Taiwan singer Jay Chou won the Best Male Vocalist Award for his album “Opus 12” while Hong Kong’s Karen Mok picked up the Best Female Vocalist Award for her album “Somewhere I Belong” at the Singapore Hit Awards 2013 (SHA) on Friday.

SINGAPORE: Taiwan singer Jay Chou won the Best Male Vocalist Award for his album “Opus 12” while Hong Kong’s Karen Mok picked up the Best Female Vocalist Award for her album “Somewhere I Belong” at the Singapore Hit Awards 2013 (SHA) on Friday.

“I’m thrilled. I’m happy to be here! Getting an award is great, but I am especially happy because … I won with an English Jazz album. Creating this album has been a dream of mine,” said Mok of her win.

“I hope to continue experimenting with different genres of music … to blend East and West.”

Mok, a first-time SHA attendee, also picked up the Asia Influential Artiste Award and Charismatic Female Performer Award at the SHA, an event that recognises the best talents in the Mandopop industry.

Lucky hairstyle

Other notable winners include Taiwan band Magic Power, which won Best Band, Bai Ann, who won Best New Artiste, Penny Tai, who won Best Album and Alien Huang who took home the Most Popular Male Artiste Award along with two others awards.

“Winning the Most Popular Male Artiste Award means a lot to me. Every word in the title is meaningful,” said Huang.

He explained that he feels very grateful his fans in Singapore recognise his efforts as a male artiste, despite him being known mostly as a television host, and said his hairstyle is his secret to success.

“I think my bowl cut hairstyle brings me luck! Whenever I have a breakthrough in Singapore, whether it’s my first film role or my first television drama, I have this hairstyle!" said Huang.

“Today, I have this hairstyle again and I won three awards!”

Dazzling performances

This year’s SHA, which was held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, was a star-studded affair, with performances by Taiwan’s Wilber Pan, Denise Ho and Julian Cheung.

Singaporean acts like Serene Koong, The Freshman, Ruth Kueo and MICappella also drew thunderous applause when they took to the stage to entertain the 4,500-strong audience.

But the loudest applause was reserved for Hong Kong veteran pop trio Grasshopper, which belted out songs like “Baby, I’m Sorry” after receiving The Honorary Award for their contributions to the Mandopop music industry.

The trio is set to return to Singapore in March next year for a concert.

- CNA/ha