music reviews, with the occasional book and film reviews

This is Jay Chou’s 10th year in the entertainment industry. It had been 12 years since he was first talent-spotted by Jacky Wu in a singing competition, while being the piano accompaniment for his friend. He was then recruited by the guy to write songs for him and his group, such as 屋頂 (Rooftop) and 世界末日 (The End of the World).

Jay Chou first released a self-titled album, 周杰倫 (Jay), in 2000 as a singer-songwriter. Since then, he’s been an actor, a music video director, a movie director and now, a drama director. Jay Chou first debuted as an actor in 2005 playing the role of Takumi Fujiwara in 頭文字 D (Initial D). He directed his first movie, 不能說的祕密 (Secret) in 2007 and a drama, 熊貓人 (Pandamen) in 2010. There was even a research paper written to explain his phenomenon, which I happened to come across it when I was doing the research for G-Dragon’s review last year.

I have swooned over a long list of people whom I admire – JJ Lin, TVXQ’s Junsu, SS501’s Youngsaeng, Super Junior’s Yesung.

But Jay Chou will always be at the top of that list. In a way, he made me who I am today. If I hadn’t listened to his music then, I probably wouldn’t be reviewing music today. It would be a lie if I said I fell in love with his first album, because I hated 可愛女人(Adorable Woman) so much. I couldn’t understand what he was singing. I didn’t understand how could anyone like him.

I was in secondary school when I had a crush on a guy who adores Jay Chou so much, he wanted to be like him. So I wanted to know who this Jay Chou person was. That was in 2001. I fell in love with Jay Chou’s second album, 范特西 (Fantasy). It is still my favourite album to this date. My favourite albums tend to be those which made me like the music of the performer. Well, let’s just say, my liking for that crush fizzled out ultimately, but Jay Chou is still my number one musician in the Chinese pop music industry.

In my own way of celebrating his 10th year, I decide to share 40 songs which I really liked.

Jay Chou has written songs about love, friendship and family, dreams and aspirations, environmental protection, individualism … well, the list goes on. I think you’d be surprised to see the number of songs which are not ballads in this list, considering how much of a ballad and R&B fan I am. The only criteria to be on this list is that I could repeat the song continuously for a couple of hours. Let’s proceed.

I’m grouping the list according to his nine studio albums and extra songs from here and there.

#o1. 周杰倫 Jay (2000)

星晴 (Starry Mood): Okay, I don’t have exceptional liking for this album, except for this song, which he performed on a ‘floating stage’ (it was really just a swimming pool, if my memory serves me right) in Singapore. I thought he was cute that day, since the song was cute. The tune and lyrics were penned by Jay himself. I liked the lyrics which are easily understood and translates sweetness within a relationship. The tune is not elaborated, which accounts for the sweet feeling. The song allows one to create an image in your head and I think that’s really important.

#o2. 范特西 Fantasy (2001)

愛在西元前 (Love before AD): Being the first track in the entire album, I think it did a great job of capturing my heart nine years ago. It is still one of my favourite tracks till this day. Other than the R&B flavour, the lyrics were what kept this song on my list. The lyrics were imaginative, innovation, special – nothing like the love songs that were present then. This was also the first Jay Chou song I played on the piano.

爸我回來了 (Dad, I’m home): I would credit this song to my love for rap, despite my huge love for ballads. I started practising raps after I heard this song. For a while, the lyrics did make me wonder if Jay Chou’s life was like that. But of course, he said it wasn’t the case. I thought the lyrics were beautiful, the love a son felt for his mother, although it was presented in a really different manner.

簡單愛 (Simple love): Simple love is actually very similar to Starry Mood from Jay’s first album. Both songs portrayed the sweetness in a relationship with a cheery tune and lyrics which are understood easily. Like Starry Mood, the lyrics construct an image in one’s mind, allowing the listener to feel a lot more than a song which doesn’t produce any pictures.

