Videos

Madison Alexis’ ‘Hey, Soul Sister’ Cover A Hit With Chinese

by on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 98 comments comments

Madison Alexis cover of "Hey Soul Sister" impresses Chinese netizens.

A cover of “Hey, Soul Sister” by the band Train uploaded by YouTube user madisonalexis93 became a hit sensation on the Chinese video sharing site Youku with over 1.1 million views as of January 10th, but even more surprising is the fact that the original video uploaded on YouTube received less than 20,000 views. According to Youku, the majority of the views (over 1 million) came from external embedded links on SNS sites such as RenRen.com.

Chinese netizens are currently flooding her YouTube channel and Twitter with comments of praise and admiration. Out of 157 Twitter followers most are Chinese users and the majority of the recent comments posted on her YouTube are from Chinese netizens as well. “madisonalexis93″ even responded that she might start a RenRen and Youku account to interact with Chinese online users directly.

As you can guess, madisonalexis93′s real name is Madison Alexis and she was born in 1993, making her 17 years old.

The copy on Youku:

Original YouTube Video:

Can’t see the above video?

Comments on Youku:

赤迷:

So beautiful, [her] voice as well…
Perfection

璐怪:

The environment is good, [look at] the greenery in the background…

姜文权:

Heaven should be like this ~~

zhangqithu:

Foreigners are more beautiful than Chinese.

范佩西123:

I went to her twitter and myspace page and it is basically all comments left by Chinese people. So funny. Looks like everyone is eating out of their own bowls while staring at what is inside the pot [another way of saying looking at the outside from inside the wall]

sjtulg:

So much better than Milk Tea Girl, fresh and natural without all the superficial acting.

Just，岩汐:

Is it because that brother is too fat, or that his guitar is too small?

qingwuyan:

What is the name of the goddess MM!!! I can’t scale the wall, request the advice of experts.

0hShit:

I discovered that Chinese students’ minds are very dirty.

yoyoyoshabi:

Girl’s shirt says SMU, American Southern Methodist University = =”

morktang:

I saw this child on YouTube…only 17 this year…plays the guitar…so beautiful…makes me want to commit crimes.

猫君良:

Replies on Twitter:

Comments on YouTube:

Madison Alexis cover of "Hey Soul Sister" impresses Chinese netizens.

Hey, Soul Sister. Personals @ chinaSMACK.

  • http://www.ethansenglishcafe.com Ethan

    Wonderful, more crappy music to have my students insist I’ll just love…. Why can’t they all discover good music instead of stuff like this….

    • http://www.ethansenglishcafe.com Ethan

      whoa! I got the couch, go me. sofa my pigu…

      • http://www.celebrity.ohfree.net/ David

        Her sang very good, i love her song :D

    • http://www.foarp.blogspot.com FOARP

      Voice is no worse than most of the contestants on X Factor/Pop Idol/American Idol, plus Chinese go for that thin, whitebread look. When it comes to poor taste in music, the last UK Christmas number one single just shows that folk in the UK at least cannot criticise anyone.

      • Yurp

        Because X Factor/Pop Idol/American Idol & Christmas number ones are the only other sources of music out there right?

        Come on dude you can do better than that. You sound like old people who claim all modern music is shit simply because of what’s shown on TV…

        There’s plenty of music around that’s infinitely better.

        • ceh

          yeah, but that’s what the masses like, which is kind of the point here. Hurry up and go back to finding the next “cool” indie band so that you can later brag about how you liked them before they were cool.

          • http://www.ethansenglishcafe.com Ethan

            It’s a foolish point. The vast majority of young people in China all like the exact same style of music and it’s all this. I don’t care if people want to listen to this style of music, I just get sick of listening to it continuously everywhere I go. In the smaller cities in China I’ve lived it got so bad I was almost happy to hear Back Street Boys or Bryan Adams every now and again…

            But that’s what MP3 players are for I guess.

    • Jack

      Remember William Hung…Chinese/Taiwanese guy in US who become an overnight celebrity with American Idol….Thats the same thing happening here in China

      Its human thing..We are attracted towards extreme opposite to fulfill our minds. American are as much guilty as Chinese in these matters….We all think alike

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmy5qrvaVQ

    • Type Two

      Chinese people on twitter and youtube?

