The song "Calm Down," a collaboration between Selena Gomez and Rema, won best Afrobeats song at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, November 19.
The singer-actress praised the Nigerian rapper in her victory speech. After thanking the fans for the award, she said Rema should get full credit.
"Thank you guys so, so much for this award," Gomez began. "This is honestly Rema's doing. He chose me to be a part of such an incredible song. So I want to thank him and thank all of you for streaming and listening and I wish we could be there. But thank you!"
The hit song is also vying for the top collaboration, top radio song, top Billboard Global 200 song, and top Billboard Global (excluding U.S.) song titles.
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The song peaked in June 2023 at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was on the chart for 57 weeks in total. It's the Only Murders in the Building star's ninth top 10 success overall and Rema's first single to break into the Hot 100.
Rema also made a touching statement about winning the award, which was newly introduced category. "This honor for 'Calm Down' is a celebration of unity and the global domination of Afrobeats," he said. "I want to say a big shoutout to Selena Gomez, Mavin Records, Josie Ward as well as the amazing fans who supported us all the way to this point. I want to say a big thank you to Billboard - I'm very grateful. All the way from Nigeria, Rema. One love."
Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 Billboard Music Awards is Marriott Bonvoy.
Before even this recognition, Gomez achieved a record hit with the song "Calm Down."
When Gomez joined the group, the single-which had previously been released as a solo track by Afrobeats artist Rema-became a far bigger worldwide hit. She added star power to the song in addition to her singing prowess. "Calm Down" went on to become a huge hit after that remix was made available, particularly in America.
"Calm Down" spent 57 weeks on the Hot 100, which is an extremely lengthy stay-the kind that comes along once a year these days.
As of the previous frame, the Rema/Gomez combination did exceptionally well, sitting at No. 10 on the list, up until Drake's new album "For All the Dogs" dropped.
All of the songs on the album's tracklist are on the Hot 100, with some making their debuts at the top, while the title debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Many great songs, including "Calm Down," were pushed down on the count by the flood of Drake tracks.
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A few years back, Billboard implemented a rule that puts every song that reaches 52 weeks on the Hot 100 at risk of exiting the chart before its time.
A song will be removed from the list by force if it does not remain in the top 25 after one full year on the list.
Drake's recent hits caused "Calm Down" to drop more than fifteen spots, and as a result, it was eliminated.
Although Gomez's song "Calm Down" is no longer included in the Hot 100, the singer remained present on the chart.
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