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Me & U (Tems song)

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"Me & U"
A young girl looking at the sky
Single by Tems
from the album Born in the Wild
Released5 October 2023 (2023-10-05)
Recorded2021
GenreAfrobeats[1]
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)GuiltyBeatz
Tems singles chronology
"Free Mind"
(2022) 		"Me & U"
(2023) 		"Not an Angel"
(2023)
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 serves as the lead single for her debut album Born in the Wild, and is her first solo release 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] and BET Award for Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award.

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. 12 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]
Select year-end rankings of "Me & U"
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]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Me & U"
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
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[24] 10
US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[25] 3
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 25
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[27] 5

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Me & U"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Gold 40,000‡
South Africa (RISA)[29] Gold 20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for "Me & U"
Region Date Format Label
Various 5 October 2023

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 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...
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Tems Self-Directs Video for New Song "Me & U"". Pitchfork. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Tems returns from two-year hiatus with "Me & U" video". Revolt.tv. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Tems Shares New Hypnotic Single "Me & U"". HotNewHipHop. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Tems Returns with New Track "Me & U" Alongside a Tems-Directed Visual". RCA Records. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b "Tems returns with the brand new single, "Me & U"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (23 October 2023). "Tems shares that her 'Me & U' single was created from a freestyle". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Tems Shares New Single "Me & U"". 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  14. ^ Grant, Shawn (6 October 2023). "Tems Drops Captivating New Single "Me & U" Alongside Mesmerizing Visual". Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  16. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. ^ "The 100 best songs of 2023". Los Angeles Times. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  18. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  21. ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: November 17th, 2023 – November 23rd, 2023". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Tems Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Tems Chart History (Afrobeats Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Tems Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Tems Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  28. ^ Key, Olu (15 September 2024). "Tems Me & U achieves gold certification in Canada". Bella Naija. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Tems Me & U is now certified gold certification in South Africa". X. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  30. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Me & U')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  31. ^ "British single certifications – Tems – Me & U". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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