Rema “Calm Down” released

Calm Down Rema with Selena Gomez

Writer(s): Divine Ikubor, Andre Vibez, Michael Hunter (see lyrics here) Released: February 11, 2022; remix with Selena Gomez: August 25, 2022 First Charted: September 7, 2022 Peak: 3 BB, 110 BA, 14 RR, 7 AC, 12 A40, 3 UK, 19 CN, 11 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 1.8 UK, 9.27 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1802.08 video, 2120.92 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Afrobeat singer/songwriter and rapper Divine Ikubor (stage name Rema) was born in 2000 in Nigeria. He first gained recognition in 2019 with the song “Dumebi.” He signed a deal with the record label Jonzing World that same year. After two EPs, he released his first studio album, Rave & Roses, in 2022. After the lead single, “Calm Down,” was remixed with Selena Gomez, it became his first chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #3. It was her ninth top-ten hit. “Calm Down” is now regarded as the biggest Afrobeat song of all time. WK Rolling Stone said Rema “is the kind of singer who savors simple pop pleasures with a track that’s appropriately warm, bright, and captivating.” WK Rema said the song “is all about the events that led me to finding love at the time.” WK He said he met a girl dressed in yellow at a party. Her friends were being stuck up and Rema told the girl, “Yo, just calm down. Let’s have a chat.” SF He said they talked and danced but she wanted to stay with her friends. Nonetheless, the two stayed in touch and hit it off. On the remix with Selena Gomez, she assumed the perspective of Rema’s love interest. SF Vanguard writer Adegboyega Remmy Adeleye said that Gomez “complements Rema’s vibe perfectly, maintaining the same energy as the original release.” WK Rema said that while some artists have an egotistical attitude that anything they contribute would be “dope…she wanted to know if I resonated with whatever she did on it – and I did. I loved it.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Rema DMDB encyclopedia entry for Selena Gomez SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 3/24/2024; last updated 10/16/2024.