Chapter 159 Variety Show Persona
Chapter 159
Since it's a music show stage, the makeup and styling naturally need to be a bit extravagant. Sang Zi looked at the performance order tonight, and Lin Yuan was probably in the middle.
After each performance, the camera would turn to Lin Yuan, trying to see his most genuine reaction. But no matter when the camera turned to him, Sang Zi saw him staring intently at the screen.
Lin Yuan was so serious that Sang Zi also became more serious when she looked at the stage.
During the era of "Star Journey," idol talent shows flourished. In addition to groups like Wink who debuted through the show's channels, there were also groups launched by various entertainment agencies, making it a "chaotic era" for idol groups.
Judging from Wink's talent, it's clear that during that era, idols could gain fans for any reason, not necessarily based on their talent.
After making a fortune, these idols gradually disappeared like the tide, leaving almost no trace in the entertainment industry.
Therefore, in Sangzi's mind, an idol is roughly equivalent to someone who is good at nothing.
However, the strength of the group participating in this episode of "Hey!" exceeded Sang Zi's expectations.
Although Star Glory Video's style of producing variety shows always emphasizes how difficult it is for the performers to persevere before introducing them—in a way, this can be considered playing the victim.
However, since everyone was selling it, the final result was greatly diminished.
When Lin Yuan appeared, the program's introduction faltered, only showing a fleeting glimpse—Lin Yuan, actor, singer, idol.
Sang Zi guessed that the production team was also in a difficult position.
"Hahaha, what else can I say? They filmed a TV series, but it only garnered 15,000+ views. Meanwhile, their painstakingly produced album reportedly sold over 100 million?"
"Kangaroo: We're so poor we can't even afford to eat, don't contact us."
"Actually, playing the victim is a viable tactic. For example, you could say that you gave up a big-budget drama/movie to participate in the music show 'Hey!' in order to realize your idol dream."
"Producer: Please don't tell!"
"Hahahaha, participating in 'Hey!' is definitely the least high-end variety show Lin Yuan has participated in in recent years."
After careful reflection, netizens concluded that Lin Yuan's low point likely dates back to the time of "The Rising Star," but as Lin Yuan gradually gained popularity, that period no longer needs to be mentioned.
Lin Yuan himself was unwilling to talk about it further.
He's already famous enough, yet he continues to play the victim. What will other celebrities think? What will the audience think?
...
As Sangzi looked around, she actually found a few groups that were quite strong.
In recent years, idol boy groups are no longer the type of stars that entertainment companies will develop—the "idol training" type might still have some market, but for other types, it seems that only selling bromance can find a way out.
The fact that this group has been able to persevere through this stage shows that they still have a certain amount of faith.
Moreover, usually, if the members don't sell their charm and only rely on their talent to attend events, the group won't become very popular.
As "Hey!" aired, comments like "I've never heard of it before" and "The singing is real and the movements are still not messy" flashed by from time to time in the live chat.
Sang Zi watched the show entirely because of Lin Yuan. If it weren't for Lin Yuan, she wouldn't have paid any attention to it at all, but now she really felt like she had discovered a treasure.
Finally, Lin Yuan is about to make his appearance.
Lin Yuan will definitely sing "Prison" in this episode.
The performers who participated in this episode of "Hey!" were not very familiar with Lin Yuan. It seemed that some people wanted to talk to Lin Yuan, but they were too embarrassed or simply didn't dare to speak.
Lin Yuan was notorious for his infamy; he had never been afraid of anyone when it came to a fight.
The moment Lin Yuan stepped onto the stage, a burst of screams erupted from backstage, and the applause was also very enthusiastic.
As a fan, Sang Zi was suddenly filled with emotion.
Lin Yuan's age when he participated in "The Rising Star" was roughly the same as that of the boy group members who participated in the show "Hey!". On "The Rising Star", Lin Yuan said that he would stick to his dream and continue to perform on stage.
He is now one of the oldest performers on stage, but he has truly persevered.
His contemporaries on "Star Journey" – whether it was the once wildly popular Wink or other high-profile contestants – have gradually disappeared from the entertainment industry.
Of course, some people are still persisting.
But in Sangzi's eyes, Lin Yuan will always be the most shining one.
This is her preference as a fan.
She will always favor Lin Yuan.
"Lin is here!!"
"Kangaroo appeared!!!"
"So flashy!!"
As the prelude to "Prison" began, Lin Yuan stood in the center of the stage. Only then did Sang Zi notice that his sequined outfit actually dragged on the ground. When he pulled it down, the sequins shimmered. Every time Lin Yuan moved, a burst of light would fall down.
