PAULY FUEMANA INTERVIEWED (1996): A life turned around

 |   |  1 min read

PAULY FUEMANA INTERVIEWED (1996): A life turned around

Every now and again an article from many years ago makes itself known when old journals are being unearthed.

In the wake of the Anniversary Weekend floods in 2023, Elsewhere lost all kinds of valuable or personal archives.

But as we restock shelves or just open an old exercise book which somehow survived bits and pieces from a past life as a journalist at the Herald can suddenly appear.

Like this one which couldn't be more timely, I found it just days after writing about the 1994 Proud compilation being issued on vinyl, the first time we heard Pauly's voice when he was part of the Otara Millionaires Club.

This was one of the major interviews I did with Pauly Fuemana, the first which I don't have was just when his global hit How Bizarre was about to break -- I'm told it was the first interview with him in a New Zealand newspaper.

And this one from when the madness had begun.

He was a charming man each time I spoke to him and on his death I penned this piece because I was so moved.

But here is Pauly as a young man with the world at his feet and his heart in the wind.

Screen_Shot_2023_05_30_at_10.00.46_PM

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Absolute Elsewhere articles index

THE BEE GEES' STORY AND LEGACY (2021): The final curtain call

THE BEE GEES' STORY AND LEGACY (2021): The final curtain call

When Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who knows a thing or two about siblings singing together, inducted the Bee Gees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 97 he called them “Britain's first... > Read more

MARTIN PHILLIPPS INTERVIEWED (2018): A lone guide cutting through snow

MARTIN PHILLIPPS INTERVIEWED (2018): A lone guide cutting through snow

Martin Phillipps takes the guitar off his knee so he can talk about, among many other things, the Chills' new album Snow Bound. But he immediately admits that he can leave such instruments... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Various Artists: Murshidi and Sufi Songs (Arc Music)

Various Artists: Murshidi and Sufi Songs (Arc Music)

Although we might describe these field recordings as more worthy and important than they are repeat-play items and essential on the shelf, they are deserving of our attention. Deben... > Read more

EPs by Yasmin Brown: Asgeir, Abby Wolfe, Nidala, Silk Cut

EPs by Yasmin Brown: Asgeir, Abby Wolfe, Nidala, Silk Cut

With so many CDs commanding and demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the informed and opinionated Yasmin Brown. She will scoop up some of those many EP... > Read more