The Road to Superstardom: Starting as a Singer

In early June, "Baby" climbed to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the mainstream pop radio charts in terms of radio airplay.

This song truly became a "hit single".

In June, with the airing of "Today Show" and "The Ellen Show," Huang Weijie's image became even more distinct.

On the apartment's television screen, a pre-recorded segment of the "Today Show" was playing.

Huang Weijie sat cross-legged on the sofa with a plate of cut fruit in front of him. Kristen Stewart, dressed in revealing clothes, leaned against him, holding a fashion magazine, but her eyes kept glancing at the television.

On the television screen, the stage backdrop was a bright living room style, with sofas, coffee tables, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the New York skyline at dawn...

"Next up is Jace Huang, who swept the entire summer with his song 'Baby'!"

Wearing a light blue Oxford shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up, and slim-fit jeans and white sneakers, Huang Weijie appeared as introduced by the host, Meredith Vieira.

The live band also played the now widely known intro.

Huang Weijie walked steadily from backstage to the center of the stage, his face bearing a natural, sunny smile that he had practiced many times.

As the camera zoomed in, it gave him a close-up.

Huang Weijie's strikingly handsome face was on full display under the bright studio lights, and his light brown eyes appeared clear and bright under the camera lens.

Many audience members were surprised, and some girls even screamed in surprise. The director understood and immediately cut to a medium shot of the audience.

In the video, at least half of the female viewers, regardless of age, showed expressions of appreciation, surprise, or even amazement, whether obvious or subtle.

Many people leaned forward slightly, their concentration clearly elevated to a new level.

"OMG! How can he be so handsome in person... ten times better looking than in the music video!"

"Wow, God! He has the potential to become an actor."

"Hey, you're right. He's so handsome, it's a shame he doesn't film in the San Fernando Valley. If he did..."

The conversation between the two blonde girls below gradually veered off to a completely different topic.

Subtle commotion spread like ripples through the audience.

The director clearly knew this trick well; the camera shot of the audience section flashed by in an instant before quickly switching back to a close-up of Huang Weijie.

But the genuine reaction captured in that instant proclaims more powerfully than any flowery words: this face possesses a living, breathing impact that transcends the screen.

Christine, watching from the TV, lightly tapped Huang Weijie's arm with her magazine and teased, "Jace, did you see that? I guarantee that all those audience members will be fantasizing about you when they go home!"

"Then I really envy you." Huang Weijie's lips curled into a slight smile.

"What?"

"You don't need to fantasize, the person you'll be sleeping with is me."

"Hahaha~"

The interview on "Today Show" was fast-paced, and the questions were nothing more than the creative process of "Baby", future plans, and feelings of being an Asian face in the European and American music scene.

When asked about his creative process, Huang Weijie readily recounted that his inspiration came from wanting to attract a girl's attention while watching a movie with his friends.

Kristen Stewart, who was watching TV nearby, had a misty look in her eyes after hearing his words.

Clearly, she believed that the girl was herself!

Huang Weijie revealed his future plans, saying he is currently preparing an album.

As for his final feelings, he made no attempt to hide them.

"Sometimes people ask me if I'm from Japan or South Korea, and I say I'm Chinese, but music knows no borders, right?"

"I hope my music will be enjoyed by everyone first, and then it would be an extra honor if my background could make some people feel at ease or break some stereotypes."

"..."

The entire segment lasted about seven minutes, with a brisk pace and a harmonious atmosphere.

Finally, at the host's request, Huang Weijie sang a short section of the chorus of "Baby" a cappella, which sparked a sing-along from the audience, bringing the appearance to a perfect close.

Watching himself sing the final song a cappella on the television screen, then stand up and shake hands with the host to express his gratitude, Huang Weijie nodded in satisfaction.

Then I switched to another channel with the remote, and the stored clip from "The Ellen Show" started playing.

The studio atmosphere of "The Ellen Show" is completely different from that of "Today Show".

"Today Show" is a morning news program that is more formal and includes musical performances and brief interviews.

Huang Weijie needs to demonstrate his live singing ability and answer the host's questions, especially those about his family and cultural background.

"The Ellen Show" is a lighthearted and humorous talk show, where host Ellen is skilled at witty banter and creating a lively atmosphere.

For example, in the impromptu singing and game segments, fortunately, Huang Weijie had already lived in this land for four years, and he had also done his homework before going, so he showed just the right amount of humor and adaptability in the program.

Although he didn't watch both shows, he managed to handle both programs, which had completely different styles and pressures.

The Today Show has established a positive image of a humble, polite, and talented young idol.

"The Ellen Show" showcased more of the show's musical instincts, humor, and down-to-earth personality.

They complement each other in terms of coverage and have a good reputation.

The response after the broadcast confirmed this.

His MySpace and his recently launched Twitter accounts have seen another surge in followers.

Media reviews were mostly positive.

The debut of "Today Show" was hailed as "a textbook example of a teen idol's media debut."

Jace Huang's performance on The Ellen Show was described as "showcasing her charm and versatility beyond her musical talent."

More importantly, the exposure from these two shows greatly boosted the awareness of "Baby" among a wider age group (especially housewives who watch morning shows and young adults who watch talk shows), and also generated a lot of buzz for the upcoming album "Jace Huang".

By July, the song had become more than just a hit; it had become a cultural phenomenon among teenagers.

It was included in many "must-listen playlists for summer 2008".

Some media outlets have even reported that in certain public settings, such as beach parties or community markets, the very first note of the music can spark a small-scale sing-along.

Discussions about "who Jace Huang is" have begun to extend beyond the realm of music, reaching topics such as fashion (his outfits in music videos are being imitated), ethnicity (discussions about Asian pop idols), and even family education (the story of his grandfather supporting him in pursuing his dreams has been unearthed).

Of course, there are both praises and controversies.

Some conservative music critics wrote articles criticizing "Baby" and Jace Huang as "another bubblegum product of the record industry" and "lacking real musical depth," among other things.

But such controversy has only further amplified the topic's popularity.

This buzz gave Huang Weijie and his team the idea of ​​challenging for the championship.

At this time, "Baby" was facing a host of "monster-level" singles in 2008.

The competition on the Billboard Hot 100 chart is fierce, with the top spots dominated by superstars and hit songs from Coldplay, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and TI from mid-year to year-end.

These songs either have the support of top superstars, or they spark social discussion, or they have a strong dominance on radio and download charts.

Huang Weijie is still just a newcomer, and as a new work, "Baby" naturally faces enormous pressure in terms of sustainability and audience reach.

However, in this highly competitive environment where experts abound, it is not impossible for a newcomer to break through.

This opportunity came in the second week of July.

At this time, Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," which had been at the top of the charts for several weeks, saw a slight decline in popularity, while another strong competitor, Rihanna's "Disturbia," was in a promotional lull, resulting in slower radio airplay.

Seizing this opportunity, Jive Records invested heavily in promotional resources to maintain the song's popularity.

Huang Weijie then collaborated by appearing on national television programs in the United States.

Meanwhile, a remix of the new version of "Baby" is on limited-time sale on iTunes.

A fan challenge was also launched on MySpace, resulting in a surge in data within a short period of time.

A series of actions...