So Cold (Breaking Benjamin song)

"So Cold" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin. It was released on March 30, 2004 as the lead single from their second album, We Are Not Alone. Despite never having reached the number one spot on the Mainstream Rock chart, "So Cold" holds the record for the most weeks spent in the chart with 62 weeks.^[2] The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on September 15, 2015,^[3] just before the band's debut album Saturate was certified Gold. A reimagined version was released on October 31, 2019 in anticipation for their 2020 album, Aurora.

"So Cold"
Single by Breaking Benjamin
from the album We Are Not Alone
Released	March 30, 2004
Genre	Alternative metal[1]
Length	4:33 (album version) 3:55 (radio edit / music video)
Label	Hollywood
Songwriter(s)	Benjamin Burnley
Producer(s)	David Bendeth
Breaking Benjamin singles chronology
"Medicate" (2003) "So Cold" (2004) "Sooner or Later" (2004)
Music video
"So Cold" on YouTube

Background and writing

The movie 28 Days Later was an inspiration while Benjamin Burnley was writing the song.^[4]

In 2020, Burnley told Apple Music,

I was in New York when I wrote that song, around 2003. It was wintertime, so it was really cold and I was totally cut off from the world in this really cool hotel in Manhattan that’s not there anymore. It was a bit of a lonely time; I was by myself, and just doing my best to write this record. I didn't really think it was all that great at first, but I was in a bad place in my mind back then, 16 or 18 years ago. Then it took off and it was a huge, huge success for us. So I’m glad I was in that dark space, because I owe my whole career to it.^[5]

Music video

The music video of "So Cold" was directed by Frank Borin. The story is set in early US history, and it is interpolated with the band playing the song.

The video opens by showing a preacher standing at the edge of a swamp. The scene then shifts to a group of people walking in a forest. One man can be seen carrying a large stone with the Breaking Benjamin Celtic knot on it. The man, who is being punished for infidelity, is shackled to the stone throughout the video and struggles to free himself from it. Towards the end, the group of people arrive at the swamp where the preacher stands. The man carrying the stone walks into the swamp and drowns.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[6]	16
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	76
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[8]	3
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[9]	2

Chart (2019)	Peak position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10]	24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11]	Gold	15,000‡
United States (RIAA)[12]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

So Cold EP

So Cold EP
EP by Breaking Benjamin
Released	November 23, 2004 (2004-11-23)
Recorded	2004
Genre	Alternative metal post-grunge
Length	17:13
Label	Hollywood
Breaking Benjamin chronology
Live EP (2004) So Cold EP (2004) Phobia (2006)
Singles from So Cold EP
"So Cold (live acoustic)" Released: 2004

So Cold EP is an EP which was released on November 23, 2004. It was originally going to be titled the So Cold (Acoustic) EP. The EP contains five songs, three were recorded live ("So Cold (live acoustic)", "Away" and "Breakdown") and two were studio recorded material ("Blow Me Away" and "Lady Bug"). Kevin Soffera appears on the tracks "Away" and "Breakdown".^{[13][self-published source?]}

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"So Cold" (live acoustic)	Ben Burnley Breaking Benjamin	3:55
2.	"Blow Me Away"	Burnley	3:25
3.	"Lady Bug"	Burnley	3:02
4.	"Away" (live)	Burnley Breaking Benjamin	3:23
5.	"Breakdown" (live)	Burnley Breaking Benjamin	3:43
Total length:			17:13

Personnel

• David Bendeth – producer (2), mixing (2)
• Dan Korneff – digital editing (2)
• Breaking Benjamin – producer (3)
• Bret Alexander – producer (3), mixing (3), engineer (3)
• Paul Smith – producer (3), mixing (3), engineer (3)
• Kyle Kelso – mixing (4, 5)
• Andy Van Dette – mastering
• t42design – art direction and design
• Michael Halsband – band photography