威廉古堡 (Castle William): I didn’t choose this song because it was part of the big hooha concerning 跨時代 (The Era), the song in his latest album of the same name. I like how the tune and the lyrics matched each other so perfectly. There was impact using of the chiming sound that opened the song. It was used throughout the background of the verse on the appropriate beat. Not to mention the sound of the church organ at the end of the song, which would give one the impression of the great hall of a castle.

安靜 (Silence): There was a recent remade version by S.H.E. This was the first Jay Chou song I played when I was learning pop piano. I don’t know, I think there are many people who like this song? No?

#o3. 八度空間 Eightieth Dimension (2002)

半獸人 (The Orcs): This song was used in one of my ballet teacher’s concert in the same year it was released. The dance was performed on pointe. I didn’t perform in this dance, although I was part of the concert. The memories were vague, but I think the performers were dressed in black leotards and sweatpants. I guess the reason this song is here, other than the fact I love the tune and lyrics (it’s getting old, isn’t it?) is because it contains the memories I had of my ballerina days.

暗號 (Secret code): I like the idea behind the song, the unspoken communication between lovers. How exciting that sounds. Despite it being sort of a sad love song, each time I hear the tune, I feel relaxed instead.

最後的戰役 (The last battle): A very descriptive piece of lyrics, empowered by the firing sounds in the background. It’s a song on friendship, albeit using the battlefield.

#o4. 葉惠美 Ye Huimei (2003)

以父之名 (In the name of Father): I remember my excitement when this album was first released. I also remembered the first thing I said while waiting for the singing to start. I said, “Only Jay Chou could do a one-minute intro and still have his listener waiting patiently for the song to start.” The music video played a big part in bringing out the meaning of the song, I feel. This was another song which I eventually learnt how to rap.

三年二班 (Third year, second class): The song opened with the sound of pingpong and a broadcast, like the ones you’d hear in school. The imagery of a school is consistent in the tune. I don’t have a specific reason why I like the song, but I just do. This is one of the songs that got me that first instant. Probably the lyrics, since it talks about aspirations and determination.

晴天 (Clear day): Starting the song with a simple guitar plucking kind of built the scene in one’s mind already, the clear day. What made this song special, in my opinion, is the talk-rap part towards the end of the song. This was later used again in 彩虹(Rainbow). Oh! And I so love the music video. He was playing the freaking cello! It’s one thing to play the piano, it’s another when he plays the cello.

東風破 (East wind breaks): While Jay Chou has songs which are 中國風 previously, like 娘子 (Wife) and 雙截棍 (Nunchucks), I thought this was THE song which really shot the genre to recognition. Not only was the tune very Chinese, so were the lyrics. I like the feeling these 中國風 songs give me. They always seem to have a calming and relaxing effect.

你聽得到 (You can hear it): Okay, this is another one of those songs I don’t why it’s there, but it is. I playing the song, trying to understand why I like it. I don’t have an answer. So, we’ll just leave it at that.

#o5. 七里香 Common Jasmine Orange (2004)

七里香 (Common Jasmine Orange): I remember I was just in my first year of poly when the song was released. I was sitting in the bus, on the way to school, using my phone as a radio and waiting anxiously for the song to be broadcasted. It’s sweet, both the tune and the lyrics. I guess my favourite line would be 秋刀魚的滋味 貓跟你都想了解. I like how the intro reminds me of those tinkling bells people put on their door frames.

藉口 (Excuse): I like this song because of its simple tune, it isn’t elaborated and the lyrics are straightforward. I prefer the improvised versions he sings in concerts though, as compared to the actual one. I’ve felt heartaches when I hear the song and had teared up randomly when I wasn’t even sad to begin with, so I really like the song for the feelings it evokes in me.

外婆 (Grandma): I so, so, so love the lyrics of this song, and it isn’t because he disses his loss at the music awards. My favourite part of the entire song is the chorus.

