Huayu 1992, my entertainment era

Chapter 128 Type of New Record
In Shenzhen, Zhou Ziheng, who was scouting the venue, saw the newspaper that Florence Hui had someone send from Hong Kong.

There are more than a dozen newspapers, and most of them are about news from Japan.

"Zhou Ziheng appeared on the Japanese Oricon chart, becoming the first singer with a Chinese song on the chart"

"Teresa Teng said in an interview a few days ago that it would be great if the Chinese music scene had more singers like Zhou Ziheng."

"To enter the international arena, Zhou Ziheng entered Japan from an alternative direction. Aaron Kwok and other four kings may learn from him."

The contents of major newspapers in Hong Kong and Taiwan were almost the same, boasting about his infiltration into Japan.

Zhou Ziheng seriously suspected that EMi was behind this.

He called EMi on the spot.

The news he received surprised him a little.

EMi did push it behind the scenes, but it did not promote it vigorously. Most of these newspapers were spontaneous reports from Hong Kong and Taiwan media.

"Aren't the Hong Kong media the last to want to report on me? Why are they all rushing to report on me now?"

Zhou Ziheng asked his doubts.

“Haha, Zhou, you really underestimate yourself.

There are only a few Chinese music artists who have penetrated the Japanese market. You are bringing glory to the Chinese people.

Maybe the Hong Kong media doesn't like you surpassing local singers, but that's Japan. When you achieve success there, everyone will be excited.

You know, your countrymen are more…"

Nie Anda laughed first, then explained, but he was a little hesitant in the last sentence.

"He is more of a Western worshiper!" Zhou Ziheng said it for him.

There is nothing unspeakable.

This was the Chinese people at that time.

This is not only true in China, but also in the whole of Asia.

There is a saying in later generations to describe the Asian music scene at that time.

The mainland looks at Hong Kong and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Taiwan look at Japan, and Japan looks at Europe and the United States.

If we divide the global record market into levels.

There is no doubt that the continent at this time belonged to the lowest and most despised class.

Europe and the United States are at the highest level.

Japan is the music center of Asia. Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and other countries basically regard Japan as a higher-level music market.

If there are Chinese people who can make a difference here.

It's basically like achieving reflexivity in class.

This can be seen from Alan Tam, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui back then.

Regardless of whether or not he is popular in Japan, he will definitely release a few Japanese albums after he succeeds in his home country.

Then he came back and boasted about how great his achievements were in Japan.

The reason why Teresa Teng became the number one in the Chinese music scene.

In addition to the fact that her songs are widely sung throughout the Chinese-speaking world and have a huge influence.

Another reason is that she is also a queen-level celebrity in Japan.

Everyone's songs are copying Japan, and then you suddenly become very popular in Japan. Even if everyone is jealous, they have to admit that you are awesome.

“I’m sorry, but this is the reality.”

Nie Anda seemed to hear the helplessness in Zhou Ziheng's words. He didn't say much on this topic and instead talked about another thing.

"Zhou, you've also seen that you're very popular among Japanese fans because of your photo albums.

Even your Chinese songs can be listed on the Oricon charts here.

If it were a Japanese song, the results would definitely be more gratifying.

So, we had a meeting inside EMi and we planned to make a Japanese album for you.

You don't have to worry about the songs. Our company will invite the top creators to tailor them for you.

If you can, please learn Japanese recently."

"I can speak Japanese." Zhou Ziheng said, "But I think you should change your plan."

"What do you mean?" Nie Anda on the other end of the phone was a little stunned, not quite understanding what Zhou Ziheng meant.

“Instead of releasing a Japanese record, we should just release an English record!

I remember that Japan and South Korea don't seem to be averse to English songs. The sales of English albums in these two countries are very good every year.

It is an important market for English records.

Moreover, my first two albums have achieved certain success in the United States and Canada, and the Chinese people there are very supportive of me.

Tell me, if I release an English album now, what will happen specifically? "

After Zhou Ziheng heard what Nie Anda said, his mind was full of thoughts and he said these words.

"English records?" Nie Anda seemed to be frowning.

After a short silence, his voice sounded on the phone again.

"Zhou, we can't aim too high, releasing Japanese albums is the most stable and profitable way for us at the moment.

As for English records, to be frank, I don’t think anyone in the Chinese music scene can make a difference in this field.

In the 1960s, when Cantonese songs were not yet popular, many Hong Kong singers actually released English records.

