Cold Case Love

"Cold Case Love"
Song by Rihanna
from the album Rated R
Recorded2009
Studio
  • German, Roc the Mic (New York City)
  • Westlake (Los Angeles)
GenreR&B
Length6:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio video
"Cold Case Love" on YouTube

"Cold Case Love" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was written and produced by The Y's (Justin Timberlake, Robin Tadross and James Fauntleroy II). Following Chris Brown's assault on Rihanna, she started working on the sound of her new album. Timberlake, who co-wrote "Cold Case Love", labeled the sound of Rihanna's new project as a step forward for the singer. In February 2010, Rihanna admitted that the song's lyrics are about her complicated relationship with Brown.

An R&B song, "Cold Case Love" has an instrumentation infused with a simple piano pattern, thumping bassline, violin and viola strings and electric guitar licks. Lyrically, it is a "melancholic and mature farewell" to a failed relationship. "Cold Case Love" received acclaim from contemporary music critics who labeled the song as a highlight on Rated R and additionally praised Rihanna's vocals. The singer performed the song on her 2013 worldwide concert tour, Diamonds World Tour, in a medley with "Take a Bow" and "Hate That I Love You".