1019 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 10, 1999 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 42:59 | |||
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Producer |
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Jolin Tsai chronology | ||||
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Singles from 1019 | ||||
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1019 is the debut studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on September 10, 1999, by Universal and D Sound. [1] The album was produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, and Paul Lee, blending elements of pop music with hip-hop, R&B, and world music. [2] This fusion showcased Tsai's musical talent and versatility. [3]
The album received widespread critical acclaim, with critics noting that its youthful charm filled the gap for a "girl-next-door" type of idol in Taiwan's music scene at the time. Tsai's combination of idol appeal and vocal prowess, along with the album's high-quality production, helped launch her into stardom. [2] [4] 1019 sold over 450,000 copies in Taiwan, cementing Tsai's status as a breakout star. [5]
In May 1998, Tsai participated in the singing competition program co-organized by MTV Mandarin and Sony. [6] She stood out by performing English songs and ultimately won first place in the singing category. Judge Wawa Chen remarked, "She [Tsai] is truly a born singer; she sings with her natural talent." Judge Lee Cheng-fan also stated, "I think it would be a great pleasure to help her make an album." [7]
In March 1999, Tsai signed a contract with Universal and became one of the label's key newcomers for the year. [8] Following the signing, Universal arranged a series of training sessions for her over the course of six months. These included bi-weekly dance lessons to enhance her stage performance skills, bi-weekly makeup courses to help her manage her appearance during busy schedules or interviews, and language training to prepare her for media interactions. Additionally, Universal arranged for her to observe live performances by international artists in locations such as Ireland and the United States. [9]
Sam Chen of Universal recalled that he decided to sign Tsai after watching just 30 seconds of her competition footage. He explained, "The first time I saw her [Tsai] was in the video from the competition. The manager told me about this young girl reading a book quietly offstage. She was in her school uniform—she was still in high school—and she had excellent English. 10 minutes before going on stage, she quickly changed out of her school uniform and into the performance outfit. It was as if two completely different people had appeared on stage. She shone brightly, and the girl offstage was almost unrecognizable. I thought to myself, this is definitely a star. So, I signed her right then." [10]
On July 16, 1999, Tsai released her debut single, "Living with the World", which became the theme song for the annual 7-Eleven advertising campaign in Taiwan. [11] This single also served as a preview of her upcoming first studio album, which was scheduled for release in September of the same year. [12]
The album's first single, "The Rose", and the track, "Good-Bye", were both recorded at the Quad Studios in New York City. For these tracks, Tsai invited eight African American backing vocalists to provide harmonies, adding a powerful, choir-like intensity to the songs.
The second single, "I Know You're Feeling Blue", as well as the tracks "Blame It on the Age" and "Emptiness", are all emotive ballads with strong commercial appeal. The young Tsai showcased a rare maturity and vocal finesse in interpreting these songs.
The track "Out on the Street" is a reinterpretation of the song "A Song Story" by South Korean group Idol, and features a complex, high-energy hip-hop dance beat. Additionally, the tracks "Who Are You" and "Living with the World" further demonstrated Tsai's versatility in her vocal performance and ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. [3]
The title of the album, "1019", is a play on words. The "10" sounds like "I-lin", which is her name, while the "19" refers to her age at the time, 19 years old. [13] The album's overall theme centers around a fresh, shy "girl-next-door" image, which is reflected in the cover art—a melancholic profile of Tsai. [2]
Universal positioned Tsai, who demonstrated strong vocal ability, as an idol singer. [9] Sam Chen from the label recalled, "I immediately positioned her as a 'boy-killer.' I had her start learning dance, and I arranged her first fan meeting at the best high school in Taiwan, Chien Kuo High School, which was an all-boys school. When she went there, she became incredibly popular. At that moment, I knew that the 'boy-killer' concept was right, and I had her continue learning dance, eventually going from a beginner to where she is today." [10]
The album's first image was of Tsai dressed in a white long gown, emphasizing her 19-year-old, studious, and music-loving persona. Later, she adopted a healthier and sexier look with a midriff-baring outfit, showcasing her more energetic and lively side. [2] Universal described Tsai as having a "dual personality" when they first met her: "On the surface, she was shy, quiet, and diligent in her studies, but she also had tattoos that reflected a more rebellious, modern persona. On stage, she was expressive and confident. The combination of the shy, obedient girl and the energetic spirit of a new generation made her incredibly unique." [9]
The album's first edition included 10 tracks along with instrumental versions of two of the songs. On September 11, 1999, Tsai held the album's launch events in Kaohsiung and Taichung, where a limited "Special Commemorative" edition was sold exclusively at the events. The following day, on September 12, she hosted another album release event in Taipei.
To celebrate the album's sales exceeding 200,000 copies in Taiwan, Universal released a new "Celebration" edition on October 15, 1999. This edition consolidated the 10 tracks into a single CD and included a bonus photo book titled Life Photobook, though the two instrumental tracks from the original edition were omitted.
