Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 79: The Harlem Shake Rule]

"She's here," Demi leaned in and whispered.

"I can see her," Selena Gomez raised her cup, strategically sipping water, revealing the purity ring on her right hand -- a silver band inscribed with Latin, a trend that began in 1990 among some conservative religious groups in America. Selena, born in 1992, of Mexican descent, was influenced by that movement.

Spotting one of the party's main stars, Miley Cyrus, enter the venue, her casual outfit of low-rise, loose-fitting jeans paired with a fitted T-shirt immediately drew everyone's attention. She noticed Demi and Selena but only shot them a distant glance with no further interaction.

As Disney Channel stars, the three of them were often compared, but their off-screen relationships were quite strained -- especially when it involved the same guy.

Following closely behind were the Jonas Brothers, and this time Selena was noticeably more animated, waving and approaching Joe and his brothers.

"Miley's already here," Selena quietly reminded.

Joe's expression turned awkward as he exchanged a glance with Demi, who shot him a disapproving stare.

Clearly, the lives of these Disney child stars were far more chaotic than what was portrayed on TV.

Suddenly, someone shouted, and everyone turned to look toward the entrance.

Selena, who had seemed a bit distracted, perked up when she saw Taylor next to her rumored boyfriend, who appeared even more handsome in person than in photos -- tall, muscular, and with a perfect face. In comparison, Joe, who had been standing next to her, seemed like a skinny monkey, and his looks were overshadowed entirely.

"I heard he's a male model," Demi exclaimed with excitement.

"But he has a girlfriend," Joe chimed in, scratching his head.

"So what? Did that impact your secret talks with me back then?" Selena fired back.

Joe, who had previously been dating Miley, now found himself publicly dating Selena.

At a loss for words, Joe was left speechless.

...

Meanwhile, Ryan and Taylor entered, grabbing everyone's attention. Both were significantly taller than those around them, appearing almost like giants in a kingdom of dwarfs. Ryan needed no introduction, and Taylor looked stunning as well -- thanks primarily to Ryan's influence, and also because she had become better at dressing herself after trying out new styles.

Ryan scanned the room and noted the Disney Channel stars present, in addition to a few representatives from Nickelodeon's child stars -- Miley being the most prominent among them.

For Ryan, who had experienced the "white party" before, this felt more like child's play. If it weren't for filming yet another version of the Harlem Shake, he might have skipped this. With a lackluster mood, he settled into a less significant spot on the couch.

In contrast, Taylor blended in effortlessly. She was a little nervous, attending the party to socialize, as she didn't have many friends besides Abigail -- whom she had known before fame -- and she found it easier to connect with her fellow young female stars.

She proactively moved over to join Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. The three of them enjoyed drinks and shared laughs, clearly growing closer.

...

"Did you create the Harlem Shake?" Ryan heard a raspy but upbeat voice beside him.

He turned to find Miley perched on the back of the sofa, mere inches from him. Miley had filmed a version of the Harlem Shake earlier, thanks to a push from Taylor.

Ryan nodded.

"Mind if I sit here?" Miley pointed to the spot next to him, and he could see that she was holding a bottle of beer in her hand.

Remembering that she had indirectly helped him before, Ryan didn't refuse.

"What's the legal drinking age in California?" Ryan asked casually.

"Is it 21 or 18? I can never remember," Miley shrugged, then pointed at Demi. "Just a bottle, you see? She's my age, and she's already dealing with substance issues, rehearsing lines while on drugs."

"You shouldn't go around saying that," Ryan's smile froze a bit.

"Have you never tried?" Miley said, gesturing dramatically with a hand-rolled cigarette.

"..."

...

Just then, someone from behind Miley chimed in.

"Miley, See You Again managed to hold a spot within the top twenty this week!"

Miley turned around, sticking her tongue out and making a rock gesture.

Seeing this up close, Ryan realized Miley's tongue was exceptionally long -- she could almost lick her chin.

The "Tongue Queen" nickname fit.

"Rihanna's Take A Bow jumped from fifty-three to number one!" another person mentioned, referencing Billboard updates.

The party was perfectly timed for the weekend, coinciding with Billboard's update schedule.

"Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love dropped to second place, while Coldplay's new track Viva La Vida debuted at sixteenth!"

"And Dr. Ray's new song Wake Me Up debuted at twenty-five!" Upon hearing this, Taylor, who had previously been engaged in conversation, immediately turned to Ryan with wide eyes, covering her mouth in disbelief.

