Elton John & Britney Spears, “Hold Me Closer” | Track Review 🎵

“Hold Me Closer” marks the comeback of Britney Spears as well as an iconic collaboration with the legendary Elton John, repurposing three of his classics. 

“Hold me closer, tiny dancer,” 🎙 Elton John sings memorably on his 1972 hit single, 🎵 “Tiny Dancer”.  John, who has landed nine no. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, actually had less success with “Tiny Dancer” compared to the likes of 🎵 “Philadelphia Freedom”, 🎵 “Bennie And The Jets” and, shockingly, 🎵 “Island Girl”! Regardless, everyone and his brother and sister know and love the iconic titular line from “Tiny Dancer” despite the fact it was only a moderate success.  Well, after seeing renewed chart success with 🎵 “Cold Heart”, which repurposes classics by the 🏆 Academy and Grammy-award winning icon, John does it again, this time, repurposing “Tiny Dancer” and tapping 🎙 Britney Spears (!) for the assist.

It’s been ages since ‘brand-new’ music from Britney Spears arrived.  🎵 “Hold Me Closer” marks the first time she’s recorded in years.  To make your comeback with a musical legend is fitting given Spears’ own status as one of the biggest pop stars of the late 90s and 00s.  As mentioned earlier, “Hold Me Closer,” produced by 🎛 watt and 🎛 Cirkut, is patterned after the successful formula behind “Cold Heart.” “Cold Heart” became a huge hit – one of John’s biggest in years – peaking at no. 7 on the Hot 100. There’s no reason to believe “Hold Me Closer” can’t keep the same energy or exceed it.  Crossover appeal is written all over this pop gem, which also samples the no. 1 Elton John hit, 🎵 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and 🎵 “The One”. Vocally, there are plenty of effects in play, which plays into the club/dance aesthetic.  This isn’t the type of record that, say, screams vocal masterclass.  It’s intended to be fun and, obviously, unite two of pop’s greatest stars.

Final Thoughts 💭

Did “Hold Me Closer” have to be the greatest song? Absolutely not! Put Elton John and Britney Spears together and that was all that was necessary.  While I prefer 🎵 “Cold Heart” to “Hold Me Closer,” I love the conception of this track.  I always find it cool when you can reuse and repurpose songs from the past and make new songs. “Tiny Dancer” is > than “Cold Heart” but this is a cool collaboration.  Welcome back, Britney!

🎙 Elton John & Britney Spears • 🎵 “Hold Me Closer” • 🏷 Mercury • 🗓 8.26.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]