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J-Game
J-Game is the seventh studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony BMG on April 25, 2005.[1] The album was produced by Jamie Hsueh, Jack Chou, Bing Wang, and Adia, blending elements of pop music with hip-hop, electronic, old-school, disco, and Chinese-style sounds.[2] J-Game received mixed reviews from music critics; some reviewers praised the album's musical styles,[3] while others criticized its lack of clear direction and individuality.[4] J-Game achieved commercial success, selling over 260,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 1.2 million copies across Asia.[5][6] It ranked as the second-best-selling album of 2005 in Taiwan and earned Tsai the top spot for the best-selling female artist album of the year.[7] Background and developmentOn February 27, 2004, Tsai released her sixth studio album, Castle,[8] which sold over 300,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 1.5 million copies across Asia.[9][10] The album ranked as the second-best-selling album of 2004 in Taiwan and earned Tsai the top spot for the best-selling female artist album of the year.[11] On August 7, 2004, Tsai launched her first world tour, the J1 World Tour, at the Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai, China.[12] On January 11, 2005, media outlets reported that Tsai was preparing to release a new album between March and April of the same year.[13] By January 24, it was revealed that she had already begun recording her new album. Tsai stated that she hoped to complete three songs before the Chinese New Year and that the album would continue to feature fast-paced dance tracks.[14] On January 25, it was also reported that Tsai's upcoming album would include her own songwriting contributions. Tsai shared: "Fast songs are my signature and strength, so I will maintain that style in this new album. I've also written some of my own feelings, some about love, and others about my thoughts on philosophy. I'm not sure yet which songs will make the final cut."[15] Additionally, Tsai mentioned that the record label had invited Jay Chou to write for the album, but that she had not yet received any songs from him. She noted that Chou's music had helped broaden her musical range, providing her with new opportunities for experimentation.[16] On February 26, 2005, it was revealed that Jay Chou had written a fast song for Tsai's album, though the record label was still considering whether to include it.[17] By March 17, it was reported that Tsai had nearly completed recording ten songs for the album.[18] On March 18, Liu Tian-Chian of Sony confirmed that the inclusion of Chou's song would depend on factors like the song's musical style and the album's overall production progress, adding, "Whether or not Jolin will use Jay's song is not decided yet. The only certainty is that we have already secured the rights to the song and have asked five lyricists to write lyrics for it. The final decision on whether it will be included in Jolin's album, her next album, or given to another artist has not been made."[19] In response, Tsai stated, "I will respect the company's decision."[20] On March 30, it was revealed that Tsai's new album was scheduled for release at the end of April 2005, with the lead single, "J-Game", composed by Issac Chen, being highlighted as the album's main track. It was also announced that the second single would be a ballad.[21] On April 8, 2005, it was disclosed that Wang Leehom had written a song for Tsai's album. Tsai expressed, "I invited Leehom to write a track for this album, and it's a very Chinese-style R&B song, which I really love."[22] Additionally, it was confirmed that the album would be produced by Jamie Hsueh, Bing Wang, and others. Tsai commented, "We reviewed over a hundred songs before selecting the ones that sounded the best for the album."[23] Writing and recordingWang Leehom (left) and Ivana Wong (right), two collaborators on the album The lead single, "J-Game", blends elements of hip-hop, rap, old-school, and disco music. Its playful opening monologue and catchy prelude, combined with a rhythm reminiscent of video game music, create a lively and joyful atmosphere throughout the song.[24] The song is both memorable and highly entertaining.[25] The lyrics convey the idea of surviving the adventures of love and life,[26] with the title inspired by the film Jumanji (1995), and incorporates numerous animal names to symbolize the various roles people unknowingly play in their lives.[27] To accurately capture the song's spirit and style, Tsai experimented with different vocal scales during the recording process, seeking the most playful interpretation of the track. Tsai explained, "When I first received this song, I was a bit surprised by the cute lyrics like 'tiger' and 'mouse.' I wasn't sure how to sing it, but after carefully reviewing the entire song, I realized it's about how life is like a J-Game, and everyone is searching for their own way to survive in the jungle, so we must be brave enough to try anything."[28] "Sky" reflects Tsai's personal growth and transformative journey. The song begins with a gradual piano progression that evolves into a powerful musical piece, paired with Tsai's steady and rich vocal emotions, making it deeply moving. "Overlooking Purposely" features a distinct rhythm and dynamic melody, with lyrics that describe the clever strategies of love. "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond" is a sweet, exotic song with a Mediterranean flavor. The song's rotating turntable sounds and youthful harmonies evoke the pure and blue thoughts of first love.