As Taylor's first listener, Leon had already heard every song on her new album in advance.
Compared to her previous album Speak Now, the country music style in the new album has been significantly weakened, almost enough to take off the hat of a country singer.
Among them, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble, and Blank Space, written for Leon, are quite typical pop music styles.
"If everything goes well, I will release this album after the Australian tour." Taylor hummed her own work softly, her long slender fingers stroking Christmas's fur.
Leon froze for two seconds after listening, as if he suddenly thought of something.
Isn't the end of the Australian tour around the end of March next year?
This seemed to overlap with the expected release time of his second album by Columbia Records.
"Sounds like we're going to be rivals this time."
Leon calculated with a smile. Both major Divas, Adele and Beyoncé, have made it clear that they will not release new albums in the first half of next year.
Lady Gaga's second album Born This Way underperformed in the market, and there won't be a new album in the short term.
Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, released at the end of 2010, was a huge hit. Usually, once an album piled up with such catchy songs becomes a big hit, it will have a very long golden sales cycle...
In terms of male singers, the only ones who can pose a threat to Leon are the two rappers Kanye and Lil Wayne, but both have already released new albums in 2011.
Newcomers like Drake are only good at shouting with their mouths. In terms of strength and status, none can confront him face to face.
"Isn't that good?" Taylor rested her head on Leon's shoulder. "Our names will be discussed together by fans. That's what I like to see most."
"You're right; this might produce unexpected effects." Leon shrugged.
Although Taylor often shows a coquettish girlish posture, she is actually a woman with a very strong career ambition in her bones.
Any form of pressure will be easily converted into motivation by her, becoming fuel for producing notes and lyrics.
Leon is very confident about the second album poured with inspiration, but he has no confidence in facing this new era sales queen—her fans are just too capable of buying!
On the last day of 2011, Leon and Taylor performed together in Times Square for the New Year's Eve show.
With only one hour left before the New Year's bell rang, Taylor didn't show a trace of nervousness. She was excitedly talking to Leon about topics unrelated to the performance.
"Do you think the rumor about the end of the world in 2012 will be true?"
"You believe this? Don't you think prophecies and such are stupid..."
"Why do you think it's stupid? The Maya's understanding of astronomy and calendars far exceeded modern people." Taylor pouted. "Many people around me believe this prophecy is true! Emma said that the stele unearthed from the Quiriguá site accurately predicted every disaster, including the European invasion of the Americas!"
"Alright... even if it's true, I don't care about the end of the world." Leon shrugged.
The cognitive level of female stars refreshed his lower limit.
How was Emma Watson, with a cognitive level inferior even to an alpaca, admitted to Brown University?
However, judging from the popularity of this prophecy, it is easy to see that the 2012 end of the world is really a good gimmick.
Unfortunately, this idea was brought to the big screen by disaster film master Roland Emmerich as early as 2009, harvesting $769 million at the global box office, hailed as the most perfect disaster film in history.
"Kid, look who's over there." Phil interrupted their conversation, pointing five meters to the left.
All personnel participating in the New Year's Eve performance, including staff and government officials, were circling around a man in a suit and leather shoes.
The bowing and scraping appearance was extremely fawning, as if they had seen President Barack in person.
"Michael Bloomberg. This guy is a big shot. You'd better go say hello to him." Phil reminded.
American people are keen on putting various exaggerated high hats on legendary figures—"Basketball Emperor" James, "Tennis King" Federer, "King of New York" Jay-Z, etc...
This point was further developed by their filial sons across the Pacific Ocean. The "King's title" alone could no longer satisfy the Japanese people's desire for expression; they liked more exaggerated and crude rhetoric—directly crowning idols with the name of God.
Jay-Z's "King of New York" title is only used to describe his influence in the East Coast music market.
If only comparing wealth or influence, in New York where old money capitalists are everywhere, daring to call oneself a king with a net worth of several hundred million dollars would be laughed at.
But putting the title of "King of New York" on Michael Bloomberg, probably no one can refute it.
Net worth of $40 billion, founder of Bloomberg L.P., served as Mayor of New York for 10 years...
Taking out any single label, the energy is scary enough.
"This guy secured the mayor's seat by changing the New York City term limit law, doing something no one had ever done before."
Phil, who was usually vulgar, spoke exceptionally carefully today. Bloomberg had absolute control over New York.
After the 9/11 incident, the city's economy and public finances faced the pressure of collapse, and citizens were worried about the future prospects.
But against this background, Bloomberg created tens of thousands of jobs, transforming a fiscal deficit of $6 billion into a fiscal surplus of billions of dollars.
