If you’ve been watching the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, chances are you’ve noticed that the Russian athletes in the games, due to the country’s doping scandal, aren’t competing under the flag of their homeland but rather under the moniker the “Olympic Athletes of Russia (OAR).” It has not gone unnoticed by the band Of A Revolution (O.A.R.), and it has sort of becoming a running joke during the games. Social media has also had a ton of fun with the name overlap:
https://twitter.com/katefeetie/status/965046249954127872
https://twitter.com/fong_caroline/status/961819988880273408
As a matter of fact, the band has seen its Spotify streams skyrocket since the start of the games. According to the Washington Post, the band’s streams have increased by an incredible 46% since the start of the games on February 9th. Roberge simply stated “Oh My God, are you kidding? That’s crazy!” when he heard the news.
In addition to an increase in Spotify streams, the number of O.A.R’s google searches have increased as well. Since the Olympics started, it seems people can’t get enough of O.A.R.
O.A.R is a jam band formed by Marc Roberge and drummer Chris Culos in 1994. They experienced some success in the 90s but really exploded in popularity in the 2000s with hit singles such as “Shattered” and “Hey Girl.” Even if you’ve never been a fan, you’ve probably heard an O.A.R song at your tailgate or on the beach in the summertime.
Roberge has tweeted numerous times about the funny coincidence:
https://twitter.com/marcroberge/status/964845538217746432
https://twitter.com/marcroberge/status/966307394169995266
All this attention really couldn’t have come at a better time for the band. They released their latest single “Just Like Paradise” on February 16th and also recently announced a new tour that kicks off on July 24th. O.A.R has welcomed all of this free publicity and taken it in stride. “We fell into a really well-timed promotion,” Roberge said. “When you get a boost like this, if you don’t enjoy it, if you’re too cool for school, you’re not doing it right.”
Have a listen to O.A.R’s latest single “Just Like Paradise” below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVXAdj0SeZg
