


Stephen Daw: I don’t know about “all about,” but it is absolutely the biggest factor at play here. Second of all, I don’t know that every collaborator he’ll choose will take him straight into the top 10, so that’s where the Britney timing clearly paid off. Elton said in his Guardian interview of these mash-up/cover hybrids: “I want to do one every year for a fun, happy summer record.” First of all, yes please. I don’t think a Spears solo single was guaranteed a top 10 debut, but after the massive success of “Cold Heart” and also the veteran co-sign of Elton John, it was a really safe bet for both artists to join forces. Does that ring true to you, or do you think it’s as much or more about Sir Elton? John has said the song and its early success is “all about” Spears and her comeback following the long battle to get her freed from her conservatorship. It’s a more proven formula now, and “Hold Me Closer” is certainly a winning listen, so its bow is hardly a shock - but for it to outpace “Cold Heart” entirely in one week is still certainly something of a surprise.Ģ. I know it feels somewhat pre-destined that a Britney comeback single would debut in the top 10, but this isn’t a proper official comeback - it’s a relatively low-stakes collab, the kind of thing that pre-“Cold Heart” might’ve felt more like a bonus track on a compilation than a true bid for a contemporary hit. Not only do people want to hear the style of the new music, but they want to hear how Britney sounds.Īndrew Unterberger: I’ll say a 6. But since this is her first new music since publicly shaming her conservatorship and subsequently being released from it, the music is even more newsworthy. If it was simply Britney releasing new music, that would spark interest. I am unsurprised that people want to hear new music from Britney Spears after years of relative silence.

Taylor Mims: My surprise might be at a 2. We’ll see how the song fares from here, but a big debut was always close to a sure thing in my eyes. Combine that hype with the first major post-“Cold Heart” Elton John modern rework - focused on one of his most iconic singles, no less - and you’re going to get a collaboration that has a whole lot of people pressing play on “Hold Me Closer” upon its arrival.

Following her prolonged conservatorship battle that left the large majority of the Internet in her corner (in addition to her already-huge fan base), Britney Spears’ first new single in six years was always going to be a big deal. That being said, Elton John getting a top 10 debut on the Hot 100 in the year 2022 is pretty wild, even if Britney Spears is helping get him there. It was clear as soon as these two announced that they were working together that their song was going to do massive numbers. Of course, pre-release anticipation can only do so much, so it didn’t hurt that “Hold Me Closer” is actually a fun listen that fits in really well right now in pop music.
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There were so many things working in this song’s favor, from all the good will behind Spears’ newly regained professional freedom to “Cold Heart” setting the table for it to be totally normal to hear an Elton John mash-up on the radio in 2022. On a scale from 1-10, how surprised are you by the song’s immediate success? 6 this week - already one spot higher than Elton John’s massive Dua Lipa and PNAU collab “Cold Heart” has climbed in its long Hot 100 run. How expected is the song’s success? And what does this mean for the long-anticipated Britney Spears comeback? Billboard staffers answer these questions and more below.ġ. Five Burning Questions: Blackpink Score First Career No.
