Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Cold As Ice" (Foreigner)
Welcome to the place to find history, trivia, and just plain ol' good stuff about your favorite bands and songs! It's Tuesday's Musical Notes comin' at'cha live from the studios of Tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com! Each week we meet to spin some platters and talk about things that matter. Today is no exception, and it's what you've come to expect, so here goes!!! Pull up your hoodie, wrap up in a blanket, warm up your favorite beverage and get ready for a really cool feature song from the 70's. In fact, this track is so cool, you could say that it is..."Cold As Ice"!!!
As one of the world's best selling bands (80 million albums sold) it is likely that most Tuesday's Musical Notes readers are familiar with the band named Foreigner. In the mid '70s they released demo tapes to record labels under the band name Trigger, but when getting ready to sign with Atlantic Records they changed their name to Foreigner, due in part to another "signed" band having that name, but also because no matter where they toured in the world some portion of the band would always be foreigners. 3 of the original members where from the United Kingdom (Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, and Dennis Elliot) and three were from the United States (Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi).
Foreigner saw their eponymous debut album stay in the top 20 for an entire year due to the strength of singles "Feels Like The First Time", "Long, Long Way From Home", and today's feature song, "Cold As Ice".
"Cold As Ice" would peak at #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. Part of its popularity is due to one of the most recognizable (and easy to play) piano intros in popular music. Written by founding members Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, "Cold As Ice" continues to receive consistent air play at "Classic Rock" radio and at karaoke bars around the world. Just in case you need a trivial pursuit Rock-N-Roll edition answer..."Cold As Ice" appears as the #2 track on three different albums, Foreigner, Classic Hits Live/Best Of Live, and Complete Greatest Hits.
"Cold As Ice" lyrically speaks to a condition of the heart. It is a song that follows in the footsteps of Hank Williams "Cold, Cold, Heart" and precedes Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" (Yes, she did have a gig in between being an LA Laker cheerleader and American Idol Judge). You probably have encountered at least a few folks in your life whom you would describe with this moniker. It relays the idea of a person who has no feelings. They seem to have no concerns for the emotions of others who, by all appearance, should be important to them. They are typically self-absorbed and only show interest in a relationship with others if it will benefit them. Seems like I remember a few stories about some people who were just like that...in fact, I've seen it before it happens all the time...
The Bible comments heavily on one's heart condition. It even appears in some cases that the heart and neck are connected. The term "stiff-necked" is used frequently to describe the waywardness of the children of Israel. God describes them in this way four times in Exodus 32-34 New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel. It seems that seeing a sea split apart for them to pass through was not enough to convince the Children of Israel that they could rely on God. God even went so far as to say that He would not go with them as they entered into the Promised Land. The removal of God's presence distressed the Israelites so much that they had a momentary heart and neck transplant. God, as He so often does, forgave them.
The most revered King in the history of the Israelites was King David. This shepherd boy turned King would be an incredible military leader as well as a spiritual leader for the nation of Israel. But David found himself cold-hearted on one occasion. In 2 Samuel 11 NIV/The Message parallel, David finds himself at the most self-centered time of his life. He decides to stay at home when it was expected that he would fulfill his role as king and lead the army into battle. Because he wasn't where he was supposed to be he succumbs to temptation and has an affair with another man's wife just because he wanted her. To make matters worse, David's self-preservation senses kicked in so much that he had her husband killed in the battle in which the King should have had the lead. David went from a fiery hot heart that danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6 NIV/The Message parallel) to being a cold-blooded adulterer/killer. David later repented of his adulterous/murderous ways and asked God to restore the fire to his heart. Psalm 51 NIV/The Message parallel
These two stories reinforce a couple of very important points. First, all of us have times when we are cold hearted and self-centered. This self-adoration is so contrary to the command of Jesus..."Love God...Love others" Matthew 22:36-40 NIV/The Message parallel. Secondly, only God can be the one to restore the heart to its warm and fleshy, healthy, state. David begs God to do just that in Psalm 51. Restoration is what God does. It is nothing we can do on our own. This melting/softening of the heart is a process that occurs in God's timing and it isn't always pleasant. The ultimate result, however, is a heart filled with love for God and man.
Let's be very clear. There is a misconception that the melting of the heart can look something like this:
While this makes for a great Christmas fairy tale, it does not resemble what God, and only God, can do to transition the heart of a man. True transformation of the heart is exhibited by the things we say and do after transformation has occurred. Matthew 15:16-20 NIV/The Message parallel Want to know if you are "Cold Hearted", have a "Cold, Cold, Heart" or are as "Cold As Ice"? Check the things that are coming out of your mouth to and about the folks around you. More importantly what is your attitude towards God? Do your actions portray someone who is self-absorbed or others-absorbed? What are you willing to sacrifice to be as "Cold As Ice"?
'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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