|
July 7, 2009
Posted: 1501 GMT
(CNN) – He has all the hallmarks of the real Michael: The slim frame, well-powdered face hidden under a cocked hat, dark glasses, and the delicate swagger. He's a little shy too.
WJ performs his MJ routine to members of the public.
"I'm grateful that my parents gave me this face," he says quietly. 29-year-old Wang Jie is China's most famous Michael Jackson impersonator. He told us to just call him "WJ." WJ says he discovered MJ when he was a teenager and fell in love with his dance moves. "I realized I looked like my idol by accident," says Wang. "So step by step, with a lot of hard work and study, I made it on stage. Now he's a part of my life." Wang had no idea he would someday make a living from his looks. He has since appeared on Chinese TV shows and won contests. I first saw Wang as he sauntered in with his "agent" to meet our crew. WJ quickly drew perplexed but fascinated Chinese crowds. If the real Michael Jackson hadn't just passed away, they might have thought it was really him. It's when he started dancing that I really had to do a double take. Wang strutted and snapped his hips as if he'd learned from Jackson himself. The real Michael Jackson never performed in China, but he's loved here nonetheless. Members of the official Michael Jackson Fan Club (yes, there is one in China) even rented a hotel room so they can watch his funeral broadcast live on CNN. "I miss Michael Jackson even more. I adore him even more," said one die-hard fan. "There are impersonators of Michael Jackson everywhere but I think they can only try to imitate him, never overtake him." Jackson's music was some of the first Western music widely available in China. His rise to stardom coincided with China's opening up to the world. So, to the Chinese, he symbolized what was out there. To this day, he still has a huge Chinese following. Clearly, through WJ and MJ fans throughout China, Jackson's music lives on. Posted by: CNN Correspondent, Emily Chang |
Hear from CNN reporters across the globe. "In the Field" is a unique blog that will let you share the thoughts and observations of CNN's award-winning international journalists from their far-flung bureaus or on assignment. Whether it's from conflict zone, a summit gathering, or the path least traveled, "In the Field" gives you a personal, front row seat to CNN's global newsgathering team. Recent Posts
From our Partners
Categories
Archive
|
Loading weather data ...