Love Me Jeje
by Tems

Album: Born In The Wild (2024)
Charted: 36
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Originating from Nigeria and derived from the Yoruba language, the Afro-pidgin term "jeje" means "go easy" or "chill." On "Love Me Jeje," Tems tells a tale about wanting that sweet, slow kinda love.
  • Tems wrote the lyrics, but Ghanaian beatsmith Guiltybeatz (who's worked with WizKid and Burna Boy) and Nigerian producer Spax (known for tracks with Oxlade and Show Dem Camp) cooked up the beat.
  • "Love Me Jeje" samples a 1997 Nigerian classic of the same name by Seyi Sodimu. Tems tweeted that the song is "a tribute" to Sodimu, a way to pay respect to his music that soundtracked her childhood.
  • The song originated during a freestyle session Tems had with friends.

    "I played it and I told my friends, 'Yeah, let's all freestyle, take turns. Oh yeah, you do freestyle, you,'" she told Apple Music 1. "So, one of my friends did 'Love Me Jeje,' 'Love Me Tender.' And then my other friend was just screaming as well. And I was like, 'Actually this is a mad vibe. I love this vibe. I'm going to keep this in the song.' And I did my own freestyle and it just was such a cute vibe and I wanted to pay tribute to the actual song 'cause I love that song."
  • Tems performed the heartfelt song for the first time during her Coachella 2024 set on April 21, 2024, where she coached the crowd through the "Love me jeje, love me tender" chorus. She released it four days later through RCA Records as the lead single from her debut studio album, Born In The Wild.
  • The "Love Me Jeje" video, directed by Tems herself, is a love letter to her Lagos roots. Halfway through, there's a special scene where Tems and the legendary Seyi Sodimu team up to sing the bridge – a true meeting of generations!
  • "Love Me Jeje" won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2025.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.