Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 476 The Myth of Sisyphus
After finishing filming "Longing for Life," they returned to the film set to continue shooting.

Meanwhile, the promotional work for the highly anticipated Sisyphus is also progressing steadily and according to plan.

5 month 8 number.

The album information, including the album title, cover art, and number of songs, was revealed during an Instagram live stream, along with a sign-holding challenge.

Given the huge success of Leviathan Genesis last year, almost all second- and third-tier celebrities regarded promoting Shen Juan's new album as a publicity event. As a result, it attracted hundreds of celebrities from all over the world to participate on the first day, once again triggering a large-scale team building event in the entertainment industry.

It's unclear exactly when it started, but Shen Juan gradually transformed from a participant into a core initiator.

This includes the global charity concert last month.

5 month 9 number.

Universal Music Group has started advertising on platforms such as YouTube, Amazon, Weibo, Twitter, Instagram, and Soundwave to generate buzz for the album.

Shen Juan's phenomenal album "Leviathan," which sold tens of millions of copies worldwide last year through a reverse version, brought them over 100 million US dollars in after-tax income. Under such circumstances, it's really hard for these profit-driven capitalists not to go crazy for their human cash cow from across the ocean!
Therefore, arrange for emperor-like treatment!
The publicity and promotional resources are absolutely top-notch!

The entire global marketing matrix serves only him.

5 month 10 number.

The release of the album's promotional video prompted numerous music critics and YouTube video bloggers to post videos and articles deconstructing the album's concept.

After achieving unparalleled success in the singles field, Shen Juan has started working on album concepts and musicality.

But it's still the same old thing.

Shoot the arrow first, then draw the target.

If the melody is the core and the lyrics are the icing on the cake, and the product itself, a complete song, is composed of the lyrics and the melody, then the album concept is the least important flower. It is like a luxury item that tries to give the song brand value and make the song sound more high-end.

But music itself can never be a luxury.

Pop music is a product of the common people that entertains the masses.

Therefore, throughout history, apart from a few niche artists, almost no one has put a lot of effort into marketing their album concepts.

Because it is something that is dispensable in itself.

Even many mainstream media outlets don't mention it.

5 month 11 number.

Victoria's Secret supermodels, Hooch, Mauve, Normani, and a host of other former friends who have faded into obscurity have joined the sign-holding challenge.

The erotic novel "Shen Juan and the Victoria's Secret supermodel's backstage story" has once again become a hot topic on the Chinese internet.

However, it is said that the higher authorities have begun to pay attention to this matter.

They're planning to arrest the author as a warning to others.

It can only be said that although Shen Juan felt it was nothing, the relevant departments felt that Shen Juan, as the face of the country, should not be insulted.

So it can only be considered that the author was unlucky.

I messed with the wrong person.

5 month 12 number.

The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Grammy, Billboard, and many other media websites have published articles praising Shen Juan's amazing achievements over the past year and placing high hopes on his upcoming album, saying that if Leviathan was a world-destroying masterpiece that swept away everything, then Sisyphus is a world-saving masterpiece!
It was born in a special period and a special era.

It was born extraordinary and unique!
It is destined to be sung by the world and remembered by the world, becoming a representative album at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century!
5 month 13 number.

Jenner and her sister, along with others, specially learned some Chinese for bilingual promotion. Then, a host of internationally renowned brands, including LV, Tiffany & Co., Jaeger-LeCoultre, Saint Laurent, and Porsche, either simply promoted the game on their official websites or launched events and co-branded products in collaboration with the upcoming game, Sisyphus.

Shen Juan and the brands he endorses have maximized his commercial value as an unprecedented top ten luxury brand ambassador!
To some extent, it even became an important means for the luxury fashion industry to turn the tide during the pandemic!
Driven by Shen Juan, the fan economy has successfully developed to a new peak and officially entered the fashion industry's field of vision.

Therefore, in order to turn a profit, the fashion industry may soon see a surge in luxury brand endorsements in the Chinese entertainment industry.

5 month 14 number.

Old friends Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Li Na, and Malone, respected senior Jackie Chan, Matthew McConaughey who brought his son to meet his idol, and Hollywood superstars like Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel who needed his help (to build a good friendship so that their movies could rake in box office revenue in China) all joined in.

