Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

Benji was more than a little excited to see the upcoming movie starring two of his good friends, Troy and Emily. It was such a strange feeling seeing Emily finally living her dream of becoming an actress. If Benji wanted to, he could have asked Troy for a similar favor, and Troy, being such a good person, would have gladly helped Benji become an actor. However, Benji was utterly talentless when it came to acting or singing. He didn't even have the desire to pursue such a career and was content staying behind the scenes.

He was pleasantly surprised when Troy began attending strangers' weddings and singing his songs there. The strangest part was that videos of his performances, uploaded online, weren't taken down for copyright violations. It seemed as if Troy and the production team were allowing the clips to remain on YouTube.

Then, they released the full music video for the song, "Sugar," on YouTube—a first for any major music video backed by a production house like Warner Bros. The video opened with Troy Armitage getting into a convertible driven by an older boy, a fellow band member, in the rural areas of England.

Troy began singing the song in a clear, crisp voice, building up the tempo with each moment. The combination of the scenic beauty of rural England and the accompanying music was breathtaking. Meanwhile, the video interspersed scenes of a wedding where preparations for something special were underway, surprising the bride, groom, and all the guests.

[Sugar - Maroon 5]

~: I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down

I need your loving, loving

I need it now :~

The car suddenly stopped in front of a church where guests had already gathered. Troy and his band entered through the back door of the reception hall and positioned themselves behind a curtain raised specially for their performance. The bride and groom were called before the curtain, which then dropped dramatically, revealing Troy and his band. The newlyweds stood stunned as Troy launched into the catchy chorus.

~: Your sugar

Yes, please

Won't you come and put it down on me?

I'm right here, 'cause I need

Little love, a little sympathy :~

From that moment, the story of the video flowed seamlessly. Troy and his band visited weddings of different cultures—Caucasian, Black, Indian, Chinese. These weddings ranged from simple gatherings with a few guests to lavish celebrations that showcased immense wealth. However, one theme remained constant across all the weddings: the focus was on the newlyweds, their happiness, and how Troy made their day even more memorable. The video appeared 100% genuine and unscripted, as guests at various weddings occasionally broke character and looked directly at the camera in realization.

The video was wholesome from start to finish, concluding with Troy stepping off the stage to hug the newlyweds. As the video ended, the title of the movie appeared: [Echoes of You], followed by the message: "Releasing this Christmas worldwide in cinemas near you."

Overnight, the video went viral, blowing up across the internet. Troy's immense international fame, combined with YouTube's explosive growth, put the video at the top of everyone's watchlist. It helped that YouTube prominently featured the video on its homepage.

The comments on the video provided fascinating insights into the audience's mood and excitement.

Troy Armitage - Sugar (Official Music Video)

5,098,348 views | Likes: 88k | Dislikes: 326

@scorpion: Oh my God! Oh My God! Oh My God! (My reaction is like that one bride when I saw the official video here)

@BonitaJo: This young man is so unique that if he gets cut, he bleeds talent. Can't wait to see the movie in theaters.

@wendyleroy: Holy m-f-ing sh!t! This is the bomb! Exactly the kind of song I needed to cheer me up. Thanks, Troy!

@Joealone: This is wow! From the music to the story, to the video—everything is just perfect. Just like all of Troy's projects to date. Watching the movie for sure.

@thegoldenemperor: How dare he! How can Troy be this tall, handsome, talented, and dating Rihanna to top it all off? It's like he hit all the lotteries at once. I hate him! (Not really, but you know what I mean)

@scorpion: You forgot he's rich as well.

@thegoldenemperor: 😭

@norahc: Hell yes! Been waiting for this movie for literal decades! Thank God it's here. Can't wait for it.

@BeauBanana: I don't understand what all the hype about this boy is for. All the girls at my school are crazy for him. Sure, he's good-looking and the song is easy to listen to as well, but really, man, it's too much sometimes.

@garfield: Looks like someone is jealous.

@scorpion: Of course he is. Troy is the perfect human being God ever created. It would be a travesty if the plebs weren't jealous of him.

@grace: I think I fell in love with TA all over again after listening to this song.

@scorpion: Then listen to the rest of his album, and you will legit die. It's that good.

