OMI's surprise hit "Cheerleader" rose to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week with little to no promotion from the singer himself. But, as the Jamaican jam holds on to the top spot, OMI is finally getting into the game and last night (July 14), he stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform his sunny summer hit with a little bit of help from The Roots.
Looking cool and classy in a striped suit and aviator sunglasses, OMI and The Roots gave "Cheerleader" the type of breezy performance it deserves. Though the showcase didn't have a lot of flair to it, OMI delivered his vocals with relative ease. And, of course, that melody was just as infectious as always.
Watch OMI take on "Cheerleader" on The Tonight Show below:
When he wasn't bringing the jams to The Tonight Show, OMI dished on the process behind writing "Cheerleader" in the web exclusive "How I Wrote the Song," and it turns out the song is even older than its original 2013 release date.
"It was about seven years ago; I was in a taxi developing my catalogue at an underground studio and I was heading to that studio. I had the melody in my head early that morning and it was so catchy, you know? I used to love writing from a metaphoric standpoint - that was like my thing - that's how I came up with the metaphor 'Cheerleader,' you know, that support system," he said.
OMI also revealed that "Cheerleader" was initially an interlude and that the original version sounds quite different than the remix that has vaulted to the top of the charts.