The stage for this song happened to be in a hazy style, and the moment the sequins moved, in Sangzi's eyes, they looked like mermaids in the water.
Compared to his time on "The Next Star," Lin Yuan has matured a lot. Although being an idol is a profession that relies on youth, and a young face is more rounded and full than when one is older, Lin Yuan can still attract everyone's attention when he stands on stage now.
In "1895", "Prison" is not a particularly popular song. As a dance track, it is not particularly easy to sing. The arrangement is very complex and includes some syllables that Sang Zi thinks are not very meaningful.
But when combined with dance, it becomes a very wonderful song.
During the prelude, Lin Yuan had already started moving.
The inspiration for "Prison" came from a musical film, so in this part, Lin Yuan's dance steps are rather exaggerated, with large steps, moving from the west side to the east side, and suddenly pausing for a moment. For a short syllable, his steps even turn into a cat walk.
"Noisy streets, night, voices."
"The city's glitz and glamour."
"Born in prison."
"Making a name for himself in prison."
The moment the first note of "prison" was sung, Lin Yuan winked at the camera, and the style of his dance changed accordingly.
His cat-like gait became a rhythmic beat, his muscle lines tracing perfect arcs in the air. His outfit was rather conservative, but when Lin Yuan jumped, a hint of his muscles would inadvertently peek out—
His shoulders and neck moved in rhythm with the music, and his fingertips moved as if they were precisely calculated. From his chest upwards, Lin Yuan's dance was not clumsy at all, but incredibly light and agile.
The lyrics of "Prison" satirize how a superficial society turns prisons into a stage. The more intense the satire, the lighter Lin Yuan's movements become, as if his legs have been measured, steadily stepping on every beat.
As the left arm swings, the left leg also exerts force. Although the dance of "Prison" is being presented to the audience for the first time, everyone can see that the movements of this song have not been simplified in any way.
Lin Yuan presented it in its original form.
Suddenly, Sangzi let out a scream.
The background on the stage screen changed to a grid-like prison.
Lin Yuan's leg movements also changed at that instant.
He was walking along the prison's lines, step by step. As the lines rose, he seemed to float up; as the lines slid down, his movements descended.
Just like the classic space walk.
"Aaaaaaah!"
"Look at that handsome guy!!!"
"How did the kangaroo manage to do that? He must have a very busy schedule."
"Ahhh, Lin Yuan is amazing! I knew he was the kind of person who does what he says!!"
"Our Xiaolin is incredibly handsome, absolutely stunning!!"
Backstage, in the areas the camera could pan to, other performers also erupted in screams.
Lin Yuan's movements are something other performers could do.
The key point is that everyone thought Lin Yuan was just going through the motions when he came to participate in "Hey!".
His current popularity and fame don't need the boost from "Hey!" at all; on the contrary, it's the show that needs his popularity.
Based on these performers' experience in other shows, in such situations, even if Lin Yuan's movements are terribly bad and ridiculously simple, they still have to respond enthusiastically, adding lines like "Brother Lin is invincible" or "Little Brother Lin is the best," to keep the show going.
This is an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry that every newcomer must abide by.
However, Lin Yuan actually finished the dance in a very serious and meticulous manner.
The movements were not made any easier, and there was no slacking off.
With the melody of "Prison" playing, the dance fully brought out the charm of the song.
"Amazing!!!"
As for Sang Zi, she can only describe this issue of "Hey!" with one word: excellent value for money.
She's going to listen to "Prison" non-stop right now!!
As "Prison" came to a close, Lin Yuan's dance steps gradually slowed down, but his muscle movements still matched the melody of the song. "Prison" is a song with a strong satirical tone, and the ending is equally biting. What concludes this song is Lin Yuan's mocking gaze as he looks at the camera.
In that instant, his strengths as an actor became apparent.
Even his sarcasm was portrayed with remarkable charm by Lin Yuan.
"Lin Yuan killed me!!"
"As expected, going to jail tonight was the right decision!!"
"I'm eating and eating like crazy!!"
Lin Yuan's performance in tonight's show may not have been the best, as he hasn't been active as an idol for a long time, but in the hearts of his fans, his performance is unique.
In fact, he was the one who brought the most attention to the show "Hey!".
Competition among variety shows on various platforms is equally fierce, and the genre has shifted from ordinary game competitions to marriage and family themes, and even workplace themes. In order to attract viewers' attention, each platform will do everything it can.
