Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 477 A Salvation Work in a Special Period

At 2 a.m. on the 15th, US time, two hours had passed since the release of Shen Juan's new album "Sisyphus".

Although it was late at night, many newspaper offices were still brightly lit in order to get the latest news firsthand.

Shen Juan's status as the male lead is beyond doubt.

First, he has over 100 million followers on both Twitter and Instagram.

The Weibo super topic has millions of active followers.

Each Instagram post he makes earns him a staggering fee of over a million US dollars, making his commercial value unparalleled!
YouTube and TikTok have the highest number of followers.

Whether it's a long-form video platform or a short-form video platform, Shen Juan has already made development plans that suit his own needs.

Being a star is easy.

But knowing how to be a good celebrity is an art in itself.

Secondly, their business and fashion resources are unmatched.

Although part of the reason is that they benefited from the era's dividends.

But it is undeniable that he is indeed the male star with the most involvement in the fashion industry and the highest commercial value in the 21st century!

In fact.
Being a celebrity or public figure doesn't automatically equate to commercial value if you have high global recognition and are known by everyone.

Popularity is only an important foundation for advancing to the next stage; it does not directly determine whether an artist is successful.

It's not that they haven't broken out of their niche or have any works, or that they have zero brand recognition and no one knows them except their fans, so they have no commercial value.

The fan economy is booming.

If the fans are supportive enough, it's not impossible for 10,000 people to generate economic benefits equivalent to a million people.

Therefore, it is obvious that in this era of highly developed yet increasingly closed social circles, and where information reception is becoming increasingly personalized under the push of big data, Shen Juan has completed the three-step process of transforming from a top fan group influencer to a national top influencer and then to a global top influencer through his own efforts and development plans.

Whether it's the number of core fans, popularity, or influence, Shen Juan has reached the top level.

To become a superstar of the era with no obvious weaknesses, one must consider all aspects!
Furthermore, the audience for "Sound Breaks the Sky and Moon" far surpasses that of "Sound Breaks the Sky and Moon".

Moreover, with a series of popular hits, the gap between him and his contemporaries is widening (their proud masterpieces are only considered the middle layer of his work), and he is about to break the 100 million mark, creating a new historical record and becoming the number one in the streaming era!
Without a doubt, he is an incredibly dazzling figure on almost every list that measures fan popularity.

As he said before.
He should rightfully be number one on every list!
This is why, despite the fact that his album "Sisyphus" was temporarily expanded from an EP to a full-length album due to a sudden crisis of friendship that caused a huge impact on the global music industry, it has received more initial attention and exposure than last year, becoming a hot topic of continuous discussion in the global music scene.

He used his personal popularity to generate initial buzz for his work.

So what's next?

Then, the popularity of his work gave back to him.

Billboard's official media outlet was the first to publish an article praising Alex, the world's number one artist to dominate the Billboard charts for the past two years: "Sisyphus has demonstrated its powerful dominance since its release! Alex's highly infectious vocals paired with catchy melodies have created multiple potential hit tracks, solidifying his transcendent position in the global music scene."

Rolling Stone Magazine: "Sisyphus is a bold and significant innovation. This album breaks through traditional musical frameworks, cleverly blending elements of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rock to bring an unprecedented auditory feast to global audiences and lead the development trend of current music trends."

Forbes, jokingly referred to as Shen Juan's sycophant, followed up with: "[A commercially and artistically successful work! During this special period, Shen Juan continues his legend with *Sisyphus*! Thanks to its powerful appeal, the album triggered a buying frenzy upon release, generating astonishing revenue and highlighting its unparalleled commercial value!]"

Los Angeles Times: [Sisyphus is an important piece of Alex's musical arsenal. The song's complex and ingenious arrangement and story-rich lyrics come alive under his interpretation, offering fans a soul-stirring musical journey and once again demonstrating the profound skill of this top-tier singer.]

British media outlets, such as The Guardian, also published articles stating: "Sisyphus witnesses Alex's dual transformation in creative vision and leadership, making a powerful statement during a global music industry downturn. The album blends diverse elements, breaking geographical boundaries with its unique charm and winning over audiences worldwide!"

