Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 440 Chasing the Legends of the Last Century, Continuing to Shine
March is already early spring.

Zhao Haochuan, a junior in college this year, is a typical gossip-loving netizen who pays attention to everything and has an extremely complex personality.

That day, while he was taking online classes on his computer and playing on his phone to pass the time, he opened Tieba as usual and saw this post on the homepage recommendation.

Title: [How would you evaluate Shen Juan's "INDUSTRY BABY" achieving a run at number one this week without a music video?]

Several pictures are attached below.

There are screenshots of the top ten trending topics of the week released by the official website, as well as some handsome photos of Shen Juan that the poster likes.

"No way, buddy? Another no-hit? How many no-hit songs have they released since the beginning of last year?! Isn't the Billboard chart going to change its rules to limit them?" Zhao Haochuan, who was originally a little sleepy, suddenly became interested and quickly clicked in to try to find out more details about the matter.

Content: [This is not only Shen Juan's ninth Billboard number one single, but also his fifth single to remain at number one, helping him surpass Airi Anja to become the artist with the most number one singles in history. Shen Juan slays! Besides, this week's second through fifth places are Shen Juan's "Industrial Baby," Roddy Ricch's "The Box," Future and Duck's "Life Is Good," and BTS's "On."]

"Nine number one singles, five of which were unsuccessful. That's truly amazing. Is it really that easy to get number one singles in the streaming era?"

Zhao Haochuan was a little incredulous, but Shen Juan's achievements so far did indeed confirm his thoughts.

As the music industry transitioned from the download era to the streaming era, the prestige of Billboard number one singles has indeed been gradually declining.

Previously, they might not even produce one song that topped the charts in a year, but last year and this year they produced about ten.

There will likely be even more next year and the year after.

This number would have been unimaginable five or ten years ago, because it was just too ridiculously outrageous!
It just goes to show that times have indeed changed.

The arrival and deepening of the streaming media era has had a tremendous impact and brought about tremendous changes to all aspects of the world.

Shen Juan undoubtedly seized the opportunity of the times and became the biggest beneficiary of the rise of the music streaming industry.

Scroll quickly to the comments section below.

Zhao Haochuan discovered that netizens had a strong desire to discuss the topic, and everyone was proud to express their opinions.

[Downloads #1, radio #3, streaming #1! No doubt about it, this is my team's unparalleled dominance!]

Everyone says Shen Juan always teams up with others to win titles, but the question is, why does he always manage to win titles with any of his partners? He won with Senorita and ROM (with Ariana Grande), he won with Industrial Baby (with Li Na), and he also won with Shenglei and Mangguang (in solo matches). So, is it possible that he's always been carrying others to victory?

[Holy crap! This is unbelievable! Blind Light is still in the top ten after more than a year since its release. This is really going to become the number one hit of the streaming era. Seriously, if it hadn't collided with Old Town Road last year, its performance might have been even more incredible! At least the number one weeks would have increased significantly!]

Admittedly, Shen Juan has a lot of collaborative hit singles, but only three of the nine hit singles are solo tracks.

But all three solos are quite impressive.

The blindness needs no further explanation.

The original song was hailed as the number one single of the 21st century, and now, with Shen Juan's popularity boosting it, its success is only going to be even greater!
Circles defied the combined dominance of Blindlight and Old Town Road to become the "strongest week's chicken".

That's enough to prove he was just born in the wrong era!

Although she was left without a crown, she jumped into the water.

The fact that he was able to win the championship without winning is enough to demonstrate how large and considerable his current fan base and influence are!

【恭喜我倦成功超越爱莉杏菜成为史上拥有最多空冠的歌手，同时也借此机会给大家简单科普一下，我倦现在的冠单数量已经正式排进历史前十了哦（跟很多人并列第十）~仅次于披头士20首、牛姐19首、蕾哈娜14首、MJ13首、麦当娜和The Spremes12首、惠特尼休斯顿11首、珍妮杰克逊和Stevie Wonder10首。】

From the perspective of crowns alone, those who are currently ranked ahead of Shen Juan are basically ancient gods and celestial kings and queens.

The sheer number of fans of East Asian artists and the intense idol-worshiping mentality of their fandom, combined with popular music that aligns with Western mainstream aesthetics, equals unbeatable.
The Beatles' 20 number-one singles in 7 years was already incredible, but Shen Juan's 9 in 14 months is even more astonishing. The impact of streaming on traditional charts is one factor, but another is Shen Juan's undeniable global fame. While the "brotherhood" period might be a terrible time for most, for Shen Juan, who aspires to reach even greater heights, this moment may be the best of his career so far!

This is the truth.

In this chaotic era of sudden crisis, every country around the world is in a terrible and difficult situation.

But the United States was hit particularly hard.

