In the Cold, Cold Night

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"In the Cold, Cold, Night"
Song by the White Stripes
from the album Elephant
ReleasedApril 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)
RecordedApril–May 2002
Studio Toe Rag Studios, London
Genre
Length2:58
Label
Composer(s) Jack White, Meg White
Lyricist(s) Jack White
Producer(s) Jack White

"In the Cold, Cold Night" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes from their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). The fifth track on the album, it was written and produced by Jack White specifically for Meg White to sing, marking her first time as the band's lead vocalist. Musically, "In the Cold, Cold Night" features a minimalist soundscape and ambiguous lyrics about a woman pleading for her lover's return. The song has received positive reviews from music critics, who consider it a signature work of the band and one of their best songs.

Contents

Recording

The White Stripes made their recording debut in 1998, where guitarist Jack White was established as the duo's vocalist and drummer Meg White occasionally performed background vocals. [1] After the band's international breakthrough, they began to record material for their fourth studio album Elephant (2003). "In the Cold, Cold Night" was one of eleven songs recorded through April and May of 2002 at Toe Rag Studios in Hackney, London. [2] Jack wrote the song specifically for Meg to sing, and to gain confidence in her singing abilities, she sang more during their live performances. [3]

Composition

"In the Cold, Cold Night" is an alternative rock, blues rock, and garage rock song. [4] Unlike the band's prior work, the song does not have any percussion and features a minimalist soundscape of guitars and bass pedals of a Hammond organ. [5] [6] The song is written in the key of D minor, and Meg's vocals range from soprano to mezzo-soprano. [7] It is about a young woman pleading for her lover to return, though its lyrics have been seen as ambiguous. [8] [9] According to Stephen Trageser of Nashville Scene, the song has an "unsettling" atmosphere, and writers at Billboard called it "tranquil". [3] [10]

Reception

"In the Cold, Cold Night" received positive reviews from music critics. Matt Harvey of BBC said that "Meg speaks and (unlike her drumming) comes across all fey and, well, sort of pre-Raphaelite in a down-town Motor City kind of way. [...] it's all so divinely confident, so sexy." [11] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called her vocals "childlike" and deemed it a "radical departure" for the band from their usual sound; Petridis later included the song on The Guardian's list of "the White Stripes' 20 best songs", and praised the "stark, unaffected quality" of her voice. [12] [13] Ron Hart of Spin called her vocals "sweet and tender", and Cat Clyde wrote: "I remember hearing ‘In the Cold Cold Night’ and being blown away by the depth and simplicity of the song. I felt like it was the first time I had heard something modern reflecting the same energy and intention as early blues music. I loved that Meg’s voice was timid. It felt so real. [...] I still feel today it’s such a perfect recording." [14] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said she "brings a magnetic remoteness" and called it "beautifully weird". [15] On a Medium list ranking 79 songs of the band, "In the Cold, Cold Night" placed in the top 20, and Meg's vocals were called "seductive". [16]

Cover versions

In 2012, Tracey Thorn covered "In the Cold, Cold Night" for her Christmas album Tinsel and Lights. [17] In 2013, singer-songwriter Wanda Jackson covered the song for the compilation album Rockin' Legends Pay Tribute to Jack White. [18]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Elephant. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Wilkinson, Alec (March 5, 2017). "Jack White's Infinite Imagination". The New Yorker . ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  2. ↑ Blackwell, Ben (2023). Elephant UHQR (booklet). Third Man Records.
  3. 1 2 Staff, Billboard (March 24, 2003). "White Stripes Stay Pure On 'Elephant'". Billboard . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Elephant – The White Stripes". AllMusic . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ Pareles, Jon (April 6, 2003). "White Stripe: Same Old Colors". The New York Times . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "In The Cold, Cold Night by The White Stripes - Songfacts". Songfacts . Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "The White Stripes "In the Cold, Cold Night" Sheet Music in D Minor". Musicnotes.com. September 21, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ White, Jack (October 10, 2023). The White Stripes Complete Lyrics. Third Man Books. ISBN   979-8986614526.
  9. ↑ DiCrescenzo, Brent (April 1, 2003). "The White Stripes: Elephant". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  10. ↑ Trageser, Stephen (November 12, 2013). "Wanda Jackson Covers The White Stripes' 'In the Cold, Cold Night'". Nashville Scene . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ Harvey, Matt (2003). "The White Stripes Elephant Review". BBC . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (March 28, 2003). "The White Stripes: Elephant". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (December 5, 2024). "Tall tales, campfire singalongs and Oldham slang: the White Stripes' 20 best songs – ranked!". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  14. ↑ Hart, Ron (April 1, 2023). "Elephant Turns 20: Artists Reflect on the White Stripes' Landmark Album". Spin . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  15. ↑ Breihan, Tom (March 30, 2023). "The White Stripes' 'Elephant' Turns 20". Stereogum . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ M.S, Toby (May 26, 2025). "ALL The White Stripes Songs Ranked". Medium . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ Bartleet, Larry (June 20, 2015). "Eight Unmissable Covers Of White Stripes Songs". NME . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  18. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (November 12, 2013). "Listen: Wanda Jackson Sings the White Stripes' "In the Cold, Cold Night" for Jack White Covers Album". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  19. ↑ Elephant (Liner notes, CD booklet). The White Stripes. 2003. XLCD 162.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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