Vanity Fair, which had long wanted to invite Shen Juan to grace its cover, also extended a warm welcome, offering high praise: "From a hit-maker to a popular artist, Alex has made a magnificent transformation with *Sisyphus*! This album, titled 'Daytime' for the first half and 'Nighttime' for the second, combines commercial value with artistic merit. Every song showcases his ultimate pursuit of music, making it a phenomenal work that the global pop music scene is eager to study, learn from, and emulate!"

The New York Times, which previously dubbed 2019 the "Year of Alex" and sparked heated discussions, once again jumped on the bandwagon to garner high click rates, publishing a controversial article that could potentially incite negative publicity and bring Shen Juan infamy: "From being underestimated to Leviathan to Sisyphus, Alex has proven many things. Perhaps only today can we realize that his goal was never to chase or emulate legends, but to surpass them! He is far greater than the Beatles!"

This is considered a tradition in the United States.

Habitually belittling the British.

Anyway, it was Shen Juan who got scolded, not him.

They can even generate traffic.

So why not do it?

In addition, countless celebrities, internet celebrities, and fellow musicians shared their thoughts on social media after listening to the entire album, contributing to the instant popularity of Sisyphus upon its release.

Seeing such a lively and grand scene, Qu Xinhao, who was working overtime to write promotional copy for "Sisyphus" in order to win the quarterly bonus, couldn't help but marvel at the spectacle.

To be honest, as an ABC (American-born Chinese), his feelings or rather his perception of Shen Juan were somewhat complicated.

On the one hand, he was happy and proud to see a young man with the same skin color and blood as him become famous in this white-dominated country, using his talent and charm to overshadow those famous singers and become an idol that teenagers go crazy for!

This is of great significance to all Asian artists and Chinese people around the world who aspire to go global and connect with the international community!

To some extent, Shen Juan's sudden emergence even improved the living conditions of Asian Americans in the American community.

At least many ordinary people have changed their attitudes toward flowers because of Shen Juan, which were previously exaggerated by the media's malicious marketing.

I wouldn't say I like it that much, but at least I no longer hate it.

Actually, this kind of thing is the same both domestically and internationally.

However, there are always people who have more channels to receive information, a wider range of information, and are willing to view the global situation objectively and fairly.

After all, Asians in the United States are really honest compared to white, black, and Hispanic people, with an extremely low crime rate. In addition, Shen Juan follows a positive and high-quality idol route that is very rare in the United States, which has led many American prisoners to develop a filter for Chinese and Asian people, believing that they are law-abiding and very safe.

Across the ocean, there is also its own unique culture.

That's why Shen Juan, who benefits from being a minority and also gains the support and affection of white teenagers, is so successful.

On the other hand, many of my Asian friends only moved to the United States ten or twenty years ago.

The fanaticism of converts is quite powerful; these people even hate and despise their own compatriots more than foreigners do.

Therefore, in their eyes, Shen Juan was a treacherous thief who tried to steal the honor that should belong to the foreigners.

He's turning the world upside down!
He's trying to ruin our wonderful lives!
He deserves to die!
Although Qu Xinhao did not agree with these friends' extreme ideas, and the Huaren and Runren people who immigrated with their ancestors were ultimately different, he did not argue with them. After all, such matters involving ideology and beliefs could not be easily changed with just a few words.

But he really wanted to support Shen Juan!
Support this world-renowned compatriot!
So he stared at the computer screen for a long time, then typed on the keyboard and firmly wrote this article.

A masterpiece that has garnered worldwide attention, met with widespread acclaim, and is destined to save the world!
Contemporary leading pop superstar and Grammy Award winner Alex Shen's third solo studio album, "Sisyphus," was released on May 15, 2020!
Alex said that the album was originally an EP containing eight songs, but due to a sudden medical emergency, the promotional plan was completely disrupted. He was unable to go out and had time to stop working, calm down and describe his feelings and experiences during this period, and then created the music he liked.

Looking at the global pop music scene, few people can attract everyone's attention like Alex Shen. No one could have predicted that he would hide album information in his Grammy acceptance speech. Every photo and message he posts on social media is carefully studied and discussed by fans and the media in order to deduce the secret information hidden by their idol.

