Pauly Fuemana


Paul Lawrence Fuemana was a Niuean-New Zealand singer, songwriter and musician. Fuemana was more commonly known as his stage name, OMC, which was best known internationally for the 1995/1996 hit, "How Bizarre".

Early life

Fuemana was born in Auckland, to parents Takiula Fuemana and Olivia Hohaia. He was of half-Niuean and half-Māori descent. His father, Takiula Fuemana, is originally from Mutalau, Niue, before emigrating to New Zealand, while his mother was Taranaki Māori. Fuemana was the youngest of four children.
Fuemana was raised in Otara, a poor suburb in South Auckland with a large Pacific Islander population.

OMC

Otara Millionaires Club was formed by older brother Phil Fuemana and was passed on to Pauly Fuemana, who later shortened the band's name to OMC. Alan Janson was hired to co-write and co-produce the How Bizarre album, OMC reached worldwide fame in late 1995 with the single "How Bizarre", from their debut album of the same name. OMC and Alan Jansson, ceased recording in 1998, but recorded again briefly in 2007. Recording "4 all of us" a single that featured Lucy Lawless, Fuemana's portion of the royalties was donated to the Race Relations Commission.
The song, which was named Single of the Year at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards, hit number one around the world, including the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. In 2002, their song "How Bizarre" reached No. 71 on the 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders. The single was a chart hit in many countries and spent multiple weeks at number one in several countries, reaching the top for two weeks in Austria, three weeks in Ireland, three weeks in New Zealand and five weeks in Australia.
He often spoke about the hit: "I put a lot of hidden stories in there so people could read between the lines and sense it for what it is instead of telling them, 'Yeah, we got pulled over by the cops, and my mate got his head smashed in, and we got arrested, and they found some pot on him,'" Fuemana told Reuters in a 1997 interview.
Fuemana declared bankruptcy in 2006. His older brother, Phil Fuemana, who pioneered a form of Polynesian influenced hip-hop and R&B, died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 41.
How Bizarre is still played worldwide 25 years after its release. More than 5 million copies of the How Bizarre album were sold. Fuemana wears the crown of the most successful Polynesian artist ever. OMC was voted #34 on the APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time.

Death

Fuemana died following a protracted battle with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, ultimately succumbing to respiratory failure at North Shore Hospital, North Shore City, on 31 January 2010. His death occurred eight days before his 41st birthday. He had been in declining health for several years. For a few months prior to his death he had been suffering from a neurological condition and also developed pneumonia.
He is survived by his wife, Kirstine Fuemana, a New Zealand woman whom he'd met in 1993 and married in 2002, and his six children.
Fuemana's funeral was held on 5 February 2010, at the Pacific Island Presbyterian Church in Newton, New Zealand. The 200 attendees included rappers Dei Hamo, Ermehn and Darryl Thompson, who is also known as DLT, Alan Jansson, Simon Grigg, Nathan Haines and the mayor of Auckland Super city, Len Brown.