Olivia Dean and Sam Fender’s “Rein Me In” has now ruled the U.K.’s Official Singles chart for 14 weeks, making it one of the longest-ruling smashes of all time. Freddie Mercury of Queen, 1982 Tour at the Various Locations in Oakland, California (Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage)
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Just when it looked like “Rein Me In,” the massively popular collaboration by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, has finally finished its streak at No. 1 on the Official Singles chart in the United Kingdom, the tune bounds back to the highest space. “Rein Me In” is once again the most popular smash in that nation, and as the track leaps into first place once more, it moves up on the list of the longest-running No. 1 hits in U.K. history, tying with a pair of generation-defining rulers.
“Rein Me In” Returns to No. 1
“Rein Me In” pushes from No. 4 all the way back to No. 1 on the Official Singles chart. The tally lists the most-consumed songs in the U.K., with both streams and sales determining where any composition lands. As of this period, “Rein Me In” has now led the charge in 14 distinct chart weeks.
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Pass Alex Warren’s “Ordinary”
Last time around, when Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” was comfortable at No. 1 on the Official Singles chart, “Rein Me In” remained matched with Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” Both of those tracks – separated by only about a year in terms of their domination in the U.K. – had occupied the throne for a lucky 13 frames. They jointly claimed to be the seventh-longest-running rulers of all time in the U.K., but that is no longer the case.
“Rein Me In” Ties “Bohemian Rhapsody”
With 14 weeks at No. 1 to its credit, “Rein Me In” is now tied with another two hits, and it moves up again on the ranking of the longest-ruling smashes ever. “Rein Me In” sits on the same level as both Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” The three smashes are now tied as the fifth-longest-running No. 1s in the decades-long tenure of the Official Singles chart.
“Rein Me In” Could Climb Again
If “Rein Me In” can hold at No. 1 for another period, it will ascend again, tying “Love Is All Around” by Wet Wet Wet and Drake’s “One Dance” with Kyla and Wizkid. In just a few days, “Rein Me In” may become one of the third-longest rulers of all time.
Frankie Laine Still Holds the All-Time Record
After that achievement – should it come to pass – there’s no telling how much longer “Rein Me In” will continue to dominate the Official Singles chart. The longest stretch any tune has spent in the penthouse is 18 weeks, which Frankie Laine managed decades ago with his first ruler in the country, “I Believe.” “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” by Bryan Adams spent much of 1991 – 16 weeks in fact – on top of the Official Singles roster.
“Rein Me In” Nearly Rules the Streaming Chart
“Rein Me In” sits on four charts in the U.K., and it nearly runs the show on half of them. On the Official Streaming rundown, “Rein Me In” steps up from No. 3 to No. 2, almost returning to the uppermost space. The collaboration – which was originally a solo cut by Fender, but which became a massive hit after Dean joined in – is also present within the top 20 on both the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts, where it makes a home at Nos. 15 and 17, respectively.
Olivia Dean Nearly Doubles Up Inside the Top 10
Per rules set down by the Official Charts Company several years ago, each artist can only claim three smashes at a time on the Official Singles chart as a lead artist, and Dean manages to circumvent that restriction, as she’s not alone on “Rein Me In.” Dean nearly doubles up inside the top 10 as “Man I Need” rises from No. 17 to No. 11. At the same time, “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” pushes one space north to No. 38. At the same time, “Nice to Each Other” improves 10 spaces to No. 46 after once topping out in fourth place.