The public is always full of curiosity about Alex Shen.

I'm curious about his work, his private life, his enemies and grudges, and whether he can become a legend.

All of this perfectly illustrates Alex Shen's unparalleled and amazing charm!

Unlike his debut album "Underrated," which eagerly showcased his talent and announced it to the world, and his second album "Leviathan," which was unparalleled in its commercial appeal, Alex's album "Sisyphus" focuses more on his personal feelings and emotions.

In the interpretation on the cover of "Sisyphus", Alex is no longer the spirited, flamboyant, and dazzling pop superstar he once was, but a sensitive, wounded, and ordinary mortal yearning for redemption and healing.

"Sisyphus" is an album that breaks away from Alex's established style. His voice has become calm and gentle, no longer showing the youthful vigor and proud confidence of before. Instead, it has the power of thunder in silence. He seems to have shed his former constraints and glory and instead fallen into contemplation.

The quiet isolation made Alex more gentle, more emotional, and even somewhat melancholic than before in this album. He returned to his signature style, using simple musical forms to tell stories and bring a calm and warm strength to people in distress.

Through this more self-focused and personal album, he established a resonance and emotional bond with his fans.

Alex Shen said, "Before this year, I may have thought too much about the release of my work, but I suddenly realized that nothing in this era is permanent. My intuition told me that if I am doing what I love, then I should share it with the world."

He also mentioned: "I know this period has been very difficult, and many people feel lonely and isolated. If you are willing to use music to soothe your inner emptiness, sadness, and pain of losing loved ones, then this Sisyphus album is a gift for all of you."

2020 may be the darkest year in modern human history, so many singers decided to postpone their albums to reduce the impact. However, Alex Shen decided to take a huge risk at this time to release an album that the world had high hopes for, and use music to bring a ray of light to this dark world.

Looking around, no one in the music scene today is more influential than Alex Shen. He is not only the leading pop superstar in the hearts of many people, but also the most dazzling and supreme existence in the pop music scene after entering the streaming era, which is comparable to MJ, Elvis Presley, Prince and the Beatles in the last century!
In addition, he has tirelessly spoken out for disadvantaged groups and minorities, and is passionate about public welfare and charity. As the initiator, he organized global benefit concerts and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the cause of fighting the epidemic. Alex Shen is definitely one of the top representatives of the 21st century pop music scene!
"Sisyphus" breaks free from the framework of mainstream music, as if returning to the starting point of music. Not only does he convey his most sincere, simple, and authentic self to everyone through music creation without reservation, but he also clearly outlines the most beautiful Sisyphus myth in the music scene today.

Finally, although 2020 was one of the most difficult years in modern human history, Alex Shen encouraged and warmed the hearts of 70 billion people worldwide with his music and the positive energy he conveyed. With the arrival of "Sisyphus," we believe that people can rekindle their hope and embrace the future!

The initial hype surrounding Sisyphus's release continues.

On the morning of May 16th, China time.

On the evening of May 15th, US time.

Shen Juan's pre-recorded late-night show with Corden, which he did remotely to promote his album, was also broadcast.

After a series of witty remarks at the beginning, when faced with questions, he first responded to the praise of it being a "savior work".

"Man, what else can I say?"

"I have nothing but respect and gratitude for this!"

"Although I don't think this qualifies as salvation, I'm a very, very far off from that. The word 'salvation' only exists in epic myths, but you know, the media needs to create topics to gain traffic, so if my existence can benefit everyone?"

"Then let me become that celebrity!"

"I won't say that I'm the only one in the world who can do this, but since I am the one who was chosen, I will do my best to do it well, because I am young, energetic, ambitious, still tireless, and can continue to improve for many, many years to come!"

"Therefore, I have this confidence and certainty!"

Then he shared the creative concept behind this album.

"At a time when the world is facing many problems, we all yearn to bring strength to heal humanity. In creating this album, my goal was to create music that makes people feel comfortable, resonates with them, and connects them, so that they no longer feel so alone and helpless."

