Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 414 Japanese Special Released, A Mark of the Times

The second day of filming for the "Anyone" music video also proceeded smoothly due to the positive chemistry between them.

Around 7:30 pm, the entire music video shoot was completed. Shen Juan and Xiao Hu finished work and left to have hot pot.

Meanwhile, in the JYP building practice room at the same time, the members of TWICE also finished their day's training.

Hirai Momo casually grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead, Mina lay on the ground lazily stretching her limbs, Chou Tzu-yu sipped water like a cat licking water, Park Ji-hyo was taking a selfie with her phone, and Minatozaki Sana sat quietly cross-legged in the corner, browsing news on her phone.

Of all these news items, the one that's currently generating the most buzz and that she's most interested in is Shen Juan's new Japanese album.

So she directly opened 2ch, a forum that gathers a large number of netizens and bizarre discussions, and started reading their comments.

I just saw Shen Juan's big-screen ads in Shibuya and on the subway, and a teaser for the chorus left me speechless! It feels like it'll be even more explosive than last year's EP! But why does it feel like the promotional effort this year isn't as strong as last year's? Last year's promotional campaign was truly extravagant and shocking.

Last year, Shen Juan was new to the Japanese market and wanted to establish himself, so he increased his marketing efforts. But this year, he has become the world's leading man, with a considerable number of fans and a loyal audience, so he naturally doesn't need to spend a lot of resources and energy on marketing.

[I just hope this time they release another blockbuster like "Pretender"! I can listen to the EP "You Are All I See" countless times! I've probably listened to it thousands of times since it was released last October! I would call it one of the strongest Japanese albums of the 21st century!]

I still prefer the airship track, it's so addictive! I hope the new album will also include some rock music like YAAIS!

YAAIS's commercial success is phenomenal! Four out of seven songs were hits—that's a high success rate that's hard to replicate!

It's okay! Trust Alex! He's already created a groundbreaking album like Leviathan, one that will be talked about for decades to come. No matter how great his songs or albums are in the future, I won't be surprised, because he's the Camille of the new era!

Perhaps it's because of his complicated early debut experience. His two and a half years as a trainee in South Korea taught him how idols treat their fans, while the Chinese hip-hop scene instilled in him the rebellious spirit of a rapper. All of these factors combined to create the "world's number one male rapper" Shen Juan we know today.

[But honestly, I feel like Shen Juan really loves us Japanese fans! Not only does he release Japanese songs, but he also holds concerts in Japan. I went to Tokyo last time to see the Leviathan Era tour, and the live performance was absolutely amazing! That was definitely the best coming-of-age gift I ever received! Shen Juan is the best!]

Shen Juan has always been very sincere to his fans. Whenever I'm feeling down, I've gotten through it by reading his posts. He's truly one of those rare artists who knows how to talk, and the words he says, combined with his current achievements and life story, are incredibly inspiring!

"It's truly sincere and very moving."

Sana Minato couldn't help but mutter a sigh of admiration.

After observing and understanding Shen Juan over this period of time (by supplementing his information and chatting with him), she found that this was indeed the case.

Whether it's his speeches during media interviews or red carpet interviews, or the positive content he conveys during talking time at concerts, Shen Juan leaves a deep impression. In the eyes of many, Shen Juan is more like a leader than a singer, actor, or ordinary artist.

They are more like the spiritual leaders of Generation Z who are gradually rising after graduating from school and beginning to seize social discourse power.

In this internet age, his influence has spread and expanded incredibly fast through platforms like TikTok!
Not only his fans, but also many people who don't listen to his songs or watch his movies and TV shows have become his casual fans.

On Bilibili, the comment section of Shen Juan's edited video has become a team-building event for students preparing for postgraduate entrance exams and civil service exams.

Many people believe that listening to Shen Juan's speeches during a low period can effectively help them become more positive and optimistic.

As a result, a group of young people in South Korea and Japan have inexplicably emerged who regard Shen Juan as their spiritual leader. They collect and organize every "famous quote" he has said, and conduct in-depth and detailed interpretations, trying to extract the core of true knowledge that can be used by the world.

