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 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]

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
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]

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 Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  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. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  28. ^ "World Digital Song Sales: Week of November 18, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  29. ^ devops (24 January 2013). "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  30. ^ devops (2 January 2013). "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
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