Despite being a typical music show, "Hey!" garnered significant attention tonight amidst a slump in the idol economy and music scene.
First of all, the first two groups to appear both delivered excellent performances.
Marketing accounts captured two sets of performance clips.
The marketing accounts were ready to comment on Lin Yuan's performance—as they expected, it wouldn't be very impressive.
However, the scene from "Prison" was quite unexpected.
If it's too bad, of course it should be posted out for all the fun of mocking.
Those that exceed the passing grade or are even considered excellent should also be posted.
Marketing accounts did indeed do that.
It uses—
"Seeing Lin Yuan at the scene, don't the fans of XX, XX, and XXX who are frantically whitewashing him feel ashamed?" and similar rhetoric.
In summary, Lin Yuan is already a mature idol with a well-rounded career, winning awards, achieving high viewership ratings, generating buzz, and demonstrating solid achievements. Is XX as popular as Lin Yuan? How can someone who considers themselves a big star treat the stage so casually?
Surprisingly, comments like "Older generation celebrities are indeed more dedicated" appeared in the comments section.
Lin Yuan was speechless.
No matter what, he doesn't really fit the description of "veteran star," does he?
Who exactly are they criticizing?
He felt that he had been unfairly criticized as well.
Anyway, the marketing accounts used Lin Yuan's case to attack other accounts, and they enjoyed the attack.
Lin Yuan is well-known, and under normal circumstances, fans of other celebrities are not inclined to clash with him.
Not only because of his amazing fighting ability, but also because... those who had clashed with him seemed to have met with... less than pleasant ends.
Whether it's because the work flopped or because of a sudden lapse in judgment, it's still a flop.
Moreover—even if you were to lie through your teeth, you couldn't say that the stage for "Prison" was terrible.
Lin Yuan was indeed 100% committed, and his performance was very relaxed, but the audience could even sense his tension from his attitude.
This nervousness simply stems from being serious.
For a music show, having a breakout performance is very important.
The clips from "Prison" were played on an endless loop, which, in a way, made "Hey!" an instant hit.
Tonight, as a brand new program, "Hey!" has squeezed into the top three of the popularity charts.
"Lin Yuan's influence is truly astonishing."
"As expected of a kangaroo!!!"
Xingyao Video's expectation for "Hey!" is that it will reach the top ten of the daily popularity charts, and it would be even better if it could go a few places higher.
"Hey!" managed to squeeze into the top three, making it arguably the most impressive variety show on Xingyao Video.
After all, the show's premiere time wasn't during prime time, and the platform didn't invest much budget; they were using staff from a previous show.
The guests' appearance fees weren't expensive either.
Besides the "Prison" stage performance, two or three other performances also went viral.
Perhaps because there are so few music shows, the performers who came to participate cherished this opportunity all the more.
In short, "Hey!" has gained popularity beyond expectations. The big names that the production team originally invited are now contacting us to inquire about their participation in the later episodes.
Before this, they all said they needed to think about it, appearing extremely hesitant.
The stage for "Prison" is still developing.
Lin Yuan has far too few stages. Good stages are inherently more likely to attract fans. Even if the dance moves are not complex enough, as long as the performer can fully showcase their charm, the audience can still feel it.
Sangzi performed the stage play "Prison" five times.
As soon as the intro to "Prison" started, she sat down obediently in front of the sofa and started watching.
Her parents have now mastered dog training techniques.
If you call Sangzi to eat and she's hiding in her bedroom, just play the stage version of "Prison" loudly, and Sangzi will definitely rush out immediately.
Then he started spouting nonsense like "So handsome" and "I'll marry you," which made Sang's parents extremely disgusted.
...
"Prison" became the third breakout song from the album "1895".
There are many covers of "Heroes Who Saved the Earth" and "Dahlia," but fans have always believed that Lin Yuan's original version is the most charming.
The same goes for "Prison," which attracted a bunch of cover dancers.
What impressed fans the most was Lin Yuan's terrifying execution ability.
Lin Yuan's demeanor was clearly not that of a star who hadn't been involved in idol activities for a long time and was focused on filming. His dance was very standard, and he wasn't even out of breath on stage.
The fans didn't even ask Lin Yuan to do this, but he did it easily.
After the news of Lin Yuan's participation in "Hey!" spread, his fans felt that he was fulfilling his dream—in fact, most of his current fans were fans who watched the show.
There are very few fans who have been following him since the "Tomorrow's Star" era; they are a rare breed.
In this situation, Lin Yuan can do without a stage.