The promotional lineup doesn't seem as large as last year's.

However, the big-name celebrities who promoted Shen Juan last year were mostly doing so to give face to Universal Music, not because of Shen Juan himself.

Many people, like male ducks in bonsai.

They didn't even know Shen Juan.

Of course, Shen Juan didn't recognize them either.

And this year?
Without a doubt, everyone was coming for him.

He has become the undisputed number one man in the world!

Everyone wants to bask in his starlight.

that's all.
Time flies, and it's now May 15th, midnight on Friday in the United States, which is noon on Friday in East Asia.

AS3's "Sisyphus," which was hyped up because its top five singles all topped the charts, has finally been released!

Millions of Alovers worldwide placed orders for the album on various platforms and then eagerly began playing it.

Album Title: Sisyphus

Singer Name: Alex Shen
Song list:

1. STAY

2. *Leave The Door Open*

3. *Industry Baby*

4. Go Crazy

5. "My Ex's Best Friend"

6. Toosie Slide

7. "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY"

8. Rain On Me

9. *Anyone*

10. Goodbyes

11. Save Your Tears

(The first 11 songs can basically be regarded as the ranking of the scores)

12. Good Days

13. "Angel Numbers/Ten Toes"

14. Bruce Lee

15. *Glimpse of Us*

16. Deep Green

17. "Julie."

18. Let Me Go

19. "Always"

20. "Cool"

（12SZA、13-14原唱Chris Brown，15Joji、18-20原唱Daniel Caeser）

Deluxe Edition with Bonus Tracks:
21. *Afterthought*

22. "Things You Said"

(21 was given to the beer girl, 22 was given to Guasi)

Born in Canada, Tate McRae first gained recognition on the stage of "So You Think You Can Dance" when she was just ten years old.

Now a signed artist with Sony Music, this ambitious young singer, who dreams of becoming the next Britney Spears, always keeps a close eye on the latest developments in the music industry.

So when Shen Juan's new album "Sisyphus," which had been generating a lot of anticipation and attention, was released at midnight tonight, she immediately purchased it on a paid platform and started playing it, to see if she could learn anything from the leading man in the contemporary world or get any inspiration.

I glanced at the song list.

Since "STAY," which is at the very top of the list, has been so popular lately, I don't know how many times I've listened to it, whether actively or passively, and I'm totally tired of it! So I'll start directly with the second song, "Leave The Door Open," which I haven't heard before.

"Say baby, say baby, say baby. What you doin'? (What you doin'?)"

"Where you at? (Where you at?) Oh, you got plans? (You got plans?)"

As soon as the intro begins, the smooth and rhythmic bass lines are like an invisible hand, leading listeners into a retro-style musical world. Then, Shen Juan opens his mouth, and Tate McRae, who is amazed, feels like she is floating.

Fxxk!

No wonder so many people say that Alex is an idol among singers; his looks and voice are just too good to be true!
And most importantly
In a contemporary pop music landscape dominated by fast-paced rhythms, he went against the grain, not only reviving retro soul and funk elements but also cleverly blending them with modern R&B and music production techniques, ultimately creating a unique musical style that is both nostalgic and innovative.

They demonstrated exceptional creativity in their creative work!
Although it's not as impactful as Shen Juan's signature song "Blind Light" or this fast-paced "STAY".

But the sound quality is excellent!
It gives off a very chill vibe! It's a single that you won't get tired of even if you listen to it on repeat many times!

So after listening to "Leave The Door Open", I had a hard time suppressing my urge to listen to it a second time and watch the music video on YouTube. I forced myself to click on the fourth single in the album playlist, "Go Crazy" (the third single, Industrial Baby, had already been released).

It's Alex and Lil Nas X's winning combination again!
This made her even more hopeful.

The song opens with a powerful drumbeat and a lively bass line. The simple, smooth, yet extremely catchy melody instantly creates a vibrant and passionate atmosphere, making you feel like you're at a lively party, and you can't help but sway to the rhythm.

Without a doubt, it is another excellent single that is extremely listenable and has the potential to become a hit song.

