#SHOWBIZ: Jaclyn Victor on 'Idol' legacy: 'Rather be called a super singer'

WHEN she first emerged in 2004, clinching the title of the first Malaysian Idol at Resorts World Genting's Arena of Stars, judges Roslan Aziz, Paul Moss, and Fauziah Latiff lauded Jaclyn Joshua Victor as a true super singer.

While many fans have since dubbed her the original Malaysian Idol, she feels it is simply a title denoting the winner of a popular, fan-voted reality show.

"Seriously, I'd rather be known as a super singer or vocal powerhouse than a Malaysian Idol. I've always felt that the real Malaysian Idols are our industry seniors, starting with legends like Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Datuk Sudirman Arshad—they're the ones who truly put our music on the world map," said Jaclyn in a recent interview.

"As for those who are with us today, none beats Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza; she is our one and only Biduanita Negara and that by itself makes her a Malaysian Idol par excellence."

VOCAL INSPIRATION

When it comes to her personal idol among super singers, Jaclyn will always revere Whitney Houston as her "greatest love of all".

"My loved ones all know that my idol is Whitney Houston. I grew up listening to her music and learning to sing her power-packed and deeply soulful tunes at home," admitted Jaclyn.

"Besides Whitney, I also love Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie. As for local gems of music, there's of course Datuk David Arumugam and the late Datuk Loganathan Arumugam of The Alleycats."

Jaclyn fondly remembers her late father introducing her to David at the former Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor.

"I was very small back then, around 8 or 9. Dad took me to see The Alleycats at Subang Airport, and being greeted by David truly made my day. He was truly soft-spoken, humble and cool!"

Jaclyn stayed close with the Arumugam family as she grew up, and today she counts Loganathan's multi-talented daughter, Dasha Logan, as one of her dearest friends in the industry.

"Dasha really rocks! I'd say she's very much my fellow super singer," she said.

EARLY DAYS AND FAMILY

Hailing from a music-loving family in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Jaclyn—the eldest of four siblings—was first discovered in church during her primary school days.

"My parents and brothers all love music as much as I do. But I'm the pioneer singer in the family," she said.

"I remember fondly the moment I was asked to sing. I was about 8 or 9 and cast in a Christmas play. In fact, my cousin and I were both in the ensemble cast," recalled Jaclyn.

"The pianist, a nice lady, commended my singing. She suggested I perform solo songs, and as a result, every Easter and Christmas celebration saw me deliver a couple of heartfelt songs."

Jaclyn holds many fond yet amusing childhood memories, including times when her singing would occasionally annoy her siblings.

"One of my brothers used to tell me to shut up when I wouldn't stop belting out the same song on repeat. I refused to quit, and sure enough, as my singing got better, he started enjoying the tune."

It was another brother who eventually coaxed her to audition for Malaysian Idol in 2003.

"At first, I didn't think of joining, but he coaxed me to enter as he felt that I had what it takes to make it far in the contest. So I signed up, and I proved him right."

VOICE CARE AND FAMILY LIFE

So, how does she keep her signature voice in top condition?

"No hard and fast rules really. I eat chilli a lot, and I don't pamper my voice much," she said.

"But precautions are always there. I drink warm water, get good sleep, gargle with salt water, and use menthol inhalations. Mum always tells me, take everything in moderation. Give time for your voice to warm up."

Offstage, Jaclyn is married to Calvin Samuel and a proud mother of two: Jonah, 11, and Molly, 9.

"I admit that since music runs in our blood, my boy and girl do love to sing with me. But they don't have any inclination to become artistes yet," said Jaclyn.

"As their mom, I'd rather they study and graduate first before embarking on any career in music. I always believe that a good education with paper qualifications makes one rock solid in the creative industry."

BEATING NERVES AND ACTING PURSUITS

Jaclyn acknowledges that even seasoned stars suffer from stage fright, though she considers herself fortunate not to get overly anxious backstage.

"If ever I feel jittery, I will just sing that famous line from my first single Gemilang which goes 'gementar harus jangan' ('don't be nervous'), and only after that I will step onto the stage with confidence."

Singing her signature song—written by Aubrey Suwito after her victory—remains therapeutic.

"I have been singing it for 22 years, and it helped me become calmer. I used to take coffee a lot but not now, as I've learnt that warm water is always the best," said Jaclyn.

She adds that a bit of nervousness is actually a "necessary evil" because it keeps performers sharp and determined to deliver their best.

Beyond her music career, Jaclyn earned praise for her acting in Yasmin Ahmad's Talentime.

"It was Yasmin who persuaded me to take on a key role in Talentime, and I loved every minute of working with her. We thought alike and were both passionate advocates of the Muhibbah spirit through entertainment.

"I miss her dearly. A lot of people who worked with her have risen high and shone in what they are doing."

VERSATILITY AND LOOKING FORWARD

Though R&B is her core style, Jaclyn enjoys a wide variety of musical genres.

"Having sung in a well-known restaurant during my pre-Idol days, I used to perform all sorts of genres. There was rock, pop and even country on my plate, and I pushed myself to master most of the main genres available," she said, noting that this variety helped prepare her for Malaysian Idol.

"As for my all-time favourite song, that'll be Gemilang, of course, and also Whitney's Greatest Love of All. I dedicate both to my mum, who is my biggest fan," she added.

"Every year is a blessing. I've always believed that the harder you work, the luckier you get. Looking back, I feel incredibly blessed to have sung for two international heads of state, our current and former Prime Ministers, and most of our Royal Rulers. I feel very blessed and thank God."

Jaclyn credits her husband as her top adviser for performance ideas, while her children are just as enthusiastic about her upcoming trip to China for the hit show Singer.

"My kids are full of ideas too. In fact, they are strongly supportive of my next big visit to China for the popular contest Singer," she said.

Jaclyn has been following the competition closely after the show's producers invited her to join the upcoming season.

"I watched the show in China this year, and I was very impressed with the venue in Changsha, which has a state-of-the-art sound system," explained Jaclyn. "It's great that more of our singers are conquering the Chinese market. Shila Amzah is the best example."

She has also been studying Mandarin over the past year to prepare.

"It is not easy, but I believe in taking up challenges," she said.

To mark the 20th anniversary of her Malaysian Idol win, Jaclyn recorded an English album in New York City.

"This wholly English album is Glorious, which is precisely what Gemilang means," she said. "However, it's got different lyrics from Gemilang, and reflects my growth and artistic journey thus far."