Jay Chou
Still Fantasy (Yi Ran Fan Te Si)
Jay first released his ‘Fantasy’ album on 20th September, 2001 and has since shot to stardom and released 6 official albums.
I guess Jay ran out of good album names so after 5 years, he decides that it’d be 依然范特西 (Still Fantasy). :) Just kidding.
This is one of the most anticipated albums of the years because Jay has revealed that the new album will focus heavily on American Street style (graffiti, Brooklyn streets…. 50 cents? LOL) . The album was scheduled to be released on 8th September 2006 but due to stolen copies being circulated days before the actual release date, Alfamusic decided to officially release the album on 5th September 2006. Ok, enough introduction, let’s hit the reviews now.
Tracks listing:
1) 夜的第七章 (Ye De Di Qi Zhang) /Twilight’s Chapter Seven
2) 听妈妈的话 (Ting Ma Ma De Hua)/ Listen to Mama’s Words
3) 千里之外 (Qian Li Zhi Wai)/ A Thousand Miles Away aka Faraway
4) 本草纲目(Beng Chao Gang Mu)/ A Herbalist’s Manual (Compendium of Materia Medica)
5) 退后 (Tui Hou)/ Stepping Back
6) 红模仿 (Hong Mo Fang)/ Popular Imitation
7) 心雨 (Xin Yu)/ Heart’s Rain
8) 白色风车 (Bai Se Feng Che)/ White Windmills
9) 迷迭香 (Mi De Xiang)/ Rosemary
10) 菊花台 (Ju Hua Tai)/Chrysanthemum Flower Bed
The first song I listened to is of course (as many of you would) was Track 3 (千里之外). This song is a duet with veteran Taiwanese singer Fei Yu Qing. The song is one of Jay’s songs which incorporates Chinese music elements in them but at the same time, sounds like one of Jay’s slow ballads. It has a rather ‘Chinese broadway’ style and the golden voice of Fei Yu Qing definitely enhanced the Chinese music that Jay always focuses on.
The next few song that catch the heart of many girls idols are probably
Track 5 (退后), Track 7 (心雨), and Track 8 (白色风车). Just listen it to the first time and you’d know that these 3 tracks are the typical teary love ballads that Jay has in like every album. The lyrics are like always, about departing and waiting for the true love to come back so yeah, I reckon these 3 will be very popular in time to come in shopping malls. The thing with Jay’s love ballads is that even though you know they are his love ballads, but the way he sings them is different. It’s as if each ballad has its own story and different feelings to be expressed. Although, i’ve read in forums that Jay did a bad job in producing these 3 tracks because they sound like imitation from the previous albums. I’d leave you listeners the final verdict.
Track 1 (夜的第七章) uses a lot of strings ensemble (as in violin, cello, etc) in the background so this song has a rather creepy feeling. If you watch the MV for it, you’d know that it’s actually has a detective plot(very twisted) featuring the guys from Nan Quan Mama. This song reminds me of Yi Fu Zhi Ming, but no, I’m not saying that he’s just re-producing old songs. I think after listening to so many albums, I can figure out that he’d use a few of those samples that has rather close tempo and music.
Track 2 (听妈妈的话) has got to be the ‘cutest’ and most creative song in this album. Like the title indicates, this song is most probably dedicated to his mother and in the song, he’s telling kids to listen to their mothers so that they’d grow up and be great (he’s using himself as a great and succesful figure). This song has a very carefree and happy feeling, with a few raps in it.
Track 4 (本草纲目) is the typical Jay-rap with a rather ‘loud’ background and frequent uses of synthesizers. I find it very hard to listen to this song, and even after reading the lyrics, i don’t really understand the song. Perhaps it’s because after listening to all the ballads i like, i find this song a bit annoying. Track 6 (红模仿) is of a similar Jay mumble rap but i find this song better, maybe because of the music background which sounds more mysterious. This song actually talks about his ‘journey’ from his earlier albums to his present state, and his love for Chinese music (as in the ancient style type).
Track 9 (迷迭香) makes me feel as if I were dancing cha-cha, trotting to and fro the ballroom. I find it very relaxing when i listen to this song- this song has no ‘over-usage’ of his vocals, and the background music and tempo’s just right to my liking. Perhaps you should enjoy this song with a cup of rosemary tea :)
Track 10 (菊花台) , judging by the lyrics, is probably about a dejected and broken person but after listening to it for several times, i find that it has a rather ‘grand’ feeling. And a few Chinese instruments thrown in (ie, zither). The music did sound like some national anthem to me at first, but I actually came to like the music. It’s also rather soothing, so consider it a ballad too. Just that you have to listen to the lyrics to bring out the sad feeling.
Overall, i’d give this album a rating of 8/10. Probably because i could already anticipate the type of songs that he’s going to produce and the songs aren’t those where you can listen over and over again without getting tired of them. But the collaboration with Fei Yu Qing was an excellent one, and the lyrics are still very good.
