More for Omi to cheer about
Cheerleader, the massive hit single by singer OMI, was in December certified quadruple platinum for sales and streaming equivalent of 1.2 million units in Germany.
The announcement was made by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (Federal Music Industry Association), or BVMI, which is responsible for such certifications in Germany.
When the Jamaica Observer caught up with OMI on Friday, he was happy with Cheerleader’s latest accolade.
“Thanks to all the fans who’ve made all of this absolutely possible. The OMI army who’ve supported me throughout the years. After so many years of being released, Cheerleader is still going platinum. It’s a wonderful accomplishment that I think most artistes only dream of, and I’m blessed and fortunate to be in this position,” he said.
Co-produced by Omi and Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, Cheerleader was released in 2012, but it was a dance/ tropical house remix of the song by German producer Felix Jaehn that first took off in Sweden and made it a global phenomenon by 2014.
Billboard magazine named it Number One Song of The Summer for that year.
OMI (real name Omar Pasley) said he never expected Cheerleader to become a monster hit.
“No, I must admit the level of success I’ve gained with Cheerleader went far beyond the imagination of a lot of people including myself. And I get asked this question quite a lot, and usually the follow-up question is, ‘do I feel pressured to create another hit’. Now, its with great humility, I must say, that it’s not up to me to create another hit. This decision rests with the people, the fans. They are the true deciders on whether a song is a hit,” OMI reasoned.
Cheerleader topped charts in 18 countries including the US Billboard Hot 100, and United Kingdom Official Singles chart. It also hit in Sweden, South Africa, Switzerland, Slovakia, Poland, Netherlands, Ireland, France, and Denmark.
Its previous certifications were 6x platinum in Australia, platinum in Austria, 2x platinum in Belgium, 3x platinum in the United States and New Zealand, 4x platinum in Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom, diamond in France and Mexico, 7x platinum in Italy and Sweden, and 9x platinum in Canada.
Cheerleader can be heard in the 2017 animated film The Emoji Movie, and was also used as the background music for a 2018 Toyota C-HR commercial.
OMI’S debut album, Me 4 U, which includes Cheerleader and the follow-up singles Hula Hoop and Drop in The Ocean, has been certified gold in the United States and Denmark, while in Canada it has been certified platinum.
The Clarendon-born artiste says new music is on the way.
“As it relates to new music and projects, OMI is going to be coming at you. Wave after wave, and I just hope the OMI army is ready, ‘cause I am,” he said.