Britney Spears

Elton John has recalled how he helped Britney Spears overcome her "fear" of returning with new music following a six-year hiatus.

I pray there actually is truth to the Holy Spirit and I hope that spirit is with my children as well !!! “I want to be fearless like when I was younger and not be so scared and fearful. She continued: “I’m learning everyday is a clean slate to try and be a better person and do what makes me happy … “We had to get her to approve what she did,” he told the publication. “That’s all anybody in their right mind would want after she went through such a traumatic time.” “It’s a big deal to me!!!” she wrote.

After a six-year hiatus, Britney Spears made her musical comeback on Friday with the release of "Hold Me Closer," her collaboration with Elton John.

reviewer Will Hodgkinson was not as enthusiastic. , "There's something about Britney's voice and a dance track that just go extremely well together -- like red wine and a basket of bread. He adds that "Spears seems to hint at finding that for herself again in music. You sound so good!" Another said: "welcome back!!!! We have missed you so much Brit, you can't imagine how happy it makes me to hear you singing again," one fan wrote on Twitter.

#WelcomeBackBritney: Fans Around the World Praise Britney Spears' Return to Music After Conservatorship Battle · Related Stories · More From Variety · Most Popular ...

Thinking about the things she went through and yet she still POWERFUL as ever! She is so resilient and strong, you can feel it through her voice! [pic.twitter.com/Zh8qH6rOdS] [August 26, 2022] "She’s unbelievable at layering her voice and doubling, which is one of the hardest things to do. She really pushed herself, vocally. [#HoldMeCloser] [pic.twitter.com/lVEPLR1e8b] [August 26, 2022] The Grammy-winning pop icon has sold more than 100 million records throughout her career, with numerous No. Aside from Spears being one of the top-selling artists of all time, public interest is more palpable than ever for the star with her conservatorship story striking a chord around the world. ‘For the first time in 13 years, that is up to one person and one person only: Britney,” Rosengart said in a statement to Variety. [@britneyspears] [#HoldMeCloser] [pic.twitter.com/GE7zlgf5qa] [August 26, 2022] Spears’ legal battle continues, as the singer fights against her father, Jamie Spears, who oversaw her conservatorship, and her former business manager, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group. Hours after the track launched online , it already tops sales on iTunes across 30 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Israel and Sweden, according to Kworb.

Britney's new collaboration with Elton John “Hold Me Closer” is 1) gorgeous/perfect, 2) available to listen to everywhere, 3) already the #1 song on iTunes in ...

This content is imported from YouTube. This content is imported from Twitter. No one should be surprised that her first foray is a smash success. As I’ve said all along, Britney is a brilliant artist and iconic person. ‘For the first time in 13 years, that is up to one person and one person only: Britney. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

In a new interview, the legendary Rocket Man detailed how he got the Princess of Pop to return to the studio for the first time in six years — and since the end ...

“Now I’ve got the experience to be able to advise people and help them because I don’t want to see any artists in a dark place.” “Rehabilitation is such a wonderful thing for anybody,” John said. 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.” She took complete control.” That’s all anybody in their right mind would want after she went through such a traumatic time.”

Hear tracks by Margo Price, Julia Jacklin and Michael Kiwanuka.

“Amorpha” starts with plinking mallet percussion patterns that recall Steve Reich’s “Music for 18 Musicians,” but the 10-minute piece soon takes its own dizzying path, with undulating synthesizers, flickers of hyperspeed and slyly shifting meters behind its steady pulse. Bitchin Bajas is the jokey name of a serious instrumental trio from Chicago that explores the possibilities of repetition where minimalism, psychedelia, jazz, dub and electronica overlap. Their overlap is in stately songs with hymnlike chords, and that’s what “Weird Goodbyes” is: Matt Berninger of the National and Vernon sharing harmonies in lyrics about self-doubt. In her conversational delivery, Jacklin offers a font of healthy and practical advice: Quit smoking, drive the speed limit and put away some money in case of an emergency because, as she admits, “I’m making plans for my future and I plan on you being in it.” It’s a tender sentiment, but the song crackles with an undercurrent of jangly, distorted guitar and palpable anxiety, as Jacklin frets that a love so pure is doomed to be lost. [Margo Price](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/arts/music/margo-price-all-american-made.html) contains multitudes on her rollicking new single “Been to the Mountain”: “I’ve been a dancer, a saint, an assassin,” she sings with a hard-living swagger atop a chugging guitar riff. Stories like this are possible because of our deep commitment to original reporting, produced by a global staff of over 1,700 journalists who have all dedicated themselves to helping you understand the world. PARELES “Calm Down,” by the Nigerian singer Rema, has been an international hit — more than 100 million plays on Spotify — since February. In between, Spears and John mostly sing in unison, but she grabs just enough melismatic flourishes — and a distinctive “baby” — to make her presence known. As he did last year with Dua Lipa in [“Cold Heart,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fheer5B1P_M) he has reclaimed hooks from his old songs over a plush disco track, then enlisted a headlining duet partner. [Listen to the Playlist on Spotify here](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gtlT7gXefz0ewzdm6zf9n?si=03dc15128e5d4d43) (or find our profile: nytimes). Just want the music?

