Sir Elton John wanted ‘Hold Me Closer’ to suit people drinking and dancing in Ibiza.
The ‘Tiny Dancer’ legend has reworked his iconic track as part of a new duet with Britney Spears, and producer Andrew Watt had pondered the one-year-old musician’s instructions for the collaboration.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: “What Elton said to me brilliantly was, ‘Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.
“’It’s not the ‘New Tiny Dancer’; it’s a fun new version that people can listen to when they’re having a drink in Ibiza and dancing to it. It’s not serious.’
“I was like, ‘Okay, let me fucking put this hat on: I’m in Ibiza. I’ve got a f****** tequila in my hand. What do I want to listen to? , but what else does Elton feel?’ ”
Meanwhile, Watt revealed Britney, AGE, was very involved in the creative process.
He explained, “She had her own ideas. She wanted to speed up the record a bit, and we did.
“She’s so pro about dance music and understands that stuff and what works for her.”
As for the recording of the song, the producer revealed that the “…Baby One More Time” hitmaker just needed a day in his studio to nail his parts, and she was enough to listening to know when she needed extra takes.
He added, “She knew exactly what she wanted to do. She had spent tons of time with the record; she knew all the lyrics; it was, like, her thing.
“And it was really awesome to witness and see her be so powerful and crush it.
“She sounds amazing on the record, and she was involved right through to the final mix.”
