Los angeles: "Originally from Taiwan and now one of California's rising young jazz artists, here is Ponpon Chen and her quintet," declared the announcer of American news program World News Now (WNN) at the conclusion of a May 9 broadcast as the credits rolled. Fronting her band with an electric guitar, Taiwanese jazz musician Ponpon Chen then broke into her unique rendition of American musical comedian Barry Mitchell's famous jingle: "World News Polka."
According to Focus Taiwan, the performance was part of a recent initiative by Mitchell to invite YouTube artists to record their own versions of the jingle, which has been a staple of the news program's Friday theme song for over 30 years. Chen's appearance on WNN places her among a prestigious group of past duet collaborators and guest performers, including seasoned actor William Shatner and singer "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Chen is based at the Studio City Sound recording studio. This renowned location, used by music legends such as Rod Stewart and Weezer, provided Chen the opportunity to meet her jazz idol George Benson and Grammy Award-winning studio owner Tom Weir. It was Weir who discovered Chen's talent and encouraged her to share her performances on YouTube, which ultimately caught the attention of ABC News' production team.
Speaking with CNA, Chen shared that she initially thought the invite from WNN was a scam, given her unfamiliarity with the network and her focus on jazz piano. However, after confirming the legitimacy with Tom Weir, she embraced the opportunity and arranged her version of the "World News Polka," which aired on May 9.
The performance has since garnered over 1.2 million views on ABC News' Facebook page. Weir, who praised Chen's unique vocal style that combines singing with whistling and scatting, expressed his high hopes for the Taiwanese artist, noting her rapid rise in the U.S. jazz scene.
Weir also revealed that Chen and the studio recently collaborated with Robby Krieger of The Doors to remake the iconic song "Light My Fire," showcasing Chen's versatility and growing influence in the music world.