Britney Spears has made one of the most remarkable comebacks ever in music ... exactly one year ago she was locked in a contentious conservatorship -- one ...

He's found a way to take some of his amazing songs and put a spin on them with younger artists, and it's clearly working. There was a little drama during the post-production, but all worked out. exactly one year ago she was locked in a contentious conservatorship -- one year later she's shot to the top of the music charts in spectacular fashion. It's pretty damn cool that I'm singing with one of the most classic men of our time … She hasn't released music in 6 years. The song is #1 in 35 countries, including England.

Spears's music has long explored forms of intimacy and connection: fame, dance, and sexuality, making her new single with Elton John a perfect comeback.

[relationship to her body](https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/britney-spears-instagram) and [her love of performing](https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/britney-spears-instagram). She also shared her sadness about having been [diminished by her “‘classy’ white family,”](https://people.com/music/britney-spears-sings-and-calls-out-family-i-needed-to-be-my-own-cheerleader/) which caused her to retreat into a state of denial. and here's me playing at my house with a different version of ‘Baby.’” She replaced her famous teenage vocals with a [’90s-style Natalie Merchant angsty contralto](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/britney-spears-baby-one-more-time-watch-video-1235318157/amp/), bringing out some of the sadness and desperation that always lurked in the song’s plea for a sign. a different version of 'Baby' but have the producers actually work for me and put it together.” That month, [Elton John reached out to her](https://variety.com/2022/music/news/britney-spears-elton-john-hold-me-closer-tiny-dancer-1235335992/amp/) about a duet. In the original “Tiny Dancer,” the chorus is addressed to a mystery woman, a collage of earthy, blue jeans–clad women of the ’70s, inspired by Maxine Feibelman, John’s collaborator and cowriter Bernie Taupin’s then-wife. [in the caption](https://www.instagram.com/p/CgDRvTxMVRR/). [Remixes of her hits](https://twitter.com/popcrave/status/1416538015829266441?lang=en) were given to her sister to sing. “But no, I was told this is the timeline and this is how it’s going to go.” She couldn’t even [drink coffee](https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/146182/Britney-Spears-claims-she-was-banned-from-drinking-coffee-during-Las-Vegas-concerts) or [hang out](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-las-vegas-residency-went-out-twice-9618820/amp/) in the city. “I’d been doing Vegas for four years and I needed a break in between,” she [explained at a hearing](https://variety.com/2021/music/news/britney-spears-full-statement-conservatorship-1235003940/). That seems, in retrospect, to mark the beginning of the end of Britney Spears as we knew her. She leaned into deeper bluesiness on ballads like "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" and “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart,” where she soft-growls with the country western grit first displayed in Throughout the aughts, the pop star’s troubles kept tabloids and gossip blogs in business as her own career and personal life seemed to unravel in front of the world.

Now that's an occasion to celebrate. A moment that pop fans have spent years waiting for. “Hold Me Closer” is her collaboration with Elton John, tripping ...

