10 April 2015
Even if you don’t recognise the artist’s name—and Omi won’t be gracing the Irish charts again—or the song title, you’ll surely remember the distinctive trumpet hook that heralds this global one-hit wonder. What we get here at the top of planet Earth’s 2015 charts is actually a deep house remix by a Felix Jaehn of the 2012 reggae-pop original. Interestingly, the original doesn’t seem to have that trumpet flourish. Since that’s the element—ready-made for TV promos and catching the ear of a passing Spotify user—which seals the deal, I suppose it’s fair play to Felix for firing that in.
The song itself just about tips over from ‘bland’ to ‘grand’. The Ibiza vibe of that deep-house lick o’ paint helps hoosh the song’s innate breeziness. Similarly, the teensy speck of remix electro-glitter on Omi’s vocal gives it a sparkle. Even the old-fashioned lyrics—spoiler alert: at the end he’s got his mother’s blessing to “pop the question” to his girl—slip in the sly wit of a pre-chorus where Omi brushes off all those other girls who ask “Do I make you feel like cheating?” with a less-than-committed “No, not really”. (Speaking of sly, apparently the venerable Sly & Robbie play on the original.) Cheers!
