Me & U (Tems song)

Last updated

"Me & U"
Tems-me u s.jpg
Single by Tems
from the album Born in the Wild
Released5 October 2023 (2023-10-05)
Recorded2021
Genre Afrobeats [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]

Contents

"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

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

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

"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

"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

Select year-end rankings of "Me & U"
PublicationListRankRef.
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

Charts

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

Certifications for "Me & U"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [28] Gold40,000‡
South Africa (RISA) [29] Gold20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [30] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [31] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Me & U"
RegionDateFormatLabel
Various5 October 2023

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References

  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "Tems Self-Directs Video for New Song "Me & U"". Pitchfork. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Arin Ray, Tems, Samm Henshaw, And More New R&B For This Next Phase". Yahoo Entertainment. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Tems returns with the brand new single, "Me & U"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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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