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Will power (Seeking Face Time With A Cult Icon)
William Hung blew me off the first time I tried to get an interview.
The University of California-Berkeley student and pop icon, who is best known for singing a rendition of ``She Bangs'' before being ejected from "American Idol,'' had in his mind become big enough to bark: "Everybody wants a piece of me now. . . . I'm not interested.''
Just a day earlier, chart-topper Twista had given me 30 minutes. I couldn't believe Hung could be that full of himself.
Five minutes, Hung would finally concede.
For this reporter, five minutes wasn't enough. Hung's debut album, "Inspiration,'' was about to be released, and I was determined to find who the real William Hung is.
So I decided to head over to my alma mater, hunt down this "Idol'' reject and get him to do a face-to-face interview.
Rumor was that Hung's hangout was the Crossroads dining commons on the south side of campus. I was warned, however: "He charges five bucks for photographs and autographs,'' said Yili Shi, a sophomore from the Chinese Student Association, who gave me the tip. "I think he's arrogant.''
This may be harder than I thought.
Days before setting foot on the Berkeley campus, I had nightmares of Hung repeatedly blowing me off in person.
After slipping into the busy cafeteria, I scanned for his trademark school-bus-yellow backpack.
Then, like a slow-motion scene from a John Woo movie, he was there, crossing my path, lugging that backpack.
For a split second, our eyes met. I kept walking.
Is that really him? He's taller than I imagined.
Moments later, small mobs of people started calling his name, "Hey, William!''
Reaching cult status
William Hung has become a cult icon. The 21-year-old sang Tuesday night at the Golden State Warriors game, Rolling Stone has interviewed him, and Jay Leno will do the same on Thursday. His mug is a fixture on online pop-up ads, and his Web site logs more than 8 million hits weekly. Also, the song that made him famous, a cover of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs,'' reached the Top 5 of the iTunes Music Store's most-downloaded songs. The Cal junior is a bigger star than he could have ever imagined.
He recently signed a contract with Koch Records for a reported $25,000 and most likely gets paid for each of his numerous performances. It's unclear how much he's making -- he won't say -- but it's clear that he is making the most of his 15 minutes of fame.
In the cafeteria, he surveys the long rows of students downing dorm food and makes a beeline for a table of girls. He hugs each one, as if he's known them for years.
The group of freshmen has known him for only a month.
"I've seen him a couple of times from afar talking to girls, which is something I never saw before this whole incident,'' says Christopher William England, Hung's former roommate. "Ultimately, I think it's very inspiring.''
With the girls, Hung boastfully uses the same line I heard on the phone: "Everybody wants a piece of me.''
Since he has become famous, Hung has not changed anything about his appearance: T-shirt tucked into khaki pants, leather belt, tennis shoes. "I want to impress with my singing and professional ability, so I'm not thinking too much about changing the way I look. I want to come out neat and tidy.''
One of the girls at the table, Jenny Shen, says, "I just admire him for still being who he is.''
Hung smiles at her between messy mouthfuls of the bland penne Alfredo.
What's his appeal?
People seem to root for Hung because he represents the underdog.
"I believe I'm just a regular person, an ordinary person that contributes to society positively,'' said the civil engineering major, pointing out he is not the person some people may think. "I'm not nerdy. I don't hit the books at all. I spend time doing other things, like singing.''
But not everyone admires what Hung is doing. At the beginning of the hype, an Asian-American studies professor at UC-Davis criticized the image that Hung was portraying. Darrell Hamamoto, who says he tries to strengthen the image of Asian-American males, said Hung is a Chinese caricature created by the media.
"He's a joke. . . . He feeds into it.'' Hamamoto, on the other hand, recently filmed a porn movie with Asian-Americans in the lead roles in hopes of changing the U.S. stereotype of Asian-American men as sexually passive.
Hung is aware of the comments but says, "I'm trying to portray myself as different from those stereotypes . . . I try to learn from criticism as well, without letting the criticism get me down . . . I'm not so distant that I don't learn from other people's ideas or criticism.''
Recently Hung has been on the other end, doing the criticizing. He's a judge for "Cal Idol,'' Berkeley's version of ``American Idol.'' According to some contestants, he can be harsh. But he says he's nothing like the television judges -- Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. "I'm objective. They're not always objective. I'm always objective.''
Hung is sweet in person, however, and adamant about proving that he is still the same old Will.
"I inspire other people to try to become exactly who I am right now,'' he says. "I hope that people can enjoy whatever they choose to do and be happy.''
Fame, the future
On the way up the hill to the north side of campus, girls flock to Hung's side. Many wave, asking, "Where's your limo?''
One girl walks up and hugs him, but it's hard to tell if she's a friend. She's a former dorm-mate from freshman year at Clark Kerr dormitory, and she tells a story of how Hung criticized her. The girl, who also sings, said he had the gall to tell her that on a scale of good to bad music, "Elton John is here, he would be next, then Britney, and on the other end would be me.''
On the path to class, through the trees by the Alumni House, Hung reflects over his studies. At the same time, he's worrying about practicing and performing. In addition to his engineering load, he is taking introduction to music and Chinese choir.
"I can't do it all,'' says Hung, who is thinking about withdrawing next term to concentrate on his singing. He frets that maybe his 15 minutes are nearly up.
"By improving my singing and performance ability, I hope to achieve longevity in terms of fame,'' he says. "When someone rises out of nowhere, that sudden explosion of fame, nobody knows how long it will last.''
He is late for psychology class in Evans Hall.
"I've told you a lot,'' he says with a touch of concern in his voice after spending an hour with me. But he quickly adds: "All right, I'll see you next time.''
CD now available: 'Inspiration'
Record: A CD of covers including "She Bangs",' "I Believe I Can Fly',' and "Y.M.C.A.',' and a bonus DVD filled with studio footage and inspirational messages.
Label: Koch Records (same as Ani DiFranco and Master P).
Price: $13.99, also available on Amazon.com
More info: www.williamhung.net
The Real William Hung
Age: 21
Birthplace: Hong Kong
Major: Civil engineering
Favorite type of songs: ``Serious ballads''
Favorite singers: Phil Collins, Elton John,
the Eagles, Ricky Martin
Daily musts: An apple and orange juice
Daily hangout: Crossroads dining commons, University of California-Berkeley
Favorite video game: Soul Caliber
Favorite video-game character: Astaroth
I want to give this unique character to all my music. |
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Post time 7-4-2004 12:59 AM
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