      • isenkrammer

        have you heard of Freegate, VPN and other proxies?

    • DongDong

      Haha, they think the same when laowai only get interest in the Beijing rock, underground shanghai electronic stuffs and whatever other stuffs that local never listen to :)

      • http://www.ethansenglishcafe.com Ethan

        They think why don’t foreigners listen to a wide variety of music? Foreigners DO listen to a wide variety of music…. Hence their finding all the smaller bands whererever they go.

      • brotherrivercrab

        that’s because it’s a “white” thing:

        http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/30/40-indie-music/

        • CHNinUSA

          OMG, there is a website like this, I really can’t believe there are universal “likes” in certain stuffs for all white people.

    • George

      How about leaving the arrogant music snobbery at the door? Maybe it’s ok for your students to have different musical tastes than you.

    • CanadianBacon

      A classical music snob would probably turn on the radio or have a stroll in the supermarket once in a while and wonder why post-war music sound all the same.

  • john digmeme

    Weirdest/most entertaining 中國人 comments ever, thank you for translating – very insightful!

  • Alikese

    I like the guy on Twitter who comments “I was admitted to Indiana University, waiting for George Washington…”

    As if she’s going to say, “well, stop on by my house, I’ll give you a quickie to welcome you to my country.” Yay, creepers are now officially international!

    • Ryannoime

      It’s as if he wanted to impress her with his knowledge of US schools. Or, perhaps he wanted recognition that he is going to study in the US…like so, so, so many other Chinese students, mixed in with all those other international students…haha

    • Fenqing Mike

      horrible interpretation by you, but yea, that comment is pretty game-less

      • Alikese

        No Mike, you cannot stop by my house for a quickie.

        • Fenqing Mike

          Sorry I already stopped at your mom’s house, I hope she doesn’t catch a yellow fever.

  • wallimo

    If she were smart she’d learn Mandarin and start singing some Chinese songs, She’ll be bigger than 大山. They’ll give her a tv show on cctv news.

    • da gongji

      da shan, funny you mention him, lives in toronto and beijing, no one knows him in canada except chinese people. i eat at a restaurant he frequents in toronto, he always looks around to see if someone recognizes him.

      • T

        I heard DaShan’s a real egotistical douche in life.

        • wallimo

          I’ve seen him in Shanghai at the F1 track, he was filming a segment for one of his shows. Some chinese people wanted a photo with him. He pretended he was on the phone for like 10 minutes and they just stood there waiting they didn’t care. Eventually he gave them there photo.

          Like I said learn a chinese song and cover that if you think they love this girl now wait till they hear her sing some chinese song. Also someone should send her the chinasmack link I bet she doesn’t even fully know what the hell is going on!! It may give her some understanding

      • George

        haha! I saw him walking down Nanjing Dong Lu in Shanghai during the Expo, also looking around to see if anyone recognized him. Maybe 4 or 5 people did. There were a lot more people staring at the super short skirt, long legged girl he was with.

        • sunnyata

          haha, thanks for confirming my suspicions of his being a hopeless douche

  • http://www.lovelovechina.com Crystal

    Whoa!
    Not even one word about the guy :-)

    • FD

      Umm…

      >Just，岩汐:
      > Is it because that brother is too fat, or that his guitar is too small?

    • Jon

      Seems like a cool dude. I hope his ukelele charm and friendly carefree ways are sufficient to get him some play with that lovely young gal.

  • Margaret

    pretty? yes. sings well? not enough to merit such popularity.

    • justmega

      agreed……………………………………………!

    • ceh

      she kind of reminds me of a younger, non-bitchy version of Mischa Barton. I’d hit it.

  • MadeInChina

    I CALL DIBBBBBBS for the chicky babe! mine mine mine!!!
    you guys can fight over the brother…his just as talented.

  • http://www.makeyourownpheromones.com Michael Hughes

    Asians are so fixated on looks! Gosh!

    • Chad

      lol anyone good looking on youtube always gets way more views. I guess the Asians are human after all.

  • Bay

    Gosh -_- voice is mediocre. Come on china!