In an effort to reverse their revenue woes, luxury brands in Europe and America have begun to wholesale endorsement titles, much to the delight of popular celebrities.

In order to maximize profits, the music market allows singers who are not American citizens, especially those from East Asia with their own fan base, to collectively benefit. They turn a blind eye to illegal inflation of data, as long as they can make money. Isn't the money spent on inflation also real money?
It can only be said that the consequences and impacts of the global economic downturn are still far-reaching, affecting all aspects of life.

In short, this may be the most suitable era for the rise of non-American singers in the decades since the United States became the dominant power.

(Kris was born in the wrong era. If he had waited two years longer to pursue his career in the US, and hadn't encountered Ariana Grande who was overshadowed by his release at the same time and was promoting him on social media, he might have actually become an international star and returned to the Chinese entertainment industry to continue showing off.)
Alex, BTS, and BLACKPINK have all entered the Top 100 Hottest Artists! Asian power has truly risen this time!

It's truly remarkable that Asian artists achieve success in the Western entertainment industry, and it's perfectly normal for fans to be excited. However, I sincerely remind certain fan groups not to engage in excessive comment control; it severely damages their public image. If a sudden drop to fifth place is enough to generate this much online buzz, then will "My Unbeaten Crown" be trending globally again?

[With such inflated download numbers, you only managed to drop to fifth place. Next week, your numbers are likely to plummet! I sincerely suggest that your fans keep a low profile. The rankings are already the closest the gap is between you and me. I'm number one because the highest you can get is number one. If you just show the real numbers, you'll only be humiliated even more.]

[On is only fifth? Aren't BTS fans supposed to be the world's top BTS? How come they always get suppressed when they compete with Shen Juan on the charts? I suggest BTS change their name to "Shen Juan Control Group".]

Download data largely depends on the number of fans.

Many singers and groups, such as BTS, Bieber, and Shen Juan from the AS1 era, usually choose the most cost-effective way to boost their download numbers and climb the charts: inflating download counts.

This is considered an open secret in the industry.

However, truly top-tier celebrities wouldn't do that.

At least it won't be too obvious.

For example, Shen Juan during the AS3 era.

If fans want to spend money, that's their business.

Anyway, he doesn't do that kind of thing anymore.

Because men care about their reputation.

Besides, the person is already famous, the song is already a hit, and they've already won first place, so there's no need to spend money to buy more points.

However, Shen Juan, who rose to fame during the AS1 era, and BTS, who have been in the US for three years and are still poised for success, felt it was necessary.

They are outsiders who need to make a name for themselves and establish a foothold in the North American market, so they don't need to care about these things.

BTS's parent company, HYBE, started collaborating with Scooter, Bieber's manager, in 2021. So they were using the same chart-topping strategies. Under Scooter's management, BTS's chart performance and global popularity skyrocketed this year, propelling them to the top tier.

Here's another little-known fact.
Jeon Jungkook's "Seven," which garnered 20 billion streams, was actually originally intended for Justin Bieber as a scooter.

However, Bieber was in a semi-retired state at the time, so it just so happened that the opportunity fell to Jungkook, who was planning to debut as a solo artist.

In other words, Jungkook inherited the resources that Bieber had vacated, and the production teams for those main singles were all quite good.

[Hilarious! There are always those sour chicken haters saying that the chart-topping singles in the streaming era are watered down, but the question is, why don't you see your idol getting no chart-topping singles? Shen Juan now has five chart-topping singles, which shows he can turn "watered-down" singles into "high-quality" ones. He's the real rule-maker!]

[Seriously, stop trying to piggyback on my success. Aside from Shen Juan carrying Mood to victory last year, how many years ago was the last time Miao Miao won a title? Shen Juan now has 9 titles and 5 without any, while your Miao Miao is struggling to even make the rankings. You still have the nerve to come out and act all high and mighty?]

[Even bystanders are laughing. Have Bieber's fans not grasped the current situation? Bieber's performance plummeted in his second week, which frankly means he has no casual listener base and is only kept alive by his fans. He's not even on the same level as Shen Juan, a world-renowned male idol with nationwide popularity. Are there really people still living in the past?]

[Can someone explain to me whether Shen Juan's chart-topping streaming numbers are entirely due to his Western fanbase? I've seen his TikTok views are absolutely insane.]

[Don't ask, he's the world's top male idol! From hip-hop to pop to R&B, Juanzi can handle any style. His song "INDUSTRY BABY" topped the charts without a music video, that's true influence!]

They climbed down from the top floor to the bottom.

These comments either explain the high quality of Shen Juan's achievements, or compare him to ancient Western superstars that many people may never have heard of, or they criticize BTS, who released songs around the same time, and Bieber, who released a new album last week but whose popularity plummeted this week, humiliating the guys completely.

