Cold Case Love

Album: Rated R (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This 6-minute epic was co-written by Justin Timberlake and helmed by his production group, The Y's. Rihanna and JT teamed up two years earlier for her song "Rehab."
  • In this song, a series of crime scene metaphors are used to reflect back on a relationship. It appears to have been inspired by Rihanna's tumultuous one with Chris Brown, who assaulted her earlier in 2009 when they were traveling to the Grammy Awards. Rihanna didn't say much about the assault, so fans looked to her songs for clues. Note, though, that Rihanna didn't write this song; along with Timberlake, it was written by the songwriters Rob Knox and James Fauntleroy, both of whom previously worked with... Chris Brown.
  • Rihanna told The Sun December 4, 2009 that having such personal lyrics meant that the recording process wasn't always easy. She said: "There are lots of emotions and things that go through your mind, things that you don't want people to know about. On songs like 'Stupid In Love,' 'Fire Bomb,' 'The Last Song' and 'Cold Case Love,' they get really personal. I'm able to listen back to it now but in the beginning it was really weird. I couldn't even listen to demos or anything. It was too deep for me. I kept having to leave the studio when people wanted to listen to the songs."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.