Elton John and Britney Spears have issued their duet single, “Hold My Closer,” which had been teased extensively. The track, released at 12M ET on August 26, 2022, represents a comeback for Spears who turned 40 on Dec. 2, 2021. She burst on the scene as a teenager in 1998 with the worldwide #1 smash, “Baby One More Time,” the so-called “Princess of Pop” sold tens of millions of records and had many sold-out tours. She has not had a Top 10 single on the Hot 100 since 2012.
Okie dokie … my first song in 6 years 🎶 !!!! It’s pretty damn cool that I’m singing with one of
the most classic men of our time … @eltonofficial 🚀!!!! I’m kinda overwhelmed… it’s a big deal to me !!! I’m meditating more 🧘🏼♀️ and learning my space is valuable and precious !!!— Britney Spears 🌹🚀 (@britneyspears) August 25, 2022
The “Hold Me Closer” songwriting is credited to Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Andrew Wotman and Henry Walter. Much of it, including its title, is based on “Tiny Dancer.” John also plays piano and keyboards on the track.
The much-loved “Tiny Dancer” was one of the singles from John’s 1971 album, Madman Across the Water, which received a delayed 50th anniversary deluxe edition earlier this year.
When it was initially released, “Tiny Dancer” only reached #41 on the U.S. singles chart. It has gone on to become one of John’s most loved songs with his worldwide fanbase, third only to “Rocket Man” and “Your Song” in global streaming numbers.
Listen to “Hold Me Closer”
John had teased the track at an event several days earlier.
Sneak peak of Hold Me Closer – out this Friday 🌹🚀#HoldMeCloser pic.twitter.com/O7ull88sl4
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 23, 2022
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationNo no no! Why does Elton feel the need to go back and bastardize his early work? Can you imagine Dylan duetting with Lizzo on “Tangled Up In Blue”? If anything they could have chosen a lesser known and loved song from his catalog. (“Love Song” from Tumbleweed, perhaps?) Do either one of them really need the money that bad? C’mon Elton, how about a full-throated rock n roll album, and not this Auto Tune crap.