And “Passenger” is her version of Beyonce’s “Halo,” a power ballad about finally finding a companion she trusts enough to take the wheel. [debut](https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/britney-spears-baby-one-more-time-anniversary-rob-sheffield-777564/), all the way to her genius [It’s Britney Bitch](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-blackout-a-salute-to-her-misunderstood-punk-masterpiece-121525/) trilogy of Blackout, Circus, and Femme Fatale. But I said, she was brilliant when she started so I think she can.” Like the rest of us, Elton hopes this leads to more. The moment where she sighs, “This is living!”—well, that’s a lot like how “Hold Me Closer” feels. She’s not your perfect little American metaphor—she’s a fighter who’s steadily built one of the most amazing songbooks in the annals of pop noise. If you really want to appreciate “Hold Me Closer,” go back to Glory and open your ears to what she’s doing in “Clumsy” and “Man in the Moon.” And savor the bonus track “Swimming in the Stars”—Knee Knee was on a real streak with Bowie-style astro-love ballads. It helps that she’s got another legend in her corner, cheering her on: Elton John, who she calls “one of the classic men of our time.” Elton is a million different things, but chief among them is that he’s the most devout of pop fans. There’s no other sound quite like that droid-soul glitch-twang in Britney’s voice – think “Toxic,” “Lucky,” “Piece of Me” – speaking to the bored, frustrated, ready-to-explode disaster queen in all of us.” As she wrote this week, “I want to be fearless like when I was younger and not be so scared and fearful.” You can hear that in “Hold Me Closer.” For a woman who’s got every reason and then some to feel bitter, it’s poignant to hear her reclaim her voice, singing the word “closer” three times in a row, hitting each one harder. “Alien” is the mother of all Britney-as-Bowie ballads, where she drifts sadly through the cosmos to William Orbit space bleeps. “Hold Me Closer” is her collaboration with [Elton John](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/elton-john/), tripping through a few of his classic hits with a disco throb. [debut single ](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/greatest-debut-songs-singles-990470/britney-spears-baby-one-more-time-2-990475/)“Baby One More Time,” she’s been counted out, written off as a joke, dismissed as a puppet.

Britney Spears tweeted that she was "kinda overwhelmed" by teaming up with Elton John for "Hold Me Closer," a club-ready take on his hit "Tiny Dancer."

“Now I’ve got the experience to be able to advise people and help them because I don’t want to see any artists in a dark place.” There’s a lot of fear there because she’s been betrayed so many times and she hasn’t really been in the public eye officially for so long,” he said. “We’ve been holding her hand through the whole process, reassuring her that everything’s gonna be alright.” [since-deleted](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-deletes-instagram-after-teasing-elton-john-collab-1235130829/) account. Spears, who was placed under the conservatorship in 2008 after exhibiting erratic behavior in public, argued in court that it was “embarrassing” and “abusive” toward her. In addition to having to seek permission for medical treatment, such as the removal of her IUD, Spears recalled being forced to perform while unwell.

Paris Hilton is "sliving" for Britney Spears and Elton John's new song, "Hold Me Closer," and posted a video of her dancing to the hit track on TikTok.

“I just heard it a couple days ago in Ibiza, and it is, it’s insane.” She looked stunning, and it just made me so happy to see that she found her fairy tale.” “So we stand by her and root for her as she turns pain into purpose, her unwavering spirit stronger than ever.” [Up Next](https://pagesix.com/2022/08/26/jennifer-lopez-performed-at-her-wedding-to-ben-affleck/) [ended in November 2021](https://pagesix.com/2021/11/12/britney-spears-conservatorship-is-officially-over/), the “Stronger” singer was able to focus on some of her life goals, including [marrying her longtime boyfriend](https://pagesix.com/2022/06/09/britney-spears-marries-sam-asghari-in-fairy-tale-wedding/), Sam Asghari. [new song, “Hold Me Closer.”](https://pagesix.com/2022/08/26/elton-john-britney-spears-release-hold-me-closer-listen/)

11:24 AM PT -- Britney just posted a hype video of her own, with a message to Elton John ... she says she's about to have the best day ever celebrating the ...

The video exchange gives a ton of insight into Britney and Drew's friendship ... and Britney makes it clear she wants to get together and take some fun pics. 11:24 AM PT -- Britney just posted a hype video of her own, with a message to Elton John ... and expressing how proud she is to be back on top of the music world. and TMZ has the video messages they exchanged!!! [Elton John](https://www.tmz.com/people/elton-john/) collab, "Hold Me Closer," so she sent Britney a congratulatory message on video ...

