"Calm Down" by Rema makes history with over 1 billion Streams in the U.S.
The Afrobeats song has been described as the "most successful African song of all time."
The Afrobeats genre is taking the world by storm, rapidly becoming one of Africa's biggest cultural exports, as I highlighted in a previous article last year.
A prime example of this phenomenon is "Calm Down," the global music sensation by Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, which has achieved historic success globally.
According to Chart Data on X, "Calm Down" has become the first Afrobeats and African song to surpass a billion on-demand streams in the United States. This milestone marks a watershed moment for Afrobeats and African music on the global stage. It is hailed the song as the "most successful African song of all time."
Initially released on Rema's debut album "Raves & Roses" in March 2022, "Calm Down" received an additional boost with the inclusion of Selena Gomez on the remix. The remix transformed the song into a global phenomenon, particularly resonating with American audiences.
It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest position ever achieved by a contemporary African song on the chart since Hugh Masekela's "Grazing In The Grass" in 1968.
The song went on to spend a remarkable 52 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top of the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart, both unprecedented achievements for an African artist. Additionally, the RIAA awarded the song a coveted 4x platinum certification, signifying its massive commercial success.
In another remarkable feat, "Calm Down" holds the distinction of being the first Afrobeats song to surpass a billion streams on Spotify. The official music video has also shattered records on YouTube boasting over 596 million views, while the remix has garnered a staggering 893 million views, making it the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist on the platform.
The original version of ‘Calm Down’ was also recognised by Guinness World Records as the first number-one song on the world’s first regional streaming chart, MENA.
If there's anything to know about breaking records, "Calm Down" knows all about it. More than just a catchy song, it's a testament to the growing influence and global appeal of African music artistry, and its potential for even greater success in the future.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