Moreover, there's already a faint feeling that I'm falling into a kind of obsession.

It's a bit exaggerated and a bit scary.
However, in East Asia, especially in Japan and South Korea, where upward mobility is blocked and the environment is becoming increasingly oppressive, it is easy for strange and unusual groups to emerge. So let's just let nature take its course. Some things are not the artists' responsibility, nor can the artists manage them, because they are the responsibility of the local government.

Log out of the forum and put down your phone.

Sana Minatozaki's feelings were somewhat complicated.

I remember Shen Juan once said something like this
Please don't perform a life you're not good at for an audience that has never truly belonged to you.

She thought this statement made a lot of sense.

People tend to ignore positive reviews and then try to turn negative and attacking reviews into positive ones.

This is human nature.

But common sense doesn't necessarily mean it's right.

At least she believed that she and Shen Juan shared the same view, and that the support of fans was far more important than the doubts and accusations of haters!

The trust and love from fans are the foundation that propels artists to the forefront of the world and into the limelight!
But Shen Juan...
You, who are clearly not satisfied with the status quo, clearly have bigger goals in mind, and clearly want to see a higher view, can you really be as carefree and indifferent as you say?

She subconsciously looked up and saw that outside the window of the company's practice room, the thick night of Seoul was being shattered by thousands of lights.

Under the same sky, in the same circle, doing the same job, why is there such a big difference?

His seemingly endless and insatiable ambition and drive offended many people.

But at the same time, it also fully showcased his unique charm, earning him more support and love from many people.

Talent and hard work are both indispensable. Shen Juan, who has already become a pop superstar, is striving to become an idol of this era.

Sana Minatozaki has never admired and longed for artists of similar age as much as she does now.

Perhaps he doesn't care about right or wrong.

Perhaps he doesn't care about his own feelings.

Perhaps he is the true idol and role model who stands on the stage to become a source of spiritual sustenance for everyone.

It's not about being an idol who symbolizes a professional identity.

Rather, they are icons that represent the times and values.

so.
Compared to those fans who love him to the point of obsession, how am I any different from those who also yearn for him?

Don't we all smile when we think of him, have our hearts race when we see him, and feel an irresistible urge to get closer?

Although the marketing and promotion efforts this year are not as strong as last year, Universal and Shen Juan's team have still poured all available resources into Shen Juan's highly anticipated new Japanese album, aiming to maximize initial buzz and reap greater profits.

And just like that, time flew by and it was December 18th.

Wednesday morning, 8:00 AM.

As soon as Minamimura Meisuke followed the flow of people out of the subway station, he was startled by another surging crowd on the street.

As a seasoned office worker who has lived and worked in Tokyo for many years and whose edges have been worn down by this cold and cruel society, he thought he had long been used to the hustle and bustle of the city and even a little numb to it. However, the exaggerated scene in front of him still made him feel a little surprised and puzzled.

The crowd surged toward the same direction like a tidal wave, as if some rare treasure was beckoning them from ahead.

Minamimura Meisuke's curiosity was piqued, and he grabbed a young man who looked fairly friendly and asked, "Excuse me, is there any activity today? Where are you all headed?"

The young man kept walking and hurriedly replied, "Go buy Shen Juan's new album! Don't you know? It's the hottest topic online right now! Many students have skipped class to go to record stores so they can buy the physical album as soon as possible. For example, I have to rush back to school after I buy it."

After saying that, he broke free from Minamimura Meisuke's hand, quickly blended into the crowd, and squeezed his way to the front of the line.

Shen Juan?
Is it that very popular Chinese singer?
It seems he held a concert in Tokyo not long ago, and I saw him quite a bit on TV and online news back then.

After all, as a typical Japanese office worker, Minamimura Meisuke naturally wouldn't have paid much attention to entertainment news before.

The celebrities I know are all the ones I saw on TV when I was a child; I have almost no impression of the celebrities of the new era.

However, since it can cause such a huge sensation and make so many people flock to the streets to buy CDs, it must be something big!
So, let's just say it's a way to inject new energy into our numb lives. With this curiosity in mind, Minamimura Meisuke followed the crowd, intending to follow the current social trend and use his free time before work to buy a CD at a record store so he could listen to some new-age music when he got home.