*Edit: Favourite tracks for this album are very hard to pick simply because it depends what type of music you like. But I’d say that he really has to focus more on music (since I reckon he’s thinking of a career in acting already)
Extra:
Delrondu has also published his own review on this album here.
More comments and response from the chinese music forum community.
Written by Alex on Sep 18, 2006
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39 Comments, Join the discussion
funkindagirl
i think jay just used the name still fantasy so he could just have an excuse for not coming up with more original music and copying his fantasy album
Sep 19th, 2006
angelz84
I don’t know why.. but i still think that Jay’s music style is getting a bit boring, there’s no new style to his new album except for the duet with Fei Yu Ching and track 9 Rosemary. It’s pretty usual Jay-type album .
Sep 19th, 2006
Alex
well.. just like i said.. i didn’t reli get to listen to a lot of new styles
Sep 19th, 2006
Shez
i heard that this album isn’t as good as his previous albums.. still haven’t recieved my copy yet but from listening to my friends…. the album isn’t that good
Sep 20th, 2006
Christine
And I didn’t even like November’s Chopin. Now I realize November’s Chopin wasn’t as boring compared to this.
Sep 20th, 2006
mrone
Yes, Jay Chou’s style still hasn’t change much, but why are so many people wanting him to change his style?
His current style is just alright. In fact, I like them very much. He should just sing his style and sing well, instead of changing to an unproven style. But he did add some new kind of music into his new music.
I REALLY Don’t understand why people keep on complaining that Jay Chou isn’t changing his style of music! What’s wrong with his current style?
Jay Chou style is boring!?! Just compare it with the other singers’ style and I would prefer Jay Chou’s (as well as David Tao’s and JJ Lin’s). Three of the best singers around today. Stop complaining. It irks me.
Still Fantasy is one of the best Jay Chou albums around. I like all the songs except the last one. The typical Jay Chou style — very nice, very pleasing to the ears.
Sep 20th, 2006
Steve
Nice ‘direct-from-the-heart’ review from Alex as usual :D
p/s: I have added 2 links to our forum review and comments in your entry. I hope you don’t mind.
Sep 20th, 2006
Christine
mrone: Stop complaining? Sorry, I wasn’t aware we weren’t allowed to critique singers that you like.
And I never said Jay Chou’s style was boring. I like Jay Chou and I like his style. I’m comparing his albums to each other, not to other singers.
You officially irk me.
Sep 21st, 2006
sarah
IMO this album is the worst of all his albums. However i like his style and i hope he doesn’t change it (ever), but the melodies of the songs this time round don’t really appeal to me in such a big way compared to his previous albums. i used to be able to like every single track in his albums, but from November’s Chopin onwards, i find it hard to like the entire album. Having said that my fave tracks are 5 (most fave), 1 & 2 - the only songs i can listen to in their entirety.
Sep 21st, 2006
mrone
To Christine:
I’m just voicing my opinions. The word ‘boring’ just does not seem right; you made it as if it is so simple to string together songs to make one album.
Complaining really bothers me. That’s just like whining, isn’ it? Whining is irritating.
Sep 22nd, 2006
Christine
Complaining is not “just like whining”. Go find a dictionary. I don’t consider my comment “whining”. You make it seem as if no one has any right to say bad things about an album because people put work into it. All albums take hard work; that doesn’t mean they are all good.
Sep 23rd, 2006
me
huh. well, the first reviews i read on still fantsay were good, but then the later ones seemed to be worst. but actually, i think the criticisms made of this album are pretty much the same that people make for jay any of the time; like his mumbling or style or whatever comes up more than just at the time he releases a new album.
Sep 23rd, 2006
shertzz
hehhee… still like the previous album… ^^ even Jay chow doen’t care about critique :)
Sep 23rd, 2006
mrone
To Christine:
Okay, let’s not quarrel.
To me: Yeah, I agree with you.
Sep 23rd, 2006
Nami
Got the album too, is the 10th song by him? :P totally sound so different…
Sep 24th, 2006
Shez
finally recieved my copy! ok it’s not bad…. qian li zhi wai is still my favourite song at the moment. a very different feel this album. espeically the song 迷迭香 (Mi De Xiang)/ Rosemary
Sep 25th, 2006
Alex
haha .well wat can i say. i was expecting different comments when i wrote the review. but it’s onli fair each person has his/her own opinion about an artist. So Christine’s probably not wrong if she compares this album wif november’s chopin. :)
Nami, yeah i know wat u mean. i had tat thought too when i heard the song. Yeap, tat song’s by him, and written by Vincent Fang too.
Shez, i think it’s the first time he does a song like Rosemary? Correct me if i’m wrong, but i haven’t felt like wanting to salsa when listentin to a Jay Chou album :D
Sorry guys/gals, cant reply to all comments. but keep em coming in, cheers!
