How Bizarre (song)

Last updated

"How Bizarre"
OMCHowBizarreMaxiCDCover.jpg
Single by OMC
from the album How Bizarre
Released15 December 1995 (1995-12-15)
Genre Pop, hip hop [1]
Length3:43
Label Huh!, Polydor
Songwriter(s) Alan Jansson, Pauly Fuemana
Producer(s) Alan Jansson, Pauly Fuemana
OMC singles chronology
"We R the OMC"
(1994)
"How Bizarre"
(1995)
"Right On"
(1996)
Music video
"How Bizarre" on YouTube

"How Bizarre" is a song written and performed by New Zealand musical group OMC. It was released in December 1995 as the lead single from their album How Bizarre and went on to top the charts of five countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. Outside New Zealand, OMC is generally considered a one-hit wonder; they had a further few successful singles in New Zealand, including "On the Run" and "Land of Plenty". [2]

Contents

Critical reception

The song won the award for "Single of the Year" at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards. [3] It was also featured on Nature's Best 2 , as the 34th-greatest New Zealand song of all time as voted for by members of the Australasian Performing Right Association in 2001. In 2002, the song was named as the 71st-greatest one-hit wonder of all time on a VH1 countdown hosted by William Shatner.

Ross Jones of The Guardian called the song "supernaturally summery", noting that it "combines a proto-electro beat, a funky Mariachi guitar, Tex-Mex trumpets, girly close harmonies, and a goofy rap". [4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Polynesian pop with a twist. Pauly Fuemana has a gravelly, deep voice and a major rap attitude. The Spanish guitar, trumpet and the sweet female background vocals create a radio friendly mood. This single from the forthcoming album Time Is Money smashed New Zealand and Australian sales figures; OMC's quirky catchiness should kick up some dust in Europe too." [5] British trade paper Music Week rated it four out of five, adding: "A smash in Australia and NZ, this mix of male vocals with Spanish guitar and a samba/dance beat could be a surprise hit if radio latches on." [6]

Chart performance

"How Bizarre" topped the singles charts in New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Canada and Ireland. The single was number one for one week in Canada, [7] two weeks in Austria, [8] three weeks in Ireland, [9] three weeks in New Zealand [10] and five weeks in Australia. [11] As the track was only released to radio in the United States, with no commercial single made available to buy, the song was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 under the chart rules in place at the time. However, it topped the Billboard Pop Airplay chart for a week and peaked at number four on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. On 9 February 2010, the song re-entered the New Zealand charts at number 40 after Fuemana's death. [10]

Music video

A music video was released to help promote the single. The video features lead singer Pauly Fuemana driving a 1968 Chevrolet Impala, dancing, rapping, throwing around money and breathing fire. The video was directed by Lee Baker and released in late 1995, shortly before "How Bizarre" hit number one in New Zealand. [12] Shot on a soundstage in Ponsonby, Auckland and Ellerslie Racecourse with a budget of $7,000 from NZ On Air, [12] it was shown on US networks about 15,000 times in 1997 and 1998. Besides Fuemana, it also features backing vocalist Sina Saipaia, [13] and a Filipino man named Hill who stood in for Brother Pele. [14]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [41] Platinum70,000^
Germany (BVMI) [59] Gold250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [60] Platinum10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [61] Gold400,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
New Zealand15 December 1995CD
[10]
United Kingdom1 July 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
[6]
Japan2 December 1996CD [62]
United States20 January 1997 Alternative radio
[63]
25 February 1997 Mainstream radio [64]

Covers and parodies

In 1996, radio personality Dean Young created a parody of the song called "Stole My Car". Dean was working with RNZ-owned Rock 99, formerly based in Rotorua on 99.1 FM. [65]

In 2003, the radio stadion ZM and Iain Stables released a compilation album of some of the parodies that were created in the radio company called Stables Label Volume 3. [66] The album name was a parody itself as there was no Volume 1 or 2. The song "Stole My Car" was the eighth track on the album. [67]

