Jaclyn Victor

Jaclyn Victor
Background information
Birth name Jaclyn A/P Joshua Thanaraj Victor
Also known as Jaclyn Victor
Born (1978-12-04) 4 December 1978
Genres Pop, pop rock, R&B
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 2004–present
Labels Sony Music Malaysia, KRU Music
Associated acts Misha Omar, Ning Baizura, Shila Amzah, Reshmonu, James Ingram, KRU, Shawn Rivera
Website www.jaclynvictor.com

Jaclyn Joshua Thanaraj Victor (born 4 December 1978), popularly known as Jaclyn Victor, is a Malaysian singer and actress who won the inaugural Malaysian Idol and Ikon Malaysia. As the winner of Malaysian Idol, she won a recording contract with Sony BMG Entertainment. She is under the management of The 8 Unit. She represented Malaysia in the first Asian Idol and Ikon Asean. She has been dubbed Asia's Divette for her vocal prowess.

In 2012, Jaclyn Victor signed a recording deal with KRU Music and recorded a Malay language album entitled "Ikut Rentakku". After winning a number of awards, Jaclyn Victor signed a new agreement with KRU Music and will release an English language album entitled "Unleashed" that will be released worldwide.

Biography and music career

Early life

Jaclyn is a Malaysian of Tamil descent. She was born in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, on 4 December 1978. She is the only daughter of Maggie Victor, a single mother of Indian descent. She has three younger brothers. When Jaclyn was nine years old, her father died, prompting her mother to take on three jobs simultaneously to support her four children.[1] At the age of eighteen, Jaclyn started singing in clubs and hotel lounges.

With the support of friends and family, Jaclyn and her friend, Ravi, recorded an album, titled Dream. This self-produced album includes songs co-written by Jaclyn. There were attempts to promote this album including an appearance on the 8TV television show Latte @ 8.

Malaysian Idol

In 2004, her mother encouraged her to audition for Malaysian Idol, which she did along with ten thousand others. The judges Roslan Aziz, Fauziah Latiff and Paul Moss, put her through to the next round. Having secured a final thirty-third spot, Jaclyn performed "Superwoman" live, becoming the seventh person to reach the top twelve.

In the first spectacular show, the theme for the week was "Song from your Pop Idol". Jaclyn choose a song by the Indonesian diva Ruth Sahanaya, "Keliru". Coached by Aubrey Suwito, Juwita Suwito along with Elaine Pedley, her performance took her through to the next round. The second theme was "Song from your Classic Idol". Jaclyn's choice was "When I Fall in Love" and Michael Xavier Voon joined in as performance coach. Her performance gained resounding praise. After another double elimination sending off Fahmy and Rydee, Jaclyn was back the following week performing a "Song from the 80s", Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You". She went on to the "Rock Show" with a performance of "Sweet Child O' Mine".

The last six contestants included Nikki, Dina, Vick, Andrew and Saipul. Jaclyn performed an effortless "Lady Marmalade", but received a less favourable comment from Roslan, who said that "she is a super singer but not an idol", and he felt bored week by week of her performances thus far. On the results show, she found herself in the bottom two for the first time (with Nikki, who performed "Emotion"), but she survived the elimination. After reaching the last three, her chances were improved by her performance of Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You".

Jaclyn had become one of the final two contestants on Malaysian Idol, and on 9 October 2004, she took the title with 76% of audience votes over Dina.[2] In tears, Jaclyn performed the ballad "Gemilang" (Glory), the song written for the winner of Malaysian Idol, which subsequently appeared on her first album Gemilang. The song's music video incorporated short scenes of Jaclyn in Malaysian Idol.

Post-Idol career

Jaclyn's album achieved gold status within weeks of going on sale. Her previously released album Dream, sold out within days, despite the sudden increase in price. She won the "Best Newcomer Award" on Hitz. FM and "Best New Artist" in Anugerah Bintang Popular.

Jaclyn has since appeared in numerous television and talk shows such as Pillow Talk and Muzik-Muzik. She has also performed "Gemilang" at a Tsunami Concert held to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. She has performed in duets with Hazami, Taufik Batisah, Akademi Fantasia's second winner, Zahid, Delon Thamrin and Misha Omar, and has performed and recorded with international singers such as Peabo Bryson, Ramin Karimloo, Simon Bailey and Az Yet.

Jaclyn received her first international award when she won gold at the Asia New Singer Competition at the Shanghai Music Festival in China on 28 October 2005, emerging as the champion with her winning song, "Gemilang". On 21 January 2006, she received RTM Hits 1 Best Song and Best Performance awards for "Gemilang". On 5 February the same year, the song earned her and its composer Aubrey Suwito and lyricist Azmin Mudin the "Juara Lagu" (Champion of Songs) and "Best Ballad Song" awards in TV3's 20th edition of the Anugerah Juara Lagu. She was expected to win the TV3's "Anugerah Vokal Terbaik" (Best Vocal Award) but was beaten by Hazami who performed "Kata". Jaclyn took the Best Female Artiste award at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (Music Planet Awards) in Singapore on 24 March.

