Elton John and Britney Spears release new single Hold Me Closer

Virgin Radio

26 Aug 2022, 06:56

Elton John and Britney Spears have united for the first time to release a new dance single, Hold Me Closer.

The track takes a sample of John’s 1971 hit Tiny Dancer as the foundation for the single and adds pieces from his other songs The One and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, all with Spears’ vocals layered over the top.

It follows in the same vein as Sir Elton’s collaboration with Dua Lipa last year that remixed his popular song Rocket Man with Kiss the Bride, Where’s the Shoorah and Sacrifice.

John has been busy in the past few years with new music, including his 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions, but this will be the first new music from Spears since her 2016 record, Glory.

It is also the first new music the singer is releasing since her conservatorship ended.

Speaking in a statement, John said: “She truly is an icon, one of the all-time great pop stars and she sounds amazing on this record. I love her dearly and am delighted with what we’ve created together.”

Spears also said: “I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with you and your legendary mind.”

She added it was an honour to be asked by the singer to collaborate on the track.

The song opens with both John and Spears singing the lyrics to The One, “I saw you dancing out on the ocean/Running fast along the sand…”

It then fades into the recognisable lyrics of Tiny Dancer: “Hold me closer, tiny dancer/Count the headlights on the highway/Lay me down in sheets of linen/You had a busy day today.”

The track has been produced by Andrew Watt, who has also worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ozzy Osbourne and Miley Cyrus.

Earlier this week, Sir Elton surprised fans at a bar in Cannes with an impromptu performance of the new track.

In a video shared on Elton’s Instagram, the music icon grabs the microphone behind the DJ booth and belts out the fresh track to the packed-out crowd.

During the performance, Elton can be heard hyping up the crowd and yelling: “Elton John and Britney Spears", before giving fans a first listen to the track in its entirety.

You can watch the video here.

Hold Me Closer by Elton John and Britney Spears is out now.