Culture

Fans react to Britney Spears and Elton John’s duet Hold Me Closer: “Song of the year”

By Sam Damshenas

26th August 2022

Britney Spears and Elton John have finally released their duet, Hold Me Closer.

Based on the first three lines of Tiny Dancer, John’s classic 1971 hit, the track has already skyrocketed to number one on the US and UK iTunes charts.

Hold Me Closer also references his 1992 track The One and his iconic collaboration with KiKi Dee, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.

In a tweet, Spears celebrated the release of her first song in six years, saying it’s “pretty damn cool” that she’s duetted with “one of the most classic men of our time”.

“I’m kinda overwhelmed… It’s a big deal to me!!!” she wrote. “I’m meditating more and learning that my space is valuable and precious.”

Hold Me Closer also marks Spears’ first foray into music since her widely-publicised conservatorship was terminated in November 2021.

Responding to her own tweet, the pop icon said she’s “learning everyday is a clean slate to try and be a better person and do what makes me happy,” and that she’s finally ‘choosing’ happiness.

“I tell myself every day to let go of the hurt bitterness and try to forgive myself and others to what may have been hurtful,” she said. “I want to be fearless like when I was younger and not be so scared and fearful.

“I pray there actually is truth to the Holy Spirit and I hope that spirit is with my children as well!!! Yes… I choose happiness and joy today.”

During an interview with The Guardian, John said Spears “sang fantastically” and hit out at those who claim she ‘can’t sing anymore’.

“But I said, she was brilliant when she started so I think she can. And she did it, and I was so thrilled with what she did,” he explained, before adding: “She was so prepared. She had spent time with the record and knew how she wanted to do it.

“She’s unbelievable at layering her voice and doubling, which is one of the hardest things to do. She really pushed herself, vocally. Sometimes when you produce, the greatest thing in the world you can do is say nothing, so I just let her do her thing.

“She’s so good at knowing when she got the right take. She took complete control.”

John opined that, if the song performs well on the charts, “it will give her so much more confidence than she’s got already and she will realise that people actually love her and care for her and want her to be happy.

“That’s all anybody in their right mind would want after she went through such a traumatic time.”

Fans celebrated the release of Hold Me Closer on social media, with one fan account for Spears hailing the duet as the “song of the year”.

Another said it makes them feel “happy, vibrant and like everything will be okay,” before commending Spears’ ‘beautiful’ vocals and John’s “magic”.

Check out the reactions from Twitter below.