EPICANTHUS

via Leor Galil/True Slant Network

Pauly Fuemana, the half-Niuean and half-Māori lead singer of New Zealand group OMC, died Sunday. He was 40.

All I can write, without a hint of irony, is “How Bizarre.” I can still remember the immense joy I got listening to that song in elementary school. Be it jammed on the bus on the way to school, hearing it blasting on some radio station somewhere… The song was practically everywhere. It’s one of those rare moments when a song seems to fill the air. It really was everywhere. I never thought twice about how I could connect to a song created worlds away.

That’s a testament of a good song: Even some kid somewhere in the world can’t get it out of his head and (even years later) wouldn’t want to anyway.

Didn’t know about OMC (Otara Millionaires Club, a tongue-in-cheek reference to Otara’s status as one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland.). Mellow and very reminiscent of Sugar Ray/Mark McGrath, but they apparently predated SR. Wow. Sold over a million copies in the U.S. (four million worldwide), and “How Bizarre” is the biggest selling record ever to be released by an act originating from and recorded in New Zealand. according to Wikipedia.

Right on, my Asian/Pacific brother! Thanks Leor.