other previous great works.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊 thank you

[@drumken]

Much easier to get inspired (steal) from great hits, much harder to make your own. Because, why not.

[@RacingSnails64]

Thank you for the explanation! I've found medleys very interesting for a while now. I love Cold Heart and Rocket Man, and this makes me wanna look deeper into Elton's catalogue. Thanks!

[@Mattje8]

Thank you for this, a brilliant video. I knew it was four songs but the pitch analysis was so interesting!

[@verward]

This is mind blowing. Incredible.

[@scottclark3139]

Great video, learnt a lot again. The song is a real innovative use of samples. And Elton and Dua Lipa, voices fit beautifully in the chorus

[@vincestyles1030]

Great break down! Seriously excellent job!

[@fcguam3939]

WoW, for about past 3-5 days i was telling my friends that this song cold heart (elton and dua) reminds me of 80's sounds , like songs combine , and that the beat was like "we are family" and one more song (forgot the name) ... and with Elton's and Dua's voice , the music COLD HEART is am AMAZING song. Then today i see this video clip , i just knew it , its a combination of songs in the past blended together ... i can not stop listening to this song for pass week (its on repeat, listening for hours ❤) since i first heard this song. This song is "mind blowing"!

[@fcguam3939]

Sister Sledge "we are family" .. background bass guitar 👍

[@fcguam3939]

Or song "Boogie Oogie Oogie" ...

[@LovesGreatness]

That song totally kicks ass. I love it.

[@latinrob77]

Excellent analysis, thank you!

[@elenagalbo3876]

Elton John is a legend!!! Okay bye ❤️❤️

[@DWTalentsProduction]

Cold Heart was Brilliant!! Pnau remix and Dua Lips Collab for the Win! ❤️🙏🙏❤️

[@tigerofwu]

This is great. You explain the science of music and the history of the tracks. The song is fantastic too.