Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have achieved a historic milestone as their song "Rein Me In" has become the longest-running number one single of all time on the Official Charts. The track has now held the top spot for 17 consecutive weeks, surpassing Bryan Adams' 1991 hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," which previously held the record with 16 weeks.
This achievement marks a significant moment for British music, with "Rein Me In" now standing as the longest-running number one single by a British artist. The song is also nearing the all-time record for the most weeks at number one, currently held by Frankie Laine's 1953 hit "I Believe," which achieved 18 weeks at the summit.
Despite the surge of World Cup anthems, including Oasis' "Wonderwall" which climbed to number two, "Rein Me In" maintained its position. "Wonderwall," though a massive hit and an unofficial anthem for the England team during the tournament, remains the biggest British single never to reach number one.
Fender described the song's success as "ridiculous" and attributed its universal appeal to Dean's contribution. He noted that Dean's "alternative narrative" opened the song to a wider audience, creating a "toe tapper" and "banger."
Officials from the Official Charts Company celebrated the duo's accomplishment. Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, Interim Co-Managing Directors, highlighted how the song has "captured the nation's imagination" and connected on an "enormous scale." They commended Fender and Dean as "two exceptional British talents" for this "historic achievement."
Wet Wet Wet, whose iconic song "Love Is All Around" previously held the record for longest-running number one by a British artist, offered congratulations. The band expressed pride in their song's legacy and acknowledged the new record set by Fender and Dean.
In related news, Mick Jagger recently expressed his admiration for Sam Fender, calling his album "People Watching" stunning and noting Fender's "good choruses" and "interesting lyrics."