Remixes are the order of the day on the back half of the top ten this week on the Billboard Hot 100. In the eighth spot, Nigerian singer Rema is joined by Selena Gomez for a new take on his song ‘Calm Down.’
In its original form, this song did well in Europe in early 2022, prompting the team-up with Gomez to attract an American audience. The new version was released last August and has spent 30 weeks on the chart, peaking at its current position.
‘Calm Down’s Afrobeat sound brings some international flavor to a top ten that’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting and enjoyable lists since I started the ‘What the Kids are Listening To’ series.
Vibez
Oh, no
Another banger
[Chorus: Rema]
Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put in my heart for lockdown, for lockdown, oh, lockdown
Girl, you sweet like Fanta, ooh, Fanta, ooh
If I tell you say, “I love you”, you no dey form yanga-oh, oh, yanga-oh
No, tell me no, no, no, no, woah, woah, woah, woah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm
[Verse 1: Rema & Selena Gomez]
I see this fine girl, for my party, she wear yellow
Every other girl they dey do too much, but this girl mellow
Naim, I dey find situation, I go use take tell am “Hello”
Finally, I find way to talk to the girl, but she no wan’ follow
Who you come dey form for? Woah (Mhmm)
Why you no wan’ conform? Woah (Mhmm)
Then I start to feel her bum-bum, woah (Mhmm)
But she dey gimme small, small, woah
I know say shе sabi pass that one, one (Mhmm)
But she feeling insеcure, woah
‘Cause her friends go dey gum her like chewing gum, woah (Mhmm)
Go dey gum her like chewing gum, oh-woah
[Verse 2: Selena Gomez]
Yeah, I know I look shy but for you I get down, oh, woah
And my hips make you cry when I’m moving around you (Yeah)
Do it once, do it twice (Do it twice)
I push back, you hold me tight
Get a taste for a night
[Chorus: Selena Gomez & Rema]
Baby, show me you can calm down, calm down
Dance with me and take the lead now, lead now (Lead now)
Got you so high that you can’t come down, come down
Don’t you ask, you know you’re allowed, allowed (Oh, no)
When it’s you, I can’t say no-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, give me lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, mm-hmm
[Verse 3: Rema & Selena Gomez]
As I reach my house, I say make a rest small, oh-woah (Make a rest small, oh-woah)
As me I wake up na she dey my mind, oh-woah (Na she dey my mind, oh-woah)
Day one, day two-wo, I no fit foc-o-us (I no fit focus)
Na so me I call am, say “Make we link up”, oh-woah (I say make we link up, oh-woah)
Got my hand on your heart, now, I can feel it race
If I leave then you say you can never love again
Wanna give you it all but can’t promise that I’ll stay
And that’s the risk you take (You take)
[Chorus: Rema & Selena Gomez]
Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put in my heart for lockdown, for lockdown, oh, lockdown
Girl, you sweet like Fanta, ooh, Fanta, ooh
If I tell you say, “I love you”, you no dey form yanga, oh, oh, yanga, oh
No tell me no, no, no, no, woah, woah, woah, woah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (Your love, your love)
Baby, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah-woah
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love (Oh, woah), hmm
[Outro: Selena Gomez]
Your love
Meet Me In Montauk 
I hadn’t heard this one before either, but I like it. Always love me some Selena Gomez!
I never knew her but have come to really enjoy her on Only Murders in the Building