Rina Sawayama Teams Up With Elton John
Singer-songwriters Rina Sawayama and Elton John recently got together to sing a duet version of one of Sawayama’s songs “Chosen Family.” “Chosen Family” was originally a track on her first album Sawayama that came out in 2020.
On April 14, Rina Sawayama released the single alongside a video. The video features Sawayama and John singing by a piano together. The song is now available for streaming on all music streaming platforms.
Sawayama says the song is an ode to the LGBTQ community
“I really wanted to write a genuine song, something about celebration. And something specific to the queer community..,the whole song is meant to be a message from a safe space” said Sawayama in an interview with The New York Times.
“We don’t need to be related to relate / We don’t need to share genes or a surname / You are, you are / My chosen, chosen family / So what if we don’t look the same?” she sings.
John reached out to Sawayama first to tell her that he loved her music. Later on, they met in person to record “Chosen Family.”
“Rina’s album Sawayama just blew me away. I had to call her up and tell her how brilliant it was,” said John to The New York Times.
Sawayama released her debut album in 2020 to praise from fans and critics alike. Her album deals with topics like overconsumption, identity, and family. Her incredibly popular single “XS” deals with capitalism and greed.
Sawayama was just as excited to work with John, as he was to work with her.
“It was such a joy and honor to rework ‘Chosen Family’ with the legendary Elton John. The song means so much to both of us, and recording it together was such a special experience I will never forget,” she said.