@Sonian: I was about to say that! Sugar is good, but it isn't even close to being the best song on the list. This album is the best one I've ever heard. Mark my words—this will go down in history as one of the greatest albums of all time.

The reason the video was becoming so famous so quickly was the way people shared it across social media platforms like Myspace and Orkut. Within a week of posting, it had amassed an incredible 5 million views—an unheard-of number for any video-sharing platform at the time.

Even the trailer of the movie [Echoes of You] had only garnered half a million views.

With this one video, Troy demonstrated that he was here to disrupt the music industry, and in a big way. Everyone already knew about his song 'Count on Me' from his childhood and his performances in [Billy Elliot: The Musical]. However, this marked his first foray into pop music—and not just with one song, but a full album.

The full soundtrack album for the movie was released a week before the film's premiere, and anyone who listened to it was convinced it would break all records.

(Break)

"I can't believe we're doing this," Ashley said excitedly. "This is the second premiere I'll be attending in my life. All thanks to you, Benji."

"Stay with me until the end, and you'll get to go to more of these," Benji said hopefully, only for Ashley to shake her head.

"I told you I can't do that," she said sadly. "I don't wanna lead you on, Benji."

"I know, I know, just saying," Benji grumbled. Life was so unfair sometimes. Ashley had been admitted to Harvard and would be leaving in less than a year. Benji, on the other hand, wasn't particularly good at academics or sports, nor did he have wealthy or legacy parents to help his chances. Attending the same college as Ashley was almost impossible for him.

The two had agreed to break up mutually and remain friends, but Benji was still struggling to move on. If he hadn't invited her already before their break up, he might as well be coming here alone tonight.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and released it with a sigh. "Fine. Let's go in then."

Benji plastered on a smile before stepping into the theater where the New York premiere of [Echoes of You] was being held. The event was packed with stars, and the energy of the night was palpable.

He briefly met Emily and her new boyfriend, Rob, but Emily seemed so engrossed in Rob that she didn't pay him much mind. Benji didn't mind. He knew what being in love feels like at their age. Moving on, Benji took to admiring the other celebrities from afar.

From Natalie Portman to Scarlett Johansson, from Johnny Depp to Christian Bale—many of Hollywood's brightest stars were in attendance.

Benji resisted the urge to go weak in the knees when Scarlett Johansson casually brushed past him. Then, the star of the night entered, and he wasn't alone. A stunning diva clutched Troy's arm as they made their entrance.

Any other actor in Troy's place might have mingled with the A-listers, but not Troy. The moment he spotted Benji, a huge grin spread across his face, and he speed-walked over, still escorting Rihanna.

"Hey, Benji!" Troy greeted him with a brotherly hug before turning to the girl beside him. "And Ashley. Have you two met Rihanna?"

After exchanging pleasantries, it didn't take long for the four of them to start chatting like close friends.

"I love your shoes, Ashley," Rihanna noted gleefully. "Where did you get them?"

Benji and Troy shared a grin before Benji remarked, "Girls."

Troy nodded sagely but kept his thoughts to himself.

Just then, two more people entered the theater, and Benji was surprised to see them, especially the girl.

"Emma! Jamie!" Troy greeted the newcomers excitedly before turning to Benji and Ashley. "Enjoy the movie tonight. You'll love this one."

"We intend to," Ashley replied with a smile.

With that, Troy and Rihanna excused themselves and went over to chat with Jamie Bell and Emma Watson, leaving Benji and Ashley to their own devices.

"Why is Emma Watson here?" Ashley asked pointedly. "Didn't you say they had a bitter breakup?"

Benji shrugged. "I don't know everything. They're still working on [Harry Potter], so it would make sense if they patched things up."

Ashley nodded in understanding, though her curiosity lingered.

Soon enough, it was time for the premiere to begin. Benji and Ashley took their seats eagerly, but Benji's enthusiasm faltered when he noticed he'd been assigned the seat beside Emma Watson.

"Hey!" Emma greeted him warmly as she sat down. "You're Troy's friend, right? I think we met at a Harry Potter premiere."

"Yeah, [Prisoner of Azkaban]," Benji replied curtly.

An awkward silence followed. Benji avoided further conversation, having lost all respect for Emma after learning how much she had hurt Troy. He was certain that if he spoke, something unkind might slip out, so he opted to stay quiet. Noticing the tension, even Ashley refrained from making small talk.