Even for Tate McRae, a singer with a background in dance, "Go Crazy," a song that sounds perfect for choreography and has an explosive sense of rhythm and sound, is even more appealing than her previous song, "Leave The Door Open."

At least she was deeply involved.

"R&B, Hip-hop, Trap?"

"Holyshxt!"

"He can really handle all musical styles!"

"This is so enviable!"

"It's perfectly normal for Justin and Drake to lose to him! He is the MJ and Prince of our time!"

Three minutes later, SoundBreaking automatically played the fifth single from the album, "My Ex's Best Friend".

The collaborating singer changed from Li Nacha to Black Bear, and the musical style also changed from R&B to pop punk that incorporates hip-hop elements.

The subsequent seventh single, "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY," switched back to the purest R&B flavor.

This left Ta Mei completely speechless.

I was so shocked I was speechless!

I'm speechless, just like when I listened to Leviathan last year!
Is this guy showcasing his creative talent and historic genius that's practically overflowing from the screen and headphones?

He loves to show off so much, isn't he afraid of being shot by a fellow singer who's jealous of him while walking down the street?
Even if other people's albums don't follow a unified concept, the products made by the same production team are generally similar.

But Alex
Oh my God!
I can no longer describe him accurately!

He's completely imaginative!
He destroyed the pop music world with Leviathan last year, and this year he immediately reshaped it with Sisyphus!

This Chinese person is simply incredible!
He is a great treasure that God has given to mankind!

If Madison Bill and this second-generation star named Grace Abrams can work with him, there's no reason why I can't!

I have to find a way to get to know him! He's the shortcut to overnight fame that every singer in the streaming era wants!

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, China, on the other side of the ocean, many people are also listening to Shen Juan's new album.

For example, Dassa Taran and Angelina Jolie did a joint live stream on TikTok with the theme of "Sisyphus".

However, unlike most listeners, they listened from back to front, not from front to back.
Then he was captivated by the second half of Sisyphus, falling into the melancholic blues world woven by Shen Juan himself.

"The song 'Cool' lives up to its name—it's incredibly cool! How can I put it? Different people, at different times, and in different moods will experience completely different feelings when they listen to it. I think 'good' is no longer enough to describe this song! It has reached the level of beauty! A broken beauty!"

"Always is amazing! Everyone! I don't want to talk to anyone who doesn't get this song! This song is just too incredible! I swear I haven't heard music that resonates with me in a very, very long time! It really requires you to calm down and appreciate the beauty of the lyrics and melody!"

"Wow! These songs are all so good! Even though the song is called 'Let Me Go,' it's clear that he doesn't want me to leave! He's so affectionate and heartbroken, how could I bear to leave him all alone? I think my family must feel the same way, right?"

"Wait, everyone, I feel that 'Deep Green,' 'Julie,' and 'Glimpse of Us' are also amazing! I love R&B ballads so much! Because ballads can bring out the best in my voice! I feel like I'm completely mesmerized by them!"

"Wait, is the moderator here? Moderator, please ban these people who want to join Shen Juan and those who want to be joined by Shen Juan. Brother Juan is my boss, the person I respect the most! How dare you insult him in front of me! What? I'm laughing? Impossible! How could I possibly laugh?"

"Can I hear this kind of music in my hometown? Probably not, because Russian music tastes are very different from those in China and the United States. This is absolutely not me praising China or my boss; it's just a fact that, at least in the realm of popular music, Russia is not outstanding on a global scale."

"However, on the other hand, these songs are really extremely personal! You may not know, but what I've been criticized for in the past abroad is that my music is too mainstream. I have commercial success, but my music is not musical enough, not personal enough, and I haven't established my own artistic personality."

"But after listening to these songs, I think many people will change their previous ideas. I won't say that these songs will be huge hits. They will definitely not achieve the same commercial success as 'Blind Light' and 'STAY'. But it's no exaggeration to say that being able to write these three songs is enough to prove his genius!"

"I'm going crazy! My head is spinning and I'm completely dazed. If I weren't live streaming right now, if it were late at night, if I were in a bad mood, I think I might even burst into tears. Great music really does have the magic to influence people's emotions!"