  • John

    Beautifully done.

  • eattot

    Is it because that brother is too fat, or that his guitar is too small?

    that’s the best point, haha!
    haha!
    crazy chinese white admiration… so many ass kissers.
    but on the other hand, only in western, they can have truly independent( mind and finance) and strong women. do not use someone you know to proof i am wrong. i mean in common, not single.
    one day i was with friends, one said, how i wish i lived in a country, love for love, marry for love…we all kept quiet for long time.

    • bobiscool

      do not use your friend as a single example either, fool.

      Say whatever you want, but western divorce rates are still highest, and higher than ever. Love my ass. It’s called a bunch of young people with too much hormones and not enough brains to care about the future.

      • eattot

        哼！
        that’s the nature of love, we are animals too!
        love this today, love that another day, that’s human nature, also love!

        • BlackSugarDaddy

          Love me ,babe. I’ll make your a real animal :DDDD

          • T

            forgive the oxymoron.

            how many happy marriages have you seen in China?

            how many happy marriages have you seen in the West?

            I think the west beats the east in “Happy Marriages”

        • sean

          well everyone here knows that you are an animal with loads of makeup. The reasons why you and your friend can’t find true love is just because you people are retarded and you people care about money and you people don’t give a shit about love.

          Fools and retarded people like you are more common in china and madam you are nothing but a thrash

          • eattot

            who you are?
            do not speak as you know me very well, i guess we never met in person. first, i merely wear makeup, only time to time when i am in good mood.
            second, i had some chances to marry rich, but i ran away. it’s my personal life, no need to tell you though.
            third, i loved truly, i chose to leave at last. when i only got 1k in pocket for spring festival, i still bought him 300 gift and spent 100 to pick him up in airport, i even had no money to eat much. latter i still not let him know i had no money.
            about you surspect my IQ, hahaha, that’s funny. good thing is you never said i am ugly, thanks!

          • GiannaFox

            Truly a gentleman you are.

            *Turns off sarcasm*

        • sunnyata

          you no tell me what to do!
          your daughter, she kick my dog, and now my dog need operration!

        • Joe

          For a blog comment, that was surprisingly insightful.

      • Ethan

        The idea that divorce equals unhappiness, or is intrinsically bad, is ridiculous. In fact the opposite is often true; marriages involving an abusive husband and a wife who did not dare divorce were prevalent throughout in the provinces until very recently (and, in some places, still are).

        P.S. Quick stats: ~40% of marriages end in divorce in the U.S.; 20%, in China. The latter number is, like most statistics in that country, rising rapidly.

        • Ryannoime

          Not to mention, with the percentages…20% of the married Chinese population would be larger than 40% of the married US population.

          Higher divorce rate only means that, in one country, people aren’t going to look down on a divorced woman as much as the other country would, and/or that the women are independent enough to make it on their own. To put it in a nutshell: women don’t have to put up with as much ridiculous bullshit.

        • http://baihaifeng.blogspot.com Dr. Jones Jr.

          Other problems with that particular statistic:

          1) People who divorce once are likely to do so again. Think about how much people like Larry King contribute to that statistic.

          2) Increasing numbers of people are choosing not to marry at all, but rather to cohabit with their significant other.

          3) Poorer/less-developed countries always have lower divorce rates. Necessity of survival dictates that many people who would like to end a marry and break up a family can’t or won’t do so because they would put their economic future in jeopardy.

          4) Alimony and attitudes towards independence from the family unit.

          An eternal love? All of us, everywhere in the world have the same problems maintaining it. Look neither to greener pastures, nor towards traditional attitudes based on economic necessity if you wish to do so.

      • isenkrammer

        China is catching up in terms of divorce rates. I have a feeling that in the near future marriages will no longer be a common practice in our world and children will be universally and completely taken care of by the governments. I guess that is when the Internationale will be human race – when people just want to fcuk for fun with any random passers-by without taking any responsibilities.

    • Chad

      lmao. Spoken like an ignorant Chinese ass kisser yourself eattot. As someone who has lived on both sides, I can say that Chinese women are plenty independent financially. Did you know out of 14 female billionaires, 7 are Chinese? Yeah, that’s right. Financial inequality my left toe. And who the hell marries for love in the Western world? Give me a break.

