The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 916 Bruno Mars, known as the Little I Ching

Although Zhang Shaohan's album sales performance wasn't as outstanding or dazzling as the other two members of the SEA group, as a single, "Invisible Wings" has undoubtedly achieved comparable results in the month or so since its release.

Judging from its current popularity, this song has propelled Zhang Shaohan to a new level in mainland China. And based on its current trajectory, it is undoubtedly a song that can rival SEA's past hit, "Super Star."

As for whether it can surpass that, that depends on what Foremost does next.

After all, "Invisible Wings" is just a folk song, and it's already incredible that it has become this popular.

"Isn't it a little scary to think about? Zhou Yi wrote two folk songs for someone else, and one of them was called 'Gardenia Blossoms' and the other was called 'Invisible Wings'? Isn't that a bit of an absurd probability? So the two most popular folk songs in the new century were both written by him?"

"Otherwise, how could Gao Xiaosong's fans be so easily defeated by Zhou Yi's fans? His forte, folk music, was completely crushed by Zhou Yi indiscriminately."

"If you hadn't mentioned Gao Xiaosong, I would have almost forgotten about him. He disappeared after going to America."

"Could it be that Zhou Yi is disgusted by Gao Xiaosong and his fans, which is why he's too lazy to sing Chinese folk songs himself? The fact that he can write folk songs for two different targets in a row shows that he's not opposed to it at all. Now there are rumors that there are English folk songs in his English album..."

"Hmm, you know what, considering Zhou Yi's unpredictable personality, it's actually quite possible..."

"Gao Xiaosong's crimes are heinous!"

It is logically rigorous, meticulously thought out, and highly credible!

"Why can't it be that Zhou Yi is petty and narrow-minded?" — Free Beaver 27.

“Look at Li An, who swept the Oscar nomination list this year but was upset in the end. Is he as vengeful and unbearable as Zhou Yi?”

"Sometimes it's not that I'm a hater, it's just that Zhou Yi is too inhuman. Li An, a humble and low-key talent, is a role model that our Chinese entertainment industry should learn from..."

As the number one critic of the I Ching in China, the Free Beaver series of accounts, which has reached number 27, is very dismissive of the "Gao Xiaosong" claim. They even brought up Li An, the Chinese director who swept this year's Oscars a few days ago, which actually won them some support.

In March 2006, Ann Lee's critically acclaimed film *Brokeback Mountain*, after winning a host of preliminary awards and European awards, officially embarked on its journey to the Oscars.

With eight nominations, including all the major awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, he is considered the hottest contender for this year's Oscars.

Unfortunately, in the end, all their efforts were in vain.

Li An herself won the prestigious Best Director award, reaching the pinnacle of her career.

However, it missed out on other major awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. In the end, "Brokeback Mountain" won only three awards out of its eight nominations: Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Especially the Best Picture award.

Crash pulled off a major upset, beating the huge favorite Brokeback Mountain to win Best Picture, which not only infuriated Ann Lee herself but also caused an uproar in the media around the world.

Let's put it this way, this upset is no less significant than when Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan at the 1999 Oscars.

It's obvious that this was a setup, or you could say it was a public relations failure.

Although Li An herself was annoyed by the public relations failure, she quickly calmed down and made the following comments at the celebration banquet—

"I was really angry at the awards ceremony, and I heard that the Best Picture award was rigged. But I gradually came to terms with it later."

"I was disappointed and surprised not to win Best Picture, because we won all the way. Of course I hoped to win, because it would be an encouragement to the whole staff. But that involves the distribution of awards, the distribution among groups, and the psychological factors of Hollywood, after all, there are five or six thousand people voting."

"I feel perfectly justified in receiving the Best Director award. The Oscars are an American award, but the whole world is watching. I stood on the biggest stage, and as a member of the Chinese film industry, I feel very proud to represent China..."

What is grace? This is grace!

"I can't imagine what would happen if Zhou Yi received that kind of treatment at the Grammys. He would definitely explode. But based on what I know of him, he would definitely criticize the Grammys. He could never learn the refined and masterful demeanor of Li An..."

To be fair, thanks to Ann Lee's Best Director award at the Oscars, many people agreed with what Free Beaver 27 said. At least this time he wasn't just blindly criticizing.

If it were Zhou Yi himself who were to criticize the behind-the-scenes manipulation, everyone, even his fans, would agree with the assessment.

It is impossible to generalize between people.

"If it were me, the movie 'Brokeback Mountain' would never have been made."

Zhou Yi, who was in the United States, also received an invitation from Li An. Facing Qian Jiang, who was making fun of him based on domestic public opinion, Zhou Yi looked at the contents of the letter and kept saying, "I like women."

After the Oscar celebration party, Universal's celebration party for the achievements and awards of the film "Brokeback Mountain" naturally had to be put on the agenda.

Unlike the celebrations following the Oscars banquet, which are only open to those inside the Oscar venue, Universal's after-party extended invitations to a wide range of celebrities. Zhou Yi, as one of the top figures in the global entertainment industry and also Chinese like Li An, naturally received an invitation.

"What are you saying? Li An wouldn't possibly like men."