The song became the anthem of the English 1997 FA Women's Cup Final-winning Millwall Lionesses soccer team. [68] "How Bizarre" was included in the 1998 movies Palmetto and Disney's The Parent Trap and plays at the start of the first episode of the second season of American sitcom Clueless . It is also used in the third-season episode, "Coming Home", of the American alternate history television series For All Mankind . The song is also used in the first-season finale of American sitcom, New Girl . The song was also used in the 2023 Christmas television campaign for UK supermarket chain Tesco. [69]

The music video for New Zealand band Six60's "All She Wrote" (2021) was shot as a tribute to "How Bizarre". [70]

Recent popularity

In the months leading up to March 2021, there was a resurgence of the song's popularity secondary to its adoption by many users of TikTok. Over 100,000 videos have incorporated the song's lyrics in videos showing awkward conversations and strange coincidences. The #HowBizarre hashtag has generated more than 1.4 billion views. [71]

Related Research Articles

OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, were a New Zealand music group, then duo, with vocalist Pauly Fuemana later becoming the sole member. OMC was best known for the 1995 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealander songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association. The full name of the band is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Ōtara's status as one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building a Mystery</span> 1997 single by Sarah McLachlan

"Building a Mystery" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, Surfacing (1997). At a live performance, Sarah explains the song as being "basically about the fact that we all... have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a facade." She also goes on to say that "unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that's usually the more attractive and beautiful thing".

<i>How Bizarre</i> (album) 1996 studio album by OMC

How Bizarre is the only album by the New Zealand musical group OMC, released in 1996. It was first released on 27 September under the Huh! recording label, issued by PolyGram New Zealand, and manufactured and marketed by Mercury Records on 25 February 1997 in the United States. The album garnered a surprised, but generally positive reaction from critics; it was considered so bold and unique that it could not be compared to anything, and journalists struggled to classify it as one thing or another. How Bizarre reached number 5 in its native New Zealand and number 40 on the Billboard 200, spawning four singles: the title track, "Right On", "On the Run" and "Land of Plenty". It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 500,000 copies in that country, becoming the best-selling Urban Pasifika album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tha Crossroads</span> 1996 single by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

"Tha Crossroads" is a song written and performed by hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, released as a single in April 1996. The song is dedicated to the group's mentor, the late gangsta rap icon Eazy-E, and other family members. The song was the highest-debuting rap single when it debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one the following week and staying there for eight consecutive weeks. It also reached number one in New Zealand, where it was the most successful single of 1996. In 1997, the song won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide Blonde</span> 1990 single by INXS

"Suicide Blonde" is the lead single from Australian rock band INXS's seventh studio album, X (1990). It was released on 22 August 1990 in the United States and on 3 September 1990 in the United Kingdom. The song reached number two in Australia, number nine in the United States, and number 11 in the United Kingdom. In Canada and New Zealand, the single peaked at number one for two and three weeks, respectively. At the APRA Music Awards of 1991, "Suicide Blonde" won the award Most Performed Australian Work Overseas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pauly Fuemana</span> New Zealand singer and songwriter (1969–2010)

Paul Lawrence Fuemana was a New Zealand singer, songwriter and musician from Auckland. One of the first globally successful pioneers of his country's unique style of hip-hop, Fuemana was one of New Zealand's greatest popular music icons of the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Is a Winding Road</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 eponymous album. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. Paul Hester, another member of Crowded House, was the inspiration for the song. The single was issued in the United Kingdom in November 1996 and was released in the United States the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If It Makes You Happy</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"If It Makes You Happy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, released as the lead single from her 1996 eponymous album in September 1996. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Crow's final top-10 solo hit in the United States, and at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number one in Canada and won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "If It Makes You Happy" at number 663 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepper (song)</span> 1996 single by Butthole Surfers

"Pepper" is a song by American alternative rock band Butthole Surfers from their seventh studio album, Electriclarryland (1996). Released on April 11, 1996, the track reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, becoming the top-ranked song of 1996 on the former listing. In Australia, the song peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was ranked number four on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 1996. It also reached number two on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30 and number 32 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Long December</span> 1996 single by Counting Crows

"A Long December" is a song by American rock band Counting Crows. The ballad is the second single and 13th track from their second album, Recovering the Satellites (1996). Lead singer Adam Duritz was inspired to write the track after his friend was hit by a motorist and injured, making the song about reflecting on tragedy with a positive disposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Alive (Love and Rockets song)</span> 1989 single by Love and Rockets