"Yes, that's right. Many of the songs on this album don't have the kind of uplifting melodies, but who says that only uplifting melodies can bring people strength? After all, music is so magical. Melodies that sound sad and upsetting can also bring people warmth and emotion. It can not only make people realize that they are not alone, but also become an important way for people to connect emotionally!"

“I know I can’t solve all the problems just by creating music. I don’t have that level of influence. The upper limit of a singer’s and artist’s development is ultimately limited. But I understand that if each of us can make good use of our abilities and do our part to treat the world kindly, doing our best with our meager strength, then we will be one step closer to true unity and a truly better future!”

"So, going back to the question you just asked me, was Sisyphus born for loyalty? Were many of the songs on the album written for those who are isolating at home because of loyalty? Is this an album that opposes loyalty and resists suffering?"

"My answer is correct!"

"This is a very personal album, and many of the songs are best listened to alone late at night."

“They represent and reflect what I was thinking at certain times or moments, and they are very emotional.”

"Perhaps the second half of the album has a certain aesthetic threshold, but without a doubt," Shen Juan said with a smile and a shrug.

"It was born for this era by some twist of fate."

"So if I can really bring something or change something to this world, then I will do my best. And then, I think every child has dreamed of saving the world and being admired by thousands when they are young, and I am no exception. So for me, rather than saying that this is a bold breakthrough in music creation, it is more like a journey of returning to simplicity, finding myself, and finding my true self."

"Sisyphus is a product of this era."

Its emergence was inevitable.

"Even I myself probably couldn't stop it."

Then came the much-anticipated game segment.

Truth or Dare

The game rules are simple: Shen Juan and Corden take turns asking each other questions. If they feel they can't answer a question, they have to eat a disgusting dish, such as fish eyes, bird's nest, cod roe, grasshoppers, and bull penis that Corden has placed on the table.
Considering that Shen Juan could not be present in person, the production team specially invited his loyal homie, Li Nacha.

If Shen Juan can't answer, then he will help eat the "delicious food" that he can't put into Shen Juan's mouth.

"Alex, my idol! My savior! Please, you have to answer every single question he asks. These things are absolutely disgusting! Just looking at them makes me want to vomit. If I were to put them in my mouth, oh my god! I guarantee I would throw up!"

Li Na looked ashen-faced and quickly issued a statement beforehand.

Shen Juan chuckled and patted his chest, assuring him, "Don't worry, Nas, you're my good brother. We've known each other for so long, created so many songs together, and you even took time out of your busy schedule to come to James's place to help me record a show and promote the album. How could I bear to let you suffer?"

I'm not eating these things, so what's it to me?

In the Mushroom House there is Peng Peng, in the United States there is Naza.

Why do people always step forward to test the poison for me? Am I really the emperor?
whee!

"Alex" Corden gave a meaningful smile.

"Bro, can you please stop smiling so lewdly?" Shen Juan knew this was definitely a difficult question to answer.

Corden ignored Shen Juan's complaints and continued, "We all know you've worked with many singers, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Boze Malone, and Li Nacha next to me. Please rank your collaborations from best to worst."

Shen Juan pondered for a moment, "James, can you tell me first which dish you plan to serve my good brother?"

Corden grinned mischievously. "How about cod brittle?"

Shen Juan then looked at Nas, who was sitting upright with a serious expression, and asked, "Nas, what do you think? Can you accept it?"

Even if I announce that I am gay
You can't eat everything, you idiot!

Li Na immediately gagged, giving her answer with her actions, accompanied by laughter from the audience added by the show's producers.

It's fair to say that foreign shows really know how to have fun; guests can create a lot of entertainment simply by chatting.

"Since that's the case, in order not to make my good brother feel disgusted and uncomfortable, I have no choice but to answer this question!"

99% of celebrities wouldn't answer this question.

Because no matter what, you'll offend people.

And they will also be cyberbullied by fans of other singers.

But Shen Juan dared to answer.

Because he is not afraid of offending people, nor is he afraid of being cyberbullied.

"Let's do it!" Corden rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"First of all, Sunflower, which I collaborated on with Potts, is definitely number one! It was my first number one single, so it's really significant! Then, as you and many media outlets probably know, I'm a very pragmatic and realistic guy, so I'll give number two to STAY, which I collaborated on with Justin. The reason is simple: I want it to stay at number one for a few more weeks."

