I’m being such a MARY right now, but OMC’s “How Bizarre” (1995) just came on a playlist and I got emotional! How bizarre

This was a great song and from a simpler innocent time.

Always reminds me of The Parent Trap (1998).

I lived in Western New York around that time, spending a lot of time in Ontario with a Canadian boyfriend. So that song always reminds me of Canada, eh?

In a good way. I like Canada.

Is the lead sanger dead?

R3 I love Canada. Have you been to downtown Toronto lately? It looks like a cleaner NYC now.

Montreal is amazing too.

R3 Downtown Toronto during Christmas time. It’s beautiful

I love this song. Thank you for posting.

R2 I had the very same thought

I’m crying as I type this

Britney spears is in this

It's a good song. "Praise You" is good, too.

Music is so powerful; it instantly connects you to memories. I get you; it’s been a tough time lately for so many people.

How Bizarre wasn't released in the states until early 1997.

Not r13 coming in with the LIES again ON THE INTERNET.

It started playing on American radio in December of 1995 and charted in 1996.

“As the track was only released to radio in the United States, with no commercial single made available to buy, the song was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 under the chart rules in place at the time. However, it topped the Mainstream Top 40 for a week, then called the Pop Singles. It also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.”

It wasn’t made available to buy here, however, until later.

The lead singer was so cute. It's a shame he died so young and shittily

“ How Bizarre was released in late ‘95 and immediately became a hit in NZ, selling 35,000 copies and reaching number one and staying there for three weeks. In Australia, it was number one for five weeks and sold 150,000 copies and went platinum. In the US, it spent 32 weeks on Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart and peaked at number one in August 1997. Since the song was not released as a commercially available single, it never charted on Billboard’s Top 100.

In late ‘97 OMC released their debut album, titled How Bizarre. It sold a million copies in the US and charted in many countries.”

Maybe r13 is thinking of their debut ALBUM, titled How Bizarre. That came out in 1997. The single, however, came out in December of 1995.

What happened to him?

Thank you ! Thank you! It reminds me of being young and feisty and feeling really hip and special with my hot cup of Starbucks in my hand!

No, R13 is NOT thinking of the album. You copied and pasted it yourself so why are you questioning me?

[quote] In the US, it spent 32 weeks on Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart and peaked at number one in August 1997.

Which means the single was played in 1997 in the US. NOT 1995.

[quote] It started playing on American radio in December of 1995 and charted in 1996. “As the track was only released to radio in the United States, with no commercial single made available to buy, the song was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 under the chart rules in place at the time. However, it topped the Mainstream Top 40 for a week, then called the Pop Singles. It also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.”

You conveniently left out the part where it peaked in August of 1997. It did NOT start playing on American radio in 1995, it started playing on New Zealand radio in 1995. If you want to keep calling people liars, then perhaps you should check your own lies first.

You’re both wrong. The song was released in the states in 1996, even when you type it in google it says 1996 and the year for the video is 1996. It didn’t chart the minute it came out. R19 how old are you? In the 90s a song could be on the radio for months before it ever gained heavy traction. Things then weren’t how they are now. Hell, Michael Jackson’s 1995 song was the very first single to ever debut at #1. That wasn’t even a thing until 1995.

R18 Starbucks? You were drinking it in 1996? The first NYC location was in 1994. I remember it opening but I didn’t know anyone who ever really drank it until around 2000 or so.

[quote] It didn’t chart the minute it came out. [R19] how old are you? In the 90s a song could be on the radio for months before it ever gained heavy traction.

God, do you fucking people know how to read? It charted in the US for 32 weeks, peaking at #1 in August of 1997, which means it still had some time to go AFTER it peaked, so it didn't hit the charts until 1997. And no, songs in the late 1990s would NOT be on the radio for months before they gained heavy traction. They would not be played if they hadn't charted by a certain time. Radio stations are in the business of making money, which means they play HITS. If the song didn't take within a month or two, tops, it would be dropped.

No wonder this guy died- it was probably out of frustration from the stupidity of his fans.

R23 there are songs that were played for months that never even chatted back then… the billboard rules were completely different. Stfu if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Little kid.

Charted*

R23 how did he die?

I was 10 when this song came out and remember hating it so much that I ritualistically forced myself to turn off the radio or change the station any time that fucking guitar riff started.

I understand what you mean, OP. Things just seem so crappy now, and I've been looking and listening to old movies and music. There's something comforting in it, but it can be upsetting. I'm sorry you feel upset.

I don’t know when the song reached the US airwaves but it’s true that it didn’t enter the American airplay charts until 1997. It entered the UK charts in July of 1996, and the USA charts April of 1997.

Supposedly the music video for it started getting played on MTV in 1996 though. The songs history is all over the place honestly so I see why people are so confused.

R26 he had chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. He died because he couldn’t breathe. Respiratory failure.

He died at 40 years old in 2010. He had minor success after How Bizarre but none of the songs could crack the top 20 in any of the mainstream markets. In 2006 he filed for bankruptcy and was struggling big time. In 2007 he recorded a new song with Lucy Lawless but it flopped in New Zealand and went nowhere. He died in 2010. He had a wife and five children.

So sorry to hear that.

[quote] [R23] there are songs that were played for months that never even chatted back then… the billboard rules were completely different. Stfu if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Little kid.

I know exactly what the "rules" were, and I cited the charts. But the RULE is that songs don't get played for months if they aren't popular. And if they aren't popular, they don't chart. There were enough division charts by 1997 BY PROOF OF EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS CITED to show he DID hit the charts in the US, the AIRPLAY charts. IN 1997.

Just fucking admit you're a stubborn asshole who can't face the fact that he's wrong and we can move on. Thanks.

I had heard this song on the radio for awhile, and when I finally saw video, the band didn't match what I thought they'd look like.

Buck never would have been such a Mary.

I share OP's sentiments. I just heard Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls and felt the same ..

I knew I was getting old when I started to become nostalgic for music I used to hate.

Blimey OP, thanks for this bizarre memory. I'd already left New Zealand long before this came out. Looks like the vision in the Chevy was filmed driving into Ellerslie Racecourse in Remuera....I'm sure an Aucklander can say yay or nay to that.

IMO, How Bizarre was a very simple song in the vein of Sugar Ray's Every Morning. I don't like either song.