But the fact is, their songs are all weird. Not only does their singing style and intonation make us orthodox Europeans and Americans feel strange, but the difference in their skin also makes them incompatible with the English market.

Just like we foreigners don’t have good sales in Chinese-speaking regions.

If you Chinese go to Europe and America to develop, the cultural gap between you and them will be very large.”

Nie Anda obviously did not believe that Zhou Ziheng could make a difference in the English market. His meaning was very clear, he did not recommend that Zhou Ziheng release an English album.

In fact, many singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan have released English albums.

Wakin Chau, Jacky Cheung and others have all appeared in this film.

But the fact is, their records did not make any waves in Europe and the United States.

In fact, they didn't go there for foreigners.

The main purpose is to improve my image.

Another thing is that their target audience is actually the large number of Chinese people in the United States and Canada.

Zhou Ziheng certainly knew this, but he felt that he was not on the same level as them.

I have a lot of classic English songs in my mind.

At the same time, my English is also good.

It is actually very appropriate to release an English album.

And, most importantly.

After he achieved some success in Japan this time, he was suddenly praised and hyped by the Hong Kong and Taiwan media.

This made him feel that his original plan should be adjusted.

Originally, Zhou Ziheng's idea was very simple.

We want to gain a foothold in the mainland first, then in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and finally in Europe and the United States.

But this unexpected situation gave him some insight.

If you think of the global music market as a game.

Then he is a full-level account.

There was no need for him to work his way up from a low-level dungeon step by step like other players.

He could have gone straight to the final copy in one go.

As we all know, the entire Chinese music scene is currently most attracted to the Japanese, European and American music scenes.

Just like Jackie Chan always wants to make a difference in Europe and America.

The same goes for singers.

Not only singers, but ordinary people as well.

Almost most people think that European and American music is more advanced.

In this case, what would happen if he brushed Europe and the United States back?

What are Jacky Cheung and the Four Heavenly Kings.

When the time comes, everyone get out of my way.

“Mr. Anda, I have decided that the next album will be an English album.

Please get ready here.

Also, please believe me, I am not a person who is too ambitious.

But really have confidence in it.

After my concert is over, I will compose the songs for the new album as soon as possible.

Then you can see if my idea is correct or not."

Zhou Ziheng said somewhat stubbornly.

"You want to compose your own songs? Can you compose English songs?" Nie Anda didn't react at first, but then he suddenly noticed what Zhou Ziheng meant.

However, he was not too happy.

Instead, he frowned.

He was absolutely certain that Zhou Ziheng was extremely talented.

The reason why EMi dared to make such a great effort to sign Zhou Ziheng's record company was actually because he saw Zhou Ziheng's unparalleled creative talent.

It's just that it's based on a Chinese song.

As for English songs, he absolutely did not believe that Zhou Ziheng could compose a good song.

"Let's wait and see!"

Zhou Ziheng knew that Nie Anda would definitely not believe that he could come up with a good song.

But so what.

When he takes it out, all doubts will disappear with the wind.

He has this confidence in the songs in his mind.

……

The third day after it was confirmed that the next album would be an English album.

Zhou Ziheng's concert in Shenzhen was held as scheduled.

Neither of the two concert venues in Shenzhen could accommodate tens of thousands of people, and the total number of people attending the two concerts was only over 18,000.

Therefore, these two concerts did not attract much attention.

However, the news about Zhou Ziheng's next album has become very popular.

Everyone is guessing whether his next album will be in Japanese.

After all, he is very popular in Japan now, and has gained a lot of Japanese fans thanks to his photos.

Mandarin albums also made it onto the Oricon charts there.

In this situation, anyone with a bit of ambition would choose to release a Japanese album immediately to expand their influence.

The focus of everyone's discussion was whether Zhou Ziheng's Japanese album could achieve good results in Japan.

Although Zhou Ziheng has successfully made a name for himself in the Chinese music scene and is already recognized as a talented person.

You can attack him for talking nonsense every day.

You can attack him for disrespecting his seniors.

You can even attack his appearance.

But in terms of talent, even Jacky Cheung, who is not on good terms with Zhou Ziheng, is impeccable in this regard. Whenever asked about this by reporters, he would choose not to answer.

But Japanese songs are different from Mandarin songs after all.

These are two different languages.

In everyone's opinion, Zhou Ziheng would definitely not choose to create his own work.