外婆她的期待 慢慢變成無奈 大人們始終不明白
她要的是陪伴 而不是六百塊 比你給的還簡單
外婆她的無奈 無法變成期待 只有愛才能夠明白
走在淡水河畔 聽著她的最愛 把溫暖放回口袋

I think the lyrics would remind people, what the elderly want is not always money, but the accompany their family can give.

擱淺 (Stranded): This was the first song from Jay Chou which caused my tears to fall the first time I heard it. I think if you play it on a day when you’re emotional, it would get to you, especially at night. The song builds up slowly, with the climax coming after the second chorus. The key changes before Jay Chou sang the final part of the song. It was like pushing your emotions to breaking point.

亂舞春秋 (Chaotic dance of the Chun-qiu Era): Have you watch Jay perform this ‘live’ in concert? I thought he was adorable. The use of various sound effects sets the image of the Chun-qiu Era, such as the horses in the beginning and the war cries in the middle.

園遊會 (Carnival): Anyone who like Simple Love and Starry Mood will like Carnival. It’s difficult not have this song on repeat mode. The lyrics paint beautiful pictures, and it was like I could almost see the carnival appearing in front of me.

止戰之傷 (Wounds of War): The lyrics are beautiful and melancholic. Enough said.

孩子們眼中的希望是什麼形狀
是否醒來有麵包當早餐再喝碗熱湯
農夫被燒燬土地跟村莊終於拿起槍
她卻慢慢習慣放棄了抵抗

孩子們眼中的希望是什麼形狀
是否院子有鞦韆可以蕩口袋里有糖
刺刀的光被仇恨所擦亮在遠方野蠻
而她卻微笑著不知道慌張

#o6. 11月的蕭邦 November’s Chopin (2005)

夜曲 (Nocturne): I could play this song for hours. The introduction of this R&B song is captivating, and its lyrics are so dark, since it talks about a lost love. It is gloomy and gothic that I always see the dark skies in my head whenever I hear the song. The use of crows, ants, the death of a white rose … Vincent Fang is really a true lyrical master.

四面楚歌 (Besieged from all sides): The lyrics pwned. Who else better to diss the paparazzi other than Jay Chou? I didn’t understand Korean when this song was released, but I was pleasantly surprised by the creativity.

楓 (Maple): The lyrics were written by 彈頭 of 南拳媽媽, whom I think is a really good lyricist too. I like the use of 緩緩飄落的楓葉像思念 because it gives the listener an image. People feel more when they see and hear something, so I thought the lyrics were written beautifully. 彈頭 has written many songs on their own albums and I think they’re worthy noticing.

珊瑚海 (Coral Sea): This is a duet from Jay and Lara of 南拳媽媽. Another one of those ‘it had to be on this list’ song.

飄移 (Drift): While this was the theme song for Initial D, it was included in this album. The song tied in with the movie, adding a dialogue in the beginning. I like the lyrics, especially during the chorus.

#o7. 依然范特西 Still Fantasy (2006)

聽媽媽的話 (Listen to your mother’s words): I think whenever you hear this song, it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. Well, I’d miss my mother whenever iTunes shuffles to it, since I’m away from home. The lyrics are endearing, describing the virtues of listening to the words of one’s mother, albeit in a less sombre way. I think it is a song well-written for the children of this generation.

退後 (Retreat): Okay, I admit this is here (other than it being a ballad), is because Hebe’s featured in the music video.

迷迭香 (Rosemary): At a time when people say Jay Chou was being stagnant, that his songs were no longer creative or provide surprise, I thought this song was genius. Jay Chou hasn’t done Bossa Nova prior to this, so it might be that little surprise critics were looking for. I thought he did a great job with the song, singing it in a really lazy and sexy manner. I am, however, disappointed that this song wasn’t given as much attention as the rest of the songs from the album.

