Cool Girl

Album: Lady Wood (2016)
Charted: 46 84
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from Lady Wood, this was written by Tove Lo with The Struts. The Swedish singer collaborated with the production duo on half of the tracks on her debut Queen Of The Clouds album, including the hit singles "Habits (Stay High)" and "Talking Body."
  • The song was inspired by a monologue scene from the creepy 2014 film Gone Girl involving its titular character played by Rosamund Pike. Tove Lo told The Sun: "I wrote it pretty soon after I saw Gone Girl. It's the moment she goes from being a victim to a psycho."
  • In the movie Gone Girl (based on a novel by Gillian Flynn) Rosamund Pike's character Amy is very manipulative, essentially playing the role of a "cool girl" in order to win over Ben Affleck's character Nick, acting like she is perfectly fine with pizza and beer and his wandering eyes.

    In most romantic relationships, each person is putting forth a different version of themselves to appeal to the other, which is what Tove Lo takes on in this song. When she sings, "Let's not put a label on it, let's keep it fun," she's giving the guy what he wants, a-la Amy in the film. In the bridge is when she gets real, expressing what she really wants:

    I got fever highs
    I got boiling blood
    I'm that fire
    We could burn together
  • Tove Lo told the BBC she penned the chilly lyrics about our weird need to play the game of "whoever feels less has the power" in relationships.

    The Swede added: "When you create, you try to get out of your safe zone. It's okay to be upset or depressed. You'll pick yourself back up. We shouldn't be so scared of our emotions... You think you want someone who doesn't want you, or you want someone who isn't fazed by anything you do. Really we all just want full on, real love."
  • In this song, Tove Lo tries to play it cool by keeping the guy she is attracted to at a distance: "Ice cold, I roll my eyes at you."

    She told the BBC: "Making the other person insecure is kind of stupid when you like someone. It takes more courage to have an open heart - that's what I'm trying to say, but it's sarcastic. It's like the opposite song!"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.