Despite the high level of talent needed to penetrate the English market in the USA, in Europe, in the UK, I think it still can be done, but with a lot of effort, really. Taufik does not have Whitney-Housten like vocals but I think that can be worked on. Seriously, I think its the X-factor that would count ultimately. Many US artistes are not vocal powerhouses. Our very Asian powerhouse, none other than Asian superstar cum diva Coco Lee, did not manage to penetrate the US market successfully despite her souful deliveries of award-clinching songs like ' A love before time' and 'Before I fall in Love'. Her diction was slightly American and carried little Asian slang. Her vocals were powerful - comparable to Whitney and Maria's. She was the perfect and best vocal powerhouse in Asia. And being only 29 this year! Why? There can be two reasons attributed to this. 1. the X-factor 2. racism. Being the X-factor, i cannot explain. So lets move on to 2. In the US, little Asian stars or rather, none of them at all, have managed to get through. In actual fact, many DJs and Radio stations in the USA have declined to play Coco's songs because of her ethnic line and some say because her 'name sounds weird!". I have had a chat with Coco's regional marketing adviser once and he said he didn't have problem with Asian companies, but with radio stations and advertisers and companies in the US and Europe, there was a big big problem in getting Coco out. Going into the English market is tough.. but when you succeed, the rewards will be extremely juicy. Not trying to be sarcastic. But truthfully, if you consider it with an analytical mind and drop your idolisation of Taufik, the marketability of Taufik is risky and questionable, if he decides to go into the English market. To speak of the Malay market would be unprofessional - me being a Chinese. But I hope he doesn't go into the Malay market cause I don't know Malay. I wish to hear more world-standard music from a true and talented Singaporean.