The track features a "melancholy slow jam" vibe with a hypnotic draw designed to linger in the listener's mind. Music Video Performance
Rema, born Divine Ikubor, describes his unique blend of Afrobeats, trap, and Arabian influences as "Afrorave".
The remix music video hit 1 billion views on November 8, 2024, making it Rema's first and Selena Gomez's third video to reach this mark.
The official music videos for "Calm Down" have shattered numerous digital records for African artists:
As of April 2026, the video remains the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist and the most-watched African video of all time.
"Calm Down" by Rema is the most successful Afrobeats song of all time, serving as a global breakthrough that redefined the genre's international reach. Originally released in February 2022 as a single from his debut album Rave & Roses , the track achieved unprecedented success following a remix featuring American pop star Selena Gomez in August 2022.
The song's longevity on global charts is historic, particularly in the United States and the Middle East:
The song was inspired by a real-life encounter at a party where Rema met a girl in a yellow dress. After her friends initially acted "stuck up," she eventually "calmed down" to dance and talk with him.