After a few uncomfortable minutes, the theater lights dimmed, signaling the start of the movie.

The opening scene didn't begin with dialogue or a traditional setup. Instead, the movie launched into a song—a full-blown musical number seamlessly integrated into the story.

Troy appeared on screen, decked out in skater-boy attire: an oversized T-shirt, cargo pants, and a hip-hop cap. A skateboard completed the look. He was accompanied by a group of guys his age, each exuding a rebellious energy. Then, the music began—funky and electrifying, unlike anything Benji had heard before. Moments later, Troy's vocals kicked in, perfectly matching the vibe and setting the tone for the rest of the film.

[Bad Guy - Billie Eilish]

~: White shirt now red, my bloody nose

Sleepin', you're on your tippy toes

Creepin' around like no one knows

Think you're so criminal

Bruises on both my knees for you

Beggin' you to forgive, I do

What I want when I'm wanting to

My soul, so cynical

You like a tough guy

Like it really rough guy

Just can't get enough guy

Chest always so puffed guy

I'm that bad type

Make your mama sad type

Make your boyfriend mad tight

Might get shot by dad type

I'm the bad guy

Duh

I'm the bad guy :~

Benji was utterly shocked by the song that played. Though he knew the album had been released, he hadn't bought it yet. He wanted to experience the music for the first time in the theater, surrounded by other viewers. Now he was glad he had waited.

The song was phenomenal. Unconventional, with heavy electronic elements woven in, yet undeniably captivating. The more he listened, the stronger the urge to hum along grew. And the way Troy delivered the word "duh" was absolutely perfect.

The video accompanying the song was equally innovative. It showcased Troy and his on-screen crew pulling off wild stunts on skateboards throughout most of its entire runtime.

"I'm the bad guy!" Troy concluded the song with a flourish, leaving Benji eager to go home and listen to it all over again.

As the video ended, it was revealed to be playing on YouTube, where it had already amassed millions of views.

The scene shifted to a young girl, around 12 or 13, watching the video on her computer screen with excitement. She wore a large cap, but it was clear she was bald underneath, hinting at her battle with cancer. Sitting beside her was Emily, her older sister, whose expression betrayed her distaste for the song. Yet when the younger girl turned to her, Emily forced a bright smile and said, "Come on. Let's go, or we'll be late to Troy's concert."

Benji couldn't help but admire Emily's performance. In just one scene, she had conveyed so much emotion and backstory with her expressions mostly.

The narrative then followed the sisters to Troy's concert. Bailey, Emily's character, made snide comments about Troy every few seconds, making her disdain for him clear.

"People like him are the reason real music is dying," she complained to her younger sister. "They use EDM indiscriminately when they could be using real instruments like drums and guitars."

The younger sister, however, paid her no mind, eagerly anticipating Troy's upcoming performance. And what a performance it was. It was a rocking performance that shook the entire theater with its originality and the pounding beats of the drums.

[Radioactive - Imagine Dragons]

Troy stood center stage, commanding attention with a massive drum in front of him. Every few moments, he struck it with a large drumstick, each resounding beat electrifying the atmosphere before he launched into another powerful song.

While the first song focused on EDM and unconventional melodies, this second performance leaned heavily into rock. It showcased Troy's impressive vocal range, revealing a more rugged, raw side of his talent—a striking contrast to the earlier track.

By the time the song reached its crescendo, the audience in the theater was completely immersed. They sang along enthusiastically:

~: "I'm radioactive, radioactive!" :~

Many thumped their chests, seats, or whatever surface they could find to match the addictive rhythm. The beat was utterly contagious.

Dana, the little girl with cancer, gave her sister a smug grin. "You happy now? He used drums in this song, not EDM."

Bailey ignored her sister as if she hadn't even spoken anything.

As the song concluded, Troy took a short break, stepping aside to let another singer take over. He headed to his trailer to prepare for the next segment of the show.

Meanwhile, Bailey, needing to use the bathroom, left her seat. By sheer coincidence—or fate—she accidentally walked into the wrong trailer.

___________________________________

AN: Just wanted to clarify that I won't include full lyrics for whole songs, only those who I have modified greatly, like I did with Bad Guy.

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