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Cold Water
Electronic · 2016

Cold Water

Major Lazer

A mid-tempo tropical pop anthem blending acoustic intimacy with digital dancehall rhythms. A song about unwavering support set against a sun-drenched backdrop.

July 22, 2016 · Warner Bros. Music

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Cold Water represents the peak of the mid-2010s tropical house movement, where the aggressive energy of EDM began to soften into something more melodic and emotionally resonant. It sounds like the cooling air of a summer evening, trading the high-octane synths of earlier Major Lazer hits for a gentle, acoustic-led arrangement that feels surprisingly intimate. The production is clean and spacious, allowing the interplay between Justin Bieber's polished pop delivery and MØ's more idiosyncratic, textured vocals to take center stage.

Moments Worth Listening For
The moment the acoustic guitar first interlocks with the muted, tropical percussion bed.
Justin Bieber's transition into a delicate falsetto during the pre-chorus buildup.
MØ's entrance in the second verse, providing a gritty contrast to the polished production.
The rhythmic drop that opts for melodic restraint rather than aggressive bass.
Reviews
AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Cold Water sound next to the rest of Major Lazer's catalogue?

Hopeful+4.0σ

Hopeful saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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