The city government under his leadership increased New York's high school graduation rate by 40% and reduced the crime rate by one-third.
Even life expectancy increased by three years...
It is unknown how credible these data are, which seem even more inflated than the US military procurement list and reek of bragging.
If these data are all true, then with Bloomberg sitting in New York, "Batman" Bruce Wayne can declare retirement directly.
Even the Joker would have to bring a glass over to toast.
Just as Leon wanted to go to the front to say hello to Bloomberg, the other party noticed him first and took the initiative to walk over.
"Hello, young man. Thank you for taking the time to bring a wonderful performance to New York citizens on New Year's Eve." Bloomberg extended his hand, the handshake lasting no more than two seconds.
He then turned his gaze to Taylor immediately. "Long time no see, Miss Taylor. The last time we met was at the charity dinner held by Ms. Hillary Clinton?"
"You are still so radiant, Mr. Bloomberg." Taylor hugged him ceremonially.
Bloomberg put his hand on Leon's shoulder, appearing very casual: "You are truly a surprising young man. Look at you, establishing your own record company at such a young age, and also opening a film company and a media company? Your experience reminds me of a friend of mine, David Geffen, although many of his political views sound like a joke."
"Thank you for your praise, sir. My purpose in doing these things is entirely for the people, to output more valuable and positive cultural content to them."
Hearing him say this, Bloomberg was stunned for a second, then smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up.
A pop singer less than 22 years old speaking hypocritical and empty clichés more fluently than many professional politicians.
"I originally had many topics I wanted to chat with you about, regarding the New York entertainment industry." Bloomberg looked down at his watch, an unremarkable Omega Seamaster. "But now I have to hurry to prepare for the speech. Let's talk next time."
He patted Leon on the shoulder and turned to leave, surrounded by assistants and bodyguards.
As soon as the big shot left, Phil hurried over and said, "Bloomberg seems very interested in you."
"I'm also very interested in him."
The struggle between the Democratic and Republican parties is constant, but in fact, neither side is monolithic within the party.
A super tycoon like Bloomberg entering politics inevitably makes professional politicians jealous and feel a sense of crisis.
Before 2001, he had been a Democrat, and later switched to the Republican Party at the invitation of Mitch McConnell.
In 2007, he had the crazy idea of modifying the New York City term limit law, suffering criticism from both the Democratic and Republican parties simultaneously.
Used to big scenes, Bloomberg didn't panic at all. He simply announced that he would be an independent in the future.
Such a tough approach naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of other bigwigs in New York, the first being Senator Charlie.
He has publicly criticized Bloomberg many times as a "dictator" and "destroyer of democracy."
The enemy of an enemy is a friend.
To gain safety under Charlie's shadow, Leon was convinced that Bloomberg was a political resource he had hope of striving for.
"Get ready! The show is about to start!"
Clap clap—
The person in charge of the scene clapped his hands, signaling all staff to get moving.
Two minutes later, under the eager gazes of 800,000 people in Times Square, Leon and Taylor walked onto the stage hand in hand.
"How are you doing, New York!"
Yeah!!
The cheers erupted by 800,000 people were enough to paralyze any noise monitoring equipment.
In terms of audience number alone, this might be the biggest scene a singer can encounter in their career, bar none.
Leon led Taylor to sit by the piano, while he held a simple and unadorned acoustic guitar.
The two adjusted their in-ear monitors and nodded to each other tacitly.
Female fans quickly patted their chests to slow down their heartbeats. "OMG, I didn't think highly of this relationship originally, but look at them now; it's so sweet!"
The second Leon plucked the strings, the audience quieted down in unison.
Waving glow sticks, swaying their heads gently to the accompaniment.
I'm falling...
From this line of lyrics, a massive chorus swept the entire venue. A chorus of hundreds of thousands of people is not a scene easily seen.
Collective a cappella is more moving than any gorgeous chords or high notes breaking through the vocal range limit.
The voice gathering countless people's experiences and stories is the true voice of the soul!
Leon didn't want to miss this scene, so he simply extended the microphone to the audience, letting them become the protagonists instead of him.
When Taylor's singing voice appeared, the audience's emotions went out of control again.
Screams drowned out all background noise around Times Square.
Tell me something, boy
Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?
When singing the climax, couples waiting for the New Year hugged each other one after another.
With the stage direction as the background, taking selfies, confessing, hugging, kissing.
Without the help of alcohol and drugs, the strong atmosphere alone was enough to make everyone forget all troubles in life.
At this moment, even if the world-destroying natural disaster predicted in 2012 descended in the next second, few people would care.