[2] "Exclusive Myth" merges classical Chinese melodies with modern rhythmic beats. Tsai interprets a new-century love myth with a gentle and expectant vocal tone.[26] "Repeated Note" is a song penned by Tsai herself. The lyrics metaphorically compare an undefined love to musical notes and symbols on a score. "Missing You" expresses the sweet feelings of love, with smooth notes symbolizing the heart's fluttering rhythm. "Sweet and Sour" features clean, crisp guitar strings, with a bright interlude that mirrors the bittersweet moments of love, slowly fermenting into various emotions of joy and sorrow. "Oh Oh" captures the playful and sweet conversations between girls, with Tsai's mischievous voice teasing the restless emotions. "Hunting Cupid" showcases Tsai's delicate yet powerful vocal style, paired with a strong, punchy rock rhythm that expresses a vigorous and determined defense of love.[2] Title and artworkTo convey the adventurous and bold spirit of creativity from the music into everyday life, the album takes "Game" as its starting point. Through the three conceptual combinations of "Jisco-Game", "Jissing-Game", and "Jancy-Game", which blend music and visuals, the album creates a unique musical kingdom belonging to Tsai, one that is filled with adventure, excitement, joy, sadness, and personal growth. It conveys the message that in life, friendship, love, and everyday experiences, one must adhere to the principles of perseverance and courage.[2][28] These three concepts each represent a distinct musical style in the album: upbeat dance tracks, mid-tempo love songs, and whimsical soundscapes. "Jisco-Game" embodies energetic dance songs, combining elements of hip-hop, electronic music, old-school vibes, and disco spirit. "Jissing-Game", derived from the notion of longing, expresses various emotions within love—missed connections, sadness, self-growth, and the courage to face life's challenges. "Jancy-Game" showcases a world of imagination with its unique arrangements and playful rhythms, creating fresh and inventive musical expressions. The album marks a more captivating and confident side of Tsai, with her image presented as a more mature and sophisticated woman.[29] Stylist Chen Sun-hua specially traveled to Japan to source materials for her looks, with a total styling budget of NT$500,000.[30] For the album pre-order cover, Tsai wears a custom-made deep blue gown designed by Chen, adorned with star and flower appliqué at the hem, presenting an opulent and fashionable aesthetic.[24] The official album cover features Tsai in a T-shirt and jeans, showcasing her bold and individualistic style.[31] For the back cover, she dons a pink lantern-skirt designed by Rei Kawakubo, inspired by ballet, paired with custom-made jewelry by Chen, highlighting a layered, flowing design.[24] In the special edition "Champion Celebration Edition" of the album, Tsai is seen in a glamorous punk-inspired look. This ensemble, from head to toe, including the clothing, accessories, makeup, and nails, was entirely designed by Tsai herself. The outfit consists of a whitewashed leather mini skirt, a sexy mini skirt, punk-inspired accessories, and a waist chain. Tsai explained, "Adding luxurious accessories makes the otherwise more masculine punk style feel more feminine. And importantly, it has to be in gold, because gold is the trendiest color of this summer!"[31] Release and promotion On April 11, 2005, Sony BMG announced that pre-orders for the album would begin on April 15 of the same month. The pre-order gift included a behind-the-scenes video of the music video for the song "J-Game".[32] On April 16, 2005, Tsai held an album premiere at the Red House Theater Square in Ximending, Taipei.[33] The album was officially released on April 25, 2005.[34] On June 1, 2005, Tsai held an album celebration party at the observation deck of Taipei 101.[35] On June 18, 2005, she performed at the Exclusive Asia Concert in Taichung, with an audience of over 20,000 people.[36] On July 8, 2005, a special edition of the album titled "Champion Celebration Edition" was released, which included an additional 10 music videos.[31] On December 20, 2005, media outlets reported that Tsai's contract with Sony BMG had expired earlier in February of the same year. Despite no longer being under contract, Tsai continued to actively cooperate with the label for promotional activities, as a gesture of gratitude for the company's support in revitalizing her career.[37] Live performances On July 24, 2005, Tsai attended the 7th CCTV-MTV Music Awards, where she performed "J-Game".[38] On August 5, 2005, she participated in the 2005 Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards, performing "Sky" and "J-Game".[39] On August 20, 2005, Tsai appeared at the 2005 Taipei Pop Music Festival, where she performed "Overlooking Purposely" and "J-Game".[40] On September 3, 2005, she performed "J-Game" at the 5th Global Chinese Music Awards.[41] On October 19, 2005, Tsai performed "J-Game" at the opening ceremony of the 7th Nanning International Folk Song Arts Festival.