"Rein Me In" is a song by British singer-songwriters Sam Fender and Olivia Dean. It is a remix of the song of the same name from Fender's third studio album People Watching.[2] "Rein Me In" was released on 20 June 2025 as the sixth single from the album,and eventually became Fender's first song to reach number-one on the UK Singles Chart in February 2026 atop winning the Brit Award for Song of the Year.[3] Outside the United Kingdom,"Rein Me In" also topped the charts in Australia and Ireland and reached number two in New Zealand. It became Fender's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100,peaking at number 77.
"Rein Me In" was originally included as the eighth track of Fender's third studio album People Watching. The song was written by Fender himself and produced with Adam Granduciel,Markus Dravs,Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson. "Rein Me In" is about self-sabotage in romantic relationships. In the song,Fender "is too afraid to be 'reined in' by love and instead rejects anyone who gets too close". The lyrics are set over a jazzy instrumental that includes piano and saxophone.[4][5]
Fender debuted the new version during a 6 June show at London Stadium,bringing Dean on stage to perform it. Videos of the performance went viral.[6] The two performed the version again on 15 June at Fender's St. James' Park concert. Fender announced the official release of the new version on 20 June,stating that Dean "added a female perspective to 'Rein Me In,' and I think it's all the better for it". Dean said that "Rein Me In" was her favourite song from the album.[7]
Critical reception
The original version of "Rein Me In" received praise from music critics. Sarah Bea Milner of Screen Rant called the song "catchy" and "earnest",writing that "Fender's mumblecore tenor works particularly well against bright guitar and solid bass groove."[8] Brianna Corrine of Atwood Magazine noted that it "explores a different,lighter side of Fender’s capabilities" compared to the rest of the album.[9] Writing for Billboard,Thomas Smith and Sophie Williams described the song as a "starkly arranged epic [...] with a vocal performance that delivers the type of passion and intensity that,the closer you listen,you can feel in your chest".[5]
The Olivia Dean version was also well-received by critics. Nick Levine of the Official Charts Company called it a "stellar collaboration".[10]Blunt Magazine's Jake Fitzpatrick wrote that the "stormy,tender and anthemic" version was "a love letter to the kind of songwriting that knows when to burn slow".[11]Rolling Stone UK included the song in their weekly Hot New Songs playlist.[12]
Commercial performance
In the United Kingdom the song debuted at number eighty-six on the UK singles chart,climbing to number six the following week,becoming Fender's fourth top-ten song and Dean's second consecutive top-ten song after "Nice to Each Other".[13] On 26 February 2026,the song peaked at number one at its thirty-fifth week on the chart,breaking the record for the most consecutive weeks in the top-40 before reaching number one,previously held by Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" with nineteen weeks.[14][15] It also became Fender's first and Dean's second number one song on the chart.[16] The song topped the chart for seven non-consecutive weeks.[17]
In Australia the song reached the top-ten on the ARIA Singles Chart on week ending on 19 February 2026. It become Fender's first top-ten song on the chart and gave Dean three songs in the top-ten simultaneously,with "Man I Need" at number one and "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" at number two.[18] On week ending 19 March 2026,"Rein Me In" peaked at number two,behing Dean's "Man I Need".[19] In the chart week ending 3 April 2026,the song reached the top of the charts,replacing "Man I Need",which dropped to second place,becoming Dean’s second number-one hit and Fender’s first on the Australian chart.[20]
Music video
A music video directed by Daniel Broadley was released alongside the duet version on 20 June. It shows footage of Fender and Dean during their debut performance of the song on 6 June.[7]
Track listings
Digital single
"Rein Me In" –5:39
Digital single
"Rein Me In" (live at London Stadium / extended version) –6:53
"Rein Me In" (edit) –4:03
"Rein Me In" (duet version) –5:39
"Rein Me In" (solo) –5:39
7" single
"Rein Me In" –5:39
"Rein Me In" (live at London Stadium / extended version) –6:53
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