Pauly Fuemana
Encyclopedia
Pauly Lawrence Fuemana was a New Zealand
singer, songwriter and musician. Fuemana was the lead singer of the music duo, OMC
(Otara Millionaires Club), which was best known internationally for the 1995 hit, "How Bizarre
". The song is still the best selling New Zealand record of all time, as of February 2010.
, to parents Takiula Fuemana and Merelyn Fuemana. He was of half-Niue
an and half-Māori descent. His father, Takiula Fuemana, is originally from Mutalau
, Niue, before immigrating to New Zealand, while his mother, Leigh, was Taranaki Māori. Pauly Fuemana was the youngest of 4 children.
Fuemana was raised in Otara
, a poor suburb
in South Auckland
with a large Pacific Islander
population.
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 #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 in 2005 at the age of 41.
, ultimately succumbing to respiratory failure at North Shore Hospital
, North Shore City, on January 31, 2010. His death occurred shortly 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
. The week of his death, "How Bizarre" re-entered the New Zealand singles charts at #40.
He is survived by his wife, Kirstine Fuemana, an Englishwoman whom he married in 2002, and six children, one of which was not born to Kirstine Fuemana; this daughter had been unknown until shortly before Pauly Faumana's death. She now resides in Christchurch
city.
Fuemana's funeral was held on February 5, 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, and the mayor of Manukau City, Len Brown
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer, songwriter and musician. Fuemana was the lead singer of the music duo, OMC
OMC (band)
OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, was a music group from Auckland, New Zealand best known for their 1996 hit "How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealand songs of all time by the Australasian Performing Right Association...
(Otara Millionaires Club), which was best known internationally for the 1995 hit, "How Bizarre
How Bizarre (song)
"How Bizarre" is the debut single of New Zealand musical group OMC from their debut album of the same name. It was released as a single in New Zealand in 1995 and internationally in 1996....
". The song is still the best selling New Zealand record of all time, as of February 2010.
Early life
Fuemana was born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, to parents Takiula Fuemana and Merelyn Fuemana. He was of half-Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an and half-Māori descent. His father, Takiula Fuemana, is originally from Mutalau
Mutalau
Mutalau is a village on Niue, with a population of 133 as of the 2001 census. It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. Ululauta and Matahefonua both mean "head of the land". Mutalau is the most northern village on Niue...
, Niue, before immigrating to New Zealand, while his mother, Leigh, was Taranaki Māori. Pauly Fuemana was the youngest of 4 children.
Fuemana was raised in Otara
Otara
Ōtara is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, situated 18 kilometres to the southeast of the Auckland CBD. Ōtara lies near the head of the Tāmaki River , which extends south towards the Manukau Harbour...
, a poor suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
in South Auckland
South Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
with a large Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
population.
OMC
OMC was formed by older brother Phillip Fuemana and was passed on to Pauly Fuemana. Fuemana's musical duo, OMC, reached worldwide fame in 1995 with the single "How Bizarre", from their debut album of the same name. OMC, which consisted of Fuemana and Alan Jansson, ceased recording in 1998, but recorded again briefly in 2007.The song, which was named Single of the Year at the 1996 New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
, hit number one around the world, including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and New Zealand. In 2002, their song "How Bizarre" reached #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
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 2006. His older brother, Phil Fuemana, who pioneered a form of Polynesian influenced hip-hop and R&B, died in 2005 at the age of 41.
Death
Pauly Fuemana died following a protracted battle with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathyChronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The disorder is sometimes called chronic relapsing polyneuropathy. CIDP is closely related to Guillain-Barré syndrome and it is considered the chronic...
, ultimately succumbing to respiratory failure at North Shore Hospital
North Shore Hospital
North Shore Hospital is a large public hospital in Takapuna, North Shore City, serving the northern part of the Auckland area. Located on Shakespeare Road near Lake Pupuke, it is administered by the Waitemata District Health Board, serving around 47,000 people a year.-Facilities:The hospital...
, North Shore City, on January 31, 2010. His death occurred shortly 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
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
condition, and also developed pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. The week of his death, "How Bizarre" re-entered the New Zealand singles charts at #40.
He is survived by his wife, Kirstine Fuemana, an Englishwoman whom he married in 2002, and six children, one of which was not born to Kirstine Fuemana; this daughter had been unknown until shortly before Pauly Faumana's death. She now resides in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
city.
Fuemana's funeral was held on February 5, 2010, at the Pacific Island Presbyterian Church in Newton, New Zealand
Newton, New Zealand
Newton is a small suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand, under the local governance of the Auckland City Council. It had a population of 837 in the 2001 census....
. The 200 attendees included rappers Dei Hamo, Ermehn and Darryl Thompson, who is also known as DLT, and the mayor of Manukau City, Len Brown
Len Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
.