Phenomenal News!

At 9pm last night ( Singapore time ), it was announced on Good Morning America ( with Diane Sawyer ) that Clay Aiken's Measure Of A Man had sold 613,000 copies in its first week, and shipped 2 MILLION! It is the biggest debut in 10 years for any music artiste, and the DOUBLE PLATINUM plaque was presented to Clay by none other than Clive Davis. Davis called Clay's voice "special", and mentioned that Billboard has named MOAM as the "best pop album of 2003".

Clay, as always, took the honour with grace and humility. He looked totally shocked by the news and award, appearing almost embarrassed at one point! Wearing a nondescript dark brown long-sleeved shirt with thin white vertical stripes, he looked a little tired with the prominent eye bags, but definitely perked up later on!

A few of the other fans here were logged onto the Internet, and fed me news via SMS. Two of us proceeded to SMS / email the radio stations -- Power 98 and Perfect 10 -- whose DJs then gamely announced this fact over the airwaves, congratulating both Clay and all his fans for a job well done. What a moment!

I've already emailed my friend in Raleigh, asking her to extend our good wishes to Clay via his friend, Suzanne. What an astounding achievement! No-one deserves it more! :D

You can see the video at the link below. Download it quickly before it disappears!

Clay's Double Platinum Award on GMA


Have to get to work pretty soon, but I want to make another short post before I go. ( Boy am I exhausted! )

Just realized that yet another Straits Times reporter is an ex-JC mate of mine. The first was Tan Shzr Ee, the Arts Correspondent for Life! -- a very accomplished violinist whom I had to pleasure of knowing in Raffles Girls' Secondary when we were in the same class for 2 years. Now, there's Goh Chin Lian, who was featured in the main section today in a little "friendly competition" titled "The Amazing Race -- Singapore To KL". We weren't classmates or anything, but studied at Raffles Junior College and joined the RJ Chorale during our stint there. He may look pretty ordinary -- you know, the quiet, studious type -- but in truth, this guy had hordes of college girls swooning at his feet, especially when he opened his mouth to sing. :D
He was a tenor in the choir, and part of a breakaway a capella group named PUNCH, formed by the more outgoing and vocally talented chorale members. He made everyone sit up with his rendition of a romantic ballad titled "Almost Like A Song" ( primarily a country song ), and his fate was sealed after that! I still remember how the other girls in the alto and soprano sections used to talk about him like groupies discussing a rock star, and how, during one practice session, a number of them looked like they were going to pass out when he sang a French piece. Another friend of mine used to bring a handheld cassette recorder to rehearsals so she could get his voice on tape and play it over and over again later! He was a really nice fellow too, which added to his appeal. Interesting that he's become a reporter. Well, looks like I'll be reading the papers a little more regularly from now on. :)

Okay then, time to start work. Congratulations once again, Clay!