Shen Juan used this opportunity to respond to, or rather, to launch a relatively mild counterattack against, those media outlets that smeared him.

"Then, I would give third place to Ari and fourth place to Taylor, not because they are less important to me than Potts and Justin, they are all equally important to me, but because, well, Pelé once said that his favorite goal is the next one."

"me too."

"What I mean is that Taylor Ari and I are both thinking about collaborating, and if all goes well, our collaboration single might be released in a few months or half a year."

Shen Juan and Taylor's collaborative single will be included in Taylor's new album, giving "Folklore" his mark.

Shen Juan and Ariana Grande's collaboration single will be released separately when the time is right, but it's too early to release it now to save us from tears.

This was the biggest order in Asia in the original timeline in 2021!

Therefore, it would be best to let it continue the hype from the first half of the year, serving as a warm-up for AS4 next year.

As for those ranked last

"Nas, do you think it needs to be said?"

"Back then, your song 'Old Town Road' was at its peak, topping the charts for 15 consecutive weeks, which really put my blindness to shame! I hate you so much!"

“But isn’t that our shared song?” Li Na laughed, knowing full well that Shen Juan was joking with him.

"Old Town Road is yours, I'm just a feature."

“But without you, it wouldn’t be heard by so many people.” Li Nacha always believed that Shen Juan was the key.

You are underestimating your own talents.

"Alex, you're always so kind-hearted."

“Wait a minute, now I understand why you put Nas last.” Corden interrupted their back-and-forth mutual flattery, feigning envy for their friendship, and retorted, “You two are so close that you can comfortably put each other at the bottom.”

"You're right!"

Li Na shrugged with a hint of pride, clearly feeling very proud to be Shen Juan's friend.

The next question was: "Alex, we all know that you are a global ambassador for dozens of well-known global brands such as LV, Tiffany & Co., Saint Laurent, Porsche, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. So, what is the highest endorsement fee you have received in the business agreements you have signed with these brands? Please give a specific figure."

“I can only say that LV has the most, but I really can’t give you the exact number,” Shen Juan quickly replied.

Because there really wasn't much to hesitate about.

LV is not only the core cornerstone of his global business empire, but it also brought him a lot of fashion resources.

He needs to leverage the power of the LVMH Group to elevate his commercial value and influence to the next level.

"So you want Nas to eat bull penis?"

"Sorry bro, I really can't answer that question." Shen Juan tried hard to suppress the smile that was curving upwards.

"It's okay, I understand!" Li Na said, then picked up her fork, speared a small piece of bullwhip, and put it in her mouth.

His willingness to go through fire and water for his brother prompted the show's post-production team to add applause and cheers from the audience.

Corden was also laughing non-stop, clutching his stomach, feeling that the show would definitely be a great success after it aired!
The third question: "Alex, among all your collaborations, have you ever kissed any celebrities?"

Does "collaboration" here refer to musical collaboration?

"Song collaborations and film/television collaborations are both welcome."

"There were quite a few people I kissed, after all, I'm an actor, and I've filmed many movies and TV series in China."

“I know, I’ve read your film ‘Better Days,’ so you have to tell us a few specific names.”

"Okay, her name is Vivian."

After the audience's screams subsided, Shen Juan added with a smile, "I filmed a kissing scene with her in a TV series."

That statement sounds a bit like burying one's head in the sand.

Of course, this was exactly the effect Shen Juan wanted.

Corden continued, "So of all the colleagues you've met, who is the one you felt the worst about?"

“To be honest, there are many people in the industry that I find terrible, but considering this is an American program, I need to talk about people that everyone knows, so I will talk about Camila Cabello.” Shen Juan’s tone was calm and his expression was kind.

“Although she apologized to me on social media, I have not completely forgiven her. I will not pretend that I have forgotten about it. I will only tell the truth.”

One last question: "Uh, this isn't a truth or dare. Please take out your phone and read us the last five text messages you exchanged with Kendall Jenner."

“Wait, why Kendall? I thought you guys would be more interested in my chat history with Taylor Ari.”

