While other Super Girls swiftly staged concerts and raked in money for films, TV, advertisements and promotions, Shanghai Super Girl Shang Wenjie has yet to break into show business, writes Yao Minji.

The 2006 Super Girl Shang Wenjie, considered somewhat withdrawn and introverted, has created something of a stir since she hasn't appeared much in public. Sunday night was her first concert, a duo performance, and it was packed.

Shang's absence from the limelight has generated talk about her lack of visibility and reports of differences with her promoters. The story goes that Shanghai's Super Girl was unhappy about her lack of promotion but promoters found that she was rather remote and difficult to package and advertise. Sometimes she simply didn't show up for events, reports said.

Shang, however, is viewed by many as more intellectual than other singers. She is an extraordinary success story: Shang entered the Super Girl contest three times in Hangzhou, Chengdu and Guangzhou before she finally reached the national finals and triumphed. But that's not enough.

Since she was crowned on September 30, Shang hasn't released an album, she even hasn't had solo concerts, major appearances, shown up for significant promotions or launched big advertising campaigns. Her debut work is a book about her experiences studying in France during college - and that hasn't been released yet.

The 2005 Super Girls Li Yuchun and Zhou Bichang both released their albums, got advertisements and made their appearances in films or TV series shortly after the contest.

Unlike Li or Zhou, Shang only occasionally attended large events or concerts with numerous other stars. Her infrequent public appearances explain why the concert hall was crowded on Sunday night. It was thronged by "sesames," the nickname of Shang's fans, so called in a play on the pronunciation of her name.

Shang performed several songs - a striking change from her previous appearances in which she sang only one or two songs. She performed with Ding Wei, a veteran local singer, in Bailey's Best Shared Music Party.

"It's not like I don't want to attend events, but it depends on the types of the events and timing. For this one, the organizers think I embody the idea of an intellectual woman, what they try to promote. And I like their drinks. We clicked," Shang told Shanghai Daily.

It was interesting to see Shang in a pink outfit, since her Super Girl television image was rather gender-neutral. She had short hair and wore long pants, just like Li and Zhou.

Now she walks carefully, wears perfect makeup and is accompanied by two assistants. She appears carefully programmed and slightly nervous.

Shang is generally considered introverted and low-key, not a perfect match for the entertainment business where an outgoing personality helps.

"Many say that I don't fit in the entertainment business, maybe they are right. But I don't plan to change my personality, that's impossible since I'm already 24," she says. "I just want more people to hear my music. If they like it and are moved by my songs, I'll stay on."

Only a year ago, nobody could have seen Shang as a star, least of all Shang herself.

With a degree in French from prestigious Fudan University, Shang was a typical office lady, working hard during the weekdays and hanging out with friends on weekends, often in karaoke parlors.

Nobody would guess that she would sing all the way to the championship. As the "dark horse" of the contest, Shang failed in the preliminary in Hangzhou, neighboring Zhejiang Province. If she had stopped there, she would have been just one of many young people who failed their dreams.

"I can see myself in her," says Sabrina Cai, a 26-year-old marketing manager, one of the "sesames," who are usually well-educated young women working as office ladies, teachers, and in other jobs for which they are over-qualified.

"She embodies the spirit of smart, hard-working and determined office ladies in Shanghai," she says.

"Determined" is the key word, as Shang pursued the contest by entering the preliminary in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, after she failed in Hangzhou. This time, she made it but didn't reach the regional top 10.

She started all over again in Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong Province. Her path was difficult due to scarcity of supporters - winning requires a high number of SMS messages. But she made it, although much more slowly and with more difficulty than other Super Girls.

During this demanding process, Shang paid the price because she was not able to see her parents or friends for months.

"Whenever my parents call, they're like 'I want to cook for you because we haven't had a meal together for so long'," recalls Shang.

She says that she is so recognizable nowadays that she has to put on hats or sunglasses to disguise herself on the streets.

"I don't regret entering Super Girl, although I have paid the price of getting famous. I have met many friends through the competition, not only other Super Girls but also my fans, the 'sesames.' I want to continue to share my music with them," she says.

Now Shang is working on her first album. She wants it to be a simple music work that can move others emotionally.

"For now, I want to focus on music," concludes Shang.
 
(Shanghai Daily February 16, 2007)