Me & U (Tems song)
"Me & U" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tems | ||||
from the album Born in the Wild | ||||
Released | 5 October 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2021 | |||
Genre | Afrobeats[1] | |||
Length | 3:13 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | GuiltyBeatz | |||
Tems singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Me & U" on YouTube |
"Me & U" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems, released on 5 October 2023, through RCA Records.[2][3] Written and produced by both GuiltyBeatz and Tems, It marks her first solo body of work since her extended play If Orange Was a Place (2021).[4][5]
"Me & U" received an award for Outstanding International Song at the 55th NAACP Image Awards.[6]
Background[edit]
In 2021, Tems released her second EP If Orange Was a Place. In 2022, Her song "Free Mind" from her debut EP For Broken Ears impacted Rhythmic contemporary radio as a single and charted across the United States. She also achieved success with her collaborations with Future's "Wait for U",Beyoncé's "Move" and Rihanna as a songwriter on "Lift Me Up".[7][4]
Originally recorded in 2021, "Me & U" interpolates Tems's unreleased song "Only Me" featuring Canadian rapper Drake, which was leaked online earlier in 2023.[8][9] The song marks Tems's first solo output since If Orange Was a Place, excluding her cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack which was released in 2022.[10]
Tems released the song on 5 October 2023 alongside an accompanying music video directed by Tems and shot in Malta.[3][2]
Composition[edit]
According to Billboard "Me & U" is a fusion of "pop ballad and a clubby Afrobeats banger."[11] The song arose from a freestyle Tems recorded shortly after shooting the music video for "Essence" in 2021.[12] After a promotional image was compared to an illustration of Yoruba goddess Yemoja, Tems noted that it's art symbolises Jesus teaching her to walk on water.[10][11]
Speaking In a press release, Tems spoke about the meaning, saying: "'Me & U' is about discovering the real me, building a genuine relationship with the Creator, and gaining a true perception of self."[13]
Critical reception[edit]
"Me & U" received positive critical reception.[8][9] Consequence noted that it "proves Tems can hold it down on her own, existing somewhere between a traditional pop ballad and a clubby Afrobeats banger.[13]
Billboard wrote that it is a "self-reflection observed through her relationship with God."[11] Shawn Grant writing for The Source states that "with "Me & U" Tems continues to leave her mark on the global music scene, demonstrating her multifaceted talents as both an artist and visionary".[14]
Commercial performance[edit]
"Me & U" charted across the United States peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, No. 5 on the World Digital Song Sales, No. 23 on the US Hot R&B Songs chart and in the United Kingdom peaked at No. 34 on the Official Singles Chart and reached No. 1 on UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. [15] It also peaked at No. 22 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.
Year-end lists[edit]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 52
|
[16] |
Los Angeles Times | The 100 best songs of 2023 | 18
|
[17] |
Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 79
|
[18] |
The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023 | 25
|
[19] |
Credits and personnel[edit]
- Tems – vocals, songwriting
- GuiltyBeatz – songwriting, production
- Chris Gehringer – mixing, engineering
- Ikon – mixing, engineering
- Spax – mixing, engineering
Charts[edit]
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[20] | 22 |
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[21] | 8 |
UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 34 |
UK Afrobeats (OCC)[15] | 1 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] | 12 |
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[24] | 92 |
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[25] | 3 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[26] | 10 |
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[27] | 12 |
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[28] | 5 |
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[29] | 27 |
US Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[30] | 24 |
Release history[edit]
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Various | 5 October 2023 |
|
References[edit]
- ^ Rolling Stone Staff (1 December 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone.
Tems builds this sweet jam on supple Afrobeats with the simplest of words...
- ^ a b Conteh, Mankaprr (5 October 2023). "Tems' Faith Is Front and Center in Self-Directed Video for 'Me & U'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Tems Self-Directs Video for New Song "Me & U"". Pitchfork. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Tems returns from two-year hiatus with "Me & U" video". Revolt.tv. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Tems Shares New Hypnotic Single "Me & U"". HotNewHipHop. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (12 March 2024). "NAACP Image Award Winners List: Victoria Monét, Chris Brown and 'The Color Purple' Nab Early Wins at Virtual Ceremony". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Tems Returns with New Track "Me & U" Alongside a Tems-Directed Visual". RCA Records. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Drake's "8AM In Charlotte," Tyla's "Water" & Other Singles To Have On Rotation Now - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness". www.xonecole.com. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Arin Ray, Tems, Samm Henshaw, And More New R&B For This Next Phase". Yahoo Entertainment. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Tems returns with the brand new single, "Me & U"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Mamo, Heran; Rys, Dan (31 October 2023). "Afrobeats Fresh Picks: Tems, June Freedom, Muzi, Rema, Mr. Eazi & More". Billboard. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (23 October 2023). "Tems shares that her 'Me & U' single was created from a freestyle". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Tems Shares New Single "Me & U"". 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Grant, Shawn (6 October 2023). "Tems Drops Captivating New Single "Me & U" Alongside Mesmerizing Visual". Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "The 100 best songs of 2023". Los Angeles Times. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ C.J., Nelson; Conteh, Mankaprr; Miya, Madzadza; Tenkiang, Achille; Mwai, Kui (26 December 2023). "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: November 17th, 2023 - November 23rd, 2023". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "World Digital Song Sales: Week of November 18, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ devops (24 January 2013). "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ devops (2 January 2013). "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.