Cold Heart turns 5: Elton John, Dua Lipa mark 5.3 billion streams
Synopsis
Five years after a pandemic-era friendship sparked one of pop's biggest collabs, 'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)' has crossed 5.3 billion streams — a number that puts it in rare company. Elton John and Dua Lipa marked the milestone together, a reminder that the most unlikely pairings often produce the most enduring music.
Key Takeaways
Elton John and Dua Lipa are celebrating the fifth anniversary of 'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)' , released in August 2021 .
The track has accumulated 5.3 billion streams , making it one of the decade's most-streamed pop collaborations.
The song originated during the COVID-19 pandemic ; the artists' friendship began in November 2020 .
It is a medley produced by dance group Pnau , distributed by EMI and Mercury .
Elton John has sold over 300 million records worldwide and is an EGOT winner ; Dua Lipa holds seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards .
Elton John and Dua Lipa are celebrating the fifth anniversary of their chart-topping collaboration 'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)', a track that has accumulated an extraordinary 5.3 billion streams since its release in August 2021. The milestone underscores the song's enduring global appeal, placing it among the most-streamed pop collaborations of the decade.
How the Celebration Unfolded
The two artists marked the occasion with a joint social media post featuring a series of photographs of the pair together. 'Five years since Cold Heart brought us together, 5.3 billion streams later, and five years of a wonderful friendship. Thank you to all of you for continuing to love and support the track,' the caption read, in a message attributed to both artists.
Origins of the Collaboration
The track was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, with John and Lipa's friendship having taken root in November 2020. Released as the lead single from John's album for digital download and streaming, it was distributed across various countries by EMI and Mercury. The song is a medley of four compositions written by John and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, alongside Andrew Meecham, Dean Meredith, Nicholas Littlemore, Peter Mayes, and Sam Littlemore — the latter three producing the remix as part of the dance music group Pnau.
Elton John: A Legacy in Music
The 79-year-old British singer, composer, and pianist remains one of the best-selling music artists in history, with over 300 million records sold worldwide. An EGOT winner, his accolades include five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He holds nine number-one singles on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, alongside seven consecutive number-one albums on the US Billboard 200. John was appointed Knight Bachelor for services to music and charity in 1998 and inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Dua Lipa: A Generation-Defining Voice
Dua Lipa, the recipient of seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards, launched her self-titled debut album in 2017, which peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and produced singles including 'Be the One', 'IDGAF', and the UK number-one 'New Rules'. She took home the Brit Awards for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act in 2018. Her collaboration 'One Kiss' with Calvin Harris became the best-selling song of 2018 in the UK and won the Brit Award for Song of the Year. She subsequently won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording for 'Electricity' featuring Silk City in 2019.
Five years on, 'Cold Heart' stands as a defining cross-generational pop moment — and with 5.3 billion streams, its reach shows little sign of fading.
Point of View
Which means it benefited from multiple back-catalogues feeding into a single stream count. That is a template the industry has quietly noted. The real question is whether either artist revisits the formula — because on the evidence of 5.3 billion plays, the audience is clearly willing.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)' and who made it?
'Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)' is a collaborative single by Elton John and Dua Lipa, produced by Australian dance group Pnau and released in August 2021 via EMI and Mercury. It is a medley of four songs co-written by John, Bernie Taupin, and members of Pnau.
How many streams has 'Cold Heart' accumulated in five years?
The track has amassed 5.3 billion streams since its August 2021 release, placing it among the most-streamed pop collaborations of the decade. Elton John and Dua Lipa confirmed the figure in a joint anniversary post.
How did the Elton John and Dua Lipa collaboration come about?
The two artists became friends in November 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 'Cold Heart' emerged from that friendship. The track was created and recorded during pandemic-era restrictions.
What are Elton John's major career achievements?
Elton John is an EGOT winner with over 300 million records sold worldwide. His accolades include five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was knighted in 1998 and inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
What awards has Dua Lipa won in her career?
Dua Lipa has received seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. Her honours include the Grammy Award for Best New Artist (2019), Best Dance Recording for 'Electricity', and the Brit Award for Song of the Year for 'One Kiss' with Calvin Harris.
