From 1995 to 1997, the one “How Bizarre” slowly made its method from the airwaves of New Zealand to TVs and radios throughout America, Europe, and past. Carried out by an artist who known as himself OMC, “How Bizarre” was the last word recipe for 90s pop deliciousness, that includes acoustic guitars fused with hip-hop loops, mariachi-style horns, conversational rapping, and an indelible, upbeat refrain. But after the success of his first main single, OMC largely light into obscurity. Nonetheless, the story of “How Bizarre,” and its artist, is equally exceptional.
Tapping into the City Pacifika sound
OMC was the pseudonym of Pauly Fuemana, a New Zealand artist of Pacific Island descent. He grew up in Otara, a working-class suburb of Auckland, the place he and his siblings had been all concerned in music. His sister was a gifted R&B singer, whereas his older brother, Phil, was a fixture within the native scene, starting within the 80s.
A producer and musician, Phil drew from his Pacific Island and Māori (the indigenous Polynesian tradition of mainland New Zealand) heritage, to create the City Pasifika sound, which fuses Polynesian instrumentation with American parts of hip-hop and R&B.
Within the early 90s, Phil, Pauly, and several other collaborators recorded the observe “We R The OMC” for a compilation that showcased the rising City Pasifika sound. The band got here up with the title Otara Millionaires Membership as a tongue-in-cheek (and soon-to-be-prophetic) ode to their hometown. Whereas the group disbanded shortly thereafter, Pauly retained the group’s title, shortening it to OMC. He enlisted the compilation’s producer, Alan Jansson (recognized for his work within the 80s Kiwi synth-pop group, Physique Electrical), to assist him write and file new materials.
Taking a bet
Their first observe collectively was “How Bizarre,” a unusual pop tune during which Pauly raps a few brush with the police. Jansson enlisted singer Sina Saipaia (previously of the Auckland hip-house group Sistermatic) to harmonize with Pauly on the refrain and added a wide range of instrumentation, together with an accordion and trumpet. The underlying guitar observe, in the meantime, provided a distinctly Māori taste to the tune.
Jansson then linked Pauly to New Zealand music impresario Simon Grigg, who launched “How Bizarre” on his huh! label in December 1995. It was a bet that paid off tenfold. Grigg attributed the tune’s success to its distinct city Pacific sound:
“It’s the classic Kiwi strum meets punk rock meets disco meets a South Pacific beach party meets classic soul meets reggae and everything in between.”
With its refreshingly eclectic sound, the tune grew to become an prompt hit in New Zealand, reaching No.1 in early 1996. Over the yr, the one unfold across the globe, hitting No.1 in Australia and Canada, touchdown within the High 5 within the U.Ok. and throughout Europe, and ultimately making its technique to the U.S., the place it topped the Billboard Mainstream High 40 chart in August 1997 (in line with Billboard guidelines on the time, the tune was ineligible for the Sizzling 100, because it was by no means launched as a single in America).
A worldwide sensation
OMC was a fixture on TV screens around the globe, making appearances on the High of the Pops, MTV, and past. The tune’s music video – which featured a sharply-dressed Pauly, Saipaia, and a stand-in for “Brother Pele” driving round in a 1968 Chevy Impala and dancing in golf equipment – was additionally in heavy rotation.
Pauly and Jansson continued to file after the success of “How Bizarre,” and launched their sole album of the identical title within the fall of 1996. How Weird was a High 5 hit in New Zealand and authorized Gold within the U.S. Although the duo scored a number of follow-up hits together with “Right On,” “On the Run,” and the 2007 single, “4 All Of Us,” that includes visitor vocalist Lucy Lawless (a.ok.a. Xena Warrior Princess) – OMC solidly remained in “One Hit Wonder” territory.
Sadly, each brothers have since handed, however their legacy lives on. Following Pauly’s demise in 2010, “How Bizarre” re-entered the New Zealand charts, as a brand new era of followers found the irresistible tune.
Over 20 years on, “How Bizarre” stays one of many highest-selling pop songs of all time to be recorded by a New Zealand artist of their residence nation, whereas the one has launched tens of millions of worldwide listeners to the Fuemana’s distinct City Pacifika sound.
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