How Bizarre (song)
| "How Bizarre" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by OMC | ||||
| from the album How Bizarre | ||||
| Released | 15 December 1995 (NZ) | |||
| Format | CD single, CD maxi single | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Dance-rock, hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:43 (Album version) | |||
| Label | huh! Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Alan Jansson, Pauly Fuemana | |||
| Producer | Alan Jansson | |||
| OMC singles chronology | ||||
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"How Bizarre" is the title of a song written and recorded by New Zealand musical group OMC. It was released in December 1995 as the lead single from their first album, How Bizarre. In the United States, the song was only released to radio and not as a retail single, and was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and was a hit, in that regard in 1997. The song was also featured in the movie Palmetto.
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[edit] Music video
A music video was released to help promote the single. The video has the lead singer, Pauly Fuemana, driving a 1968 Chevrolet Impala, in spite of the fact that the song lyrics mention a "Chevy '69". It also pictures him dancing, singing and throwing around money, in "gangster persona".
[edit] Critical reception
The song won the award for "Single of the Year" at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards.[1] 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 Rights Association in 2001.
In 2002, "How Bizarre" was named as the 71st greatest one-hit wonder of all time on a VH1 countdown hosted by William Shatner.
Most recently, in 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio ranked the song at #66 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, stating, "There's lots of weird things in this wild world of ours," and that the song being on the list is "not bizarre in the least."[2]
[edit] Chart performance
"How Bizarre" topped the South African and U.S. airplay charts and was #2 on the Billboard Top 100.[3] The single was a chart hit in many countries and spent several weeks at number one in several countries, reaching the top for two weeks in Austria, three weeks in Ireland,[1] three weeks in New Zealand[1] and five weeks in Australia.[1] On 9 February 2010, the song re-entered the New Zealand charts at number 40 after Fuemana's death.
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[edit] Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia | Platinum |
| New Zealand | Triple Platinum |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "How Bizarre's Pauly Fuemana dies". ONE News (TVNZ). 31 January 2010. http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/bizarre-s-pauly-fuemana-dies-3346027. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (11 September 2010). "100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Two of Five". AOL Radio. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/11/100-worst-songs-ever-part-two-of-five/. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
- ^ Easton, Paul (1 February 2010). "Pauly Fuemana mourned". The Dominion Post (Stuff.co.nz). http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/3279973/Pauly-Fuemana-mourned.
- ^ charts.org.nz - international chart positions
- ^ allmusic.com - Billboard Singles
- ^ http://www.charts.de/song.asp?artist=OMC&title=How+Bizarre&country=de.asp
| Order of precedence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men |
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single 26 January 1996 – 9 February 1996 |
Succeeded by "Let's Groove" by CDB |
| Preceded by "One of Us" by Joan Osborne |
Australian Charts number-one single 13 April 1996 – 18 May 1996 |
Succeeded by "Fastlove" by George Michael |
| Preceded by "Dancin' at the Crossroads" by The Wild Swans |
Irish Singles Chart number-one single 14 September 1996 – 5 October 1996 |
Succeeded by "Words" by Boyzone |
| Preceded by "Break My Stride" by Unique II |
Austrian Ö3 Singles Chart number-one single 3 November 1996 – 10 November 1996 17 November 1996 – 24 November 1996 |
Succeeded by "Zehn kleine Jägermeister" by Die Toten Hosen |
| Preceded by "Zehn kleine Jägermeister" by Die Toten Hosen |
Succeeded by "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" by Backstreet Boys |
|
| Preceded by "Mouth" by Merril Bainbridge |
Canadian RPM number-one single 20 January 1997 – 27 January 1997 |
Succeeded by "Just Another Day" by John Mellencamp |
| Preceded by "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks |
U.S. Top 40 Mainstream Chart number-one single 16 August 1997 – 23 August 1997 |
Succeeded by "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind |
