Erling Haaland's teenage rap song has become an unexpected viral success during the FIFA World Cup, with a remix by Norwegian DJ Kygo earning the Manchester City striker's enthusiastic backing as interest in the track continues to grow.
Origin of the Song
The song, titled 'Kygo jo,' was originally recorded in 2016 by Haaland alongside Norway Under-17 teammates Erik Botheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg under the name Flow Kingz. Performing as 'Lyng,' a 15-year-old Haaland appeared in the homemade music video rapping while cooking on a barbecue, jumping on a trampoline, and posing with a miniature car.
Viral Resurgence During World Cup
The track has resurfaced as Haaland leads Norway on its historic World Cup run, helping the nation reach its first-ever quarter-final. The original music video has attracted more than 21 million views on YouTube, while the remix has driven renewed interest across streaming platforms and social media.
Kygo Remix and Haaland's Response
Kygo released the remix after previously promising to do so if Haaland scored against Brazil. The striker delivered with two goals in Norway's 2-1 victory, prompting the producer to fulfill his pledge. Haaland embraced the song's unexpected popularity with his trademark humour. Seeing the remix become a viral success, he posted on X saying, 'Made it moment! Thanks, @kygomusic Does this mean I'm officially an artist now?'
Fan Reactions
Fans have also welcomed the revival, with comments including, 'We lost a musician to football' and 'Becoming a professional footballer is probably the biggest publicity stunt a rapper has ever done for their song.' Another supporter wrote, 'This should be played at the stadium if Norway wins against England.'
