It’s kind of wild to think about, but Elton John—the guy who literally defined the 70s—managed to snag a global number-one hit in 2021. Most artists his age are busy playing the hits on "farewell" tours and calling it a day. But not Elton. He basically took a look at the modern pop landscape, grabbed Dua Lipa and an Australian dance trio, and decided to dominate the charts one more time.
The track is called Cold Heart (PNAU Remix). You’ve definitely heard it. It’s that infectious, disco-infused earworm that somehow feels like a brand-new song while sounding like a memory you can't quite place. Honestly, it’s a masterclass in how to bridge the gap between "legendary" and "trendy" without looking like you’re trying too hard.
What is Cold Heart Elton John Actually Made Of?
If you listen closely, you’ll realize the song isn't a single "new" composition in the traditional sense. It’s a "Frankenstein" track. But, like, a really pretty, high-fashion version of Frankenstein. The Australian electronic group PNAU (composed of Nick Littlemore, Peter Mayes, and Sam Littlemore) spent months digging through Elton's massive catalog of master tapes. They weren't just looking for hits. They were looking for DNA.
The core of the song is built on four distinct Elton John tracks:
- Sacrifice (1989): This is where those moody verses come from. In the original, it’s a slow, heartbreaking ballad about the end of a marriage. Here? It’s a groovy, mid-tempo vibe.
- Rocket Man (1972): This is the "big" one. Dua Lipa sings the chorus, but she’s actually singing the lyrics to Elton’s most famous space anthem.
- Kiss the Bride (1983): PNAU pulled the "post-chorus" energy from this upbeat 80s rocker.
- Where’s the Shoorah? (1976): This deep cut from the Blue Moves album provides those gospel-style backing vocals you hear during the outro.
It’s basically a jigsaw puzzle. PNAU’s Peter Mayes mentioned in interviews that they had to pitch-shift and time-stretch Elton’s vocals to make everything fit a 116 BPM (beats per minute) tempo. If they moved his voice too much, he started sounding like a chipmunk. Nobody wants a chipmunk Elton.
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The Dua Lipa Connection
So, how did Dua Lipa get involved? It wasn't some corporate boardroom deal. It started with a FaceTime. During the 2020 lockdowns, Elton and Dua became genuine friends. She invited him to an Instagram Live to talk about his days at Studio 54. Later, she performed at his AIDS Foundation Oscars party.
When Elton heard what PNAU was cooking up, he knew it needed a modern voice to lift it. He called Dua while she was hanging out by a pool. She said yes immediately. Her performance is what makes the song work; she brings a cool, detached "Gen Z" energy to the soaring, dramatic lyrics of Rocket Man. It’s the perfect contrast.
Why This Song Broke Records
Cold Heart didn’t just "do well." It was a juggernaut. It made Elton John the first artist in history to have a top-10 single in the UK across six different decades. That is a terrifying level of longevity.
- 1970s: Your Song, Rocket Man, etc.
- 1980s: I’m Still Standing, Nikita.
- 1990s: Candle in the Wind 1997.
- 2000s: Ghetto Gospel (with 2Pac).
- 2010s: Step Into Christmas (re-entries).
- 2020s: Cold Heart.
In Australia, Elton became the oldest artist ever to hit number one on the ARIA charts. He was 74 at the time. It’s proof that good songwriting is timeless, even when it’s chopped up and served over a disco beat.
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The Visuals: That Trippy Music Video
Since the song was recorded during the pandemic, a traditional music video with Elton and Dua together wasn't really on the cards. Instead, they went the animated route. Director Raman Djafari created a psychedelic, Studio Ghibli-inspired world.
The video features four main characters traveling through a vibrant, nature-filled universe. They eventually meet animated versions of Elton and Dua (designed by artist Seo Young). It’s bright, a bit weird, and captured that "post-lockdown" feeling of wanting to be back in a community. The animation is a mix of 3D and 2D styles that feels nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.
Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people think Cold Heart is a happy dance song because the beat is so bouncy. It’s actually pretty dark.
If you look at the lyrics from Sacrifice ("Cold, cold heart / Hardened by you"), it’s about a relationship that’s completely dead. The person is literally saying they don't have enough "sacrifice" left to stay. Pairing that with the isolation of Rocket Man ("And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then") creates a narrative of emotional detachment. It's a "crying on the dance floor" anthem. We love those.
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How to Get the Most Out of the Track
If you’re a fan of the song, don’t just stop at the radio edit. There are layers to this project that most people miss.
- Check out "The Lockdown Sessions": This is the full album Cold Heart came from. It features collaborations with Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, and Stevie Wonder. It’s a wild ride.
- Listen to "Good Morning to the Night": This is a 2012 album Elton did with PNAU. It’s much more "art-house" and less "pop," but it shows the early stages of their collaboration.
- Watch the Glastonbury 2023 performance: Elton closed his final UK show with this. He didn't have Dua there, but the crowd of 100,000+ people singing along to the Rocket Man lyrics over the Cold Heart beat was legendary.
The genius of Cold Heart is that it doesn't try to replace the originals. It acts as a gateway. It’s a way for a 15-year-old on TikTok to discover the genius of Bernie Taupin’s lyrics while still having something to dance to. It’s rare for a remix to become more famous than the songs it’s sampling, but for a moment in 2021, Elton John made the whole world feel young again.
To truly appreciate the engineering behind the track, try listening to the original 1989 version of Sacrifice immediately followed by the PNAU remix. You'll notice how they took a melancholy ballad and found a hidden groove that had been sitting there for thirty years, just waiting for the right moment to surface.