[42] On October 25, 2005, she attended the China Online Music Festival Concert, where she also performed "J-Game".[43] On December 31, 2005, Tsai performed "J-Game", "Sky", and "Overlooking Purposely" at the New Year's Eve Concert in Kaohsiung.[44] On January 11, 2006, she performed "J-Game" at the 12th China Music Awards.[45] On January 21, 2006, she performed "Sky" and "J-Game" at the 2006 Hito Music Awards.[46] On February 26, 2006, Tsai performed "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond" and "Sky" at the 2006 TVBS Music Awards.[47] Subsequently, Tsai continued to attend various events held around the world, where she performed songs from the album. Singles and music videos On April 13, 2005, Tsai released the single "J-Game".[48] The song's music video was co-directed by Marlboro Lai and Bill Chia, with a production cost of NT$1.5 million. To create a contrast between reality and the fantastical world of the game, the video was largely animated, with vibrant scenes blending seamlessly with footage of Tsai performing an energetic dance by the water. The directors designed a surreal scene featuring simulated flowers, and a helicopter was used to guide Tsai through both virtual and real worlds. The video concludes with Tsai piloting the helicopter, flying off to the next adventure, symbolizing the spirit of moving forward. The helicopter used in the video, designed by a Ferrari designer, cost NT$30 million.[49][33] The music video for the song "Sky" was directed by JP Huang and filmed at the Qingtiangang Grassland in Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei. The music video for "Exclusive Myth" was directed by Kuang Sheng and had a production cost of NT$150,000. In addition to constructing a traditional Chinese-style alley and archway set, a movie art team was brought in to design an ink-wash painting animation as the backdrop. The song's composer, Wang Leehom, also served as the creative consultant for the music video, offering numerous suggestions, including the use of Chinese-style scenes, slow-motion cinematography, the incorporation of the erhu and guzheng, and smoke effects. The video's storyline features Tsai using a Ouija board to communicate with her past life, portraying both an angel and a demon to represent the connection between her past and present.[50][51] The music video for "Overlooking Purposely" was also directed by Kuang Sheng. The music video for "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond" was co-directed by Marlboro Lai and Bill Chia. The music video for "Repeated Note" was directed by Marlboro Lai, who had Tsai holding a cat, symbolizing betrayal. In the video, Tsai wears light makeup and holds a diary, reading the sweet promises made when in love, while erasing those memories one by one with correction fluid.[52] The music video for "Sweet and Sour" was also directed by Marlboro Lai. Additionally, "J-Game" ranked 26th on Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles of 2005, while "Sky" and "Overlooking Purposely" ranked 2nd and 65th, respectively.[53][54] Commercial performanceOn April 16, 2005, Sony BMG announced that on the first day of pre-orders, the album's pre-sale volume in Taiwan exceeded 15,000 copies.[33] By April 25, media reports revealed that within the first 10 days of pre-sale, the album had sold over 150,000 copies in Taiwan.[34] In its first week of release, the album topped the weekly sales charts in Taiwan for G-Music, Asia Music, and Five Music.[55][56][57] On May 27, 2005, G-Music announced that the album had maintained the number-one spot on the weekly sales charts for five consecutive weeks.[58] On June 1, Sony BMG reported that the album's sales had surpassed 1 million copies across Asia.[35] By August 1, media outlets revealed that the album's sales across Asia had exceeded 1.2 million copies.[6] On December 5, 2005, it was reported that the album had sold over 220,000 copies in Taiwan.[59] On December 17, 2005, it was announced that the album ranked second for annual album sales in Taiwan for 2005 and first for annual female artist album sales.[7] Additionally, the album ranked second and fourth for annual album sales in Taiwan's G-Music and Five Music, respectively.[60][61] Ultimately, media reports revealed that the album's total sales in Taiwan had exceeded 260,000 copies,[5] while its total sales across Asia surpassed 1.2 million copies.[6] Critical receptionThe Chinese Musicians Exchange Association commented: "The direction of current album productions is generally more intense and complex, with song arrangements that range from extreme sadness to extreme joy, highly commercial pop techniques, and avant-garde approaches. This album represents the pinnacle of bubblegum pop, and such a development direction suits her perfectly. The production of the album is highly admirable for keeping up with trends while executing them to the fullest. There's a sense of surprise, making you want to listen again. However, more attention could be paid to capturing Jolin's vocal range."[3] Music critic Yang Liting stated: "With J-Game, she enlisted another talented artist, Wang Leehom, as a producer, and they played with musical styles, further solidifying her position as the queen of dance music."