Omi has been climbing his way to the top of the charts worldwide with his song Cheerleader which has officially moved to the number one spot this week on the Billboard Top 100 Songs list. It is an instant favorite and you can’t help but to feel happy whenever you hear it. If you are thinking that this song is new, however, you may be surprised to know that it was actually first released in 2012. It wasn’t until 2014 when the original song was remixed by German DJ/producer, Felix Jaehn, that it began to grab the attention of listeners around the globe. This remix has catapulted Omi in to the spotlight and has many people not only wanting to know more about this Jamaican born artist but also asking if he is a rising star or one hit wonder.
Omar Samuel Pasley was born in the small parish of Clarendon in Jamaica in September 1986. It was clear from a very young age that he had musical talent. He began writing his own songs when he was fourteen years old and was heavily influenced by artists such as Tupac, Biggie, Eminem, John Legend, and Nat King Cole. He began going to underground studios in 2008 and ended up meeting Clifton “Specialist” Dillon, who gave Omi his own studio in Kingston in 2009. It was in this studio that Cheerleader was born. Upon first hearing the song, Dillon immediately made the statement that this song would be “the one”. He couldn’t have been more right.
The song originally took off in Hawaii. Audiences were instantly drawn to the mellow, fun beat and overall positive vibe of the tune. It made people feel good and was instantly a favorite wherever Omi performed. Once it was remixed, however, it made it even more appealing to an even wider audience all over the world. It has topped iTunes in 14 territories including Germany, Australia, and Sweden and to date has been streamed over 90 million times.
But that brings us to the main question: Is Omi a rising star or one hit wonder? That is something that can only be answered over time. I believe that Omi has a fresh sound and obviously the talent to be able to make it big. I think that the real test will be when he starts releasing more of his original tracks in to the market. Can they make it to the top as is or will they need to be remixed by other artists to get listeners’ attention and climb the charts (which is what seemed to be the case with Cheerleader)? I believe that they can. And Omi remains positive as well:
“Having this hit is a blessing, maybe even destiny. But I want people to look back and say that Cheerleader was just the beginning.”
I hope this as well. I am looking forward to hearing more of Omi’s original work. We have gotten just a taste of what he can do with Cheerleader and I personally don’t think that this is the last we will be hearing from this artist.
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