“Oh, girl, you know you left this hole / Right here in the middle of my soul.” Uh-oh! Some things are cliché but being brokenhearted isn’t one of them. Many a musician have tackled the subject matter quite effectively, and it NEVER grows old. On the gorgeous, pained, minor-key, slow burning “Cold,” Grammy-winning country artist Chris Stapleton is simply trying to atone for being hurt – a case of the broken heart. What better way to do so than via a bluesy, soulful country song?
Stapleton takes his sweet time on “Cold” – no rush so ever. He ensures that the audience goes on this painful trip with him. That trip takes five minutes and requires ample passionate singing. It’s a one-sided narrative on Stapleton’s end, as he has nothing positive to say. On the second verse he asks, “What am I supposed to say / If anybody ask me about you? / I guess I’ll tell ‘em I’m without you.” Yup, that’s about the size of it, Chris. So often, we hear tales of a woman scorned, but in this case, Stapleton flips it, showing the man going through the pain.
Adding to the brilliant illustration of the plight of love is awesome music. Again, “Cold” is bluesy country with some rock and soul thrown in as well. It’s both classic-sounding and classy, with radiant strings and rousing Hammond B3. Even so, if you’re not chief among country fans, there’s an appeal beyond the genre. The big draw, however, is this coldhearted woman that has Chris totally down in the dumps. A perfect example of schadenfreude as his pain is our listening pleasure.
You can learn more about chris stapleton here
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