"So Alive" is a song by British alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1989 as the second single from their self-titled fourth album. The song reached No. 1 in Canada and charted within the top 30 in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for five weeks and was ranked No. 1 on that listing's year-end chart for 1989. The song's music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and produced by Pamela James.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the One (SWV song)</span> 1996 single by SWV

"You're the One" is a song recorded by American female R&B vocal trio SWV for their second studio album, New Beginning (1996). RCA Records released the song on March 29, 1996, as the lead single from New Beginning. "You're the One" topped the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and became a top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and in New Zealand, receiving gold certifications in both countries. A sample of this song can be heard in South Korean boy group EXO's song "Ya Ya Ya" from their seventh studio album, Obsession (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love You Always Forever</span> 1996 single by Donna Lewis

"I Love You Always Forever" is the debut single by Welsh singer Donna Lewis from her debut album, Now in a Minute (1996). Written by Lewis and produced by Lewis and Kevin Killen, it was released as the album's lead single in the United States on 16 April 1996 and in the United Kingdom on 26 August 1996. The song is inspired by H. E. Bates' novel Love for Lydia, from which the chorus is taken.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mouth (Merril Bainbridge song)</span> 1994 single by Merril Bainbridge

"Mouth" is a song written by Australian singer-songwriter Merril Bainbridge and produced by Siew for Bainbridge's debut album, The Garden (1995). It was released as the album's first single in October 1994 in Australia, then was re-issued in 1995. "Mouth" became her biggest hit, peaking at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks and in Canada for one week. The song also became a top-five hit in Iceland and the United States and reached number 17 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Impression That I Get</span> 1997 single by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

"The Impression That I Get" is a song by American ska punk band the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Let's Face It (1997), in February 1997. The track reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart while also charting highly in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The song was certified gold in the United States and Australia. Chris Applebaum directed the song's music video while Adam Stern produced it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody Knows (Tony Rich song)</span> 1995 single by Tony Rich

"Nobody Knows" is a song by R&B singer Tony Rich from his 1996 debut album, Words. Released as his debut single on November 7, 1995, the song peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. It also became a hit in several other countries, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching number two in Australia and Canada, number four in the United Kingdom, and the top 20 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. Rich received a nomination for the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Me One Reason</span> 1995 single by Tracy Chapman

"Give Me One Reason" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was included on her fourth studio album, New Beginning (1995), and was released as a single in various territories between November 1995 and March 1997, her first since 1992's "Dreaming on a World". The song is Chapman's biggest US hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also her biggest hit in Australia, where it reached number three as well, and it topped the charts of Canada and Iceland. Elsewhere, the song reached number 16 in New Zealand, but it underperformed in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 95 in March 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Marlenas</span> 1997 single by the Wallflowers

"Three Marlenas" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. It was released in October 1997 as the fourth and final single from their second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996). The song peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 13 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunchyme</span> 1997 single by Dario G

"Sunchyme" is the debut single of British electronic music trio Dario G. It was released on 15 September 1997 as the lead single from their debut studio album, Sunmachine (1998), although early editions were stated to be from an album named Super Dario Land. The song heavily samples the track "Life in a Northern Town" by dream pop band the Dream Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)</span> 1996 single by Hootie & the Blowfish

"Old Man & Me " is a song by American rock group Hootie & the Blowfish. It was released in April 1996 as the lead single from their second album, Fairweather Johnson. In the United States, it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 18 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song also reached number one in Canada, becoming the band's third and final single to do so.

