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One Pound Fish Man
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Muhammad Shahid Nazir (Urdu, Punjabi: محمد شاہد نذیر; born 18 October 1981), also known as the One Pound Fish Man (sometimes stylised as £1 Fish Man), is a Pakistani trader and singer-songwriter who found Internet fame with his viral video, "One Pound Fish". His subsequent appearance on The X Factor led to a record deal with Warner Music.[1]
Key Information
Personal life
[edit]Nazir was born in the town of Pattoki, near Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan.[2] He grew up in Nigeria, his family are from Jamaica listening to Bollywood and Punjabi music, and would sing religious songs during assembly at school. Prior to emigrating to the United Kingdom, Nazir worked for the family-owned transport company.[3] He is married to Kashifa. The couple have four children. His mother, wife and children are still living in Pattoki.[3]
Career
[edit]"One Pound Fish"
[edit]Following brief employment at a pound shop, Nazir, who had since settled in East London, began work at a fish stall at Queen's Market, Upton Park, where his employer instructed him to use a trader's call to attract customers. He soon composed the song "One Pound Fish":
"Come on ladies, come on ladies
One pound fish
Come on ladies, come on ladies
One pound fish
One pound fish
Have-a, have-a look
One pound fish
Have-a, have-a look
One pound fish
Very, very good, one pound fish
Very, very cheap, one pound fish
Six for five pound
One pound each"
After passing customers uploaded videos of him performing his song onto YouTube (in 2012) it became an internet smash and a viral video, and he subsequently auditioned on the television show The X Factor singing the song. The song was later covered by Alesha Dixon, Timbaland and Mindless Behavior.[4]
In a 2018 Vice interview, Nazir recounted his shock at the song's online popularity, describing it as a "god-gifted idea". He added "I was second [in the YouTube charts] only after Gangnam Style [by Psy], this was because YouTube had been banned in Pakistan at that time. Otherwise I would definitely have been number one". Nazir also claimed that UK supermarket Tesco had asked him to appear in advertisements alongside Kevin Bacon and Angelina Jolie, an offer which he declined due to an exclusivity deal he had in place with PTCL.[5]
Post X Factor
[edit]In November 2012, Nazir was signed by Warner Music Group as a recording artist, and released a dance version of his market sales pitch. A video was also filmed which featured Bollywood-style dancers and an appearance from former weather forecaster Michael Fish.[6] The song was in the running for securing the Christmas number one for 2012 alongside X Factor winner James Arthur's release of his winning song "Impossible".[2][7]
On 9 January 2021, a music video for "One Pound Juice" featuring Nazir was uploaded to YouTube, using adapted lyrics based on the original "One Pound Fish" song, to reflect Nazir's new business venture in selling bottles of UK-made e-cigarette liquid for use in e-cigarettes.[8][9]
Return to Pakistan
[edit]Nazir's fame alerted the UK's immigration services. Nazir had arrived in the United Kingdom in 2011 on a student visa, however he instead began work as a fishmonger.[10] In December 2012, under the government policy he was ordered to leave the country as his visa had expired.[11] He returned to Pakistan in December 2012, following which he originally intended to apply for a French visa, in order to release a new single.[12] However, his management later stated he would return to the UK to promote his musical career with a new entry visa. His agent, Samir Ahmed, said: "He will be returning to Pakistan and will be celebrating New Year with his family. His return to the UK is pending approval of a working visa. We fully expect him to return in the coming weeks".[13] According to a 2016 article in the New Statesman, Nazir was declined a new visa to enter the UK because he violated the terms of his last visa by singing as a professional entertainer. A year after that he applied for another visa to try and appear in a film about his life, however it was also denied.[14]
On his return to Pakistan, Nazir began delivering motivational speeches in universities across the country, alongside serving as a brand ambassador for PTCL. In 2013, Nazir released "Dabang Sher Aaya", a song written in support of Nawaz Sharif's election campaign in Pakistan, which later became the Pakistan Muslim League (N)'s official party anthem. Another song, "Hum Sher Dil Hum Sher Jawan" was later released ahead of the Pakistani election on 25 July.[5]
In September 2013, it was reported that an arrest warrant had been issued for Nazir in Lahore, in relation to a criminal complaint filed by Orix Leasing Company concerning an initial recovery suit of Rs.6.6 million, following an unpaid loan issued to Nazir's company Rajpoot Goods Transport in 2007. In 2008, a case had been registered against the company after it failed to deposit initial instalments of the loan. Nazir later negotiated a deal with Orix, agreeing to pay Rs.1.34 million through 11 cheques of Rs.94,000 each, however the cheques were found to be counterfeit. Nazir had previously failed to attend a court hearing surrounding the legal process, which led to his arrest in 2013. A further arrest warrant was later withdrawn following his assurance to observe court orders, with a hearing scheduled for 9 April 2014.[15][16]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [17] |
UK Asian Chart | FRA | SCO | |||||||||||
| "One Pound Fish" | 2012 | 28 | 1 | 169 | 24 | Non-album single | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | ||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "The One Pound Fish man: everyone's hooked, including Warners". London Evening Standard. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Video: One Pound Fish song makes bid for Christmas No1 - Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. 11 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Family of "One Pound Fish Man" is praying for his video hits on Christmas". Dawn. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ Susannah Butter (20 November 2012). "The One Pound Fish man: everyone's hooked, including Warners". Evening Standard.