On 29 April 2006, Victor won four of seven nominations from the Malaysian music scene's biggest night, the 13th Anugerah Industri Muzik. They were Best New Artist, Best Musical Arrangement in a Song, Best Pop Album and Best Album.

After a series of delays, Jaclyn's second album, Inilah Jac, was released on 25 August 2006, while she was on a trip to Australia for both leisure and business purposes, including visiting Mount Buller and performing in two concerts in Melbourne's Australia for Christ Fellowship Church (with the singer-songwriter Juwita Suwito), and in Adelaide's Paradise Community Church (of which the inaugural Australian Idol winner, the Malaysian-born Guy Sebastian is a member, though Sebastian himself did not appear). While in Australia, Jaclyn also did an interview for the Christian radio station HCJB.[3]

In November 2006, she made her first proper music video (previously her videos were clips from studio recording sessions or footage from Malaysian Idol) when she filmed "Ceritera Cinta" with the male crooner Rio Febrian in his homeland in Indonesia.

2007 was a very busy year for Jaclyn. She competed in the Ikon Malaysia 2007 (solo category) competition, getting to the final round with Dayang Nurfaizah and Mawi. In the final, she sang a medley of songs: "Impian" (hope) from her first album, "Cepat-cepat" from her second album and "Gemilang", to win the title.

Later that year, she competed in Ikon Asean and was defeated by the Philippines' Vina Morales. She also participated in the first Asian Idol which was won by Hady Mirza of Singapore Idol.

At the 14th Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) Malaysia, on 28 April 2007, Jaclyn was nominated for four awards – Best Vocal Performance in an Album – Female; Best Music Arrangement in a song – Inilah Masanya; Best Pop Album – Inilah Jac; Ceritera Cinta – Song of the year. She won the "Best Female Vocal Performance in an Album" award. She also received two APM nominations, all of which are attributed to Inilah Jac.

Jaclyn's music was used on the Special Edition of Disney studio's High School Musical 2 soundtrack. She sang the duet "You Are The Music in Me" in both English and Bahasa Malaysia with Vince Chong, the season 1 winner of another singing reality-TV program, Akademi Fantasia. A music video and nationwide mall tour followed for fans of the High School Musical franchise. The video of their version of the song is now on the Special Edition DVD of High School Musical 2 (2008).

As part of the year-long "50 Years of Malaysian Independence" celebrations, Jaclyn was part of the "Live and Loud KL" concert series which featured international and local artists. This 10-day music extravaganza included a wide range of genres and more than fifty performers, with more than 45 hours of live music. The festival was held from 23 November until 2 December, with each day giving festival-goers a different genre, a different theme, a different repertoire, a different venue and different stars, including Whitney Houston, Elliott Yamin, Shaggy, Project Pop, James Taylor Quartet, Joe Flizzow and Hannah Tan.

Before Christmas 2007, Jaclyn flew to Moscow for a charity Christmas concert named Christmas Bash 2007,[4] co-organized by the Sechenov Malaysian Student Association and Malaysian Fellowship Moscow after an invitation by the organising committee. The concert was attended by almost a thousand people, the majority of them being Malaysian Medical Students studying in Moscow. She also performed during the 8TV's fourth birthday party in January 2008.

On 27 January 2008, the finals of the annual Anugerah Juara Lagu (Best Song) Awards were held in Kuala Lumpur. After a long and difficult competition, Jaclyn won the Best Vocal Award with Lah from VE for their rendition of Jaclyn's duet "Ceritera Cinta" (originally with the Indonesian singer, Rio Febrian). The song is on Victor's second Sony BMG album, Inilah Jac.

Two of her songs have been used as opening themes for Malaysian television series, Fara ("Cepat-Cepat") and Manjalara ("Satu Harapan").

Jaclyn wanted a change in her musical direction and in 2012, Jaclyn signed a recording agreement with a progressive independent label, ""KRU Music"". Produced and written by Malaysia's prolific singer/songwriter/producer ""Edry Abdul Halim"", Jaclyn released 3 successful singles namely "Sebelah Jiwaku", "Jagalah Diri" and "Ikut Rentakku". Jaclyn recorded a rock track "Shine" with Beat The System and won VIMA Song of the Year.[5] In 2014, Jaclyn continued her contract with ""KRU Music"" and will release her English EP entitled "Unleashed" in September 2014. Singles in the EP (co-written by Jaclyn) are "Remedy", "Over And Over", "Pinnacle", "Sweeter Than A Dream" and "Delirious".

Acting career

She starred in the film Talentime, directed by Yasmin Ahmad, in 2009. She received the award for Best Promising Actress at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival.[6] She was reportedly invited to star in a film by Mamat Khalid[7] but declined. She made a cameo appearance in a local horror fiction, Susuk. Jaclyn also appeared in a local Tamil film, Appalam, directed by Afdlin Shauki.

