The song “Calm Down” by Rema has achieved remarkable success, accumulating over a billion streams, winning numerous awards, and topping various charts, making it Africa’s most significant musical export to date.
In another significant achievement, Rema’s collaboration with Selena Gomez on “Calm Down” has become the first Afrobeats and African song to reach over a billion on-demand streams in the United States. This milestone was announced by Chart Data on June 17, 2024.
The song was initially featured on Rema’s debut album “Raves & Roses” released in March 2022. It gained commercial success before a remix featuring Selena Gomez was added to the deluxe edition, which then became a global hit, especially in the U.S., where it broke multiple records for an Afrobeats song and an African artist. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a new standard for contemporary African music, second only to Hugh Masekela’s 1968 hit “Grazing In The Grass.”
Additionally, “Calm Down” spent over 52 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart, both record-breaking achievements for African artists. Its success in the U.S. is highlighted by its 4X platinum RIAA certification.
Notably, Rema’s “Calm Down” is the first Afrobeats song to surpass a billion streams on Spotify. It also holds the record for the most-watched music video by a Nigerian artist on YouTube, with the original version exceeding 596 million views and the remix reaching 893 million views.
