Newsmakers: How a Pacific rap song took over the summer of 1995

May 25, 2024

OMC's catchy tune How Bizarre skyrocketed to number one in five countries, including the United States. (Source: 1News)

You'd be hard pressed to find a New Zealander who doesn't know the classic hit song How Bizarre.

The song by OMC — Otara Millionaires Club — became a cultural touchstone following its release in 1995.

Lead singer Pauly Fuemana wrote the song alongside music producer Alan Jansson.

The song skyrocketed to No. 1 in five countries, including the biggest market of them all, the United States.

Alan Jansson, music producer and co-writer of How Bizarre

Nearly two decades on from its release, the song has been streamed more than 150 million times on Spotify.

1News' Melissa Stokes sat down with Jansson about writing the song, and its enduring appeal for this week's Newsmakers Revisited series.

"I just remember a great time, working with a great artist, I was very fortunate," said Jansson.

In many ways, the summer of 1995 was defined by OMC's catchy and unique blend of Pacific rap.

Much of this can be put down to suave front man Fuemana, who met Jansson a few months before its release.

After the success of Proud, a compilation album of Pacific artists, the record company wanted more.

And with a Big Day Out appearance looming with eight songs needed, the pair pulled an all-nighter.

Speaking to 1News, Jansson said the song was inspired by Sweet Jane by Lou Reed, and was written about the "circus of life" with everything "in your face".

Although Fuemana loved the instrumental, Jansson said it was missing something.

It was then the pair came up with the iconic phrase the song is titled after.

"People always say to me, you know, 'gosh it's a shame it's a one hit wonder', and I go 'hey, better a one hit wonder than a no hit wonder'.

"It was my goal just to put something out there that would last for eternity and that the world would recognise and get a buzz off," said Jansson.

For more on the song's creation and the cultural buzz which followed, click the video at the top of this article.

All of the Newsmakers Revisited episodes are available on TVNZ+.

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