Rema and Selena Gomez’s hit song Calm Down (Remix) has reached an incredible milestone.
The track is the most-watched Afrobeats music video on YouTube, with 1.244 billion views, and has also gained 1.76 billion streams on Spotify
Released on 25 August 2022, the remix combines Rema’s Afrobeat rhythm with Selena Gomez’s smooth vocals, creating a catchy, feel-good hit that spread far beyond Africa.
The original Calm Down, from Rema’s 2022 debut album Rave & Roses, has already reached 665 million YouTube views, making it the most watched video on YouTube, but the remix took it to global heights.
According to Wikipedia, the song reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped both the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs and Global Excl. US charts.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the remix was the second best-selling global single of 2023. The song is widely regarded as the biggest and most successful Afrobeats song of all time.
It became Rema’s first top-ten single and Gomez’s ninth. Their partnership began after Gomez teased fans with a mysterious “coming soon” post online, which sparked excitement across social media.
The remix’s also featured input from Amanda Ibanez (Kiddo AI), a songwriter from Miami, who wrote a verse for Gomez that helped shape the track’s sound.
Beyond numbers, Calm Down has made a lasting cultural impact. The song, inspired by Rema’s real-life crush at a party, has become a global anthem of love and confidence. With its smooth rhythm and catchy chorus, it continues to dominate radio and dance floors around the world.
According to Spotify’s 2023 Afrobeats report, people listened to Afrobeats genre for more than 223 million hours that year, a clear sign of its growing popularity.