Sam Fender’s show at the London Stadium in June 2025 remains momentous for many reasons. It was the midway point of the rollout of his Mercury Prize-winning LP People Watching, and also his largest ever headline show. But perhaps the most consequential moment from it came midway through the set, album deep cut “Rein Me In” got an airing, with the show’s support act Olivia Dean, then a rising star, joining on vocals for a new verse. Now their careers — and that song — appear unstoppable.
“Rein Me In” is in record-breaking territory on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart. The track has earned 18 weeks at No. 1, and became the longest-running No. 1 single of the 21st century after 15, surpassing Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” It is now tied in the all-time rankings, trailing on Frankie Laine’s “I Believe,” which also notched 18 weeks at the summit back in 1953.
In February, it earned the BRIT Awards’ publicly voted song of the year prize, with Dean and Fender on hand to collect the prize in Manchester. Amidst chart dominance in early May, Dean returned the favor by inviting Fender to give the song a rare live outing at her headline performances at London’s O2 Arena. Both are now leading the way for British acts on the global stage, capping off a remarkable turnaround for the scene.
This is the story of how a fan favorite became one of the biggest U.K. chart successes of all time.
from Billboard https://ift.tt/IF9H5ri
