Jay Chou Says No One Recognised Him In His Early Showbiz Days Even Though Most Shops Were Playing His Songs

​Way before Jay Chou was a private jet-taking, luxury penthouse-owning pop king performing to sold-out crowds, he was just one of the many fresh-faced crooners trying to make it big in the music industry. 

Sure, his debut album was a smash hit, even bagging him the Best Pop Vocal Album at the Golden Melody Awards in 2001. But according to the now 41-year-old, he was far from famous. 

In the latest episode of his Netflix travel show, J-Style Trip, Jay and Taiwanese host Blackie Chen took a trip to Ximending to visit the venue where Jay's very first autograph session was held.  

Jay recalled how when he first got started in showbiz, he bumped into a fan who wanted his autograph. He was initially very flattered, but when the fan walked over to him, she said: “Can you bring this to Jay Chou to get him to autograph it?”

As it turns out, although Jay’s songs were very popular with the general public and they were being played in every shop, no one really knew what he looked like, or who he was. 

​“It felt really good to hear my songs being played, and I’ll walk into the shops on purpose, and remove my cap [hoping to get recognised]. But no one knew who I was, and I never got to experience anyone asking me for my autograph,” he said.

Well, guess 2001 Jay would be pleased to know that there’s no absolutely no chance of that happening in 2020.