Olivia Dean, named the 2026 Grammys' Best New Artist, revealed in a Hits Radio interview that her Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit, "Man I Need," was almost not released as a single. The 27-year-old singer initially had reservations about the song, questioning if its unique sound fit the narrative of her album, "The Art of Loving." Dean admitted she wasn't sure about the track, despite personally liking it, and considered it "a little bit different."
The decision to release the song as a single came after Dean rehearsed it with her band. Their positive reaction helped change her mind, leading her to realize that others would also enjoy its danceable spirit, which she had crafted with Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" in mind. Dean expressed gladness that she followed through with its release, even though she didn't initially think it would be a hit.
The song's release proved to be a massive success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 20 weeks in the top 10. "Man I Need" also made history by topping Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay, Pop Airplay, and Adult Pop Airplay charts, making Dean the first woman to achieve this feat since Adele with "Hello" in 2015-16. Her second album, "The Art of Loving," and the success of "Man I Need" have made Dean one of the UK's biggest breakouts, with five Brit Award nominations.
