NEW YORK.- It’s a pop hit like many others: with a rising chorus, an addictive tune and a warm rhythm. But “OMG”, performed by the infielder Jose Iglesiashas become the perfect anthem for the unexpected performance of the Mets in the playoffs.
Since its release on streaming platforms in late June, “OMG” has become a hit for a New York team with a fun vibe that the players display on and off the field.
“OMG,” most of whose lyrics are in Spanish, is ubiquitous at Citi Field while generating more than 2 million on-demand audio and video streams in the United States as of Oct. 10, according to the streaming company. Luminate music data and analysis.
On YouTube, the official video for the song has almost 4.5 million views.
On Wednesday, as the Mets return home to resume the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, “OMG” may continue to rise in popularity: On Friday, superstar Pitbull shared a remix of the song alongside the singer Colombian Silvestre Dangond.
Here’s how a player whose career seemed near the end hit a home run with a song.
The genre of ‘OMG’ could be identified as contemporary Latin pop, which incorporates elements of reggaeton and tropical music. These are pop sounds heard throughout Latin America and the United States, says journalist and music critic Gary Suarez, author of the newsletter Cabbages.
“As a song, it’s pure, positive pop music,” he says. “It’s a celebration of good things over adversity, which feels really good for a baseball song.”
For example, the lyrics say: “I have nothing, but I am happy.”
Its bilingual choir also allows “OMG” to appeal to a broader audience. ”Oh my God! Give me health and prosperity,” sings Iglesias, a 34-year-old Cuban, born in Cuba.
For some communities, a song like this had been a long time coming.
“There are a lot of Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans playing baseball right now. And the Mets, of course, are no exception. And so, I think there was a certain need for a song like this to emerge from this world and reflect it,” Suárez says.
Regarding the Pitbull remix, Suárez points out that the song was written near Miami, the area of influence of this artist with Cuban roots.
“He’s a ubiquitous pop star that adds to the appeal of this, especially at a time when the Mets are in the National League Championship Series,” he says. “It doesn’t hurt to have a star behind you. And maybe that will help give this a longer life, beyond the end of the Mets season.”
Support among Cubans
While Pitbull is known to be a Marlins fan (he even once recorded the song “Marlins Time to Represent”), he told The Associated Press in a statement that, as a Cuban-American, he identified with Iglesias “because of our shared culture.” .
The new song “is about being someone few trust and the positivity that makes it the perfect match,” Pitbull said.