She has also appeared in musical theatre, in Cuci The Musical Season 2 in 2010.[8]

Controversy

A song titled "Harapan Bangsa"[9] sung by Jaclyn in 2007 for the churches in Sabah and Sarawak caused controversy in certain sections of the Muslim community, which is predominantly Malay-speaking people, in Peninsular Malaysia when a YouTube clip of the song using Christian images was uploaded five years later by a fan[10]

Perkasa, the infamous non-governmental Malay organisation which was formed in the aftermath of the Malaysian general elections in 2008, has called for a blanket boycott of Jaclyn by Muslims nationwide over the song, which it claims is an insult to Islam.[11]

Voice

Jaclyn's voice is noted for its brilliant upper register, "smoky" middle and lower registers, flowing phrasing and wide dynamic range. Her voice ranged from lower D (D3) below Middle C to the B (B5) above High C and the capabilities to reach high C(C6) effortlessly.

Personal life

On 12 August 2014, Victor officially introduced her husband, a Puerto Rican singer, Shawn Rivera. The couple tied the knot in a Philadelphian church in the United States on 19 July.[12] Together the couple has one son; born 24 August 2015.[13]

Filmography

Films
Year Film Role Notes
2008 Susuk Herself Cameo appearance as herself
2009 Talentime Bhavani List of Malaysian films
2010 Appalam Nalaini Malaysian Tamil language movie

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Label Notes
2002 Dream Independent -
2004 Gemilang Sony BMG 20,000 units sold. The album won "Best Pop Album" & "Album of the Year" awards in Anugerah Industri Muzik 2005. The song "Gemilang" won the Anugerah Juara Lagu 2005.
2006 Inilah Jac Sony BMG She won "Best Female Vocal Performance in an Album" award at the Anugerah Industri Muzik 2006.
2007 Inilah Jac – Edisi Terhad Sony BMG Re-released with new tracks and music videos.
2009 Jaclyn Victor III Sony Music She was nominated for Best Vocal in Song (Female) at the 17th Anugerah Industri Muzik, 2010.
2011 3 Suara Sony Music A collaboration with Ning Baizura and Shila.
2013 Ikut Rentakku[14] KRU Music Winner of Best Vocal Performance, Ikut Rentakku also nominated for Best Song at the 28th Anugerah Juara Lagu, 2014
2014 Unleashed[15] KRU Music First English EP

EPs

Compilations

Singles

Music videos

Year Title Notes
2004 "Gemilang" Malaysian Idol crowning song
2006 "Wajah" Theme song for TV3 charity show, Bersamamu
"Cinta" A cover sang with Misha Omar
"Without You" As a feature artist with Same Same
"Cepat Cepat" First single of the album Inilah Jac
"Ceritera Cinta" A duet with Indonesian singer, Rio Febrian
2007 "Ipoh Mali" As a feature artist alongside Point Blanc, a Malaysian rapper.
"Satu Harapan"
"You're the Music in Me" Duet with Vince Chong for High School Musical Asia Edition
2009 "Bertamu di Kalbu" First single of Jaclyn Victor III
"Beribu Sesalan" a collaboration with Ning Baizura & Shila Amzah
2012 "Jagalah Diri" Original Soundtrack for the film, 29 Februari. First song to be released under KRU Music.
2014 "Ikut Rentakku"
2014 "Remedy"
2015 "Sweeter Than A Dream"
"Seindah Mimpi" Malay version of "Sweeter Than A Dream"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Outcome
2005 Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian Most Popular Female New Artist Won
Hitz. FM Award Best Newcomer Won

Concerts

Notes

  1. ↑ "Music: Girl behind the voice". Retrieved 4 October 2007.
  2. ↑ The Jaclyn Victor Hour. MalaysianIdol.com.my. Retrieved 12 March 2006.
  3. ↑ Jaclyn Victor @ Mount Buller, Australia
  4. ↑ Christmas Bash 2007: Jac In Moscow. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
  5. ↑ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2012/03/05/beat-the-system-shines-with-jaclyn-victor/
  6. ↑ June H.L. Wong (8 March 2011). "100 memorable Malaysian Women – Part 3". The Star.
  7. ↑ Ellyna Ali (2 November 2007). "Mamat Khalid lamar Jac berlakon filem". . External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ↑ June H.L. Wong (8 March 2011). "100 memorable Malaysian Women – Part 3". The Star.
  9. ↑ Harapan Bangsa. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Berita Harian: 'Tiada Niat Singgung'. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  11. ↑ 'Perkasa wants boycott of Jaclyn Victor'. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Jaclyn Victor introduces husband". The Rakyat Post. 12 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "First ‘Malaysian Idol’ Jaclyn Victor and husband welcome baby boy, Jonah Joshiah Rivera". Malay Mail. 27 August 2015.
  14. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/magical-moment/id667321323?i=667322272
  15. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unleashed-ep/id940628564

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Jaclyn Victor
Preceded by
None		 Malaysian Idol
Winner
Season 1 (2004) 		Succeeded by
Danell Lee
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