Clockwise: Pauly Fuemana performing on Top of the Pops in the UK; Alan Jansson; Pauley re-imagined by BroTown; Simon Grigg. Screen shots from How Bizarre - The Story of an Otara Millionaire.
The aspirationally-named Otara Millionaire's Club - or OMC - didn't really expect their dreams to come true...
OMC's 'How Bizarre', co-written by the late Pauly Fuemana and producer Alan Jansson, topped the New Zealand charts 26 January 1996 – 9 February 1996, and (pre-Lorde) went on to become the biggest hit ever written and recorded in New Zealand by a New Zealand artist. It made the Top 10 in 15 countries, and reached No.1 in many territories including Austria, Canada, Ireland and the United States.
The story of OMC and their smash hit is captured in a TV documentary, How Bizarre directed by Stuart Page – best known for the Skeptic’s AFFCO music video.
Trevor Reekie talks with director Stuart Page, OMC producer and co-writer Alan Jansson and Simon Grigg from Huh Records, who released the record.
Related links
- Read more on OMC over at Audioculture.co.nz
- How Bizarre - TV documentary on the Maori TV website
- A 20/20 story about Pauly Fuemana on YouTube
- Pauly Fuemana Obituary in Entertainment Weekly
Radio New Zealand stories
- Family of Pauly Fuemana devastated by sudden death
- Funeral held for Pauly Fuemana
- Pauly Fuemana Memorial Service
- Silver Scrolls 2010 Pauly Fuemana Tribute - How Bizarre
Music details
Artist: Otara Millionaires Club
Song: We Are the OMC
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Phillip Fuemana / H Lotto / Paul Ave
Album: Proud-An Urban Pacific Streetsoul compilation
Label: Second Nature/Volition/Sony
Artist: Sisters Underground
Song: In The Neighbourhood
Comp: Hasara / Brenda / Jansson / Baker
Album: Proud-An Urban Pacific Streetsoul compilation
Label: Second Nature/Volition/Sony
Artist: Otara Millionaires Club
Song: We Are the OMC (Depth Charge remix)
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: We Are the OMC single
Label: Second Nature/Volition/Sony
Artist: OMC
Song: How Bizarre (live)
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: I Love L.A single
Label: Huh Records – distributed by Universal
Artist: OMC
Song: How Bizarre (instrumental)
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: How Bizarre single
Label: Huh Records – distributed by Universal
Artist: OMC
Song: How Bizarre
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: How Bizarre
Label: Huh Records – distributed by Universal
Artist: OMC
Song: How Bizarre remix
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: courtesy Alan Jansson
Label: Huh Records
Artist: OMC
Song: How Bizarre remix
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: courtesy Alan Jansson
Label: Huh Records
Artist: OMC
Song: I Love L.A
Comp: R. Newman
Album: I Love L.A single
Label: Polydor / Universal
Artist: OMC
Song: No Problemo
Comp: Pauly Fuemana
Album: unreleased
Label: Paul Fuemana ©2014 Kirstine Fuemana
Artist: OMC
Song: 4 All of Us
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: 4 All of Us single
Label: Orpheus Entertainment / OMC.
Artist: OMC
Song: Land of Plenty
Comp: Pauly Fuemana / Alan Jansson
Album: How Bizarre
Label: Huh Records – distributed by Universal