"Hard to say."

"Huh???" Qian Jiang couldn't hold back any longer.

They're really spreading rumors on the spot.

“You’re even more outrageous than those Hong Kong and Taiwan media outlets that spread rumors about the male protagonist Heath Ledger and Ann Lee.”

With Ann Lee winning Best Director, Hong Kong and Taiwan media, which habitually rely on spreading rumors to write news, directly fabricated a huge rumor. Since the emperor was far away, they could write whatever they wanted, and Ann Lee wouldn't bother them. So they wrote that Heath Ledger, the male lead, and Ann Lee, the director, had a falling out.

The reason was simply that Heath Ledger felt it was disrespectful that Ann Lee thanked many people when she went on stage to accept the Best Director award, but not herself and Jake Gyllenhaal, the other male lead in "Brokeback Mountain".

"Who knows? Heath Ledger had quite a few disagreements with Ann Li when they were filming Brokeback Mountain, because of their acting styles and how they interpreted the characters."

Zhou Yi, chewing gum, blew a bubble and casually handed the invitation to Qian Jiang: "You can decide what to do then, I have to get busy."

During his time in the United States, he didn't just spend it all playing and socializing; he also had to work on some album projects.

"No problem. Oh, by the way, the YouTube video creator you signed with just one sentence is now in the recording studio. He's said to be a quick learner and is already taking on jobs and working behind the scenes."

"However, judging from the assessment given by the artist department, it's still quite difficult for them to step into the limelight."

Speaking of the man who made rapid progress after joining Warner Music, Qian Jiang couldn't help but feel a little regretful: "Judging from the report, he was really too short, which greatly limited his physical appearance, and his musical abilities had not yet reached the point where he could overcome this shortcoming."

"?"

Just as I was about to ask who it was, I suddenly remembered Mars, the first YouTuber I'd ever seen, and then I fell silent.

To be fair, judging from his official debut experience, Bruno Mars can be considered one of those who have accumulated experience and talent over time in the Western music scene.

If he hadn't been taken away by Warner Music beforehand, the fact that he was terminated by Motown Records this year alone is enough to show that Bruno, in his early twenties, simply doesn't have the musical talent to support his ambitions.

It was this experience that made Bruno Mars, who had boasted of becoming an artist since he was sixteen or seventeen, finally realize the reality, because he had never even written a decent song.

Six years behind the scenes allowed Bruno to finally find the balance between commerce and art.

In 09, he led his newly formed team to produce a hit song and finally became a qualified behind-the-scenes producer. In mid-10, he released his own solo single and album, thus officially debuting.

And now, it is 2006.

Because he is still young, inexperienced, and naive, Bruno is clearly still in a period of confusion, has not yet found his musical path, and is still in a stage of exploration, bewilderment, and learning.

"This isn't the effect I wanted."

Inside the recording studio, Bruno Mars, who had been learning and gaining practical experience through behind-the-scenes work since joining Warner, was holding his head in apparent anguish.

The idea in my head is perfect, so why does the music project file I produce sound so bad?

He didn't go off-topic either.

"Hey Mars, stop worrying, Spike wants to see you."

Just as he was still struggling with his decision, his new colleague threw out a voice tinged with envy and jealousy: "God, Mars, what did you do to get Spike to call your name!"

"what?"

Bruno was momentarily stunned upon hearing the news.

Spike wants to see me? What's going on?
Is it because I disappointed him that he's planning to fire me?
Bruno Marston became increasingly uneasy, fully aware that he hadn't yet achieved anything remarkable since being signed by Warner.

With this uneasy feeling, Bruno went to the recording studio reserved for big stars and nervously knocked on the door—

"Come in."

The moment Bruno Mars pushed open the door, he met the eternal legend of 21st-century pop music, the king of new-age album sales, the emperor of Warner Music, the new generation's king of world pop, and his idol who handled musical details with the utmost perfection—

Spike Chow.

The latter seemed to be discussing the details of music production with someone, and his arrival disrupted Zhou Yi's orderly requirements, attracting everyone's attention.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou, I am Bruno Mars..."

Bruno, standing like a lackey, was extremely respectful, showing none of the arrogance he would later display as a candidate for the leading man in pop music, and appeared cautious and timid.

"Just call me Spike."

Zhou Yi smiled and extended his hand, his friendly attitude making Bruno Mars feel somewhat flattered: "I heard your voice on YouTube, and it left a deep impression on me. Ed said you've improved very quickly. I wonder if you'd be interested in coming over and helping out?"

? ? ? ?
! ! ! !
real or fake? !
I'm Spike's assistant?!
Doesn't this give me a chance to learn from Spike?!

Bruno Mars, who is only 21 years old this year, was suddenly stunned by this unexpected windfall.

What a joke! How many musicians in the entire Warner Music industry could work under Zhou Yi's direction and learn his music production ideas?

I was actually fortunate enough to be able to briefly learn in my idol's team?
"thanks, thanks!"

Knowing that he was able to leave Motown Records and join Warner Music because of the I Ching, Bruno Mars forcibly suppressed the surging excitement in his heart and nodded repeatedly: "I will study hard!"