      • eattot

        then keep on laughing better to death.

  • http:/www.matthewsawtell.com Matthew A. Sawtell

    Scream all you want folks – but there is something to be said for that ‘blind luck’ moment that can make or break a person. If she has her 15 minutes of fame because of this, so be it.

  • BlackSugarDaddy

    i want her ass day and night !

  • ##BlothaLonely##

    Nothing extraordinary abt the video. Chinese people are just lonely. (like me)

    weeeeeeeeee wirrrrrr.. weeeeeeeeee wirrrrrr.. ROCK YA!!!

  • lucerne

    wow…what a duo…the toothy plastic teen and her funny fatass side-blob (‘cameras are so awkward’– haha…yeah, when you’re so fat your arm barely fits in the frame, i guess they are kinda awkward).

    Chinese ‘netizens’: please learn what the FUCK you’re looking at. Only 20k Americans clicked this vid for a REASON — it’s SHIT！

  • T

    The reason it got viral is because the fat loser Asian guy is with the pretty skinny white girl. Every Chinese dude’s dream. But the truth is, white girls are stinky. whew

    • sean

      yes i totally agree, chinese girls and guys want to sleep with something that is white.

      • Peter in China

        But Caucasians are actually pink.

        • T

          On the inside, we’re all pink, wohooo

        • Joe

          Only the Irish are pale enough to be pink. The others are just light tan.

          • GiannaFox

            Funny, I’m whiter than most scandinavians and aglos, and yet, I more like have a yellow tint to my skin, not pink, yet, I’m white as all phuck. Don’t generalize.

  • @@

    how many hits does souja boy gets in the states?

    FUCKING TOLD AMERISHIT!

    GUCCI MAIN

  • JinaSensei

    Cute! Glad the Chinese are enthralled with her.

  • http://zh.barchdesign.com WoahWoah

    Wow- So much bitching in the comments,
    It’s an alright song, not my style- but who cares, she sings fine and is kind of cute. Whats with all the rage?

  • mightymouse

    I don’t get the negative comments.

    Her voice isn’t that bad, on top of that its not like this is a professional video shot with professional sound equipment. Its cute that she is aware of her surroundings and she acts very natural.

    Maybe at first Chinese netizens are attracted to the fact that its a fat Chinese guy with a skinny white girl, but he plays pretty well, and white, black, yellow or green, isn’t it every nerds dream to attract a cute girl with skill rather than looks?

    If you look at their relationship, their environment, their looks and all its very natural and has an authentic feel, maybe thats what the Chinese netizens are reacting too. Not just a “fat Chinese guy with a cute white chick”.

  • Confucius says

    Where’s the coverage of J-20?

    We all know its the hottest topic in China’s internet. Please cover it.

    I want to see the Chinese POV, I’m very interested

    • Confucius says

      The first blur picture already flooded English forums. More flood follow with clearer pics. Now it has taken its maiden flight.

      I can’t believe Chinasmack still haven’t covered it. Fauna, I though this website supposed to cover the hot topics in China’s internet? I especially wanna see the Chinese netizen aviation hawk pov. Please do ^^, Thanks.

      • http://www.about.me/joe.xu Joe

        It’s only a hot topic on some certain military forums, and besides, the J20 have been covered to death already what more is there to cover? chinasmack is not exactly a military analysis site.

        I might cover it if I have time

      • http://www.facebook.com/kedafu Kedafu

        you mean

        where is your 50c?

        check out the coverage at

        http://english.cntv.cn/program/newshour/20110112/106620.shtml

        then click “like” for Facebook

        no song of the article

        always 五毛党

  • chinamark

    Come guys, give the girl a break. She’s an ordinary, sweet girl who’s having a bit of fun. That’s all.

  • Meh

    Pretty average looking girl but that’s okay, she can sing pretty damn good.

    • VanCityGuy

      What are you talking about??????

      That singing was horrendous. She also had a strong southern accent.

      • chinamark

        And I take it that you can sing much better. And don’t be insulting to other people’s accents.