Although some friends are a bit aggressive.

They didn't do a very good job in terms of manners and etiquette.

They lack the demeanor of a nation of etiquette.

But to be honest, Zhao Haochuan really enjoyed watching it.

That was fucking awesome!

The strong should ruthlessly humiliate the weak!
Hua Zi should severely torture foreigners!
Anyway, he's not a fan of Bieber or BTS.

As a pure-blooded Hua Zi, he would definitely stand on Shen Juan's side, putting himself in Shen Juan's shoes and experiencing his emotions.

That's why he was able to personally experience and enjoy the ultimate thrill that so-called fans of strong players and champions should have.

They're absolutely tyrannical!
I am the only one who reigns supreme in heaven and earth!

No wonder so many people are willing to be fans of the champion, no wonder so many people are willing to become fans of Shen Juan as his career.
This feeling is fucking awesome!

Shen Juan clearly used these dazzling moments, which he himself might not even notice, to subtly gather a large number of potential audiences who had varying degrees of goodwill towards him, and gradually built a popular empire of his own through relatively mild and continuous marketing and promotion.

Three days after the latest Billboard Hot 3 weekly rankings were updated, on March 6th.

AS3's latest single was released without any prior announcement.

"Toosie Slide" (The original version by Drake was too slow, so Shen Juan used a version that is more suitable for choreography, somewhere between the original and the Sped Up version, Dance Fruits Music / Steve Void)

Many people around the world heard this song on its first day of release for various reasons and through various means.

Jack Harris was one of them.

Leaning against an old seat on the New York subway, smelling the stench of disinfectant mixed with feces, urine, and sweat, this office worker, who was practically wrapped up like a mummy, felt that today was another damn damn day. Fortunately, the sudden burst of deep bass in his headphones jolted him awake, and he sat up straight.

The intro to "Toosie Slide" was like an electric current, instantly activating his senses during his tedious commute.

A simple, brisk, and rhythmic beat comes into play, with well-spaced and repetitive drumbeats constantly pounding the brain and heart. When the languid, lazy voice of "Left foot up, right foot, slide" enters the eardrums, Jack has already unconsciously started nodding and swaying his head to the melody of the song.

Holyshxtttt！！！

This is not a simple electronic dance track at all.

The synthesizer sound effects and traditional percussion blend perfectly, making the whole song both retro and futuristic. Every drumbeat is precisely timed to fit the heartbeat, and the melody is simple and smooth without too much complicated embellishment. However, through repeated repetition, it constantly reinforces the song's memorable points in the listener's mind.

It is undoubtedly a work of opportunism and trickery.

He had lost count of how many times the core melody of the song was repeated in those short 100-plus seconds!

However, it must be understood that in the current streaming era where short videos are becoming increasingly popular and people are pursuing efficient ways to get pleasure and excitement, the simpler and more catchy the melody, the easier it is to become popular and the more widely it is sung. This is true in every country and market around the world, and this trend of the times is irreversible.

Shen Juan clearly made changes for this.

The previous song, "INDUSTRY BABY," is an example.

The same goes for "Toosie Slide"!
It's even more exaggerated than industrial baby products!
The lyrics are utterly devoid of any educational value!

But it's addictive, it's brainwashing!

His years of experience appreciating music told him that this was a popular song with the potential to generate a phenomenal discussion on TikTok!

"This guy," Jack frowned, suddenly remembering his comments on Shen Juan's new song half a month ago.

He used a technique of praising before criticizing, first affirming the song's production quality and lyrics, but then shifting his tone to criticize Shen Juan's creative model for catering to the short video market, arguing that he, as the leading pop star in the eyes of some, should not be so commercial.

With such a commercially successful album like Leviathan and so many fans to back it up, shouldn't it be time to bravely step out of its comfort zone and create a super album that is more musical and more epoch-making to rival those legendary figures in the music industry?
Then, he criticized Shen Juan mercilessly for lacking the integrity of a top musician, believing that he loved himself more than music, and that he wanted to be the focus of the world's attention more than making his works famous. He said that such a singer would be devoured by music sooner or later!
Of course.
Although he was always finding fault with Shen Juan in order to generate buzz and traffic for his articles and to earn money to support his family, he would repeatedly criticize him.

But I never doubted his creative talent.

He felt that Shen Juan was fully capable of it!

In his eyes, Alex Shen and The Weeknd are the most creative male singers of this era!
Even Shen Juan stands out more.

Because he can play any musical style.

The style is not as fixed as that of potted plants.

The audience and the potential for growth are even more incredible!

But now that I think about it...
Well, he had to admit that he had been a bit too harsh on Shen Juan.

It's really unreasonable for these media outlets to force young people to change their approach against the market and the established norms.