[62] Liang Yuchong from Guangzhou Radio commented: "I think this album is more international and features a wider variety of elements. It also feels more mature and has a touch of femininity. Wang Leehom's involvement not only brought a new hip-hop influence to the album, but also created a publicity topic. I haven't found any obvious shortcomings; in fact, it feels like her vocal ability has improved."[63] PM Wang from Ai FM noted: "Once again leading with dance tracks, Jolin succeeds because, within the current popular dance music, she manages to express her own unique style."[62] Xi Fei from Wow! FM remarked: "If I were to rate the overall performance of the album, J-Game seems to have less lasting appeal compared to her previous album. The songs require several listens to leave an impression, and while it lacks a standout track, it is more refined. What is commendable is Jolin's continuous improvement; there is a clear progression in her personal performance with each album. I believe this is the reason for her long-lasting success, and Jolin absolutely deserves support!"[62] Shu Wa from Tencent Entertainment commented: "J-Game follows the style of her previous two albums. This time, the fast songs are more inclined towards electronic music. In terms of local originals, besides her longtime collaborator Jamie Hsueh, new collaborators like Ivana Wong and Awaking's works also bring a different side of Jolin. Jamie Hsueh's production dominates this album, and while the first-time collaboration with Wang Leehom is fresh, it hasn't had the same impact as her previous work with Jay Chou. Additionally, Adiai's debut as a producer on Jolin's album didn't spark the same chemistry as their later collaborations, with the track "Sky" being a rather standard offering."[5] NetEase Entertainment evaluated: "Musically, this album is polished but mediocre. While each song is a replica of the successes from her previous two albums, and although each track is meticulously produced, it lacks that spark of brilliance that comes from truly talented artists."[64] Zhou Bing from Guangdong Radio remarked: "Strictly speaking, it's nothing special. Although Jay Chou is absent, the quality of the album remains unaffected. It continues with the style Jolin has developed, which still resonates with young fans. However, her music has a persistent lack of melodic strength across several albums, and from a long-term perspective, this could be problematic."[26] He Yajia from New Express commented: "The new album incorporates elements like hip-hop, electronic music, old school, and retro disco to create a so-called unique 'Jisco' style. However, this unsuccessful shift makes the album feel chaotic and lacks a clear identity, losing its individuality. The music is more intense, with faster rhythms, and the attempt to erase the influence of Jay Chou in the details seems to fail in highlighting Jolin. After gathering various pop elements, it becomes unclear what direction Jolin is going in."[4] AccoladesOn July 24, 2005, Tsai won the Best Female Taiwan Singer award at the 7th CCTV-MTV Music Awards, thanks to this album.[65] On August 5, 2005, she received the Best Asian Singer and the Best Stage Performance awards at the 2005 Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards. The song "J-Game" won the Song of the Year and the Top Songs awards, while "Sky" received the Top Songs award.[66] On September 3, 2005, Tsai was awarded the Most Popular Female Singer and Best Stage Performance awards at the 5th Global Chinese Music Awards.[67] On October 30, 2005, "J-Game" won the Top 10 Taiwan Songs at the 3rd Southeast Music Chart Awards.[68] On November 5, 2005, Tsai won the 2005 Singapore Hit Award for Best Chart Performance.[69] On December 15, 2005, she received the Best Female Singer award in the Import Category at the 5th China Golden Record Awards.[70] On January 11, 2006, Tsai won the Most Popular Hong Kong/Taiwan Female Singer award at the 12th China Music Awards, and "Sky" won Song of the Year.[71] On January 21, 2006, Tsai won the Best Female Singer award and the Most Charting Singles Artist award at the 2006 Hito Music Awards. The album was recognized for the longest consecutive number one album, and "Sky" won the Top 10 Mandarin Songs of the Year.[72] On January 23, 2006, she was awarded the Bronze Prize for Most Popular Female Artist at the 28th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards.[73] On February 17, 2006, she won the Best Female Singer of the Year award at the 1st KKBox Music Awards, and the album won the Top 10 Albums of the Year. The song "Overlooking Purposely" won the Top 10 Singles, while "Sky" won the Top 10 Karaoke Songs of the Year.[74] On February 26, 2006, Tsai received the Best Female Singer award at the 2006 TVBS Music Awards, and the album won the Top 10 Albums.[75] On March 1, 2006, she was nominated for the Favorite Artist Taiwan award at the MTV Asia Awards 2006.[76] On April 24, 2006, Tsai won several accolades at the 2005 Music Radio China Top Chart Awards, including Best Female Artist, Best Stage Performance, and Most Loved Artist by Music Radio DJs.[77] On May 20, 2006, she won the Most Popular Taiwanese Female Artist award at the 3rd Melody King Awards, and "J-Game" won the Top 10 Mandarin Songs.[78] Additionally, the song "Exclusive Myth" won the Top 10 Mandarin Songs at the Canadian Chinese Pop Music Awards.[79] Track listing
Release history
References
External links
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