Olivia Dean stays ahead of the competition

Neo-soul singer Olivia Dean solidifies herself as 2025’s breakout star as “Man I Need” holds third big week at Number 1. Having been making waves in the underground music scene for a few years now, everything accelerated as her festival appearances garnered critical acclaim and listed her as “the one to watch”. Her debut album helped her become BBC’s Artist of the Year and take over Glastonbury. This year, Olivia Dean managed to receive even wider mainstream recognition as she contributed “It Isn’t Perfect” to the Bridget Jones film and duetted with Sam Fender on the double platinum “Rein Me In” – which was good for a Number 1-debut on my personal list and becoming 2025’s longest-running chart-topper so far. Meanwhile, her song “Nice to Each Other” quickly became a streaming juggernaut and peaked at #7 following “Rein Me In” its success, while her previous single “Dive” re-entered the Top 40. With “Man I Need” now up at Number 1, Olivia Dean establishes herself as 2025’s breakout star, like Chappell Roan or Sabrina Carpenter last year.

Luna and Russo prove they are destined for success on the Dutch single “Voorbestemd” up at #6. The synth-driven pop song has become a runaway success on Spotify and TikTok, helping its boost up the charts. We previously met Luna – real name van Kampen – as she suddenly found herself stumbling in on the charts with a Dutch cover version of Billie Eilish her Number 1-hit “Birds of a Feather”. Though it has missed my personal Top 40, it was a popular hit that accumulated more than 16 million streams on Spotify. It even helped earn Luna an Edison Award nomination. Success continued with a string of singles and collaborations, including the Top 10-hit “Liefste” produced by Antoon. With the new “Voorbestemd”, Luna teams up with Russo. We best recognize him as a YouTuber-turned-singer-and-sometimes-producer. He previously teamed up with Turfy Gang and De Bankzitters. He also did some work on Roxy Dekker’s debut album and was featured on her song “Guilty Pleasure”.

S10 takes home the highest debut of the week with the anti-bullying protest song “Buut Vrij” at #22. It was made in collaboration with phone company KPN who support the anti-bullying campaign focused on internet harassment. More and more young people are feeling alone and isolated, becoming a really troubling problem for the new generation. “Buut Vrij” is an honest song with S10 her trademark style and it received tons of airplay on Dutch radio stations in its first week. It is not uncommon for Dutch charity songs become popular and reach the charts – 2005’s “Als Je Iets Kan Doen” was a charity song in support of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and made it all the way to Number 1, while Snelle’s song about the dangers of texting while biking, “Smoorverliefd”, was a sure Top 10-hit. S10 is not a stranger to hit singles on this chart. No, she’s racked up six Top 10-hits so far, including the best-selling #2-smash “Ik Haat Hem Voor Jou” with best friend Froukje.

Kali Uchis makes her welcomed Top 40-comeback with “Cry About It!” at #32. We best know her for 2021’s acclaimed sleeper hit “telepatía”. The new song features Ravyn Lenae, who just recently broke out into the mainstream with the Top 2-hit “Love Me Not” which was remixed to feature Rex Orange County. Dutch singer MEAU also returns to the charts with “Nog Even Blijven” alongside hitmaker Douwe Bob. MEAU scored her second Number 1-single this year with “Het Midden” with Pommelien Thijs. Douwe Bob has had an interesting year, after he was scapegoated by Dutch politicians for sticking up for Palestine. Good to have him back up the charts.

Newly certified

“Fame is a Gun” – Addison Rae GOLD

“Illegal” – PinkPantheress GOLD