Elton John drops the music video of his latest collaboration with Britney Spears “Hold Me Closer.” The “Rocket Man” posted on his social media platform presenting the bright-colored clip: “This stunning dance video for Hold Me Closer, shot in Mexico City by the award winning director Tanu Muino beautifully capturing an immeasurable feeling of intimacy so missing from the world through the turmoil and chaos of recent times.”
John and Spears sit this one out and don’t appear in the video. Instead the vivid visuals portray dance partners with contrasting personalities wearing vibrant colors like yellow and blue. Perhaps the most interesting duo is the young girl and the old man who are in gray, dancing across from each other, facing a triangular window. The displayed choreography implies that we are entwined despite our differences and no matter who we are and where we are, all of us are in need of that human touch and connection.
The highly aesthetic clip is directed by Tanu Muino who confesses that, “This was an emotional one for me as I grew up with Britney. After seeing “Slave For You,” I decided that I wanted to become a video director. Elton John is an icon that I and the world grew up listening to,” On the creative direction, Muino continued, “Going into this video, I knew there would be a lot of emotional expectations the audience and fans would have. With this responsibility, I had to do something different and unexpected. The dance had to be forward-thinking to raise eyebrows and make Elton and Britney proud. To capture this magic, we shot around all my favorite architectural locations in Mexico City and brought on choreographer Jacob Jonas who does the best contemporary choreography today. Getting the best dancers, crew, and access to some of the most private locations in the world was simple as everyone wanted to work with Elton John and be part of his legacy.” The Ukrainian video creator has also directed Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Cardi B’s “Up,” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero.”
“Hold Me Closer,” which was released this August is a remake of John’s all time favorite “Tiny Dancer.” Spears adds her pop touch as she sings: I saw you dancin’ out the ocean/ Runnin’ fast along the sand/ A spirit born of earth and water/ Fire flying from your hands.”
In addition to Britney Spears, Elton John has recently collaborated with contemporary artists Yard Act, Eddie Vedder, and Dua Lipa. The British superstar is on his final show in the United States which will be live streamed on Disney+ in November.
Watch the official video for “Hold Me Closer” on YouTube: