Elton John has surprised guests at La Guérite restaurant in Cannes by performing part of his forthcoming collaborative single with Britney Spears, ‘Hold Me Closer’.
On John’s Instagram page, the singer was streamed live to a DJ booth at the restaurant, greeted the DJs and then got them to play the single. John announced the song over a wireless microphone and continued singing his parts over it.
Watch the full live stream below:
As the song’s title suggests, “Hold Me Closer” features an interpolation of the chorus of John’s 1971 hit “Tiny Dancer.” The song also features an interpolation of “The One,” the title track of his 1992 album. As Variety noted, This overhaul of John’s back catalog reflects the format used on “Cold Heart,” his #1 single of 2021 with Dua Lipa and PNAU.
“Hold Me Closer” will also be the first official single with Spears since ending her conservatorship last year. Her latest single to date was 2020’s “Matches,” a collaboration with the Backstreet Boys that appeared on the deluxe reissue of their 2016 album Glory.
John is currently taking part in the resumed Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour which was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic and will now see John back on tour until at least 2023.