Elton John and Dua Lipa Reflect on Five Years of “Cold Heart”

Elton John and Dua Lipa Celebrate 5 Years of “Cold Heart”

Five years after “Cold Heart” brought Elton John and Dua Lipa together, the artists are celebrating the song’s massive global impact and the friendship that followed.

August 13, 2026: Five years after its release, “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” continues to be one of the most successful collaborations of Elton John and Dua Lipa’s careers.

The pair recently reflected on the milestone in a joint Instagram post, celebrating five years since the song first brought them together. According to their post, “Cold Heart” has now surpassed 5.3 billion streams, while the two artists have also built a friendship that has continued well beyond the recording studio.

For Elton John and Dua Lipa, the song became much more than another collaboration. It introduced two generations of pop music to each other and gave fans a track that could feel both nostalgic and completely contemporary.

HOLR breaks down the story behind “Cold Heart,” its remarkable streaming success and the friendship Elton John and Dua Lipa have developed since the song was released.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)

“Cold Heart” Brought Two Generations Together

When “Cold Heart” arrived in 2021, the collaboration immediately stood out.

Elton John was already one of the most celebrated musicians in modern music history, with a catalog spanning decades. Dua Lipa, meanwhile, was entering a new stage of her career after the enormous success of her second studio album, Future Nostalgia.

Bringing the two artists together created a bridge between different generations of pop music.

The song also had another creative force behind it.

Australian electronic trio PNAU transformed elements from several Elton John classics into a modern dance track, giving familiar melodies a completely new setting.

The PNAU Remix Made the Song Feel New

“Cold Heart” was built around elements of Elton John’s earlier music, including “Rocket Man,” “Sacrifice,” “Kiss That Frog” and “Where’s the Shoorah?”

Rather than simply reproducing those songs, PNAU blended recognizable pieces into a fresh electronic production.

That approach helped introduce some of John’s classic music to listeners who may have discovered the songs through Dua Lipa.

For longtime Elton John fans, meanwhile, the track offered a nostalgic experience with a modern beat.

That balance became one of the song’s biggest strengths.

Image Credit: Instagram @dualipa

Dua Lipa Added a New Pop Energy

Dua Lipa’s contribution gave “Cold Heart” another layer.

Her lower-register vocals fit naturally alongside Elton John’s distinctive voice, while the dance production connected the song with the sound that had helped define her Future Nostalgia era.

The collaboration also made sense within Dua’s growing reputation for disco and dance-inspired pop.

By 2021, she had already established herself as one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

Working with Elton John allowed her to connect that contemporary sound with one of music history’s most recognizable artists.

“Cold Heart” Became a Global Hit

The song quickly moved beyond being a high-profile collaboration and became a genuine international hit.

“Cold Heart” reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom, giving Elton John his first UK No. 1 single since “Sacrifice” topped the chart in 1990 and making Dua Lipa part of another major milestone in his career.

The track also performed strongly across international charts.

Its success demonstrated the power of combining recognizable catalog music with modern production and a current pop voice.

The song’s popularity did not disappear after its initial release, either.

Its continued presence on streaming platforms has helped it reach billions of plays.

Image Credit: Instagram @dualipa

Five Years Later, the Numbers Are Still Growing

The latest milestone shared by John and Lipa is particularly impressive.

The artists revealed that “Cold Heart” has now accumulated 5.3 billion streams.

That number reflects the song’s remarkable longevity.

Many songs experience a major surge when they are first released before gradually fading from the public conversation.

“Cold Heart” has taken a different path.

Its connection to Elton John’s classic catalog gives it a timeless quality, while the production keeps it accessible to newer listeners.

The result is a track that continues to find audiences years after its release.

The Collaboration Turned Into a Friendship

The latest anniversary post is also about more than streaming numbers.

John and Lipa specifically celebrated five years of friendship.

That detail has become an important part of their story.

The pair have continued to support one another publicly since working together, and their relationship has developed beyond the professional collaboration that originally brought them together.

For fans, that friendship adds another emotional layer to the song.

What began as a recording session ultimately became a relationship between two artists from different generations who clearly appreciate one another.

Image Credit: Instagram @dualipa

Elton John Has Continued to Champion Dua Lipa

John has frequently spoken positively about Dua Lipa and her work.

The veteran musician has also welcomed younger artists into his orbit through collaborations and his broader work supporting emerging talent.

His connection with Dua has been particularly visible.

Their appearances together have often shown a relaxed friendship rather than a purely promotional partnership.

That chemistry was part of what made the original “Cold Heart” collaboration so appealing.

The two artists appeared comfortable sharing the spotlight.

Dua Lipa Has Embraced the Connection

For Dua, working with Elton represented a meaningful connection to one of the artists whose music has influenced generations.

Her career has often involved blending contemporary pop with sounds associated with earlier eras.

“Cold Heart” fit that approach perfectly.

The track allowed her to participate in Elton John’s musical legacy while also bringing her own modern audience to the collaboration.

Five years later, the relationship has clearly remained meaningful.

Why “Cold Heart” Has Lasted

There are several reasons the song continues to connect with listeners.

First, it contains melodies that many people already recognize.

Second, PNAU’s production gives those familiar elements a contemporary dance sound.

Third, the contrast between Elton John’s legendary status and Dua Lipa’s modern pop presence makes the collaboration feel distinctive.

Most importantly, the song is easy to return to.

It works as a nostalgic listen for Elton fans and as a dance-pop track for younger audiences who may have encountered Dua first.

That cross-generational appeal has helped it remain relevant.

A Full-Circle Moment for Both Artists

The five-year anniversary is also a reminder of how much has changed since 2021.

Dua Lipa has continued to expand her global career, releasing new music, touring internationally and establishing herself as one of pop’s biggest stars.

Elton John, meanwhile, has continued to celebrate his extraordinary musical legacy while spending more time away from the demands of traditional touring.

Yet “Cold Heart” remains a shared chapter in both careers.

The song represents a moment when two different generations of pop music came together and created something that lasted.

Five Years, Billions of Streams and a Lasting Friendship

For Elton John and Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart” has become more than a successful single.

It is a reminder of what can happen when artists from different generations approach a collaboration with genuine enthusiasm.

The 5.3 billion-stream milestone is impressive on its own, but the artists’ celebration of their five-year friendship may be just as meaningful.

The song brought them together professionally.

Their friendship allowed that connection to continue personally.

HOLR breaks down the five-year milestone, and “Cold Heart” remains a standout example of how classic music can find new life when paired with contemporary artists and modern production.

Five years later, the track is still being streamed around the world.

And if Elton John and Dua Lipa’s latest message is anything to go by, the friendship behind the song is just as strong as the music itself.