Fans who grew up watching his dramas like "The Powerful Minister" and "Mandala" wouldn't expect him to become an idol at the same time.
However, Lin Yuan is still fulfilling the promise he made during the "Tomorrow's Star" era. The album "1895" includes dance music and promotional tracks. Even if only a few fans pay attention to his idol side, he is still willing to show his dancing skills for these fans.
Whether it's maintaining his physique or the demands on his dance moves... fans can't find any reason not to like Lin Yuan.
...
Not long after the first episode of "Hey!" aired, a post appeared on a gossip forum—
[Speaking of which, isn't it wonderful to be a fan of Lin Yuan?]
[The original poster was moved by the performance of "Prison." Previously, the poster always thought Lin Yuan's main profession was acting, and although they knew he started as an idol, they didn't think much of it. But "Prison" shocked them. Now they have no doubts at all, and even feel that it's a loss for the idol industry that Lin Yuan isn't continuing as an idol.]
[It's so wonderful! Who can understand the joy of watching the ratings climb higher and higher?]
[Winning awards is also incredibly impressive!!]
[Fans don't need to whitewash the situation; just show the data. I don't believe anyone else in the same period can surpass Lin Yuan's achievements.]
[Who understands? When a kangaroo is on the front lines arguing with people, I feel incredibly satisfied, like when I can't win an argument and my aunt comes to my rescue.]
[+1+1+10086, that's awesome! And no matter when, as long as Lin Yuan is on stage, he's always at 100% peak performance. Seeing the live performance of "Prison," I felt not just excited, but deeply moved.]
[I don't have any scandals. I used to be a fan of a celebrity known for their scandals, and when I was young and naive, I even defended them. Looking back now, I just feel ashamed. But back then, I was in that state where I knew the other person was incredibly shameful, but I still couldn't help defending them. The sunk costs were too high.]
Every time Xiaolin becomes popular, I feel ecstatic; every time he performs, I feel ecstatic; every time he gets nominated, I feel ecstatic. Looking back on my fandom now, I only feel joy, not depression. In short—I'm just a fan who admires strength.
This post has been on the homepage ever since it was published, because Lin Yuan's fans keep replying to it.
The post also included stories from fans about their chance encounters with Lin Yuan.
In short—Lin Yuan is the all-around idol of the new era, taking responsibility for his career to an unrealistic degree.
But Lin Yuan himself is not fake.
[Once, an old man cut in line, being incredibly rude. Not only did he cut in, but he also bumped into people. At that moment, the guy behind me suddenly stepped forward and confronted him. The old man then started rolling on the ground, acting like a scoundrel. The guy wouldn't let him cut in line, saying he had money and would take responsibility if anything happened. The old man then slunk away.]
[Could this guy be...?]
[Yes, I was stunned when the guy took off his hat. It was a milk tea shop in the mall. Thinking about it later, it really was close to Lin Yuan's house. He must have been queuing up to try all the milk tea shops in the area back then.]
[I can imagine him saying he's rich, lol.]
So that's how money is used.
[So, I got his autograph, and I really wanted to take a photo with him, but he refused, saying he wasn't currently working and didn't want to ruin his illustrious image.]
[Hilarious! Thinking about his look during his creative period... well, that's not entirely wrong.]
[Hahaha, so Lin Yuan actually has an idol image to maintain? I always thought he didn't.]
[Kobayashi, shining with the light of justice! What a righteous messenger! I'm so envious of this chance encounter. Is it too late for me to queue up at the nearby bubble tea shop now?]
[There's no hope. Xiaolin is currently maintaining her figure and wouldn't drink something so high in sugar.]
This post gradually became more and more popular.
Because fans discovered that the experiences of encountering Lin Yuan in the posts all had a humorous element.
Lin Yuan even sneaked out to feed the cats, only to be rejected by them.
The dog really likes him; it wags its tail whenever it sees him from afar.
Moreover, Lin Yuan's sense of justice is not limited to his fans; staff members from the program he participated in and a certain film crew also testified on his behalf. In short, whether in front of or behind the camera, Lin Yuan deserves the title of a good person.
Actually, I didn't plan to follow any celebrities recently, but... I have this feeling that it's hard not to.
[Follow along! Welcome to the fandom (once you're in, you'll find that it's normal for your idol to not be active for six months at a time)]
[Chase it! Let's chase it together!!!]
...
On the stage of "Hey!", Lin Yuan sang all the songs that he hadn't sung in his album "1895". In the eyes of fans, Lin Yuan's singing skills have improved compared to his previous album "Love and Hate".