Before long, he saw a record store that was usually deserted but was now surrounded by a huge crowd.

The long queue outside the store stretched as far as the eye could see, and excited conversations could be heard from time to time among the crowd.

"I've been waiting for so long, I'm really looking forward to Shen Dian's new album!" a girl with a ponytail said excitedly.

“Yeah, his album YAAIS last year was a huge hit across the island and all of Japan, so this year it’s sure to be even better! I hope there are more love songs! I love listening to him sing those gentle and soothing love songs while lying in bed with my headphones on before I go to sleep!” The bob-haired girl next to me chimed in.

"Me too! His voice is an absolute treasure bestowed upon us fans by heaven! The timbre is simply amazing!"

"Isn't a tired face also a sign of weariness?"

"Of course! But longtime fans usually don't praise his looks anymore, because they've praised them too many times and they're tired of it."

Standing at the end of the line, Minamimura Meisuke gazed at the dense crowd ahead, his curiosity growing stronger.

He started searching for information about Shen Juan on his phone. As news, pictures and videos kept popping up on the screen, he discovered that Shen Juan was not only incredibly popular in Japan and one of the most beloved singers among young people, but also had a very high international profile.

So it turns out that the song "Pretender" that I often heard in convenience stores and shopping malls was sung by him, a Chinese person.
Wow, he has so many hit Japanese singles! And he even composed the theme song for this year's Summer Koro Festival!
It turns out that his Leviathan Era tour has almost grossed over $800 million worldwide.
It seems I've been a clueless office worker for too long, completely out of touch with the times.
The line moved slowly forward, and Minamimura Meisuke gradually approached the store entrance. He saw several huge posters displayed at the entrance, and the man on the posters was definitely a top-tier male idol!
So this is Shen Juan?

If I could grow up to look like him, I feel like my whole life would become incredibly smooth.

The surrounding fans were also holding up all sorts of support items, including light boards that read "Shen Juan, we love you" and carefully crafted support banners.

And it seems they are cooperating with the filming.

There were quite a few people, suspected to be media professionals, holding cameras and microphones, mingling in the crowd.

However, Minamimura Meisuke wasn't particularly surprised. After all, a new album from a world-class superstar certainly warranted live coverage from newspapers and television stations.

After another agonizing fifteen minutes, Minamimura Meisuke finally entered the equally crowded record store.

The store was filled with a tense yet excited atmosphere, with staff working tirelessly to serve customers and restock the shelves.

On the shelf, Shen Juan's new album, which went on sale today, was placed in the most prominent position, piled up into a small mountain.

The album is titled "Morpho".

The cover appears to be a blue butterfly?

(Illustrative image, not album cover)

In front of Akira Minamimura, a bespectacled boy picked up an album with trembling hands and hugged it tightly to his chest.

His eyes glistened with tears of excitement, and he murmured to himself, "I finally got it, I finally got it!"

It seems that without this album, he would not be able to find common ground with his classmates at school, and would suffer from their ostracism and passive-aggressive behavior, thus becoming an invisible figure in the class.

There was also a young couple. The boy paid for two albums, handing one to the girl and keeping the other for himself. They smiled at each other, their faces beaming with happiness and sweetness. It seemed as if they had met through Shen Juan's songs and fallen in love through them.

Although Minamimura Meisuke did not know much about Shen Juan.

But caught up in the enthusiastic atmosphere around him, he inexplicably picked up two albums and headed to the counter.

As he walked out of the record store with the CDs in his hand, Meisuke Minamimura looked back and saw the long line still there, the people's enthusiasm undiminished.

Their goal is clearly the same thing—Morpho, with its cover featuring a blue butterfly!
He gently stroked the CDs in the bag, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips as he silently thought:

After I get home from get off work today, I definitely have to listen to this album. Maybe it will start a whole new musical journey, and like that couple from earlier, I can find my other half through music, thus ending this boring and tedious corporate life and returning to this interesting world.