Angelina and Dassa Taran frantically searched through their Chinese vocabulary, showering the audience with praise.

Fans and viewers in the live stream who appreciated these songs also started a lively discussion by sending comments.

[It's been a long time since I've heard a song that suits my taste so well.]

This reminds me of Fahai.

[I feel like Sasha and Nana are about to take off just from hearing Shen Juan's voice? That's amazing, haha!]

[I'm practically flying with excitement from listening to this! Get out of the way! Nobody can stop me from posting this song on my WeChat Moments to show off!]

[Brother Juan wasn't lying to us, he's truly an R&B enthusiast; at least half of this album is R&B, hahaha!]

David Tao smiled with satisfaction.

[This song was indeed written at home during a period of social interaction. Although the melody seems simple, it has a very sophisticated feel.] [Am I the only one who thinks it's awful? I see a bunch of people whining about nothing. It's not even as good as "Confession Balloon"!]

Are the people who wrote these three songs the same person who wrote "STAY"? The contrast is too great!

This is the difference between a pop superstar and an artist. *STAY* showed us the star power and ability Shen Juan should possess as a pop superstar, while the second half of the album revealed his artist side; he truly found a balance between musicality and commercial appeal.

[Others transition from highbrow and niche to popular and mainstream, so why is Wa Juan doing the opposite? Is this supposed to be a top-tier male artist playing with highly personal and aesthetically sophisticated music? It feels like he has absolute confidence in his fans and the commercial appeal of his first album, *Sisyphus*! Wow! Everyone, say "Wa Juan is awesome!"]

The live stream was almost entirely filled with praise for Shen Juan and his Sisyphus portrait, with only a very small number of people expressing their disapproval.

Angelina and Dasha Taran both smiled contentedly.

Indeed, you reap what you sow!
As expected, hard work always pays off!

It was worth spending so much time during our break this month learning how to compliment people and songs in Chinese.

It seems to be working!
Thinking so
They couldn't wait any longer and secretly took their phones from under the computer desk to send WeChat messages to Shen Juan, asking for praise.

Although they didn't spend much time together.

But they just really love Shen Juan!
I love it so much!
They even wish they could be like a cute little puppy, circling around his trouser legs every day, wagging their little tail and begging for a head pat.

They didn't know why either.

Perhaps it was because he had voluntarily handed over his weakness to Shen Juan, or perhaps it was due to the so-called admiration for the strong.

In short, as time went by, my horizons and income grew in tandem, and I witnessed more of the beauty of this world.
Just like a puppy can't live without its owner.

They also became increasingly inseparable from Shen Juan.

Starlink practice room in Seoul, South Korea.

Kim Min-chi, who joined the company last year and just turned 16 on the 7th of this month, heard that the company plans to launch a new girl group next year. In order to seize this elusive opportunity to debut and enter the entertainment industry, she practices very hard almost every day.

Although, strictly speaking, the internal competitive pressure within Starlink's South Korean division is not as great as that of other idol companies.

After all, Starlink takes a boutique approach when recruiting trainees in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. There is no situation like hundreds of trainees competing for a single debut spot. Moreover, it is said that Shen Juan oppa is very wealthy and has been continuously investing in the South Korean branch in the past two years. He does not intend to cultivate only one girl group.

However, there is still a big gap between Starlink's first girl group and its second girl group, and there is a big gap in every aspect!
Because being the first girl group means getting full exposure and resources! If we promote it using Shen Juan's name, almost all Alovers around the world will keep an eye on this girl group. Anyway, Kim Min-chi thinks that no one in the world can refuse such a wonderful start.

So even if there is a way out.

Even if there are backup options.

The dozens of girls currently training at Starlink all want to be the first to debut as idols and win over the company!

This will not only allow them to realize their childhood dreams, but also bring them into Shen Juan's sight sooner and closer to him!

Kim Min-ji has made all the preparations.

After having lunch in the cafeteria that day, around 1 p.m., she returned to the rest room intending to use her lunch break to listen to Shen Juan's new album. She saw a group of trainees sitting together excitedly, looking at their phones and constantly muttering Shen Juan's name.

Don't these people not eat?
I thought I was eating fast enough.

