Calm Down by Rema Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking the Depths of Desire and Persuasion in Afrobeats

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Rema's Calm Down at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

(Vibez)
Another banger

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh, lockdown
Girl, you sweet like Fanta o
Fanta o
If I tell you say I love you
No dey form yanga o, oh, yanga o
No tell me no, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Baby, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

I see this fine girl, for my party, she wear yellow
Every other girl they dey do too much, but this girl mellow
Naim I dey find situation I go use take tell am hello
Finally, I find way to talk to the girl but she no wan’ follow

Who you come dey form for? (Uhum)
Why you no wan’ conform? (Uhum)
Then I start to feel her bum-bum, whoa (uhum)
But she dey gimme small-small, whoa
I know say she sabi pass that one (uhum)
But she feeling insecure
‘Cause her friends go dey gum her like chewing gum (uhum)
Go dey gum her like chewing gum

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh, lockdown
Girl, you sweet like Fanta o
Fanta o
If I tell you say I love you
No dey form yanga o, oh, yanga o
No tell me no, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Baby, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

As I reach my house I say make I rest small (make I rest small)
As me I wake up na she dey my mind oh o (na she dey my mind oh o)
Day one, day two, I no fit focus (I no fit focus)
Na so me I call am, say make we link up (say make we link up)
As I start to dey tell her how I feel, all my heart dey race
Baby girl, if you leave me, I no go love again
Because e get many girls wey put my heart for pain
Shebi, you feel my pain

Baby, calm down, calm down
Girl, this your body e put my heart for lockdown
For lockdown, oh, lockdown
Girl, you sweet like Fanta o
Fanta o
If I tell you say I love you
No dey form yanga o, oh, yanga o
No tell me no, no, no, no
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Baby, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love
You got me like whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Shawty, come gimme your lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-love, hmm

The pulsing heart of Afrobeats brings us Rema’s ‘Calm Down,’ a track that encapsulates the heady intoxication of young love and desire. It’s not just another tune to fill the dance floors; it’s a hypnotic exploration of infatuation and the complex dynamics at play in the pursuit of affection.

At its core, ‘Calm Down’ can be understood as an anthem of relentless pursuit, with Rema employing lyrical craftsmanship to depict a story of attraction, insecurity, and the all-too-familiar dance of seduction. But could there be more beneath its catchy chorus and rhythmic beats? We delve into the poetry of Rema’s words to uncover the deeper narrative that has listeners hitting the replay button.

The Pursuit of a Yellow-Clad Enigma – Decoding the Visuals in Verse

Rema artfully sets the scene at a party where a young woman in yellow captures his attention. This woman, standing out in her mellow elegance among a sea of trying too hard party-goers, becomes the focal point of the song. The color yellow here isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a beacon of allure and simplicity in a complicated social setting.

The subtle hues of his narrative set a contrast against the otherwise brash and bold party scene. The choice to wear yellow could suggest a sense of self-assuredness that Rema finds irresistible, flagging a deeper connection beyond physical attraction.

A Tale of Locks and Keys: How Desire Puts the Heart Under Siege

The recurring motif of ‘lockdown’ epitomizes the fervent grip of desire. Rema crafts the imagery of his heart being under her control — incarcerated by the enigma of her essence. This language of entrapment could be interpreted as a vivid portrayal of vulnerability, a theme that resonates across many romantic ballads.

The lockdown is dual in nature — it’s both a captivity and a safe haven. Rema feels the safety of his feelings within the confines of this ‘lockdown,’ suggesting that surrendering to love might be both a risk and a refuge.

The Dilemma of Yanga: Cultural Idioms as Emotional Siberia

In Nigerian pidgin, ‘yanga’ typically means to pose or to form an attitude, and Rema’s plea for the girl to not ‘dey form yanga’ is a striking use of cultural lexicon to express a common romantic hurdle. He’s facing a wall of pretense, or perhaps a defense mechanism that the object of his affections is putting up.

This evokes an emotional Siberia, a freeze out of sorts. Rema’s expression here is universally relatable — the cold shoulder and the battle to coax warmth from a seeming state of indifference. He’s asking for honesty in emotion, the dropping of a façade that separates them.

Chewing Gum Companions: The Influence of Peers on Individual Affection

The lyrics unravel the situation further by hinting at the girl’s insecurity, exacerbated by her friends who are ‘gumming’ to her like chewing gum. Here lies the nuanced pressure of social circles on individual feelings. Rema sheds light on the impact that an entourage can have on personal romantic decisions, a phenomenon not unfamiliar in the realm of courtship.

By depicting her friends as clingy chewing gum, Rema is subtly calling out the unnecessary complexity added by peer influence. It’s a critique of how external voices can drown out the heart’s whispers, forcing one to conform to group norms at the expense of personal happiness.

The Reinvention of Romance: Uncovering the Song’s Hidden Heartbeat

The magnetic efficiency of ‘Calm Down’ lies not in groundbreaking themes but in its relatable execution of familiar emotions. Rema does not just sing about love; he embodies the role of the modern-day suitor navigating an intricate dance of courtship replete with obstacles both internal and external.

While the track undeniably aims to serenade, it simultaneously mirrors societal aspects and inter-personal dynamics that frame modern-day romance. The hidden heartbeat of the song pulses in its ability to upend traditional portrayals of masculinity. Rema, with his tender plea and reflective admissions, represents a man unafraid to reveal his vulnerability in the throes of romantic pursuit.