He hasn't lost his emotional advantage, but his skills are steadily improving.
Sales of "1895" have seen another surge.
The bulk of the album's profits went to Lin Yuan himself, but the record company that produced it also received a significant share. According to the profit-sharing ratio, Lin Yuan's share wasn't much. However, no one had anticipated that "1895" would sell so well.
I originally thought that "1895" was a one-off deal like other idol albums, but in reality, "1895" had both a peak in sales and long-term development.
Just a few months after the release of "1895", the record company hinted to Lin Yuan that they were still willing to collaborate on the next album.
If Lin Yuan were to consider holding a concert, they would have a fixed partner company that could secure both event organizers and sponsors.
Lin Yuan, however, decided to hold off for a while.
He will definitely hold a concert, but not now.
During the weeks that Lin Yuan participated in "Hey!", its popularity remained high. In the current climate of a lack of idol talent shows, "Hey!" has, to some extent, replaced the function of idol talent shows.
Audiences will always be drawn to the hard-working side of their idols, even if it ultimately proves to be fake.
Star Glory Video is delighted to see the popularity of "Hey!" rising and the performers participating in the show becoming increasingly famous.
For Lin Yuan, participating in "Hey!" was a relaxing experience.
Lin Yuan was happy with every performance.
Singing and acting are different and cannot replace each other.
...
In the second episode of "Hey!", Lin Yuan sang "Five O'Clock in the Morning".
This song doesn't have many dance moves, so Lin Yuan just stood there and sang. Worried that the stage would be too boring, shortly after he came on stage, Lin Yuan made a heart shape with his fingers, which earned him the "greasy" comment from fans.
During a period when Lin Yuan and Xie Yu were battling it out, Xie Yu was praised as the man who winked the most in the world, and fans worried that Lin Yuan would surpass Xie Yu and become the man who made the most heart gestures in the world.
Fortunately, he only makes a heart shape with his fingers, instead of rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, which reduces the greasiness somewhat.
"So picky!"
"Who told you to go for a clean and innocent image?" the agent retorted.
"When did I adopt a clean and refreshing persona?" Lin Yuan frowned. "I clearly adopted the persona of a dark avenger of the universe, a deep demon king who can't stop crying."
Agent: "Recite it again."
Lin Yuan: "..."
He just made it up on the spot, how could he possibly remember the order?
For fans, not being greasy is very important; being greasy and having a "dad-like" attitude are always among the top reasons for them to unfollow.
What's amazing is that idols usually don't realize how handsome they are when they're young, so they're not greasy. But when they enter middle age and their looks decline sharply, they're still immersed in their handsome past and have no clear understanding of their current appearance.
His gradually deteriorating appearance combined with his self-righteous handsomeness has become a source of embarrassment for his fans.
Feng had been reminding Lin Yuan from time to time not to go into that stage.
As an agent, Feng Zeng's greatest strength is learning. Lin Yuan is involved in many fields, so Feng Zeng naturally has to deal with areas he is not good at.
Lin Yuan has many fans, and Feng Zeng has always paid close attention to what fans like about Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan needs to strengthen these points and discard the parts that fans don't like.
After in-depth discussions, the agent mastered many new terms and also grasped the charm of Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan responded, "You're with me every day, haven't you grasped my charm yet?"
The agent said he was irritated by the oil.
I feel that Lin Yuan's words will cost him at least 800 fans.
When Lin Yuan participated in "Hey!", Feng followed him for two episodes—back when he was at DA Entertainment, he had followed those newcomers who gained popularity through talent shows.
This method doesn't work very well now, but it did work back then.
However, after watching the live performance of "Hey!", Feng felt that if an idol has the talent and conviction, this path is achievable.
The key is to be sincere; fans can see that.
It's just that DA Entertainment lacks sincerity from top to bottom.
...
Halfway through filming "Hey!", similar variety show offers flooded Lin Yuan again, but he only plans to accept this one variety show this year and will not consider any other offers.
Lin Yuan has several scripts for period dramas.
As for movies, the offers he received were mainly for commercial blockbusters.
Lin Yuan himself was also struggling with the decision.
He is the kind of actor who is both picky and not picky. Various production teams gradually grasped his requirement to only choose good scripts, and the scripts handed to Lin Yuan were all quite good.
It's of high quality and has a decent lineup.
That's why Lin Yuan was conflicted. It's not easy to pick a good movie from a bad one, but conversely, it's not so easy to pick a good script that he's satisfied with either.
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The author says: "The Prison" was inspired by "Chicago," which I absolutely love.
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