Vic Zhou Yu Min
I’m not F4 (Wo Bu Shi F4)
After three years spent concentrating on his acting portfolio, Zhou Yu Min released a new album. There was a lot riding on it, Jay Chou and Alan Kuo pitching in with their composition skills and an all-new no-longer-wanting-to-be-called-cute Yu Min.
Would he be able to recreate the success gained in former years? Might he even gain new fans with this new approach? All that was to be seen. The album sold like hotcake. Was it worth the wait you ask, and indeed I ask myself. In the weeks before I had been counting down like a child counts down to their birthday. As photographs were uncovered so to was my excitement.
It comes as no surprise that the overall message Yu Min wishes to express should occupy the first track on the album. In Wo Bu Shi F4 Yu Min wants to communicate that he is no longer Hua Ze Lei, no longer “Zai Zai” even (though this is incredibly debatable) and that he is now all grown up. He wishes for those who once shunned him to recognise him as a respectable artist and it must be said he went the best way about it. Before this song was released to the masses it was well known that Jay Chou had been summoned from his closeted director’s realm and therefore everything was hanging in the balance. For a lot of people, Jay’s presence on the single was the major draw, and this reviewer must admit that this was the icing on the cake for her (forgive me for making a reference to cakes twice.) A Jay Chou composition means business, both in the colloquial way and literally.
Possibly the second most interesting fact for fans and non-fans alike, Ai Ni Hen Ni credits Alan Kuo as its creator. The stakes are high - but Alan aims even higher. We’re in store for another ballad, it’s true, but with the prestige behind it, this song is to be embraced rather than repelled. The awesome aspect of it is that it is reminiscent of Ai Zai Ai Ni in its faint anthem-like tone and the way in which it builds in character as it progresses. It is particularly endearing to note that it would fit perfectly beside Alan’s own recent release, Don’t Say Goodbye. The guitarists have found the electricity circuit in the studio and have turned on the power, a quirk surely attributed to the song’s composer. A climax of any kind missing in action, it comes as quite a shock when the song ends and I wonder if I have been giving it my full attention after all - but I having a feeling that this was all part of the plan to keep me listening. It’s working.
Before this album turns into one big ballad-fest Yi Jia Yi informs me that it can be just as deceptive as the previous tracks and uncovers an interesting formation of piano-played notes for my equally-interesting-formation-of- piano-played-notes-focused self to devour. As a child to chocolate I am lead, fixated, into the kind of musicianship that gets my fingers aching for the ivory. I feel almost literally included in the experience, and this feeling lingers until the very last note. Softly strummed guitars, now unplugged, find a mutual understanding in Yu Min and his pianist as they enter the set and, as though unnoticed, allow the two to continue, unchanged, until they can bear it no longer and assist Yu Min in stepping it up a notch. The additional music quickens its pace and a number of backing singers take on the difference as it comes to a close. Yes, I am most certainly biased.
At the end of it all, I can say that yes, although different to what I anticipated, it was most certainly worth it and I pray for the day to come when Yu Min picks up a pen and starts to jot down his own words as it occurs to me that this is the way he is headed. I am of the opinion that there is a lot of talent still untapped, which, so long as he is encouraged, will flourish in the coming years.
*Edited by Steve. Original review post can be found at the forum.
Written by Haraiya on Dec 3, 2007
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28 Comments, Join the discussion
dknightx
his voice is just so bad i can’t enjoy the music even if it is composed by the likes of jay or alan. Do you actually think he has a good voice, or just the compositions good?
Dec 5th, 2007
Haraiya
I do think he has a good voice, though there is room for improvement. The bonus that works in his favour, in my opinion, is that when he sings live he sounds the same, if not better, as when recorded. Due to this I doubt much editing is done to change his vocals, if any at all. I have a lot of respect for artist’s who sing live and even more so sing just as they do on the CD when live.
Dec 5th, 2007
LuCy@-----
Vic Zou!, you’re really very handsome. When I see u at the first time (meteor garden) I thought: Wow! Such a handsome guy! But I also agree that you haven’t a good voice!
By the way, you have a very intelligent girlfriend!
