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Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s collaboration Rein Me In stretched its hold on the U.K. singles chart for a 12th non-consecutive week on the official chart published Friday, May 22. The run has not only rewritten the record books for male-female duets but also highlights how remixes and awards-season buzz continue to shape streaming-era chart longevity.
A new benchmark for duets
The Fender–Dean single eclipsed the previous duet record last week, overtaking the 10-week run set by Rihanna and Jay‑Z with Umbrella in 2007. Rein Me In first appeared on Fender’s 2025 album People Watching and gained fresh momentum after a June remix added a verse from Dean. It climbed to No. 1 in February 2026 and later picked up Song of the Year at the BRIT Awards, factors that helped sustain its performance.
12th week at U.K. No. 1 for Sam Fender & Olivia Dean song Rein Me In
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Beyond the duet milestone, the track is closing on a different benchmark: Alex Warren’s Ordinary, which currently stands as the longest-running U.K. No. 1 of the 2020s with 13 non-consecutive weeks. The all-time record remains Frankie Laine’s 18 weeks at the summit with I Believe in 1953.
- Rein Me In — 12 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 (as of May 22, 2026)
- Alex Warren — Ordinary — 13 weeks (longest of the 2020s so far)
- Frankie Laine — I Believe — 18 weeks (all-time record)
How the rest of the chart looks
Drake occupies multiple high positions this week. His track Janice STFU sits at No. 2 while National Treasures is No. 3. The Canadian star has also set a U.K. albums record by placing three studio LPs in the top 10 at the same time: Iceman at No. 1, Maid of Honour at No. 6 and Habibti at No. 7.
Legacy and movie-driven interest show up on the chart as well: following the box-office success of a recent biopic, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean climbed to No. 4, while Tame Impala’s Dracula fell to No. 5.
New entries and debut moves include Gracie Abrams’ lead single Hit the Wall at No. 18, the first preview of her third album Daughter From Hell, due July 3. Eurovision winner DARA from Bulgaria starts at No. 21 with the contest’s 2026 anthem Bangaranga.
Quick chart snapshot
- No. 1 — Rein Me In (Sam Fender & Olivia Dean)
- No. 2 — Janice STFU (Drake)
- No. 3 — National Treasures (Drake)
- No. 4 — Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
- No. 5 — Dracula (Tame Impala)
- No. 18 — Hit the Wall (Gracie Abrams) — preview of album out July 3
- No. 21 — Bangaranga (DARA) — Eurovision 2026 winner
Fender’s recognition at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards on May 21, where he won Songwriter of the Year, adds a wider cultural backdrop to the chart story: awards, film tie‑ins and strategic remixes are all keeping older releases in circulation and feeding playlist placement, which matters for streaming-driven rankings.
What comes next is the key question for chart-watchers: can Rein Me In overtake Alex Warren’s 13-week mark and, ultimately, challenge Frankie Laine’s long-standing 18-week record? The answer will depend on continued playlist support, radio traction and whether the artists keep the track in the public eye through live dates or further releases.
