How Jose Iglesias’ ‘OMG’ became the perfect anthem for the underdog Mets
It’s a pop hit like many others, with an ascending chorus, an addictive hook, a warm rhythm
NEW YORK — It's a pop hit like many others: An ascending chorus, an addictive hook, a warm rhythm. But “OMG,” performed by New York Mets infielder Jose Iglesias, has become the perfect anthem for the team's unlikely playoff run.
Since its release on streaming platforms in late June, “OMG” has become a hit for a Mets team with a fun-loving vibe, embraced on and off the field. The largely Spanish-language “OMG” is ubiquitous at Citi Field, while also raking in well over 2 million on-demand audio and video streams in the U.S. through Oct. 10, according to the music data and analytics company Luminate. On YouTube, the official music video has nearly 4.5 million views.
As the Mets head back to home turf Wednesday in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, “OMG” may continue to soar: On Friday, superstar Pitbull shared a remix of the song alongside Colombian singer Silvestre Dangond.
Here's how a baseball player whose career seemed to be nearing its end hit a home run with the song.
The song is contemporary Latin pop, incorporating elements of reggaetón and tropical music — pop sounds heard all over Latin America and the U.S., says music journalist and critic Gary Suarez, author of the Cabbages newsletter.
“As a song, it is just pure, positive pop music,” he says. “It is a celebration of good things over adversity, which feels very right for a baseball song.”
A sample lyric: “No tengo nada pero soy feliz,” or “I have nothing but I’m happy.”
Its bilingual chorus, too, allows “OMG” to appeal to a broad audience. “Oh my god! Dame salúd y prosperidad,” the 34-year-old Cuban-born Iglesias sings. It
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