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Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's 'Rein Me In' breaks UK singles chart record
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's 'Rein Me In' breaks UK singles chart record

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's duet "Rein Me In" has broken UK singles chart records, spending an unprecedented amount of time at number one.
  • The song, a reworking of Fender's solo track, achieved its success through its authentic lyrics exploring relationship breakdown and Dean's addition of a female perspective.
  • "Rein Me In" has now surpassed previous record holders like Bryan Adams and Wet Wet Wet for the longest run at the top of the UK charts.

Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's collaboration, "Rein Me In," has achieved a historic milestone by breaking the UK singles chart record for the longest time spent at number one. The duet, a reworked version of Fender's track from his Mercury Prize-winning album "People Watching," has captivated listeners and dominated the charts for an extended period.

[It's] very personal and reminded us of home, but when Olivia put her touch on it, it became a much more universal track.

— Sam FenderFender told Radio 1 about how Olivia Dean's contribution elevated his song 'Rein Me In'.

Fender expressed his gratitude, telling Radio 1 that Dean's contribution transformed the song into a "much more universal track." He highlighted the personal nature of the original song, which reminded them of home, but credited Dean's touch for its widespread appeal. "It wouldn't have happened without Olivia obviously, but now I feel like it belongs to the fans, they've made it what it is," Fender stated, emphasizing the fans' role in the song's monumental success.

that's what made it so huge and so beautiful

— Sam FenderFender told Radio 1 about how Olivia Dean's contribution elevated his song 'Rein Me In'.

The journey of "Rein Me In" to the top was not immediate. Originally released as a solo Fender track, it was repurposed as a duet in June 2025 and took eight months to reach number one in February 2026. Dean described the original song as her "favourite song on Sam's album" and relished the opportunity to write a new verse from a female perspective, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative of relationship fallout and the struggle to move on.

I wanted to personally thank Olivia Dean, who helped me achieve my first ever number one single.

— Sam FenderFender expressed his gratitude to his collaborator.

Critics have lauded the song's emotional depth and anthemic quality. It has been described as "stormy, tender and anthemic" and a "love letter to the kind of songwriting that knows when to burn slow." Dean's addition was noted for giving the song "a new depth" and a charm rooted in reflections on origins and future paths. The song's enduring popularity has seen it surpass previous chart-toppers like Wet Wet Wet's "Love Is All Around" (15 weeks), Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" (16 weeks), and Frankie Laine's "I Believe" (18 weeks) in the 1950s.

It wouldn't have happened without Olivia obviously, but now I feel like it belongs to the fans, they've made it what it is.

— Sam FenderFender credited both his collaborator and the fans for the song's success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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