But if he hires someone else to write the songs, the quality will definitely not be guaranteed like it is for his Mandarin songs.

Therefore, everyone is very curious about this.

There are even people who look down on Zhou Ziheng and say that if he releases a Japanese album, it will definitely fail.

On April 5th, Zhou Ziheng moved to Shanghai and his fifth concert was about to begin.

The day before the concert, he went to the airport to pick someone up.

He also invited guests to his two concerts in Shanghai.

The first one is Lin Yilun from Pacific.

The second show is Faye Wong.

Today, he came to pick up Faye Wong.

The weather in Shanghai in April is pleasant.

Faye Wong did not hide herself either, and brought her agent Chen Jiaying with her, with short hair, which made her look very capable.

Zhou Ziheng saw her at first sight.

Compared to Faye Wong, she is not so easy to recognize in mainland China.

Zhou Ziheng is very popular now and he can be easily recognized when walking on the street, so he wears a mask.

After seeing the two people, he walked over to them enthusiastically.

"Sister Fei, this short hair is too ugly!"

The first sentence Zhou Ziheng said made Faye Wong look upset.

Without saying a word, he walked past Zhou Ziheng and walked out.

He walked two steps before turning back and saying:
"I came here to support you while I was filming a movie, and this is how you treat me?"

"Haha!" Zhou Ziheng walked over with a smile and put his arm around her shoulders, "I said your hairstyle is ugly, but I didn't say you are ugly.

You are the most beautiful female singer I have ever seen."

Chen Jiaying watched the two of them joking with each other with a smile on his face.

Zhou Ziheng has a very good relationship with Faye Wong.

Sometimes she wondered if the two of them were interested in each other.

When asked, both parties actually treated each other as brothers.

This is really off the mark.

"How's your film going?"

"It's OK. I've finished half of the shoot."

"I heard it's a Wong Kar-wai movie. How is it? Do you have the confidence to win the Best Actress award?"

"You think the best actor and actress are cabbages that you can pick up at will."

“I was completely tricked by Wong Kar-wai. He said you could be the male lead, so I agreed.

I only found out it was Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro when I joined the crew."

"Zedong did invite me, but I couldn't do anything because I was so busy with my concerts. Chen Kexin also invited me to star in a romantic movie called "Stormy Girls", but I turned it down."

The two chatted as they walked.

Faye Wong is currently filming Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express, and the super short hair is exactly what she is going to wear as her character in the film.

Wong Kar-wai also approached Zhou Ziheng for this movie, wanting him to play the role that Takeshi Kaneshiro is currently playing.

He declined because he was too busy with his concert.

Not only this one, but Chen Kexin also invited him to be the male lead in a movie called "Stormy Girls", but he turned it down as well.

Last year, the movie "Young and Dangerous" earned more than 26 million yuan at the box office in Hong Kong.

Zhou Ziheng was favored by many film production companies thanks to this movie.

Zhou Ziheng received many film invitations, including several films that he himself knew.

Unfortunately, I was too busy with the concert and had no time.

"By the way, how did you decide on your new album? Is it a Japanese album?"

After getting in the car, Faye Wong asked about the record.

It can be seen that she is also very curious about this.

“No, I’m not planning on releasing a Japanese album, I want to release an English album.

Just kill people all over the world."

Zhou Ziheng smiled and said, "I will take you with me when I become a superstar."

Faye Wong rolled her eyes, “Don’t fail and run back to the Mandarin market in disgrace.

You might even need me to help you when the time comes."

"Hengzi, why are you thinking of releasing an English album? Even if you don't release a Japanese album, you can continue to release a Mandarin album!

You're taking a risk."

Chen Jiaying, who had not said much since the greetings, interrupted.

Ever since the last time that the entertainment company boss Zhang Guozhong took advantage of Zhou Ziheng's misfortune, her relationship with Zhou Ziheng has become much worse.

Although there is no hatred, there are still some grudges.

If it weren't for Faye Wong, the two of them might have become just acquaintances.

“I have composed a few English songs myself and I want to release one to try.

Go and see the elegance of Europe and America."

Zhou Ziheng said with a smile.

"It's a bit risky." Chen Jiaying shook his head and said nothing more.

The two of them no longer have an agency contract and are just friends, so it's hard to say too much.

Just like Zhou Ziheng never asked about Faye Wong's records, she also didn't care what records Zhou Ziheng released.

It's too much to interfere with work between friends.

(End of this chapter)