Me & U
by Tems

Album: Born in the Wild (2023)
Charted: 34 110
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Tems dives deep into her emotions and looks upward, addressing God with deep devotion. She released the song on October 5, 2023, as her first solo body of work since her 2021 EP If Orange Was a Place.

    "'Me & U' is about discovering the real me, building a genuine relationship with the Creator, and gaining a true perception of self," said Tems.
  • Tems created the song in early spring 2021 around the time she shot the video for her Wizkid collaboration "Essence." When Tems heard it, she went into a trance and had a conversation with God.

    "I was just in a trance, and I didn't remember what I had done until I recorded it, but it really was just about the conversation surrounding commitment and faith," she told Apple Music's Zane Lowe. "I think when you create anything, period, you're tapping into something spiritual because you're creating something from nothing. I think music is very spiritual no matter what it sounds like, no matter where it's from, no matter whether it's acknowledged or not. I think music always has an energy and I just want to be as honest as I can in my music."
  • The song interpolates "Only Me," an unreleased collaboration between Tems and Drake that leaked on May 14, 2023. She also featured on Drake's 2021 Certified Lover Boy track "Fountains."
  • Tems co-wrote and co-produced "Me & U" with GuiltyBeatz. Ghanaian DJ and producer GuiltyBeatz produced four out of the five tracks on If Orange Was a Place. He's also worked with Beyoncé, including three tracks for her The Lion King: The Gift album and "Move" for her Renaissance set (the latter song also features Tems).
  • The music video was shot in Malta. It was directed by Tems herself.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.