P/s Steve: yeap no problem.
Sep 25th, 2006
Fatty
千里之外 is the best among all the new songs. You can listen two different generation style of singing.
Sep 25th, 2006
Shez
alex: haha that’s exactly what i felt like doing!!!!!!! it’s a change i must say… a change for the good? not the right time to ask the question but ask me a few months later and you might get an honest opinion then
Sep 26th, 2006
Doretta
I think the tenth song is for the Curse of the Golden Flower soundtrack. According to an article I read, “For Zhang Yimou, Jay No Longer Mumbles.” (www.jay-chou.net) Jay wanted Zhang to be able to understand what he was singing, hence the clear singing.
Sep 29th, 2006
sweetGAL
wow!! a nice album again !!i already got the album……..jus wan to said that its totally different from last time album……. COOL MAN!!! I like it!
Sep 30th, 2006
Cheryl
This album is one of his better albums! He is, and always will be very talented and his songs are absolutely wonderful. (track #2 is my favorite!)
Oct 1st, 2006
Crazy Jones
His music matured, but style remained the same. Funny. The 2nd track of Gigi Leung’s CD was written by him, and I immediately realized it. Anyways… this album isn’t that bad. Out of all his CDs… 8th Dimension (something like that) was the worse.
Oct 6th, 2006
Ayumi Mizota
Oh my supreme being! I love this freaken album! I like this one!
calm down u guys..
well this is my first album of Jay chou’s and I LOVE IT to DEATH! *smiles* it is wonderful!
Oct 12th, 2006
nuey
i love this album even tho i can only understand half of it LOL… do u know where i can get lyric translations for it cos i can’t find it anywhere :S
Oct 14th, 2006
Alex
yeah..just enjoy the music.. and let there be peace lol!
nuey: u can browse the lyrics section at my site. http://jienster.com
they’re all there
Oct 14th, 2006
nini
I like This album much even his style still same ,compare with other jay music it really will touched my heart , i like bai se feng che
Oct 16th, 2006
oddball
i thnk beng cao gang mu is nice man!!! u’ve gotta listen it a few times b4 knowing the real meaning u need the lyrics 2.
Oct 24th, 2006
janice
Jay cool man..I like his Ting ma ma de hua most..shi zai shi tai hao ting le..
Nov 17th, 2006
wesley
I like Red Imitation the most. it is very different than other song.In The Name Of The Father also can be said good song …
Nov 17th, 2006
ching
i’m like listen ju hua tai because the song veri slowly and nice.
Dec 13th, 2006
waii
i like the first song esp. it seems like some ghostly love story.
Dec 24th, 2006
rainie
i disagree about the rap songs, i like them (i.e. hong mo fang) MUCH better than his ballads
if you guys want to try this connection around the world game, http://www.lost.eu/159a8
a cool way to link seven million people
Jan 11th, 2007
Christine
This is one of his worst albums, but it’s still better than 95% of the other music out there. When I first listened to it, I thought it was terrible, but actually a lot of the songs on it are quite catchy. The album is growing on me, although I’m very biased when it comes to Jay. He’s f’ing awesome.
Feb 19th, 2007
peace?not
i Like Thing ma ma de hua
dun care wat u say
i still like jay chou
anyway, his mumbling is a bit confusing sum times..
Apr 14th, 2007
thesun_88
i like your songs.JAY………CO LEN………….vietnamese…………..
May 5th, 2007
skywood16
Hi! To Jay ’s fans who are after his songs translation and pinyin, below is website that contains all his songs translation and pinyin from the first album to the lastest album including concert version.
http://www.jaychoustudio.com/jay-chou-translations
Just to ease up the translator job as Jay’s songs translation are highly in demand. Administrator, please let me know if I am not allow to recommend other websites or link and I will stop immediately:)
May 12th, 2007
eRIc
I’m describes myself as Jay’s big fan. But honestly, I do thinks that….compared to Jay’s other albums, Stiil Fantasy wasn’t the best. But some of his songs inside this album could well beat his other nice songs. 4me, his best albums is still Fantasy, which I rated it 9.5/10. But regarding of fans started boring of his Jay-style
& asking him to change it is not a good idea. You see..if Jay changes his style of singing, that’s mean he hv to start all over again and might lose out his position as Asia’s finest. His Jay-style has bring him to another level that not even David tao or LeeHom could join him. So, Jay should continue his singing style & continue rocks the Mandarin music industry. ^^ Dats is just my opinion. If hurts sum1, sorry…=)
May 22nd, 2007
Anonyme
I am discovering Jay Chou so I don’t know much but I like Still Fantasy, my favourites are tracks 1 and 6 and also 3.
Uselly it’s not the style of music I listen to but I must admit that Jay Chou is good!
Aug 18th, 2007
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