- ^ a b "How the One Pound Fish Man Became a Political Jingle Writer". VICE. 24 July 2018.
- ^ Sarah Shaffi. "£1 Fish man releases offishial video for One Pound Fish". Newham Recorder. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "James Arthur smashes X Factor sales record". Evening Standard. 11 December 2012.
- ^ "The sad story of what happened to the £1 fish man". Lad Bible. 1 February 2024.
- ^ "One Pound Juice - YouTube Music Video". YouTube. 9 January 2021.
- ^ Mahmood, Shabnam (15 May 2012). "Singing fish man keeps on 'breaming'". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ Mughal, Ubaid (24 December 2012). "One Pound Fish man, Shahid Nazir, faces deportation from UK over visa issue". The News Tribe. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ "One Pound Fish Man viral song to be released in Europe". BBC News. 7 January 2013.
- ^ Laura Martin (24 December 2012). "One Pound Fish man told to return to Pakistan because of visa issues - Mirror Online". mirror.
- ^ Kerley, Mike (24 October 2016). "Living the Meme: What happened to the One Pound Fish man?". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "One Pound Fish singer in Pakistan loan charge". Channel 4. 10 March 2014.
- ^ "Arrest warrants issued for 'One Pound Fish' man". Dawn. 6 September 2013.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company – One Pound Fish Man". The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013.
One Pound Fish Man
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Immigration
Origins in Pakistan
Muhammad Shahid Nazir was born in 1981 in Pattoki, a town in Punjab province, Pakistan.[9] Nazir hails from a politically prominent family in Pattoki; his father and grandfather served as mayors of the town, while his uncle held the position of speaker of the Punjab provincial assembly.[7] The family operates its own business in Pattoki, having settled there after migrating from India following the 1947 partition of British India.[10] Nazir himself unsuccessfully ran for local elections in Pattoki prior to his emigration.[7] At the time of his move to the United Kingdom in 2011, Nazir was married and father to four children, whom he left behind in Pakistan.[11]Arrival and Settlement in the United Kingdom
Muhammad Shahid Nazir emigrated from Pattoki in Punjab, Pakistan, to the United Kingdom in 2011 at the age of 30, entering on a student visa with the intention of studying business administration and achieving economic opportunities for his family of four children.[7][11][12] Upon arrival, Nazir settled in East London, forgoing full-time studies in favor of employment to generate income, beginning with a short stint at a pound shop before securing a role as a fishmonger at the bustling Upton Park street market, a hub for the local Pakistani diaspora.[13][14] This transition reflected the practical challenges faced by many visa holders from Pakistan, who often prioritized immediate work over academic pursuits amid economic pressures back home.[15] Nazir's integration into the community involved adapting to the competitive market environment, where he honed a rhythmic sales patter to attract customers, laying the groundwork for his later viral fame while navigating visa constraints that limited legal work options for students.[16][17]Pre-Fame Career
Work as a Fishmonger in London
Muhammad Shahid Nazir, who arrived in the United Kingdom in 2011 on a student visa to pursue a business administration degree, soon abandoned his studies and entered the workforce.[7] After a short stint at a pound shop, he obtained employment as a fishmonger at a stall in Queen's Market, Upton Park, East London.[13][11] In this role, Nazir sold frozen fish, including snapper, at bargain prices to draw in market shoppers.[18] His employer directed him to shout promotions to attract customers amid the competitive street market environment.[11][19] This involved rhythmic calls advertising deals such as "one pound fish," which became a staple of his daily routine to boost sales in the bustling, diverse locality known for its South Asian immigrant community.[16][20] Nazir worked at the stall for approximately one year prior to gaining public attention, operating under standard market hours in a low-wage position typical for such informal trading roles.[21] His efforts focused on volume sales of affordable seafood to budget-conscious buyers, reflecting the economic pressures of the local trade.[22]Origin of the "One Pound Fish" Sales Technique
Muhammad Shahid Nazir, a Pakistani immigrant who arrived in the United Kingdom around 2011, began working as a fishmonger at a stall in Queen's Market, Upton Park, East London, in early 2012. To compete in a market with rising global fish prices due to depleting ocean stocks, he priced bags of frozen fish at £1 per portion, establishing an ultra-cheap sales strategy aimed at quickly moving inventory and building customer volume.[23] This low pricing was a deliberate tactic to undercut competitors and appeal to budget-conscious shoppers in the diverse, working-class area.[23] One week into his role, Nazir developed the distinctive "One Pound Fish" chant as a means to draw attention, diverging from the standard shouting employed by other traders. Drawing on his childhood experience singing religious, Bollywood, and Punjabi songs during school in Pattoki, Pakistan, he crafted a rhythmic, melodic call: variations including "Have a look, have a look, one pound fish! Very, very cheap! Extra special fish for you!"[24] Nazir reported that this sung approach immediately captured passersby's interest, pulling crowds to the stall more effectively than verbal yells and boosting sales.[24] The technique combined repetitive rhyme, emphasis on affordability, and performative energy, reflecting a practical adaptation to the noisy market environment where auditory distinction was key to commercial success.[24] This improvised method originated purely from on-the-job necessity, without prior formal training in sales patter, and was refined through trial as Nazir observed its impact on foot traffic.[24] By April 2012, the chant had become a staple of his stall routine, later captured in a customer-recorded video that propelled its viral spread.[24]Rise to Fame