"No need to get so excited, just keep a calm mind. I'm not handing out gold bars."

Zhou Yi chuckled and waved his hand dismissively: "I have high hopes for you. You have great potential. Don't let me down."

Bruno Mars has great potential; he just went through a long period of decline after being released by Motown Records in 06. And speaking of Motown Records, they really couldn't hold on to making people pay to work for them.

According to Bruno Mars in a 2013 interview, he first started gambling at the age of 19 to make a living, simply to earn $100 to support himself...

They still lost.

In his own words, it was "trembling hands, a hundred-dollar defeat."

At that time, he had already been working at Motown for almost two years.

If you can't write songs that get accepted, and you can't sell them, and you still have to pay tuition fees and give gifts to your parents, your pockets will soon be empty.

Warner Music is different; they even guarantee a minimum return for Zhou Yi!

As a model of conscience among capitalists, Zhou Yi has always been regarded as a model boss by his employees.

Bruno Mars was stunned when Zhou Yi publicly placed such high hopes on him.

what?
What do you mean?
So you really thought highly of me?

Isn't this just a polite remark?

Who was the last newcomer favored by an idol?
Bruno thought of Rihanna, Warner Bros.' super rookie star, who was now extremely busy.

"I heard you've been mentoring new people at the company lately? It's all over the industry. Oh, did you run into another Rihanna?"

The hotel booked by Universal on March 23.

Zhou Yi, who had arrived in New York as a guest, was soon confronted at his door by Anne Hathaway, the supporting actress in "Brokeback Mountain."

Although she received relatively few accolades for "Brokeback Mountain," which marked her transition to a new phase, her transformation was still a very successful start.

At least now everyone calls her "princess" instead of just the other way around.

“Although I’m attending the celebration party for ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ it doesn’t mean my sexual orientation will undergo any significant changes, darling.” Feeling the woman’s passionate embrace, Zhou Yi didn’t care that his arms had been pulled close by her.

Literally, it means to win someone over.

As a high-quality man in the industry, he has now become accustomed to the fact that he is taken advantage of by beautiful women.

Moreover, Anne Hathaway is still in her prime, even more so than during her Catwoman days, and he doesn't mind being taken advantage of at all.

"Would you be my dance partner at my victory celebration, Mr. Phoenix?"

"It's hard to say, it depends on your sincerity."

With one hand in his pocket and the woman holding his left arm, Zhou Yi smiled and walked towards the elevator: "You know I'm in high demand."

The moment the elevator doors opened, a middle-aged actress and her assistant inside saw the two of them. The actress gave a knowing smile and said, "Annie, Spike isn't Jack Twisted Fate."

Jack Tracy, Anne Hathaway's husband in Brokeback Mountain.

“Michelle, reality isn’t a movie.”

Anne Hathaway was clearly familiar with the person who came, and was most likely a guest at the "Brokeback Mountain" wrap party: "Let me introduce you, Spike, this is Michelle Pfeiffer."

Michelle Pfeiffer?
Oh, it's her.

"Hi Pfeiffer, I really like your portrayal of Catwoman."

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised when he looked at the middle-aged actress—he really didn't recognize her.

It's really not his fault; it's just that the Western white race is aging too fast and has changed drastically.

Michelle Pfeiffer, one of the most iconic blonde bombshells of Hollywood's golden age, was born in 1958 and left her peak in the 1980s and early 1990s.

To be honest, Zhou Yi has never seen any of her movies from her peak period. The only impression he has of her is that she played a crazy Catwoman in the Keaton version of Batman, which he saw on a pirated DVD when he was a child.

Apart from that, she hadn't seen a single one of the movies that cemented her status.

It is said that her Catwoman is the most memorable and highly praised Catwoman in America, bar none.

Even after Anne Hathaway became a global sensation with her role as Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer's version was still more prevalent among Americans cosplaying Catwoman on the internet.

Of course, the impression that domestic internet users have of this woman is probably only two-fold—

One is the original Wasp in Ant-Man, and the other is Bruno Mars, whose opening lyrics mention her in his legendary hit "Uptown Funk".

“Catwoman? That’s quite a character from that era. Thank you for reminding me of my age, Spike.” Michelle Pfeiffer, who was nearly 50, smiled kindly, seemingly surprised that Zhou Yi could say he liked his Catwoman.

"Batman Returns" was a movie from 1992, and Zhou Yi was only a few years old at that time.

11 years old?
Or 12?

"Is it possible that I watched this movie when I was older?"

Watching Michelle Pfeiffer and her assistant return to their room, Zhou Yi pressed the elevator button again: "This movie was shown in Hong Kong back then."

Released in Hong Kong on July 16, 1992, it was precisely for this reason that pirated DVDs ended up in mainland China.

Of course, some large record stores might also have genuine discs, after all, Warner Bros. is nicknamed "the record-selling Warner Bros."

"So, perhaps your sexual awakening was through Catwoman?" Anne Hathaway speculated with "malicious intent."

Zhou Yi glanced at her: "The way you look curious right now is just like a cat."

(End of this chapter)