Nigerian music sensation Rema’s chart-topping hit “Calm Down” fell off the illustrious Billboard Hot 100 after a staggering 57-week run and it can be attributed to the release of Drake’s new album.
Just 2 weeks ago the song was charting at number 10 on the charts but with the release of Canadian rapper Drake’s new album, ‘For All The Dogs’ this past week which has seen most of the song chart above the top 25 spot, Calm Down was pushed outside of the top 25 which automatically takes the song out of the charts.
Billboard’s recurrent rule states that descending songs are removed from the Billboard Hot 100 and Radio charts simultaneously after 20 weeks on the charts and ranking below the top 50 spot or after 52 weeks and below the top 25 spot.
Having made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of the preceding year at number 91, “Calm Down” garnered widespread acclaim for its captivating melodies and poignant lyrics. Billboard’s music experts lauded the track as a “melancholy slow jam with a subtle hypnotic draw,” captivating audiences far and wide.
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A pivotal contributor to the song’s global appeal was the presence of American pop icon Selena Gomez, who featured in the remix. Despite Gomez’s modest contribution, the song made waves on international radio and TV ads, ultimately peaking at an impressive third position on the Billboard Hot 100, thereby securing a historic feat for an Afrobeats artist in the lead role.
Acknowledged as a historic milestone, the track has not only cemented its position as the lengthiest-charting African song of all time but has also surpassed the 35-week record previously held by Wizkid’s “Essence,” propelling Rema to the forefront of the global music stage.
Setting an array of records, the track recently clinched the title of the most streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify, achieving the extraordinary feat of amassing over a billion streams, a landmark achievement for any African artist. Furthermore, its accompanying YouTube video has garnered a staggering 673 million views, solidifying its status as the most-watched music video by a Nigerian artist.
The recent accolade of the inaugural Best Afrobeats Song at the MTV VMA Awards served as a fitting testament to the resounding impact of “Calm Down,” reaffirming Rema’s indomitable presence in the global music scene and promising a trailblazing career trajectory for the young prodigy.