The Viral Video Phenomenon
In early 2012, Muhammad Shahid Nazir, a fishmonger at Queen's Market in Upton Park, London, improvised a rhythmic sales pitch to attract customers, chanting lyrics such as "Come on ladies, come on ladies, have a look, one pound fish; very, very cheap, excellent quality" while displaying fresh fish.[15][16] Passersby captured this performance on mobile phones and uploaded it to YouTube, with one key clip appearing on April 1, 2012.[21] The video quickly escalated in popularity, accumulating over 8 million views by December 2012 and reaching 16 million by January 2013, primarily through organic sharing on social media and video platforms.[21][16] Its appeal stemmed from Nazir's energetic delivery and the novelty of a market vendor turning mundane hawking into an earworm-like tune, which resonated as a lighthearted meme amid everyday commerce.[15] The phenomenon drew international media coverage, including from outlets like NPR and Al Jazeera, highlighting how user-generated content could propel an ordinary worker to online stardom without initial promotional backing.[16][23] This virality marked a classic case of grassroots internet fame in the pre-algorithm-dominated era of YouTube, where algorithmic recommendations and word-of-mouth sharing amplified niche content exponentially; Nazir himself noted in interviews that the exposure transformed his local routine into global recognition, though initial views were concentrated outside Pakistan due to limited access there.[16][2] The video's success underscored the platform's role in democratizing fame, paving the way for Nazir's subsequent audition opportunities and commercial ventures.[15]Appearance on Britain's Got Talent
Muhammad Shahid Nazir, known as the One Pound Fish Man, did not appear on Britain's Got Talent, despite occasional online misattributions; his relevant televised talent audition occurred on The X Factor UK in 2012.[25][26] During the audition for the ninth series, held in summer 2012 and reported on July 13, Nazir performed his self-penned "One Pound Fish" ditty, which had already gained local attention from his market stall video.[25] The panel—Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Nicole Scherzinger—reacted with laughter to the repetitive, novelty performance, acknowledging its catchiness but questioning its viability as serious entertainment.[25] Nazir was ultimately rejected at the audition stage and did not progress to bootcamp or further rounds, with Barlow reportedly commenting, "You're not a pop star," highlighting the judges' view of the act as humorous but lacking professional musical depth.[26]Music Career in the UK
Signing a Record Deal
Following the viral spread of his "One Pound Fish" video in late 2012, Muhammad Shahid Nazir auditioned for the ninth series of The X Factor on November 24, 2012, performing the song but failing to advance beyond the audition stage.[27] Despite this, the heightened publicity from the audition and his prior online fame prompted Warner Music's imprint label, One More Tune, to sign him to a recording contract on November 25, 2012.[28] The deal enabled Nazir to produce a polished, techno-infused version of "One Pound Fish" for commercial release, diverging from his original market chant into a structured novelty track with professional production.[29] The signing represented a rapid transition from street vending to the music industry, capitalizing on Nazir's novelty appeal amid the UK's market for viral hits, though it was brokered through Warner's sub-label rather than a major direct imprint, reflecting the perceived niche market for his persona.[27] No public details emerged on the contract's financial terms, but it facilitated immediate studio work and a music video shoot styled with Bollywood influences, aligning with Nazir's Pakistani heritage.[30]Release and Chart Performance of "One Pound Fish"
"One Pound Fish" was commercially released as a digital single in the United Kingdom in December 2012 via One More Tune (catalogue GBAHT1200783), following Muhammad Shahid Nazir's signing of a recording contract with Warner Music earlier that month.[29][31] A music video for the track, directed to capitalize on its viral appeal, was uploaded to YouTube on 10 December 2012 and featured Nazir performing amid market scenes and dancers.[3] The single debuted at its peak position of number 28 on the UK Singles Chart for the week dated 22 December 2012, spending a total of 10 weeks in the Top 100, including 3 weeks in the Top 40 and 7 in the Top 75.[32] It performed stronger on genre-specific charts, reaching number 4 on the UK Dance Singles Chart (11 weeks total) and number 1 on the UK Asian Music Chart (7 weeks at the top).[32]| Chart | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 28 | 10 |
| UK Dance Singles Chart | 4 | 11 |
| UK Asian Music Chart | 1 | 7 |