Alex isn't even 22 years old yet!
But he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

Because he felt that Shen Juan was indeed somewhat narcissistic.

Moreover, geniuses deserve more criticism!

True strength lies in withstanding criticism!

As the subway entered the darkness of the tunnel, Jack Harris clicked play again, this time watching Shen Juan's music video.

Compared to pure singers who stand still and deliver their performances, singers who dance and sing like Michael Jackson are obviously more able to exude ultimate stage charisma.

With a group of top-notch backup dancers, Shen Juan's stage presence was undoubtedly maximized.

The comments section has already erupted in excitement.

[The modern-day Michael Jackson needs no explanation!]

This song is fucking awesome! Listening to it in my headphones makes me feel like I have endless power; even the cops can't catch me! Thanks to Alex for saving me from jail; I've allowed him to use the N-words again, you know, he's always been a friend of ours.

[Damn! You damn nigger! I fucking want to knee you down!]

Hearing this song took my breath away.

[Alex: Left foot lifts, right foot slips; Me, with my poor coordination: Left foot lifts, right foot slips shxt!]

[Am I just imagining things? I have a feeling that some of the lyrics are paying homage to Michael Jackson, so is Alex also an MJ fan?]

Alex's dancing is really smooth and chill, but I'm not bad either. If you're interested, you can click this link; I posted my challenge video on TikTok.

[Simple melody, simple choreography—is Alex afraid of overdoing it and making it impossible for us to keep up?]

Wajuan is truly the people's artist!

The early releases of these tracks from this album show a significant decline in quality compared to Leviathan.

[The melody and lyrics are just those two lines over and over again. If this kind of low-quality, fast-food music can stay popular for three months, I'll eat shit while doing a handstand.]

[They didn't say it had to be a hit for more than three months. As long as we get through this period before the album release, isn't that enough?]

Alex has completely grasped the market dynamics and mastered the secrets to viral success in this era! There's no need to say that Alex's songs lack substance or depth; just considering how catchy the song is and how well the dance is adapted, it's hard not to become a hit in the short video age. This Chinese man is simply insane!

The video views are rising at an astonishing rate. Jack doesn't know if this song can break Shen Juan's own MV view record. He only knows that he has been ignited by the song, and that his reflection in the opposite car window is swaying his shoulders gently to the rhythm.

This influence and appeal that sparked nationwide discussion reminded him of the craze that man had ignited thirty years ago.

Despite the influence of his era and pioneering status, it is almost impossible for those born in the internet age to surpass MJ.

Shen Juan at this stage is completely incomparable to MJ at that time.

This is true at every dimensional level.

After Lü Bu's death, everyone said that he possessed Lü Bu's bravery.

A few years ago, there was an interesting theory circulating online that after MJ died, his soul split in two, creating Bruno Mars and The Weeknd.

Or a new theory that suddenly emerged last year.
The previous generation had MJ, and this generation has AS.

Regardless of skin color (black or yellow), or origin (American or Asian), the persona he projects to the outside world is that of the next Michael Jackson.

This is enough to show how great MJ was!
But this does not mean that Shen Juan cannot get close to MJ, cannot forge his own path, and cannot influence and change this era.

At the very least, if one had to pick a male singer from contemporary times, most people would probably choose Shen Juan.

Because whether you like it or not, he does indeed possess the best conditions and the strongest qualifications of this era!

Alovers was convinced of this.

"Times Square 42nd Street station has arrived, if needed..."

The subway station announcement sounded, and Jack took off his headphones, the melody of the song still playing on repeat in his mind.

He pulled a pen from his pocket and wrote a new title for the article he had proposed for the song on the crumpled manuscript paper:
Alex Shen: From being underestimated to Leviathan to the yet-to-be-named AS3, I still shine brightly!

Stepping out of the subway station and merging into the crowded throng, Jack felt like an insignificant grain of sand in the vast ocean. He looked up at the LED screen in the distance, where Shen Juan's global opening advertisement for LV was playing on a loop, and there seemed to be quite a few young girls taking photos below.

Just as his title suggests, this Asian boy is so radiant and dazzling!

He certainly possesses all the prerequisites to become a heartthrob, and he has indeed become a heartthrob among Generation Z.

Then he suddenly understood.
This song is not Shen Juan's Waterloo.

This is not evidence that Shen Juan is about to fade into obscurity!

He simply integrated into this era in a way that was more easily accepted by the world, in a smoother and softer way.

This may be the gentlest blow this exceptionally gifted creative genius can deliver to this increasingly chaotic world.

　Happy Dragon Boat Festival everyone!

　　I'm going out for dinner today, so it'll probably be a little later tonight.
　　Thank you all for your votes, monthly passes, and subscriptions!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)