References

  1. b.liebman (21 September 2017). "Throwback Thursday: OMC – How Bizarre". The Indy Review. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  2. "Top 10 one-hit-wonders". Stuff. Fairfax. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  3. "How Bizarre's Pauly Fuemana dies". ONE News . TVNZ. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  4. Jones, Ross (13 July 1996). "Reviews: Singles". The Guardian .
  5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 30. 27 July 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Reviews – Records Out on July 1 1996: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 22 June 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9791." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  8. 1 2 "OMC – How Bizarre" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Bizarre". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "OMC – How Bizarre". Top 40 Singles.
  11. 1 2 "OMC – How Bizarre". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. 1 2 Gallagher, Robyn (25 November 2011). "OMC "How Bizarre"". 5000 Ways to Love You. WordPress. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. "A brief biography..." Alan Jansson. 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  14. "How Bizarre Music Video – 1996". NZ On Screen . Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  15. How Bizarre (Australasian CD single liner notes). OMC. Huh! Records. 1995. Huh 3, 575 206-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. How Bizarre (UK CD single liner notes). OMC. Huh! Records, Polydor Records. 1996. 577620-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. How Bizarre (Australasian cassette single sleeve). OMC. Huh! Records. 1995. 577 620-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. How Bizarre (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). OMC. Huh! Records, Polydor Records. 1995. BIZ 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. How Bizarre (UK cassette single sleeve). OMC. Huh! Records, Polydor Records. 1996. 575 206-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. How Bizarre (European CD single liner notes). OMC. Huh! Records, Polydor Records. 1996. 575 206-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. How Bizarre (Japanese CD single liner notes). OMC. Huh! Records. 1996. POCP-7192.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. "OMC – How Bizarre" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  23. "OMC – How Bizarre" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  24. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9724." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  25. Danish Singles Chart 27 September 1996
  26. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. 9 November 1996. p. 24. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  27. "OMC – How Bizarre" (in French). Les classement single.
  28. "OMC – How Bizarre" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  29. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 50. 14 December 1996. p. 14. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  31. "OMC – How Bizarre" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  32. "OMC – How Bizarre". VG-lista.
  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  34. "OMC – How Bizarre". Singles Top 100.
  35. "OMC – How Bizarre". Swiss Singles Chart.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  37. "Radio Songs" . Billboard . 9 August 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  38. "Adult Pop Airplay" . Billboard. 23 August 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  39. "Rhytymic Airplay" . Billboard. 4 October 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  40. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. 16 August 1997. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  41. 1 2 "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". ARIA . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  42. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1996" (in German). Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  44. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM . Retrieved 6 March 2019 via Library and Archives Canada.
  45. "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  46. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  47. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  48. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  49. "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  50. "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  51. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1996" (in German). Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  52. "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week . 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  53. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved 6 March 2019 via Library and Archives Canada.
  54. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1997" (in French). SNEP . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  55. "Year in Music: 1997 – Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-36. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  56. "Year in Music: 1997 – Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-83. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  57. "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 5, no. 52. 28 December 1997. p. 42.
  58. "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. 28 December 1997. p. 38.
  59. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (O M C; 'How Bizarre')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  60. "New Zealand single certifications – OMC – How Bizarre". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  61. "British single certifications – OMC – How Bizarre". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  62. "ハウ・ビザー/OMC" [How Bizarre/OMC] (in Japanese). PolyGram. Archived from the original on 1 March 1997. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  63. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report . No. 2138. 10 January 1997. p. 44.
  64. "Promo Only: Mainstream Radio [1997-02] February 1997". djrhythms.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  65. "Stole My Car". nzradioaudio. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2020 via YouTube.
  66. "Stables Label Volume 3 Youtube playlist". Youtube LX Archives channel. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  67. "Stables Label Volume 3". Discogs. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  68. Slegg, Chris; Phillips, Owen (7 May 2021). "Now you see her". BBC Sport . Retrieved 7 May 2021. My main memory is of being in the dressing room afterwards and my first born Jordan, who was two by then, being on one of the girls' shoulders as we all jumped around singing a song that was really popular at the time - How Bizarre by OMC. "That song became our anthem because of just how mad things seemed to be at the club at that time.
  69. "Helping you #BecomeMoreChristmas ⛄🎄 | Tesco", Youtube , Tesco , retrieved 2 December 2023
  70. Welby, Augustus (29 June 2021). "'We're trying to make small rooms feel like stadiums and stadiums feel like small rooms': Are NZ's SIX60 the humblest stadium rock band in the world?". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  71. Smith, Sophie (16 December 2020). "'How Bizarre': How OMC's 90s Classic Became A TikTok Sensation". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 7 March 2021.