Released as a single on independent label Oufah, the song saw success in Jamaica, where it topped the charts, and also attracted airplay in Hawaii and Dubai.

[4] The following year, he was discovered by producer Clifton "Specialist" Dillon, an influential figure in the Jamaican music industry, who subsequently became his manager and collaborator.

Prolific Jamaican rhythm section Sly and Robbie and veteran saxophonist Dean Fraser contributed to the original recording,[7] which was first issued in 2012 on Oufah, an independent label in Kingston.

Meanwhile, Salaam Remi, an American hip hop producer that owned an imprint at Sony, was also interested in bringing the song to a wider audience.

[9] The song's lyrics center on the protagonist's joy at finding a "cheerleader"—a romantic companion that will be a support system for him, and is "always there when I need her.

"[17] The song's original music video, directed by Tim Cash, was shot in Oregon on a small budget.

[5] It was shot on location in Haulover Beach, Florida, which was designed to capture the song's essence, described by Pasley as a "constant warm sunshine-playful vibe.

[19] The remix of "Cheerleader" was a gradual global smash single; it first topped charts in European countries before making its way to the United States.

The original track was first placed on reggae charts in Hawaii and Dubai in 2012, after which it became a hit in his home country of Jamaica.

[5] In January 2015, Sony Music, the conglomerate that owns Columbia and Ultra, named it their "Song of the Month"; as a result, all subsidiaries of the company put forth additional promotion of the single.

[27] It remained on the top of the chart for six non-consecutive weeks, until finally being replaced by The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face".

[30] While Chris Molanphy of Slate found the song's lyrics "laughably retrograde", he praised the chorus as "universally relatable and cross-culturally memorable.

"[7] Nick Messitte, a Forbes contributor, opined that the song has brought deep house music into the mainstream of the United States.