A UNIVERSITY of Liverpool graduate who has become an internet sensation in the Far East is to make his first public appearance in the city on Saturday, singing live his version of a Chinese smash hit record.
A video made by Shaun Gibson, filmed entirely in Liverpool, has now been seen more than 20 million times on internet platforms across China.
His co-stars include mum Lynn, his sister, trainee nurse Jasmin, Chinese student friends Dez and Danny and producer, architecture student Joshua Ping.
The video features 24-year-old Shaun, from Northwich, singing his version of the Chinese hit Xiao Ping Guo – or My Little Apple - and it has made him a celebrity in Asia and instantly recognisable to Chinese people wherever he goes in the UK.
My Little Apple, originally released by the Chopstick Brothers last summer, was seen as China’s response to the global hit Gangnam Style by South Korean musician Psy. On Saturday afternoon Shaun will be performing My Little Apple/Xiao Ping Guo – he sings in both English and Mandarin - as part of a bid by Liverpool cultural charity China Pearl to set a record for the highest number of flash-mob dancers to perform outside of China.
Shaun, bidding to break in the UK music industry, was mobbed by fans when he visited China on a holiday after his video went viral across Asia.
“It was incredible, wherever I went in China people recognised me from the video. It shows the power of music,” he said.
He has been busy rehearsing this week for Saturday’s public performance in Williamson Square alongside Fenfen Huang, artistic director of China Pearl.
Fenfen said: “Shaun is a big star in China after his video went viral. It’s great he will be performing Little Apple right in Liverpool where he now lives.
"Following the Korean Gangnam-style dance, a Chinese version followed and it has swept across China.
"I thought it would be good to introduce it to the general public in Britain and give British people a chance to have a go at this happy, fun dance routine.
"My aim is to create a new British record, perhaps even a world record, for the largest number of dancers to perform outside of China. The dance has been performed by small groups, mainly Chinese students, but there has never been a major public street event in Britain," she said.
Chinese students and local groups based in the city's Chinatown have agreed to join Saturday's showpiece event.
Said Shaun: “When I arrived at the university I was amazed at the high number of Chinese students and became interested in their culture. I translated Xiao Ping Guo into English and it led to me making the short video, singing the song in both English and Mandarin.
“I have been amazed at its success in China when it went viral on various platforms.”
Shaun and China Pearl want as many people as possible to head to Williamson Square at noon on Saturday to perform the dance.
No dance experience is necessary, just the ability to smile and have fun, said Fenfen Huang, adding: “We will teach the few simple dance steps in minutes. We want to put Liverpool on the map with our version of Gangnam flash mob dance.”
The event, in busy Williamson Square, forms part the Chinese Lantern Festival in Williamson Square to mark the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.
The festival will include a lion dance, singing and dancing, a demonstration of martial arts and a traditional Chinese costumes catwalk.