"I don't know either. Maybe it's because the staff who wrote the questions just happened to be her fans? Or maybe it's because the Kardashian family paid for our show?" Corden replied with a laugh, not one to miss a good show. "Anyway, this is the last question in this game segment."

"All right."

Shen Juan took out his phone and glanced at the chat history.

Silence for a while
Then he looked up at Li Nacha and said expressionlessly, "Nas, didn't you say you've always admired Chinese culture? Now's your chance. Bird's nest is a great tonic here. I think you should give it a try."

As soon as these words were spoken, almost everyone knew that Kendall and Shen Juan's chat history contained something unsavory.

After watching the episode, everyone shared their thoughts on social media accounts, chatting happily.

[A collaboration with Taylor Swift is in the works? Ahhhhhh, I knew it! I knew Alex was a god!]

[Jiaojiao and Zhajie are so happy! They can cling to someone's coattails again!]

[Nas is practically risking his life to accompany Shen Juan on this show, haha! Nas's loyalty to Alex even made me wonder if Alex has farmer blood running through his veins.]

[I really can't disclose the endorsement fee; doing so would not only breach my contract but also negatively impact my ability to monetize my commercial value.]

[May Gadget die! If apologies were enough, what would be the point of having police? I support my decision to destroy Gadget's career!]

Why not mention Charlie Puth? Is it because Charlie Puth's persistent promotion of Alex's new and old songs over the past six months has made Alex forgive him?

When Juanjuan said, "Camilla is the worst," I practically jumped off the sofa! This guy really doesn't mince words; if he's offended, he speaks his mind directly, never forgiving or holding a grudge. It's like a wish-fulfillment story coming to life! I wish I had that kind of personality.

So who is Vivian? Can any Chinese friends answer this for us? Who is this actress?

Anyway, it's not Sister Tian.

[China has Peng Peng, the US has Li Nazha, so who is the eunuch testing the poison in Japan and South Korea?]

[As mentioned before, "STAY" is a collaboration between like-minded individuals. Alex and Bieber have both been on Jenner's team (I wonder if Alex has been on Hailey's team). I really look forward to the day Jenner goes on a show and ranks their boat skills, hahaha! Just like Katy Perry did back then.]

American variety shows are always stirring up trouble, stirring up trouble, stirring up trouble! But because Alex acted so openly and honestly, it's hard to find fault with him, except for his chat history with Kendall Jenner. So what exactly did you two talk about? @kendalljenner

Although times have changed, Shen Juan is now the world's number one male, and even if Jenna has many fans, she can't compete with him.

But just like Lu Han when they were promoting their relationship.

He also has significantly more fans than D8.

Why still need to stir-fry it?

Of course, it's because creating a romantic pairing also benefits him!

Many things cannot be abandoned just because of poverty alleviation.

So the same principle applies to this matter.

Shen Juan's ability to maintain his "heartthrob" persona has never relied on any one person, but on many others.

So, like a player who casts a wide net, Shen Juan is also establishing ambiguous and vague relationships with these celebrities who have already been informed, at least in the public eye.

A womanizer can't win everyone's favor.

But it's enough to win the favor of only a portion of the population.

As a public figure.

Different periods, different stages.

They will also have different public personas.

Therefore, given that the fact of fish farming is already widely known globally, it's better to avoid talking about it or pretend to be innocent and honest.

It's clear that being open about it is more appealing.

After all, sometimes, deliberately exposing those stains that are hard to conceal and hard to deal with to the outside world, to be scrutinized by the public and exposed to the sun, can actually reduce their potential destructive power. If used properly, they can even be transformed into a unique strength and charm that benefits oneself.

This attitude of making peace with oneself and facing imperfection breaks the outside world's inherent expectation of absolute perfection for public figures. It not only removes the heavy shackles of self-embellishment, but also uses a more authentic warmth to bring idols and fans closer, thereby increasing fans' reliance and trust in him.

Like a piece of raw jade with natural patterns, it is precisely those flaws that give it its unique and irreplaceable quality.

Greatness only requires continuous shining.

A legend doesn't have to be perfect.

Shen Juan is never perfect.

He just wants to shine.

It shines in the eyes of some.

That's it.

(End of this chapter)