I didn’t expect there to be experts!
It seems we can't underestimate the boundless love that heroes from all over the world and this group of underage high school girls have for Shen Juan oppa.
"Minji!" Xue Lun'e interrupted Jin Wenchi, who was lost in thought, and beckoned her over. "Are you still Alovers? Why are you only finishing now? Shen Juan's Sisyphus is online! Hurry up and come see!"

"look?"

But aren't songs meant to be listened to? Kim Min-ji curiously walked into the crowd, only to find that they really were watching songs.

Well, to be precise, I was watching a music video.

I'm watching "Anyone" right now.

Shen Juan's incredibly sexy physique caused the group of young, budding girls to blush and scream.

"This is my husband!"

"That's clearly my husband!"

"I'm about to drown in the creases of his abs!"

"Stop arguing, isn't it better to let Shen Juan oppa take turns being our husbands? That way everyone can be satisfied."

"When it comes to dreaming, you guys are much better at it."

"That's just human nature!"

While listening to music and watching handsome guys, the girls chattered away, focusing their discussion on Shen Juan.

"So is the storyline of the music video a tribute to Rocky?"

"You even know Rocky?"

“I watched it with my brother and my dad before.”

"I don't know who Rocky is, I only know that the songs are great and the music videos are great. I hope Brother Shen Juan will make more music videos in the future."

"I think what you really want is for Brother Shen Juan to shoot more music videos where he shows off his muscles with his upper body bare in the future."

"Actually, it's not wrong to go shirtless from the waist down."

"Aaaaaah! How can you be so lewd!"

"If Brother Shen Juan knew what you were like in private, he'd probably turn around and tell the representative to fire you."

"How could that be! Brother Shen Juan is clearly so devoted to his fans!"

"Pampering fans doesn't mean you can accept being made dirty jokes."

"So if Shen Juan ever gives fans a treat like Guerlain's one-day boyfriend, Minji, would you agree?"

"Are you kidding me? Please stop dreaming." Kim Min-chi rolled her eyes and replied helplessly.

However, what wasn't said was...
Of course I'll agree!
that whoever?
I think her name is Wang Churan!
I'm so happy!
She was able to stroll hand in hand with Shen Juan in the streets of Paris; countless girls around the world envied her!
I really want to hold Shen Juan's hand too!
Then everyone started discussing the female lead in the music video.

"Who is this person? She's so beautiful!"

"I think her name is Hu Lianxin, Shen Juan's junior."

"Was she also a contestant on 'Sister-in-Law 101'?"

"She participated in 'Sister-in-Law 202'."

"What about the female lead from 'Heartbreak Anniversary'?"

"That's Wang Churan! Also a contestant from the 202nd round."

"Well, I don't know if I can make it to 303."

"No way, sis, you actually had a dream?"

Jin Wenchi felt that his classmates were all incredibly eccentric, all of them coming to Starlink because of Shen Juan.

Although Shen Juan is indeed a very good person.

Is it really a good idea to so hastily entrust your idol's life to someone you've never met in real life?
Isn't he just tall and handsome?
He's just a good singer, isn't he?
Isn't he just young and rich?
So what if he has eight-pack abs?

Doesn't he almost fulfill all the fantasies of East Asian teenage girls about their crushes and romantic partners?

Isn't he just...
Well, he does have quite a few strengths.

Even someone as mature as her was speechless with amazement when she first met Shen Juan at Incheon Airport.

She had encountered Shen Juan in her dreams more than once.

So think about it this way.
It's perfectly normal for these little girls to be infatuated with boys.

After all, Shen Juan is a man who can make people feel both happy and sweet, as well as disappointed and frustrated.

With the inherent popularity of the world's number one male star, coupled with overwhelming marketing and publicity, almost anything can be spread rapidly to every corner of the world in this internet age.

Shen Juan's highly anticipated album, "Sisyphus," has undoubtedly become a global hot topic.

From North America to South America, from Europe to Australia, from East Asia to Southeast Asia, whether it was day or night, whether they were resting or working, Alovers in almost every country around the world waited in front of their mobile phone and computer screens on May 15th, the day Sisyphus was launched.

Of course, a considerable number of fans and scalpers are also risking their loyalty by going out to purchase physical albums.

