People Watching (Sam Fender song)

"People Watching"
Single by Sam Fender
from the album People Watching
Released15 November 2024 (2024-11-15)
Length
  • 5:04
  • 4:02 (radio edit)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Sam Fender
Producer(s)
Sam Fender singles chronology
"Homesick"
(2024) 		"People Watching"
(2024) 		"Wild Long Lie"
(2024)
Music video
"People Watching" on YouTube

"People Watching" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sam Fender. It was released on 15 November 2024 as the lead single from his third studio album of the same name. It was written as a tribute to his "late friend and mentor" Annie Orwin, who he described as being "like a surrogate mother" to him. He drew inspiration from his walks to and from her care home. Fender co-produced the song in Los Angeles with Adam Granduciel of the American rock band the War on Drugs.[1][2][3]

The CD single features an exclusive bonus track, "Me & the Dog", while the 7-inch single includes another exclusive track, "Tyrants".[4]

Commercial performance

"People Watching" debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart on 22 November 2024, becoming Fender's third top ten single following "Seventeen Going Under" and "Homesick". It also became the first alternative song by a British artist to debut inside the top four of the chart in over a decade.[5] On 19 November 2024 the song topped the UK's Official Trending Chart.[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "People Watching"
Chart (2024–2025) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 25
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[8] 71
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[9] 24
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[10] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 4
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 13
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] 37
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[14] 47

References

  1. ^ Collins, Riyah. "Sam Fender tackles grief in new single People Watching". Newsbeat. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  2. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (15 November 2024). "Sam Fender Shares New Song "People Watching": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ Smith, Thomas (15 November 2024). "Sam Fender Releases First New Music Since 2022 With War On Drugs-Produced Single 'People Watching'". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  4. ^ Taylor, Sam (15 November 2024). "Sam Fender has released the title-track from his forthcoming album 'People Watching'". Dork. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ Griffiths, George. "Gracie Abrams' That's So True holds strong as Sam Fender makes historic Top 5 debut". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  6. ^ Griffiths, George. "Sam Fender tops Official Trending Chart with new single People Watching". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Dec 5, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 20/12/2024" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 20 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Sam Fender Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Sam Fender Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Sam Fender Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2024.


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