#o8. 牛仔很忙 On the Run (2007)

The songs from this album includes 牛仔很忙 (Cowboy on the Run), 彩虹 (Rainbow), 青花瓷 (Blue and White Porcelain), 陽光宅男 (Sunshine Otaku), 蒲公英的約定 (Dandelion’s Promise), 我不配 (Unworthy) and 甜甜的 (Sweetness). I had reviewed this previously, so I wouldn’t elaborate further. I would like to mention though, that it was this album, that my mother finally agree Jay Chou is good.

#o9. 魔杰座 Capricorn (2008)

Another album which I had reviewed before, you can find it here. The songs included in this list are 給我一首歌的時間 (Give Me the Time for a Song), 說好的幸福呢 (Where’s the Promised Happiness), 流浪詩人 (Wandering Poet), 時光機 (Time Machine) and 稻香 (Rice Aroma).

Other songs

#37. 斷了的弦 (Broken strings): This song is found in 尋找周杰倫 (Searching for Jay Chou) EP. I preferred this song to 軌跡 (Tracks), which was the theme song for the movie. I remembered it was one trip I went with my extended family to Malaysia when the EP was released. I repeated it throughout the trip because it gave me a very relaxed feeling despite the sadness in the lyrics.

#38. 霍元甲: This song was for the Jet Li movie of the same name. The introduction was very glamourous, with the sounds of Chinese drums and cymbals, before the erhu enters followed by the flute. Very Chinese-like, very suitable for a martial arts movie about a Chinese hero. This was yet another song with an introduction that is almost a minute long. I like the catchy and upbeat tempo of the song and the way Jay sang Verse B, the one before the chorus. Another thing I like about this song is actually the music video. I thought he looked really good in it.

#39. 不能說的祕密 (Secret): I like the almost monotonous beginning of the song and the dominating piano sounds. Unless you’re a newcomer to my blog, you’d know lyrics are the first thing I look at. I like the lyrics of this song, especially chorus. I would say the tune brought out the melancholy of the lyrics instead of the other way round.

你說把愛漸漸放下會走更遠
又何必去改變已錯的時間
你用你的指尖阻止我說再見
想像你在身邊在完全失去之前

你說把愛漸漸放下會走更遠
或許命運的籤只讓我們遇見
只讓我們相戀這一季的秋天
飄落後才發現這幸福的碎片
要我怎麼撿

#40. 千山萬水: This was a song Jay wrote for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The introduction already sounded magnificent. The first time I heard the song, friendly goosebumps popped out. The lyrics talked about determination, hard work, dreams and aspirations. I thought tune and lyrics wise, it was very suitable for the Olympics. I also like the addition of a opera-like voiceovers during the second verse.

It’s not easy (nor funny) doing a review for more than 10 songs. I took almost 3 hours, repeating different songs and choosing them. These 40 songs are just the ones which are played a lot more times than the others, it doesn’t mean I only liked these songs. It was supposed to be a roundup, so I didn’t want to have a really long list.

Jay Chou’s rise to fame is not credited to him only, but also his longtime friend and partner, Vincent Fang. Of course, and his mother, who was really strict but believed in her own son and stood by him.

I believe no matter how much you like or dislike Jay Chou, there is one song from him that each person would like. Take my mother as an example. She never understood my infatuation with someone who mumbles away lyrics, but she still has favourite songs from Jay Chou such as 菊花台 (Chrysanthemum Terrace) and 千里之外 (Faraway), both which he sang with better pronunciations. Jay Chou’s songs take up much of my family’s karaoke playlist during Chinese New Year too. My 16-year-old nephew sings his songs, so does my cousins, one is in her 40s and the other, 19.

Well, ten years is a big deal.

Ten years ago, I didn’t think he would still be here 10 years later. Ten years ago, I didn’t think I’d be reviewing music online either. At least for now, I think he’d still be around five years later.

This is 6-page long, and I took one week to complete it. I wanted to wait until I get The Era, but it’s stuck in one of the AusPost stations, I guess. That means I’ll only get it next week. I figured I’d put this up first instead. Well, enjoy reminiscing, ‘cuz I did. (: