Rein Me In

"Rein Me In" began as a track on Sam Fender's third album People Watching, but it became something larger when Olivia Dean joined him for a remix released on 20 June 2025 through Polydor Records. The collaboration, which served as the album's sixth single, turned into a slow-burning phenomenon. It climbed the UK Singles Chart for 35 consecutive weeks before finally reaching the top spot in February 2026, breaking Ed Sheeran's record for the longest continuous Top 40 ascent to number one. The song also hit number one in Australia and Ireland, reached number two in New Zealand, and gave Fender his first Billboard Hot 100 entry at number 64.

Musically, the track blends heartland rock with indie rock and pop rock, featuring a jazzy instrumental built around piano and saxophone. The original album version runs 6 minutes and 37 seconds, while the single edit is shorter at 5 minutes and 37 seconds. Fender and Dean co-wrote the song with Max Wolfgang, and production duties were handled by Fender and Markus Dravs. The song's emotional core lies in its depiction of emotional withdrawal and regret, with critics particularly noting how Dean's verse delivers a sharp counterpoint to Fender's narrator.

The song's cultural impact extended beyond the charts. At the 2026 Brit Awards, it won Song of the Year, and Dean's broader success that evening saw her become the first British female solo artist to place four singles simultaneously in the UK top ten. The official music video, filmed at St James' Park in Newcastle during a June 2025 concert, captures the live energy of the collaboration. [edit]