Hold Me Closer

Hold Me CloserSingle by Elton John (feat. Britney Spears)
General information
Artist(s)	Elton John (feat. Britney Spears)
Recorded	July 19-20, 2022
Released	August 26, 2022 (streaming) August 30, 2022 (radio date)
Format	Digital download
Genre	Disco • disco pop • new wave
Length	3:22
Album	The Lockdown Sessions
Label	Universal • Interescope
Songwriter(s)	Elton John • Bernie Taupin • Andrew Wotman • Henry Walter
Producer(s)	Watt • Cirkut
Singles Chronology
Previous	"Matches" (2020)
Current	"Hold Me Closer" (2022)
Next	"MIND YOUR BUSINESS" (2023)
Music Video
Audio

"Hold Me Closer" is a song by English singer Elton John and American recording artist Britney Spears. The song is mainly a remix of three of the former's songs, with Spears providing vocals as a duet with John. The song was released to digital platforms on August 26, 2022, both on streaming services and Italian radio stations.

Background

On August 8, 2022, John confirmed the collaboration, calling it a remake of his 1972 single "Tiny Dancer". On 19 August, the single was officially announced, along with its release date. On 22 August, John shared a snippet of the song on his social media. The day after, Spears posted a snippet of the song on her social media, revealing new elements of John's 1992 single "The One" in the duet, and thanked him for having her on the record. That same day, John released an animated teaser for the song's audio visualiser.

Release

"Hold Me Closer" was released to digital platforms and streaming on August 26, 2022. Similar to most songs released through Interscope and Universal, the song was firstly prompted to Italian radio stations and streaming services on August 26, while United States radio stations had a four-day delay.

An audio video was also released alongside the single.

Critical reception

The song received generally a polarizing response from critics and fans. Some heavily criticized both artists' vocals, and its simplistic childlike sound; while others praised its "cute" and "positive" feel. Spears's vocals were praised as "heartwarming". The song received mixed reviews from fans.

Commercial performance

The song is a commercial success, immediately topping the iTunes charts in numerous countries. The song topped weekly charts in Australia, Hungary, and Israel, and reached the top ten in multiple countries such as Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Lyrics

[Intro: Elton John]
(Hold me closer)
(Hold me closer)
(Hold me closer)
(Hold me closer)

[Verse 1: Elton John & Britney Spears, Elton John]
I saw you dancin' out the ocean
Runnin' fast along the sand
A spirit born of earth and water
Fire flyin' from your hands (Oh)

[Chorus: Elton John & Britney Spears, Britney Spears]
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today, oh

[Post-Chorus: Elton John & Britney Spears]
Hold me closer, hold me closer (Hold me closer)
Hold me closer, hold me closer

[Verse 2: Elton John, Britney Spears & Both]
There are caravans we follow
Drunken nights in dark hotels, baby (Yeah)
When chances breathe between the silence
Where sex and love no longer gel, oh

[Chorus: Elton John & Britney Spears, Britney Spears]
Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway (Yeah)
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today

[Post-Chorus: Elton John & Britney Spears]
Hold me closer, hold me closer (Baby, baby)
Hold me closer, hold me closer (Oh, yeah)

[Outro: Elton John & Britney Spears]
(Hold me closer)
(Hold me closer)
Hold me closer
(Hold me closer) Me closer, me closer
(Hold me closer) Mm, yeah

Tracklisting

• Digital download and streaming

1. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22

• Digital download (Joel Corry remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Joel Corry remix) – 4:08

• Streaming (Joel Corry remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Joel Corry remix) – 4:08
2. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22

• Digital download (Purple Disco Machine remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Purple Disco Machine remix) – 3:38
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Purple Disco Machine extended mix) – 5:54

• Streaming (Purple Disco Machine remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Purple Disco Machine remix) – 3:38
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Purple Disco Machine extended mix) – 5:54
3. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22

• Digital download (Pink Panda remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Pink Panda remix) – 3:01
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Pink Panda extended mix) – 3:52

• Streaming (Pink Panda remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (Pink Panda remix) – 3:01
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Pink Panda extended mix) – 3:52
3. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22

• Digital download (acoustic)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (acoustic) – 3:22

• Streaming (acoustic)

1. "Hold Me Closer" (acoustic) – 3:22
2. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22

• CD single 1 (with extended mix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22
2. "Hold Me Closer" (extended mix)

• CD single 2 (with Joel Corry remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Joel Corry remix) – 4:08

• CD single 3 (with Purple Disco Machine remix)

1. "Hold Me Closer" – 3:22
2. "Hold Me Closer" (Purple Disco Machine remix) – 3:38

Trivia & Notes

• It was Spears's first song to be recorded in nearly five years, and her first release in two years.
  • It is also her first song to be released after the termination of her 13 year conservatorship
• The track was leaked six days prior to the official release.
• Many fans have expressed that they prefer the demo over the finalized version due to Spears' vocals being inaudible.
• The song interpolates three songs by John, "The One" (1992) and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) as the verses; and "Tiny Dancer" (1971) for the hook/chorus.
• In Australia, the song debuted atop the AIRA charts, becoming Spears's first number one hit there since "Everytime", and her sixth overall in the country.
• In the United States, the song debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Spears's first song to do so since "I Wanna Go". It also debuted atop the chart of the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, only the third song to do so.
• John's husband and manager, David Furnish, revealed that John would love to collaborate with Spears again in the future. However, there are no confirmed plans for another project at this time.
• The song was later included on John's collaborative studio album, The Lockdown Sessions, as a bonus track.

Music videos

Elton John, Britney Spears - Hold Me Closer (Official Video)

Music video

Elton John & Britney Spears Hold Me Closer

Lyric video

Elton John & Britney Spears ‘Hold Me Closer (Official Audio)’

Official audio

Accolades

Accolades received by "Hold Me Closer"

Year	Award	Category	Results
2022	NRJ Music Awards	International Collaboration of the Year	Nominated
2022	People's Choice Awards	The Collaboration Song of 2022	Nominated
2023	Electronic Music Awards	Dance Song of the Year (Radio)	Nominated
		Remix of the Year	Won
2023	Billboard Music Awards	Top Dance/Electronic Song	Nominated
2023	BreakTudo Awards	International Collaboration	Nominated

Credits and personnel

• Elton John – vocals, songwriting, piano, keyboards
• Britney Spears – vocals
• Bernie Taupin – songwriting
• Andrew Watt – keyboards, bass guitar, guitar, drums, songwriting
• Cirkut – keyboards, programming, songwriting
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Şerban Ghenea – mixing
• Bryce Bordone – assistant mixer
• Paul LaMalfa – recording engineer