At this moment, almost everyone at the party turned to Ryan, their expressions a mix of surprise followed by cheers from the crowd.

Ryan had only debuted less than three months ago, and for him to jump directly to twenty-five was a rise that could only be compared to a rocket launch.

"Is electronic music really this popular right now?" Miley turned toward him, clearly surprised -- she had been an ardent supporter of pop-rock, a path that had previously been validated by Avril. But Avril's peak had been years ago, and no one knew if public taste would shift again.

Ryan shrugged, suggesting that with Wake Me Up taking off, a new era might just be on the horizon!

"What about my other song?" Ryan suddenly remembered that he had another Harlem Shake version charting as well.

"This one is an even bigger surprise than Wake Me Up!" Someone from the crowd stepped forward, reading the latest news on their phone.

"Billboard has released a new announcement. Officials said that the influence of the Internet on pop music is gradually increasing. The popularity of Harlem Shake on YouTube is a good example. Its popularity has been clearly underestimated, and in line with the principles of presenting objective trends, Billboard announced that, starting from this week's Hot 100 list, internet streaming data would be counted towards popularity points! There's now a brand new formula for calculating popularity points!"

"This has become known as the Harlem Shake Rule!"

"And according to the new formula, the Harlem Shake has already risen to fifteenth place!"

"Today, we witnessed history!"

The entire venue erupted in cheers!

...

At the same time, a woman rushed into the recording studio.

"Sorry RedOne, my car broke down on the way," she apologized to the producer waiting in the studio.

"It's okay, Stefani, but before we start recording, you should check out the latest Billboard issue," the producer reminded her.

After learning about Dr. Ray's rapid ascendance, Stefani let out a sigh of relief.

"Look at all this! I knew it! I knew my decision was right two years ago! I stuck with cutting-edge electronic music!" As she spoke, her fingers tapped rhythmically against the floor; Italians were known for their gestures while speaking, a tradition she inherited.

Ryan's sudden entrance had skyrocketed her confidence about her new album!

"So, do you think you can achieve greater success than Dr. Ray?" The producer clenched his fists in excitement.

"Absolutely," she responded confidently.

"When I took the stage, he was still figuring out how to add two and two. Every song on my new album will be a hit just like Wake Me Up." She had been preparing for this album for an extended period.

"But great songs don't always equal hits. Remember what Akon mentioned earlier..."

If Stefani had been hesitant before, facing Dr. Ray's unexpected rise, she knew she had to make some changes.

"Exaggerated and avant-garde styles, right? No problem, I can handle that," she nodded. "From now on, everyone must call me Lady Gaga."

...

At another location in Los Angeles.

"Hello, Jimmy! How's it going?" a Black man answered the phone, his enthusiasm palpable.

"I'm producing a campaign song for Obama; I've invited ten-plus artists to participate in the recording. The new album is, of course, also in progress... What did you say?"

"Well, it seems we might need to adjust the direction of the new album. I'll call Fergie, AP, and Taboo shortly." The man, named will.i.am, immediately began searching online for information about Dr. Ray after hanging up.

...

At the same time, in another studio under the EMI label in Los Angeles...

"Dr. Ray? That name sounds like a bunch of nonsense," a woman knelt at the piano, straightening her back as the latest Billboard magazine spread out before her.

"Luke, what's your take on electronic music?" she asked her producer.

"A few months ago, I attended the Ultra Music Festival, and at that time, I felt electronic music wasn't mature enough as a carrier for pop. But with this young genius emerging, that might all change. He's a prodigy, equivalent to Daft Punk. Have you heard his track Tremor? You should reach out to him for collaboration," the producer, Dr. Luck, spoke earnestly.

"Collaborate with him? You want to change I Kissed a Girl into I Kissed a Boy?" The woman, named Katy, made a half-hearted attempt at humor.

But her producer Luke didn't find it funny; her jokes were always awkward.

"What do you think, Kesha?" Luke directed his gaze at the young woman who had just entered with fruits for them.

...

Atlanta.

"Justin Bieber! Get off that bed right now! This isn't a trampoline!" Arthur was at his wit's end, overwhelmed by the antics of this naughty kid.

"Look at Ryan and then look at yourself! Ryan has already hit the big time, and you're still bouncing around on the bed! Have you forgotten why your mom sent you here?" Arthur shouted.

The little boy paused for a moment, then joyfully resumed jumping on the bed. "But trampolining is so much fun!"

*****

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