As night deepened, Tokyo was engulfed in a vibrant wave of neon lights, the entire city transforming into a boiling sea of ​​light.

Masahiro Kimura clutched the Shen Juan album he had just bought, only opening the packaging after drinking his third beer at the izakaya.

I found a quiet place to park, plugged the CD into the car stereo, and the grand prelude to "Renegades" suddenly started. The vocals and the exciting drumbeats, like a stampede of ten thousand horses, appeared at the same time, constantly pounding and touching Masahiro Kimura's heartstrings.

As the melody progressed, his breathing gradually became rapid, and his heart began to beat violently and uncontrollably.

Although many English lyrics are incomprehensible, the melody is the core key to a musical work's ability to evoke emotions in the listener.

So when he heard the chorus, he completely let loose and started humming along loudly, as if only in this small, enclosed space where he had no work or family could he find the passionate self he had in his youth.

It seems that only in the musical world constructed by "Renegades" can one become a fearless rebel!
Four minutes later, the intro to the album's second single, "Broken Heart Of Gold," began.

The opening is a crisp, slightly lonely guitar strumming, and the simple notes instantly draw Masahiro Kimura into a state of confusion and loss.

As the melody progresses, drums and bass join in, the rhythm gradually speeds up, and the intensity increases, like long-suppressed emotions beginning to surge forth.

Until the chorus, Shen Juan's explosive high notes, the exciting electric guitar solo, and the strong drum beats worked together perfectly, pushing the emotional release to a climax and making Kimura Masahiro feel a powerful force breaking free from constraints.

After the climax, the melody softens, giving him a feeling of exhaustion yet relief after a painful struggle.

It's time to let it go.

After all, isn't this song about breaking free from inner shackles, letting go of past pain, and achieving self-redemption and rebirth?
Although it's a completely different style from last year's YAAIS, the songs are of excellent quality!
At least the first two singles received his approval.

Then came the third song included, the Koshien theme song "Destiny," and the fourth, "I LOVE."

Skip "Destiny".

Because I've heard it so many times already.

And this song is "I LOVE".
The melody is stirring and rich in layers, the singing technique is outstanding, and the lyrics are also very delicate, moving and poetic.

Having years of experience listening to music and a general understanding of Japanese people's musical preferences, Masahiro Kimura believes that barring any unforeseen circumstances, this song will likely achieve very good results.

The fifth song, "BOY," opens with a light and cheerful intro melody, full of hope and energy. Shen Juan creates an innocent atmosphere through simple notes, conveying a sense of courage to move forward and pursue dreams.

Masahiro Kimura also has some recollection of this song.

The melody of this song appeared in the preview for the 18th Festival special program released by NHK last week.

Now that I hear it, it really is a great piece of writing for those kids who have just come of age, to encourage them to face life bravely.

As for the next 6 to 10 songs
"Kaiju no Hana Uta": It's the kind of song that gets your blood pumping the moment you hear it, and it's the kind of song that can give listeners energy.

"Better to Die": There is a faint sense of melancholy. Shen Juan even played with jazz elements that he had not explored before in this song. It can only be said that he can handle any type of music. With this highly anticipated album, he once again announced his extraordinary talent to the world.

"Dried Flowers": Through poetic and vivid lyrics, it depicts the feelings after a love has faded away.

"Love & Happiness": I've been listening to this song a lot lately when I buy coffee at Starbucks. Overall, it's pretty average. Although it's lively and cheerful with a festive atmosphere, there's not much that really stands out.

"Buddy": Both the lyrics and melody are refreshing and delightful, making people feel relaxed and comfortable.

(The original singers of these five songs are Vaundy, Fujii Kaze, Yuri, and the latter two are Hirai Dai.)

Masahiro Kimura spent almost forty minutes in the car listening to the entire album, which contained ten songs.

He loosened his tie, feeling a bit dizzy, unsure whether it was from the alcohol or from being overwhelmed by the album.

He instinctively took out his phone.

The fingers that were typing were suspended in mid-air.

He wanted to tell everyone online that, based on his years of experience appreciating music, he guaranteed that the overall quality of this album, "Morpho," was absolutely no less than last year's "YAAIS"!
Shen Juan will silence all his critics with this album and may even dominate the Japanese music scene next year.