Imada Mio is one of them.

Actually, when she first heard from her agency that Shen Juan had chosen her to star in the "Wrinkles" MV despite opposition, she thought that this playboy who frequented brothels had taken a liking to her and wanted her to use her Japanese-style pillow business to properly entertain this stranger.

And she had already made preparations.

This is the dream of countless women!

How could she possibly feel uncomfortable?

Unexpectedly, Shen Juan did not contact him.

This made her a little disappointed.

Disappointed that he couldn't get into Shen Juan's bed.

He was disappointed that he had not caught Shen Juan's eye.

But perhaps to comfort herself after the blow, she quickly came up with another possibility.

That is.
Shen Juan is not as playful as outsiders imagine, and his private life is not as chaotic as gossip media portrays it.

He may indeed be a playboy.

But he was the kind of playboy who was different.

In short, he is different.

This conjecture was confirmed in a surprise interview with TBS last year: Shen Juan does indeed give people a very good impression.

He has high emotional intelligence.

The atmosphere was very comfortable when chatting with him.

He is truly a rare artist whose real persona is more charming than the public image created by his company team!
So when Sisyphus went online today, she immediately put on a mask and went out to buy a limited edition physical CD.

Although she doesn't yet know what place she holds in Shen Juan's heart—they've only met once and rarely chat online—she knows she already considers Shen Juan a friend. Therefore, she needs to support her friend's work and create more connections and bonds for their relationship.

Back home, I unpacked the CD and opened the deluxe first-edition limited physical CD, which cost 10,000 yen.

Open your most cherished diary.

The many untold stories and experiences about self-reconciliation and growth made Imada Mio unable to help but imagine how she would guide Shen Juan out of his predicament if she could appear by his side, even though he didn't need external guidance and could get through it on his own.

But she just couldn't help fantasizing.

I just couldn't help wanting to help him.

I just can't help but want to support him and admire him!
Many celebrities evoke pity from fans by being vulnerable, which in turn makes them care for and protect them like children.

But Shen Juan is different.

He also evoked pity from his fans.

But he relied on his resilience.

It relies on a strength strong enough to overcome everything.

He was also a mortal being.

He was no different from most ordinary people.

He gets nervous and anxious too.

He gets angry, and he gets sad.

But he was strong enough and remained resilient.

What each fan got from him.

Therefore, they are willing to protect him, willing to silently follow behind him, becoming his shadows who watch over and protect him.

In addition, the lyrics from the old song "Drops of Jupiter" made countless girls' hearts flutter!

Tell me, did you pass by the sun? Did you enter the Milky Way and see all the light dimmed, and heaven not as people hoped? Tell me, did you fall in love with a shooting star, a shooting star without permanent scars? And when you searched for yourself in the universe, did you ever think of me?

I am a worldly person.

I want to see you. I want to tell you I love you to your face. I also want you to look at me more. But when I think about you going out happily, but covering yourself up tightly because you are afraid of the camera and the sasaeng fans, and I am afraid that you will be shocked to see the tears in my eyes.

So I'd rather stand in the corner and watch you silently, and say I love you on countless sleepless nights.

There are many people as handsome, gentle, and kind as you, but none of them have given me the same kind of heart-fluttering feeling as you have.

In the span of a lifetime, I met you.

Then I couldn't let go of the attraction.

At this moment, countless girls across Japan who have read the diary are stirred by a surge of emotion and a burst of inspiration.

They then post their impromptu love confessions in the comment sections of their personal social media accounts and various video platforms.

Although Imada Mio can't strictly be considered a fan, she didn't treat Shen Juan with a fan mentality.

But fans can more or less understand the feelings, after all, many emotions about girls are common to each other.

So...
I heard that the time difference between China and Japan is exactly one hour?

That's wonderful!

Because in that case,

I could love you for twenty-five hours a day!

Shen Juanjun
Although I am still not your fan.

But I can like you in the same way your fans do.

After all, everyone says that Japanese girls are very loyal in relationships!

Moreover, when I pass by a blooming rose and am amazed by its beauty, I sometimes have unrealistic fantasies and try to grasp that ethereal and unattainable future!
(End of this chapter)