"A Couple Minutes" is a song by English singer Olivia Dean from her second studio album, The Art of Loving (2025). It was produced by Zach Nahome, with TommyD serving as a string producer. Dean performed her song "A Couple Minutes" live as part of the 30th Anniversary MOBO Awards, where the performance was celebrated for its intimate presentation. The song was sent to American radio as the album's fifth single on 13 July 2026.
Composition and lyrics The song is built on a sample from "We Had True Love" (1971) by the band Hot Chocolate (from Cleveland, Ohio), written by Louis Ragland and James Hawkins. The song is influenced by the Motown sound and Clairo's album Charm. Over a violin instrumental, Olivia Dean sings about reconnecting with a past lover, exploring the intimacy of the moment, however brief it may be. She finds a silver lining in their unsuccessful relationship, suggesting that although they are now distant from each other, their mutual affection remains, and notes that "Love's never wasted when it's shared". In discussing her songwriting process, Dean has noted that good songs are uncommon because they require volume, stating that songwriters often “circle” the truth through different attempts before fully capturing it in the final product.
Critical reception Thomas Smith of Billboard ranked "A Couple Minutes" as the sixth best song from The Art of Loving, describing that the soundscape "perfectly suits Dean's aesthetic and talents" and praising how the influences shape the song. Grace Beard of Time Out. reanked the song as the third on the list of the "The 30 Best Love Songs of all Time".
Adele Julia of The Line of Best Fit wrote "it's in the album's quietest moment that Dean delivers her most compelling performance yet. Tucked between all the carefully-styled numbers rests 'A Couple Minutes' – a soft interlude that stands apart from the rest, feeling like a glimpse of calm after the grandiose spectacle of Saturday night. There's no disputing that Dean can float seamlessly between these two worlds, but there's an undeniable pull about her performance here; away from the orchestrated drama, her voice lilted under a soft spotlight, against a bed of raw harmonies. Almost like a lullaby, conjuring something oddly familiar from the distant past, she recalls a run-in with an ex."
Charts Weekly charts Original version Chart (2025–2026) Peakposition Australia (ARIA) 13 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 38 Global 200 (Billboard) 40 Netherlands (Single Tip) 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 4 Portugal (AFP) 89 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 1 US Billboard Hot 100 26
A Colors Show version + Chart (2025) Peakposition New Zealand Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ) 10
Certifications
Release history + Release dates and formats for "A Couple Minutes" Region Date Format Version Label(s) Various 26 September 2025 Original Capitol 22 October 2025 A Colors Show United States 13 July 2026 Hot adult contemporary radio Original 14 July 2026 Contemporary hit radio
References