@——
Dec 9th, 2007
hippokathy88
god why let a fangirl review vic zhou’s album? of course she would praise it. and exactly she did. this album is one word CRAP. i dont hear anything nice in Ai Ni Hen Ni and even Yi Jia Yi (though this is slightly better). weak linear vocal, common melody, err and no comment about your praising for Wo Bu Shi F4. it was a major disappointment knowing it was composed by Jay. besides the catchy yet repetitive tune, what kind of cheap music was that? i have a lot of respect for Jay but this is the worst thing he has ever come up with in his entire music career. and not everything that is composed by Jay is nice, so stop being naive with your review already.
would be interesting to see Jed review this album.
Dec 9th, 2007
Haraiya
No one asked me to review it, I like reviewing albums for my website and Steve decided to post it up here.
I am not a fangirl and I do not appreciate being referred to as one. I compose music and songs and as such comment on the quality of others drawing from my own experiences and study. I have, and am, reviewing many other albums. I give credit where credit is due and I find a lot of work has gone into this album.
I have a lot of respect for Jay too - but his latest album is terrible.
Dec 10th, 2007
Haraiya
Incidentally, did you read the complete review? You may find I’m not as fangirly as you think :)
Dec 10th, 2007
JENNY LI
“I’M NOT F4 ” IS EXCELLENT . SOREHA IIONGAKU DESUNE
Dec 15th, 2007
netster
iyo why the first song sound like very ummmm i won’t buy ohh the album. LOL
Dec 16th, 2007
enrica
heii guys out there.
can u someone send me all of the songs of vic zhou?
pleasee..
Dec 22nd, 2007
enrica
heii guys out there.
can u someone send me all of the songs of vic zhou?
pleasee..
here is my mail..
enrica_28@hotmail.com
Dec 22nd, 2007
rashela
those person who say that vic zhou doesnt have the ability of good voice i guess u ppol just cant hear or theres something a part of your ear was dislocated……!!!!!!!
how come that he does not hav the good voice??????????
damn u all saying that…….
F.Y.I…..zaizai has the good voice and look…….
i guess ur __________…….
Dec 27th, 2007
Lee Eun
..(>,<),,,,whatsoever…….as long as he don’t cares you all p_th_t_c guys..hahaha…he has a great voice…thats all!
Jan 14th, 2008
Sharon
I don’t think his voice is bad at all. I’m just not into his songs..
Jan 16th, 2008
May
1. the part about the song being composed by jay chou, is what is the attraction, i have to disagree. whether the album is good or not has nothing to do with jay. it’s who sends it out. just like buying clothes. designers design clothes. stores sell the clothes. people buy them and wear them. whether or not it looks good on the person depends on the person. many many celebrities have worn the same expensive outfit but it looks better on one than the other. its not about if the designer designed it well, or if the store its sold in sells other cute stuff, its who wears it and how they wear it.
2. the album being called “Wo Bu Shi F4″ does NOT mean that he is not ZaiZai anymore. he still is who he is. it’s just a way to express what he REALLY means. the whole explanation of this is that he wants to be recognized as Zhou Yu Min TOO. He’s not JUST a member of F4. ex: a man is a man. he is ALSO a son, maybe a husband, and maybe a father. I’m a chinese girl, and my name is May. i wouldn’t appreciate it if someone identified me as “the chinese girl” or the girl who goes to ‘whatever” school. or “so and so’s” daughter. i know from experience.
3.Ai Ni Hen Ni being a reminiscent of Ai Zai Ai Ni is just his style of music. think about it. some like rap others HATE it. some like ballads others think its nonsense.
i dont mean any quarrel about my opinions but i would really really hope that before anyone goes and review it, try to understand it more. watch videos where zai zai is promoting his album and u’ll find info from HIMSELF that will be 100% true. you cant always trust what u believe especially tabloids.
Jan 20th, 2008
Haraiya
May:
1) I agree with you, it’s not all about Jay, but from what I’ve found the fact that Jay wrote the song caused curiosity - though, no, it didn’t guarantee anything over all. On the media front though, they had a field day with it, so in that respect an attraction came into play. I would venture that Jay fans might be curious, in the way that I was of his work for Jolin, but you’re right, it isn’t all that important.
