How Jose Iglesias’ ‘OMG’ became the perfect anthem for the underdog Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a pop hit like many others: An ascending refrain, an addictive hook, a heat rhythm. However “OMG,” carried out by New York Mets infielder Jose Iglesias, has change into the right anthem for the workforce’s unlikely playoff run.

Since its launch on streaming platforms in late June, “OMG” has change into successful for a Mets workforce with a fun-loving vibe, embraced on and off the sphere. The largely Spanish-language “OMG” is ubiquitous at Citi Discipline, whereas additionally raking in nicely over 2 million on-demand audio and video streams within the U.S. by Oct. 10, based on the music information and analytics firm Luminate. On YouTube, the official music video has almost 4.5 million views.

Because the Mets head again to house turf Wednesday within the Nationwide League Championship Sequence towards the Los Angeles Dodgers, “OMG” might proceed to soar: On Friday, celebrity Pitbull shared a remix of the tune alongside Colombian singer Silvestre Dangond.

Right here’s how a baseball participant whose profession gave the impression to be nearing its finish hit a house run with the tune.

The sound of ‘OMG’

The tune is modern Latin pop, incorporating components of reggaetón and tropical music — pop sounds heard throughout Latin America and the U.S., says music journalist and critic Gary Suarez, writer of the Cabbages e-newsletter.

“As a tune, it’s simply pure, optimistic pop music,” he says. “It’s a celebration of fine issues over adversity, which feels very proper for a baseball tune.”

A pattern lyric: “No tengo nada pero soy feliz,” or “I’ve nothing however I’m joyful.”

Its bilingual refrain, too, permits “OMG” to attraction to a broad viewers. “Oh my god! Dame salúd y prosperidad,” the 34-year-old Cuban-born Iglesias sings. It interprets to “Oh my god! Give me well being and prosperity.”

For some communities, a tune like this can be a very long time coming. “There are such a lot of Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cuban individuals taking part in baseball proper now. And the Mets, in fact, aren’t any exception. And so, I believe there was a certain quantity of a necessity for a tune like this to come back from and mirror this world,” Suarez says.

As for the Pitbull remix, Suarez factors out that the tune was written close to Miami, Pitbull’s stomping grounds.

“He’s a ubiquitous pop star that lends higher attraction to this, particularly in a time when the Mets are within the Nationwide League Championship Sequence,” he says. “It doesn’t harm to have some star energy behind it. And possibly that helps to have an extended lifespan past, you already know, the top of the Mets season.”

Whereas Pitbull is thought to be a Marlins fan (even as soon as recording the theme tune “Marlins Time to Characterize”), he instructed The Related Press in an announcement that, as a Cuban American, he associated to Iglesias “due to our shared tradition.”

The tune “is about being an underdog and positivity making it the right match,” Pitbull mentioned.

How Jose Iglesias

turned Candelita

Iglesias broke into the large leagues with the Boston Pink Sox as a 21-year-old in Could 2011, received AL Rookie of the Yr in 2013 and was an All-Star with Detroit in 2015. The Mets are his seventh workforce in 12 main league seasons, and he’s earned almost $40 million in wage.

However by 2023, his future in MLB was cloudy at greatest, and he spent your complete season within the minor leagues. That’s when he began to launch Latin pop songs beneath the moniker Candelita (“little candle”), beginning with “Tambor” and “Cantinero.” Earlier this 12 months, he launched a collaboration with Cuban singer Lenier, “No Voy a Volver,” in addition to a number of different solo tracks: “Te Lo Advertí” and “Perdóname Padre.”

Nothing, although, has hit like “OMG.” Iglesias wrote and recorded it final offseason at house on a ranch exterior Miami, whereas additionally getting ready to hitch the Mets on a minor league contract.

He started the season in Triple-A, however accidents opened a spot for him in Queens. When he performed his first recreation with New York on Could 31, “OMG” was his walk-up tune. He shortly emerged as a sparkplug for the Mets, incomes extra taking part in time, and his tune turned a rallying cry for the workforce.

Iglesias carried out “OMG” stay for the primary time after the Mets beat the Houston Astros at Citi Discipline in late June, and it has since change into an anthem for not solely the workforce, however Mets followers, too.

“OMG” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Digital Tune Gross sales in July, promoting over 1,000 downloads in its first week. The official music video options dancing staff — an Amazon employee, a mechanic, a prepare dinner — and ends in an out of doors get together.

“It’s exhausting to say how I really feel,” Iglesias mentioned after that ballpark efficiency. “That was an enormous deal. Singing in entrance of nice followers and seeing my teammates operating up there’s only a dream come true.”

Now, the tune performs after each Mets homer at Citi Discipline and after each win. After house runs, smiling gamers pose within the dugout for group pictures holding an “OMG” sign up blue and orange — workforce colours, in fact.

The tune additionally performs within the Mets clubhouse, the place they’ve loved three champagne celebrations up to now three weeks, first for clinching a playoff spot after which twice for advancing.

Are there different baseball gamers who’re musicia

ns?

Music is inextricable from the ballpark expertise, between gamers’ walk-up songs to eighth-inning singalongs to the likes of “Piano Man” or “Mr. Brightside” at Citi Discipline. So, it shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock that some ballplayers get within the studio.

It’s additionally not completely unusual for them to see some chart success: baseball and soccer star Deion Sanders’ 1994 R&B-rap file “Prime Time” hit No. 14 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 70 on its Prime R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Former Yankee Bernie Williams’ debut album, 2003’s “The Journey Inside,” hit No. 3 on the Jazz Albums chart.

Who may remix ‘OMG’ subsequent?

There’s no scarcity of musician Mets followers: Nas has name-checked the workforce a number of instances. The Beastie Boys’ Advert-Rock and MCA had been notable followers. Nicki Minaj is alleged to be a fan, per MLB.com, having grown up in Queens. Billy Joel was the final to play the Mets’ historic Shea Stadium earlier than its demolition.

No phrase on whether or not Grimace is entertaining a musical profession, however the prospects are countless.