How Bizarre (song)
| "How Bizarre" | |
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| Song |
"How Bizarre" is a hit single written and recorded by New Zealand musical group OMC. It was released in December 1995 as the lead single from the group's debut album of the same name, and went on to top the charts in at least six countries. Outside New Zealand, the song is considered a one-hit wonder, whereas OMC had further successful singles in New Zealand, including "Land of Plenty".[1] The song featured in 1998 movies Palmetto and Disney's The Parent Trap.
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. It also pictures him dancing, singing, throwing around money and breathing fire.[2] It was a second version, directed by Lee Baker, and released very late in 1995 just as "How Bizarre" went to number one in NZ.[3] Shot on a soundstage in Ponsonby and at Ellerslie Racecourse for a budget of $7,000 from NZ On Air,[3] it was shown on US networks about 15,000 times in 1997 and 1998. Besides Pauly, it features backing vocalist Sina Saipaia,[4] and a Filipino guy named Hill who stood in for Brother Pele.[5]
Critical reception
The song won the award for "Single of the Year" at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards.[6] 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, the song was named as the 71st greatest one-hit wonder of all time on a VH1 countdown hosted by William Shatner.
Release history
| Country | Release date |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 15 December 1995 |
| Europe | July 1996 |
| United States | 25 February 1997[7] |
Chart performance
"How Bizarre" topped the singles charts in New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Canada and Ireland. It also topped the airplay chart in South Africa. Because of rules in place at the time, the song was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 however it topped the mainstream top 40 for a week. It also peaked at number 4 on the airplay chart .[8] The single was top for two weeks in Austria, three weeks in Ireland,[6] three weeks in New Zealand[6] and five weeks in Australia.[6] On 9 February 2010, the song re-entered the New Zealand charts at number 40 after Fuemana's death.
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Certifications and sales
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Chart successions
References
- ^ "Top 10 one-hit-wonders". Stuff. Fairfax. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ OMC - How Bizarre on YouTube
- ^ a b Gallagher, Robyn (25 November 2011). "OMC "How Bizarre"". 5000 Ways to Love You. WordPress. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ "A brief biography..." Alan Jansson. 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ "How Bizarre Music Video – 1996". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d "How Bizarre's Pauly Fuemana dies". ONE News. TVNZ. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ "Promo Only: Mainstream Radio [1997-02] February 1997". Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ Easton, Paul (1 February 2010). "Pauly Fuemana mourned". The Dominion Post. Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – OMC" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre". VG-lista.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "OMC – How Bizarre". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "OMC - Char history Billboard". Retrieved 9 November 2015.