OMC

Origin (1993-1995) The Otara Millionaires Club were formed in 1993 by Phil Fuemana after his earlier bands, "Houseparty" and "Fuemana". They recorded two tracks for producer Alan Jansson's Urban Pacifica collection Proud. After a falling out with his brother, Pauly Fuemana approached and Jansson and he suggested that Fuemana keep the initials as a name, and thereafter Fuemana and Jansson were, in effect, OMC. Whilst Fuemana fronted the project and took it around the world, the music was created by both of them. Fuemana was the frontman and played some of the original instrumentation. Jansson co-wrote all the tracks and arranged and produced the duo's albums. Sina Siapaia (stage name "Sina"or "Sister Sina") was the female backing vocalist on "How Bizarre" and other tracks on the debut album of the same title. [1] How Bizarre (1995-1997) Signed to Simon Grigg's huh! label, OMC released the single "How Bizarre" in New Zealand in late 1995. It was an immediate smash hit even without a video, reaching number one in early 1996 and staying there for three weeks. It sold over 35,000 copies (3½ times platinum certification), a figure not exceeded in New Zealand. That same year, "How Bizarre" went to number one in Australia for five weeks, sold over 150,000 singles, and was certified as a platimum single. 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 their debut album, also entitled How Bizarre. 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 was not released as a commercially available single there. 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 such as Switzerland. Between 1995 and 2000, OMC are estimated to have sold between three and four million records worldwide, and "How Bizarre is the biggest selling record ever to be released by an act originating from and recorded in New Zealand. Follow-up success (1997-2002) How Bizarre was followed by the singles "Land of Plenty" which reached the top 5 in the New Zealand charts, "Right On" which achieved platinum-status in New Zealand and "Right On" which was a minor international hit in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. By 1998, Fuemana and Jansson had had a falling out over royalties, which ended up in court, but after a settlement, it was agreed Fuemana could continue to use the duo's acronym as a solo artist. [1] In 2002, their song "How Bizarre" reached #71 on the 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders hosted by William Shatner. Post-OMC (2010-present) On January 31, 2010, Pauly Fuemana, aged 40, died after a short illness.[2] A week later, as a result, "How Bizarre" re-entered the New Zealand single charts and reached #40.