"So Cold"
Single by Breaking Benjamin
from the album We Are Not Alone
ReleasedMarch 30, 2004 (2004-03-30)
Length
  • 4:33 (album version)
  • 3:55 (radio edit / music video)
LabelHollywood
Songwriter(s)Benjamin Burnley
Producer(s)David Bendeth
Breaking Benjamin singles chronology
"Medicate"
(2003)		 "So Cold"
(2004)		 "Sooner or Later"
(2004)
Music video
"So Cold" on YouTube

"So Cold" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin. It was released in March 2004 as the lead single from their second album, We Are Not Alone. Despite never having reached the number one spot on the Mainstream Rock chart, "So Cold" holds the record for the most weeks spent in the chart with 62 weeks.[1] The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on September 15, 2015,[2] just before the band's debut album Saturate was certified Gold. A reimagined version was released on October 31, 2019 in anticipation for their 2020 album, Aurora.

Background and writing

The movie 28 Days Later was an inspiration while Benjamin Burnley was writing the song.[3]

In 2020, Burnley told Apple Music,

I was in New York when I wrote that song, around 2003. It was wintertime, so it was really cold and I was totally cut off from the world in this really cool hotel in Manhattan that’s not there anymore. It was a bit of a lonely time; I was by myself, and just doing my best to write this record. I didn't really think it was all that great at first, but I was in a bad place in my mind back then, 16 or 18 years ago. Then it took off and it was a huge, huge success for us. So I’m glad I was in that dark space, because I owe my whole career to it.[4]

Music video

The music video of "So Cold" was directed by Frank Borin. Its story takes place in the 19th century, judging by the style of clothing, and first shows a preacher standing at the edge of a swamp. The scene then shifts to a group of people walking in a forest. One man can be seen carrying a large stone with the Breaking Benjamin Celtic knot on it. The man, who is being punished for infidelity towards his wife, is shackled to the stone throughout the video and struggles to free himself from it. Towards the end, the group of people arrive at the swamp where the preacher stands. The man carrying the stone walks into the swamp and drowns. His wife appears in a black robe while the woman he cheated with wears a white robe.

Meanwhile, the band is seen throughout the video in another part of the forest performing the song.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[5] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 76
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7] 3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] 2
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[9] 24

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

So Cold EP

So Cold EP
EP by
Breaking Benjamin
ReleasedNovember 23, 2004 (2004-11-23)
Recorded2001 / 2004
Genre
Length17:13
LabelHollywood
Breaking Benjamin chronology
Live EP
(2004)		 So Cold EP
(2004)		 Phobia
(2006)
Singles from So Cold EP
  1. "So Cold (live acoustic)"
    Released: 2004

So Cold EP is an EP which was released on November 23, 2004. It was originally going to be titled the So Cold (Acoustic) EP. The EP contains five songs, three were recorded live ("So Cold (live acoustic)", "Away" and "Breakdown") and two were studio recorded material ("Blow Me Away" and "Lady Bug"). Kevin Soffera appears on the tracks "Away" and "Breakdown".[11]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."So Cold" (live acoustic)3:55
2."Blow Me Away"3:25
3."Lady Bug"3:02
4."Away" (live)3:23
5."Breakdown" (live)3:43
Total length:17:13

References

  1. ↑ "Breaking Benjamin So Cold Chart History". Billboard.
  2. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Whelski, Tina (July 6, 2005). "Interview: Ben Burnley of Breaking Benjamin". TinaWhelski.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Aurora by Breaking Benjamin on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Radio & Records Magazine" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 10, 2004. p. 82. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Breaking Benjamin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Breaking Benjamin Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Breaking Benjamin Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Breaking Benjamin Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "American single certifications – Breaking Benjamin – So Cold". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ Archived 2007-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
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