{"id":530415,"date":"2026-04-14T14:30:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/530415\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T14:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:30:08","slug":"i-wasnt-sure-about-it-and-then-we-started-playing-it-in-rehearsals-and-some-of-my-band-were-like-this-ones-good-you-know-olivia-dean-says-that-her-biggest-hi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/530415\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI wasn’t sure about it. And then we started playing it in rehearsals, and some of my band were like, \u2018This one’s good, you know\u2019\u201d: Olivia Dean says that her biggest hit \u201cwasn\u2019t supposed to be a single\u201d, and names the Motown legend who inspires her"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks to the huge success of The Art Of Loving and its multiple hit singles \u2013 Man I Need being the biggest of them \u2013 Olivia Dean is now a bonafide global star. But as she prepares to set off on her world tour, she\u2019s revealed that she takes inspiration from an undisputed music legend.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Hits Radio, it was put to Dean that her relaxed yet joyful performance style has similarities to that of Diana Ross, and she was happy to accept the comparison.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think that she is someone that I’ve always looked to for style inspiration,\u201d says Dean. \u201cAnd I think as a performer, she just brought so much joy, and was just so carefree, feminine and powerful. And I think, yeah, that’s how I’m trying to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dean also discussed her victory lap performance of Man I Need<\/a> at this year\u2019s Brits, where she took home four awards, noting that, unlike in her regular shows, she was using a wireless mic. However, she also revealed that the song might not have become the hit that it has.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan I Need wasn’t supposed to be a single,\u201d she confirms. \u201cI wasn’t sure about it. I thought it was a little bit different. And then we started playing it in rehearsals, and some of my band were like, \u2018This one’s good you know.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Olivia Dean – Man I Need (Live from The BRIT Awards 2026) – YouTube
\n\"Olivia<\/p>\n

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Even with this validation, though, Dean suggests that she still had to be convinced. \u201cI knew I really liked it, but I didn’t know if it was representative of the whole album and the story,\u201d she says, \u201cbut I’m glad I followed through with that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not kidding \u2013 Man I Need has become one of the biggest songs of the past six months, propelling Dean to superstardom on both sides of the Atlantic. As such, tickets for her upcoming shows have been in high demand<\/a>, although it sounds like fans might have to prepare themselves to go on a bit of a rollercoaster.<\/p>\n

Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think we’re gonna go on a bit of an emotional journey,\u201d says Dean. \u201cBut I think the feeling that I want you to feel is just warmth and togetherness. I want people to feel like they can come and sing along. Do you know what I mean \u2013 come along and dance, but maybe also cry, just get it all out.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Man I Need Wasn’t Suppose To Be A Single!” | Olivia Dean – YouTube
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Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thanks to the huge success of The Art Of Loving and its multiple hit singles \u2013 Man I…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530416,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[96,128,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-530415","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-music","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=530415"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530415\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/530416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=530415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=530415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=530415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}