By CLAIRE TREVETT
It takes an astonishing person to turn covers of the Carpenters' hits into an international career.
But Auckland singer Wing has won a radio slot and burgeoning fame rehashing their songs.
Jim Nayder, of the Annoying Music Show, plans to feature Hong Kong-born Wing on his programme, which plays on
200 US radio stations and on BBC 4 in Britain.
A website tip alerted him to the "epitome of annoying music".
"She is sincere. She produces song after song after song onto CDs, without anyone asking for them," he said. "She has a loyal, albeit crazed audience. Many of her songs are from the 'Golden Age' of annoying music - the 1970s."
He hoped to play Wing on July 15.
Wing's take on the Carpenters has made her an internet "hit", too, overwhelming her website counter.
Her first two CDs - Les Miserables and the Phantom of the Opera and I Could Have Danced All Night - have sold out.
Publicity-shy Wing would not talk yesterday: "When all the critics pick on you, some are very good, but some hurt you very much."
She used a Manukau City Council grant to promote the first of her CDs, but finances their production herself.
Wing moved to New Zealand 10 years ago and performed in rest homes and hospitals, even singing in Maori and Italian.
Her fifth CD, out in two months, will include a Chinese song, a Maori song, five from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals - "all beautiful songs".
Nader said annoying music "freezes your ears in their tracks - you can't believe such sounds have actually been created. Like a train wreck, you don't want to look - but of course you have to."
