Hard Rock
The song was written Foreigner members Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. It was released on their debut album Foreigner in 1977. The song is about a woman who values materialistic things above love and her relationship with the singer. Hence, she is “as cold as ice.” Mick Jones has said that “subconsciously, you draw from stuff, things that happened in your past, things that came out of relationships, the pain and the heartache of love.” We’ve all been there at some point.
“Cold as Ice” was released as a single in 1977 as well. At first it was the B-Side for “Feels Like the First Time.” Then it was the A-Side, backed with “I Need You.” Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” went to #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #10 on U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #9 in Canada, #13 in The Netherlands, #18 in Ireland, and #24 in the U.K.
The song as been sampled a number of times. This includes Scott Browns’ “Ice Cold 2,” M.O.P.’s “Cold as Ice,” and Kanye West’s intro for “Cold.”