2) He has said that he would prefer “Zhou Zai” because he wanted to break away from that image, but no, he hasn’t really changed. Respect is what he’s looking for, and a public that will allow him to be away from F4 and show what he can do without them writing him due to him not being with them.
3) Sure it is. I was just making a musical observation so that people who hadn’t heard it could understand the “feel” of it, and it’s easier to explain a song that sounds like another from the same artist as there’s a big chance people will have heard the one referred to.
There’s no quarrel, you’ve a right to your opinion and I appreciate what you’ve said because it’s made me wonder if I need to go back and change some things. By what you’ve mentioned I realise I may have mislead readers, because I agree with most of what you’ve said. =) Rest assured, I may read the news initially, but then I will wait for Zai’s own words.
Jan 24th, 2008
Sophie
OMG Vic aka Zai Zai has a sweet as voice hes my fav out of all JVKV aka F4 lol ohh and his songs r so kwl lol
Jan 27th, 2008
tt
btw.. jay chou’s latest album, im busy, the first time listening to it is crap ass.. but if you listen to it 4-6 times, you’ll like it a lot.. i had absolute nothing to listen to and had to force myself to finish the album.. after a few listens, i love them!!!
anw.. about this.. vic chou.. sorry i am like so out of topic.. but anyways.. dont know anything about his songs.. so yeah.. this comment is about jay’s latest album.. kakakka.. lol..
Jan 27th, 2008
lay
can somebody send his mp3 i very want it please………..:)
Feb 2nd, 2008
Ally
well…actually, i havn’t listen to any songs by vic or jay chou yet, in fact, i am about to start listen to it. unfortunately, after reading all the review above, there’s a lot of u defined the album, or the songs or even the voice as a ‘crap’? i wonder, is that really bad? can somebody send to me some songs from this “wo bu shi F4″ album, the one composed by jay chou? i really want to hear how bad it were claimed..
bubble_tppg@yahoo.com
Feb 21st, 2008
Haraiya
Ally - the music video to Wo Bu Shi F4 is at the top of this page on the right =)
Feb 27th, 2008
Liva
why i can’t download your video??
can u tell me where i can download it????
i really really wnt your video hehhehe ^,^
Xie2
^3^
Mar 1st, 2008
=D
to be honest i think that the songs is not bad at all and i am not a fan of vic chou knowing when he is a actor a long time ago when meteor garden came out till now; i kind of like the song ai ni hen ni. No offense, i agree to wat they post earlier i think that everyone is interested in wat they are interested in n its just sth else that might catch ur attention n when something that didnt catch ur attention doesnt mean its no good. maybe this album can re-arrange the songs the other way on this album i think the first song should be who is he (ta shi she) and second wo bu shi F4
Mar 20th, 2008
jobelle bandija
im not f4? wat does it mean by the song?….
May 12th, 2008
asap2308
I really like to sing and I know about singing, I think his voice is good, it’s not that it’s so amazing, but let’s just appreciate what others have done, i’ve heard his live performance, this guy definitely can sing, and he’s handsome too, good for you vic ^^
May 29th, 2008
Ben Ben
hello everybody
I would like music of zaizai verry much because him make to good feeling when i sad and him importan for me. everrybody will be like him the same me.
Jul 1st, 2008
d-azn-1
omg sum of u guyz r such FREAKS!!! zaizai is d most damn cutest guy on earth nd he sings like so damn gud nd his cd is like the best fing dat ever came out(excpt sum jay cd’s) u guys shud realli clean dat smelli earwax out of dose wasted ears of yours….. and the eyewax or wateva u call it
Jul 14th, 2008
hyde
to those guys who don’t have any good things to say about zaizai well better shut the hell up!!!!
do something worthy of your life ok?
hahahah aja!! zaizai
Jul 24th, 2008
marinie
vic so hot.dah lah handsome.. best nya dapat jumpa dia.kan best dapat kenal dengan dia…
Aug 6th, 2008
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