OMC (band)
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| OMC Otara Millionaires Club |
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|---|---|
| Origin | Otara, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Years active | 1995-2000; 2007 - present |
| Former members | |
| Pauly Fuemana Alan Jansson |
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OMC is a music group from Otara, Auckland, New Zealand which had a worldwide hit with the song "How Bizarre" in 1996. Originally the Otara Millionaires Club, the full name of the band is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Otara's status as one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland.
Pauly Fuemana and Alan Jansson were, in effect, OMC. Whilst Pauly fronted the project and took it around the world, the music was created by both of them. Paul was the frontman and played much of the original instrumentation. Alan co-wrote all the tracks and produced the record. The group had a local hit with "We are the OMC". By mid-1995, OMC had broken up but Fuemana used the group's acronym as a solo artist. Pauly Fuemana is half-Niuean and half-Maori. His father, Takiula, is from Mutalau, Niue.
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[edit] "How Bizarre"
Signed to Simon Grigg's huh! label, OMC released the single "How Bizarre" in New Zealand in 1995. It was an immediate smash hit even without a video, reaching number one late that year and staying there for six weeks. It sold over 35,000 copies (3½ times platinum), a figure not exceeded in New Zealand as of 2005. It was followed by "Right On" which was a platinum single. In 1996 "How Bizarre" went number one in Australia, selling over 150,000 singles. Later in the year the single went to number 5 in the UK and number one in countries across Europe and much of the rest of the world. It was followed by the album, also entitled "How Bizarre" and the US release. Their third single "On The Run" reached #56 on the UK singles charts in 1997.
In 1997 and 1998, "How Bizarre" spent 36 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart, peaking at 4. The song never charted on the regular Hot 100 as it wasn't released as a single. It also became BMI certified million airplay song two years in a row. The album went on to sell in excess of a million copies in the United States alone, as well as charting in many other countries. Between 1995 and 2000 OMC are estimated to have sold between three and four million records worldwide, and is the biggest selling NZ recorded and signed record ever.
The album has been, over the years, often named as an influence by successful acts around the world, especially in the United States where the song "How Bizarre" still receives some airplay. Its merging of acoustic guitars with beats, a trademark of Alan Jansson's so-called "Urban Pacific" sound[citation needed], has been widely imitated and copied since 1995.[citation needed]
In 2002, their song "How Bizarre" reached #71 on the 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders hosted by William Shatner.
In January 2007 OMC released, in New Zealand, a new single, 4 All of Us, featuring Lucy Lawless on backing vocals. Like his earlier work, this was produced and co-written by Alan Jansson.
[edit] Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Country | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | How Bizarre | Huh Records | 40 | USA |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Album | Singles Chart | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "How Bizarre" | How Bizarre | #1 (NZ) #1 (AUS) #4 (UK) #4 (US Airplay) #11 (the Netherlands) | Triple Platinum (NZ) Platinum (AUS) |
| 1996 | "Right On" | How Bizarre | #5 (New Zealand) | - |
| 1997 | "On The Run" | How Bizarre | #12 (NZ) #56 (UK) | - |
| 2007 | "4 All of Us" feat. Lucy Lawless | - | - | - |
[edit] Album
| Year | Album | Chart | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | How Bizarre | #8 (New Zealand) #40 (USA) | Platinum (USA) |