But in the end, I deleted the text I had already typed, pressed the screen-off button, and put the phone back in my coat pocket.

Some parts are shocking and amazing, best enjoyed alone.

However, Masahiro Kimura's personal behavior does not mean that all listeners who have listened to this album want to digest it alone.

In fact, the majority of people who hear a song they like will always try to recommend it to others online.

I absolutely love "Renegades" and "Broken Heart Of Gold"! I really love these powerful songs! I have a feeling Shen Juan's new album is going to be a huge hit! His songs will probably be playing on repeat everywhere in Japan for the foreseeable future.

[“I LOVE” is so sweet, hahaha! I love songs that openly express love like this!]

Does nobody like "Dried Flowers"? Listening to this song alone and recalling those sad relationships really brings tears to my eyes. But isn't Shen Juan supposed to be a notorious playboy? How can such a womanizer write such delicate and deeply emotional lyrics?

[“Better to Die” is so chill!!! It’s completely different from Juanjuan’s previous styles, but I absolutely love this vibe!]

I heard that Juanjuan has already pre-recorded his stage performance for this year's Red and White Song Festival. I wonder which song he sang.

This album is even more impactful than YAAIS last year! He truly deserves the title of the leading male artist of our time! I can't wait to see Shen Juan's name on the charts! A singer who can create music in multiple languages ​​deserves to be a global star!

Sometimes when I see comments online, I feel like everyone in the world is forcing him to grow up, forcing him to create songs that everyone will approve of, forcing him to become a flawless work of art that will be passed down through the ages, forgetting that he is ultimately just a kid in his early twenties, forgetting that he is just someone trying to realize his dreams. But so much malice and pressure in this world is weighing on him. I really want to blindfold him and tell him that he has already done very well, and that he might as well stop and rest for a while. He too can have his own world.

[“Buddy” is so catchy and sweet! Listening to this song makes me feel like I'm already at the beach with my loved one.]

[2be + 2gether = 4ever! What kind of genius could come up with lyrics like this?!]

Although the production seems simple, this song sounds genuinely romantic. The lyrics are about everyday things, and considering Shen Juan's rich romantic history, I have a guess—I don't know if I should say it—that this song might have been written by Shen Juan for one of his sisters-in-law!

The online discussion was quite enthusiastic.

Almost all the reviews are positive; you can hardly find any negative reviews.

After all, for these Japanese listeners, the album's style spans too wide and contains too many musical elements. In addition, Shen Juan's current status naturally inspires a sense of "convince," so regardless of their musical taste, they can basically find songs they like in it.

Then, he offered heartfelt praise to this singer who had conquered Europe and America and become the world's number one male singer, yet remained loyal to his Japanese fans. He called him a gem of the East Asian pop music scene and encouraged all new generation musicians in Japan to learn from Shen Juan and strive to keep up with his pace.

So fans can finally rest assured.

Although they can't see the album's initial sales figures in the short term, they have at least confirmed one thing.

This album is going to be a hit!
And it's an extremely explosive kind of explosion!

It's even more explosive than YAAIS last year, which propelled Shen Juan from an unknown singer to a top-tier singer!
Shen Juan's fame and influence in the Japanese music scene, among Japanese youth, and even in Japanese society as a whole are about to experience a new leap forward through the success of this album, which will then spread to surrounding areas, further strengthening his dominance in the East Asian entertainment industry.

In other words, with the release of his new Japanese album "Morpho", Shen Juan has completely shed the label of "a fleeting meteor" that his critics had attached to him in Japan, and has completed his promotion and transformation from a vibrant newcomer to an unshakable mainstream figure.

From the stunning impact of "You Are All I See" to the inevitable rise and destiny of "Morpho".

He has personally etched his own indelible mark on this era of fierce competition and rapid change in the music scene.

　Thank you all for your votes, monthly passes, and subscriptions!
　　Thank you to "牛鲶锅里是牛鲶鲶" for the 500-point reward!
　　Thank you Tianxing98 for the 500-point reward!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)