      • Meh

        Far from ” horrendous ” my friend… You need to get your hearing checked. Listen to the average joe attempt to sing and then compair it to this girls. Her singing ability is above average. Also, what’s wrong with a strong southern accent? Does it matter?

      • Jon

        Girls looks: well above average.

        Girl’s voice: well above average, as Meh said.

        Accent: not strongly Southern U.S., and what’s your problem if it is?

        This forum is full of utter douchebags and shitfuckers. Haters gonna hate.

  • Joe

    She’s okay. Definitely better than average, but not top tier. A bit too much of that fading thing going on. Sound sounds too shallow, and not deep enough. Looks are okay, although slightly like a stoner.

    Music: 7/10
    Looks: 7/10
    Average: 7/10

  • Cuius

    Nothing to be mad about.. that’s the internet ,some things get popular though there’s nothing special about it .. plenty of examples , not only in China.
    Oh one question ,because I don’t know where to ask and you guys seem like you know what you’re talking about:
    I’ll spend a semester in China and I’ve read some pretty terrible things about chinese girls here, is this all really true? Like they’re really shallow,back-stabbing and only act in self-interest?Because I don’t want to get in any kind of trouble
    Should I better stay away from them? Any advice on this?
    I just want to get to know chinese People and make friends :(..

    • mankouzanghua

      a quarter of westerners with experience with chinese women would probably say they’re heaven-sent, a quarter would probably say their selfish, shallow, backstabbers, and the other half (i.e., the rational people) would probably say they tend to have some differences from western women in general but that issues of character depend on the individual.

  • ETed

    This is famous because the chinese guys see a cute white girl sitting close to some fat chinese guys and think this means that hot white girls like chinese guys.

    Yeah right! LOL

  • Cleo

    She’s adorable but not even Maggi Q can be used as evidence that diluting Chinese beauty will reinvent and improve porcelain. I like my original Chinese girls just the way they are with their long sharp sparse eyelashes where every lash is defined like a fine calligraphy brush drawing. I like the water nymph qualities of the native fairies even though I admire those from Ireland and Africa and the Mediterranean. I like the fine as silk and uncurlable black hair. I like buttery skin that is still translucent but not as white as the Irish or Russians. I like the lightness of the bones and the smaller joint bones at the knees and wrists. I like the resemblance to Han statuettes with the whimsical faces that no plastic surgeon could imitate.

  • Of canada

    This video is famous because for the average Chinese guy it is a picture of paradise .. clean environment and overweight asian guy hanging out with and jamming with beautiful, talented thin white girl. Not a care in the world. They see themselves as that asian guy beside her. “like staring out he window of a prison cell” was an apt comment on netizen made.

    • Meh

      I laughed man. Lol

    • Chad

      Wow how profound. Who are you.. sigmund freud?

  • V

    I think that the best thing that comes from this is exposing the girl to China, when previously she may never have considered it. Now she has the possibility to make many Chinese friends (legitimate or not) and has a real reason to learn Chinese. This could be a valuable skill that will be of use whether she continues in her music or not. 加油～

  • thewastedyouth

    I would fuck this girl everyday if she was my gf, I am going to Fort Sam Houston next month, she lives in Dallas who knows I might see her

    • Meh

      If you do meet her might aswell ask her to fuck.

  • Peter in China

    Jesus shut up you stupid troll.

    We get it already, you hate Chinese people.

  • whichone

    I’m not sure leaving stupid comments online is enough to satisfy the mediocre requirement, but who knows. If you can’t be the next Clay Aiken then maybe at least William Hung, god knows you sound about as retarded as he looks.

  • Freddie (aka brent)

    Care for a duo?

    Don’t stop me now,
    I’m having such a good time,
    I’m having a ball…

    Don’t stop me now,
    I’m having such a good time,
    So give me a call…

    3,000 degrees that’s why they call me Mr. Farenheit,
    I’m travelling at the speed of light,
    I’m gonna make a super sonic man out of you…

    I LOVE THAT SONG – WE SHOULD SPREAD THE LOVE!

  • ceh

    and it’s turning you on

  • whichone

    It’s because I’m very high strung. “Brah”? really? C’mon that’s a little much.

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