Neither artist here needs much of an introduction, although, I am interested to know how, why and when they decided that this duet should happen! It does always surprise me when we see artists' ages appear and I often forget how much time has passed since they were first brought into the public eye. Elton John, now 75 and Britney Spears is now 40! Both artists are undoubtedly icons and have legions of fans across the globe that will buy Hold Me Closer.

Many Elton John fans will realise that the line ‘hold me closer’ is prominent in the classic 1971 track Tiny Dancer, and various re-worked samples are used in this new song. When the main hook kicks in, it’s a vibe that may surprise some listeners, and you can definitely hear the original melody poking through the very poppy production. There’s synths, drums, strings, piano and guitars, but it is the texture of the vocals that is the most surprising. Both male and female leads have been given the treatment with the autotune, giving it a feel of Cher’s late 1990s classic Believe. This is not because Elton and Britney go in and out of tune, it’s perhaps a deliberate move to make the song different from the feel of the 1971 hit. 

The track is produced by Andrew Watt, who’s become quite a musical genius himself, and known for his work with Miley Cyrus and Ozzy Osbourne, plus a blistering guitarist in his own right. 

There’s probably mixed reactions to this new collaboration, but there’s no denying the popularity and power of these two artists. Already the song is gaining impressive chart positions across the world, and many Britney fans will be glad to see her back, and it's a great chance to dip her toes back in the music scene.

Currently trending on Youtube music, one fans comment summed things up well:

“Any true Britney fan will understand what a huge moment this is for Britney. This isn't even just about a new song ... it goes way deeper than that. Whether you like her or not , she deserves this”.

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.