In the face of ever-changing music consumption and tastes, Mandarin popular music, more commonly known as Mandopop, has remained steadfast in its position on the global stage.
Despite having its roots in Chinese-speaking cultures, Mandopop has proven to transcend music barriers with its ability to reach a worldwide audience. The genre has grown by approximately 20% in the past year on Spotify and garnered attention from international fans beyond Asia.
With the era of Spotify and other music streaming platforms upon us, Mandopop has become accessible to more than 456 million listeners worldwide. Some of the most well-known stars in the music industry today were born out of their love for the riveting genre.
One of whom is none other than the King of Mandopop, Jay Chou.
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The Taiwanese singer-songwriter, who had most recently brought his CARNIVAL WORLD TOUR to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, returned to the music scene with his latest album 最偉大的作品 Greatest Works of Art — his first in six years. The album is aptly named as at its core, it is an invaluable collection of 12 songs — arguably some of Jay Chou’s best work in his artistic endeavours thus far.
“This album is a reflection of how I feel right now - my look, thoughts, and feelings during this period. I don’t plan on a theme to start writing songs but instead, I record my music organically over time. Everyone knows I’ve grown a passion for art in the past few years, which has inspired my new album Greatest Works of Art. My thoughts on art over the years are expressed through the songs and music videos,” the soloist shared in an exclusive interview with Spotify.
He added: “I hope listeners will feel like they learned something about art and culture, but in an approachable format that is more engaging and easier to digest than just talking about history."
With numerous hits in this album alone, it is difficult for fans to pick a favourite. True enough, when asked which song on the album he was most excited for fans to hear, he expressed: “That’s impossible to decide! Every song is like my own child, and each is a unique expression of art. I want to share all the songs with my fans.”
Jay Chou’s latest album ranked among the top five albums globally in the week of its debut, showcasing diverse colors that encompass the rich Chinese culture. The multitalented artist’s drive for his ambition and ongoing goal of introducing millions of international fans to Mandopop has proven to be a catalyst for his groundbreaking success.
“I have always had great ambitions when it comes to music, and I’ve been fortunate to have my work go beyond Asia. It is my hope that Chinese songs continue to be accessible and appreciated by more people all over the world. After all these years, I am still absorbing and learning, and I welcome new perspectives and reactions to my music,” he shared.
Mandopop has since solidified its position in Western markets, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the same vein of taking his music to the global stage, the multihyphenate filmed the music video of ‘最偉大的作品 Greatest Works of Art’ in Europe and has also collaborated with Western dance company JABBAWOCKEEZ.
“In the Western world, where Mandarin isn’t widely spoken, music and dance have transcended language barriers. My collaboration with Western dance companies in the ‘A Beauty Like Frost’ music video is a great example of different music cultures coming together. It’s my way of showing fans the world through my music, which is why the video also featured scenes shot from different parts of the globe,” Jay Chou shared.
He added: “In the future, I look forward to exploring more collaborations with artists from around the world to spark creativity and create new, exciting music.”
Boasting exceptional diversity in his music career that has spanned more than 20 years, Jay Chou is constantly breaking Mandopop’s barriers by reinventing his sound.
With his listenership growing by more than 200% in the past year, the artist has also attained the title of Spotify’s Top Global Mandopop Artist for Spotify Wrapped 2022. “Thank you, Spotify and my fans who have been such long-time supporters!” he shared upon receiving the coveted accolade.
In efforts to deepen his personal connection to fans and enhance the album experience, the singer has also worked with Spotify to record short video snippets introducing some of the songs in his latest album on 周杰倫 Jay Chou presents [最偉大的作品 Greatest Works of Art], the Enhanced Album.
As we look forward to yet another exciting year with Jay Chou and the Mandopop music scene, we’ll be glad to know that it is as vibrant as ever and not slowing down anytime soon.
Music enthusiasts who are looking to explore Mandopop in hopes of discovering gems to add to their collection can browse through Spotify’s Mandopop Hits playlist which highlights the works of both established and rising artists who each bring distinctive elements to the multi-faceted genre.
Watch the official music video of 周杰倫 JAY CHOU ft. JABBAWOCKEEZ's '紅顏如霜 Cold Hearted' here:
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