Elton John and Britney Spears have released Hold Me Closer, their hotly anticipated new single. The upbeat track features elements of three songs from ...

I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with you and your legendary mind.” Britney Spears added: “I was so honoured when the incredible Sir Elton John asked me to join him on one his most iconic songs. I love her dearly and am delighted with what we've created together.” While John didn’t re-record his vocals for Hold Me Closer, he did play a new Rhodes piano part, and there are some acoustic piano flourishes that we assume are his as well. He’s set to be at the helm for the next Pearl Jam album, too. Watt added that Spears was also “incredibly specific” about how her vocals were mixed.

WEST HOLLYWOOD CA FEBRUARY 24 Recording Artist Britney Spears and Sir Elton John attend the 21st. Michael Kovac/Getty Images.

“Saw you dancing, out the ocean.” This is how Britney and Elton open the song – and it’s precisely how I wish to be listening to this brand new tune. The song has a steady, smooth disco beat; the type you could dance slowly to all night long without ever getting tired of it. After her 13-year-long conservatorship was formally ended in November last year, the princess of pop Britney Spears is back with new music – and she’s enlisted none other than fellow pop icon Elton John to do it with her.

Britney Spears' fans around the world are praising the pop star's return to music after she dropped her new single with Elton John.

Aside from Spears being one of the top-selling artists of all time, public interest is more palpable than ever for the star with her conservatorship story striking a chord around the world. ‘For the first time in 13 years, that is up to one person and one person only: Britney,” Rosengart said in a statement to Variety. The Grammy-winning pop icon has sold more than 100 million records throughout her career, with numerous No. Spears’ legal battle continues, as the singer fights against her father, Jamie Spears, who oversaw her conservatorship, and her former business manager, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group. “No one should be surprised that her first foray is a smash success. Hours after the track launched online, it already topped sales on iTunes across 30 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Israel and Sweden, according to Kworb.

Britney Spears is featured on Elton John's "Hold Me Closer" makeover, which debuted Thursday night and marked Spears' first song in six years.

“I’m about to have the best day ever and I hope you’re well.” [#1](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/1?lang=en) in 33 countries!! [@eltonofficial](https://twitter.com/eltonofficial) !!!!” the “Stronger” singer [tweeted](https://twitter.com/britneyspears/status/1562603307968778240) ahead of the song’s release. Anyways, when are me and you going to get together and have our own individual, cool sexy momma picture, OK? “We’ve been holding her hand through the whole process, reassuring her that everything’s gonna be alright.” I miss you and thank you for sending me that, that was brilliant.” [@britneyspears](https://www.tiktok.com/@britneyspears?lang=en) and [@eltonjohn](https://www.tiktok.com/@eltonjohn?lang=en),” the “Charlie’s Angels” star captioned the video. “I really needed to hear [that message] this morning,” the “Toxic” musician said in her response. “I’m kinda overwhelmed… It’s pretty damn cool that I’m singing with one of the most classic men of our time … I’m meditating more and learning my space is valuable and precious !! “Okie dokie …

Spears teamed up with Elton John for the mashup "Hold Me Closer"

“Hold Me Closer” may be a tepid offering that fails to utilize everything Spears brings to the table as a pop star, but it serves as a triumphant victory lap regarding the end of her lengthy conservatorship. “Sometimes when you produce, the greatest thing in the world you can do is say nothing, so I just let her do her thing. Watts stepped back and witnessed the pop icon hold herself to her own high standards, re-recording lines and bringing in new ideas without his input. But I said, she was brilliant when she started so I think she can. “She was so prepared. “She’s unbelievable at layering her voice and doubling, which is one of the hardest things to do.

Comment on this storySuspensionBritney Spears is back, with a player in the club.Spears teamed up with Elton John for a new song "hold me closeA.

“Now I have the experience to be able to advise and help people because I don’t want to see any artists in a dark place.” [since deletion](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-deletes-instagram-after-teasing-elton-john-collab-1235130829/) the account. John has collaborated with a wide range of artists in recent years, including Brandi Carlile, Nicki Minaj, and Yo-Yo Ma. “She was so far away. Spears, who was placed under guardianship in 2008 after exhibiting strange behavior in public, argued in court that it was “embarrassing” and “offensive” towards her. Soon after the guardianship was lifted, she said on Instagram that she was taking a break