On December 4, 1999, Tsai held her 1019 I Can Concert in Taipei. Later, on December 13, Universal released another new "Re-Celebration" edition to mark the album surpassing 350,000 copies sold in Taiwan. This edition included six music videos and a documentary short film, 1019 Universal Highlights.
To further commemorate the album's success, Universal released another new "Back-to-School Celebration" edition on January 15, 2000, in honor of the album reaching over 400,000 copies sold in Taiwan. This edition combined the contents of the previous two special editions.
Tsai released two singles from the album: "The Rose" and "I Know You're Feeling Blue". Both music videos were directed by Chou Ko-tai, with "I Know You're Feeling Blue" reaching number 30 on Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart in 1999. [14] The music video for "Blame It on the Age" was directed by Marlboro Lai, with Lin Yo-wei making a guest appearance. Additionally, the music videos for "Good-Bye" and "Emptiness" were directed by Tony Lin.
Tencent Entertainment 's critic, Shuwa, commented: "The ten songs on Jolin Tsai's debut album, while relatively conventional compared to her later works, still served as a successful introduction to her career. As the first album meant to establish her name, it only needed one song that could truly resonate with the audience to be considered a success. "I Know You're Feeling Blue", composed by Jimmy Ye, perfectly showcased Jolin Tsai's image as a sweet and delicate young girl. In terms of the album's overall theme, both the fast and slow songs stayed true to the 'girl-next-door' sentiment, filling a gap in the Taiwanese Mandopop scene, which lacked a local artist with this particular image at the time. As a result, Jolin Tsai rose to stardom. Of course, the success of this album also owes much to the excellent production work of producers David Wu, Peter Lee, and Paul Lee, particularly the Lee brothers, who made significant contributions to Jolin Tsai's subsequent works." [2]
Sina Hong Kong 's review stated: "Nineteen-year-old Jolin Tsai from Taiwan made her debut in the music scene after participating in competition. Her appearance was often compared to actress Ruby Lin, while her vocal technique was more akin to a skilled singer. With an R&B-infused singing style, she clearly had solid vocal foundations. Most of the songs on the album also carry R&B influences, though they are somewhat mainstream and lack a distinctive edge. Nonetheless, every track is of a certain quality, and combined with Jolin Tsai's appearance and vocal abilities, this album remains one of the more competitive releases by a new artist in Taiwan that year."
With this album, Tsai won several prestigious awards, including the UFO People's Choice Award for Favorite New Artist (Bronze), [15] the China Music Award for Favorite Female New Artist, [16] the Singapore Hit Award for Best New Artist (Gold), [17] the Top Music Chard Award for Best New Artist, [18] and the TVB8 Mandarin Music On Demand Award for Best New Artist (Silver). [19] Additionally, her song "I Know You're Feeling Blue" won the UFO People's Choice Award for Most Played Song. [15]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Because of You" | Julian Yu |
| Peter Lee | 4:40 |
2. | "I Know You're Feeling Blue" (我知道你很難過) | Kiki Hu | Jimmy Ye | David Wu | 4:24 |
3. | "Guessing" (猜想) | Daryl Yao |
| David Wu | 4:15 |
4. | "Who Are You" (你是誰) | Julian Yu | Jose Manuel Lopez Moles | David Wu | 4:09 |
5. | "Living with the World" (和世界做鄰居) | Chuang Ching-wen | Ronald Ng |
| 3:56 |
6. | "Out on the Street" (上街) | Mao Mao | Jun Young-hun | David Wu | 3:49 |
7. | "Blame It on the Age" (怪我太年輕) | Eric Lin | Michael Tu | David Wu | 4:44 |
8. | "Good-Bye" |
| Keith Chan | David Wu | 4:46 |
9. | "Emptiness" (空白) | Chuang Ching-wen | Chervun Liew | Peter Lee | 3:52 |
10. | "I Know You're Feeling Blue" (instrumental) | 4:24 | |||
Total length: | 42:59 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Rose" | Amanda McBroom | Amanda McBroom | David Wu | 4:20 |
2. | "The Rose" (instrumental) | 4:20 | |||
Total length: | 8:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Rose" | 4:20 |
2. | "Because of You" | 4:40 |
3. | "I Know You're Feeling Blue" | 4:24 |
4. | "Guessing" | 4:15 |
5. | "Who Are You" | 4:09 |
6. | "Living with the World" | 3:56 |
7. | "Out on the Street" | 3:49 |
8. | "Blame It on the Age" | 4:44 |
9. | "Good-Bye" | 4:46 |
10. | "Emptiness" | 3:52 |
Total length: | 42:55 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I Know You're Feeling Blue" (music video) | 5:10 |
2. | "The Rose" (music video) | 5:05 |
3. | "Blame It on the Age" (music video) | 4:44 |
4. | "Emptiness" (music video) | 3:47 |
5. | "Living with the World" (music video) | 3:53 |
6. | "Good-Bye" (music video) | 4:41 |
7. | "1019 Universal Highlights" | 10:02 |
Total length: | 37:22 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition | Distributor |
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China | September 10, 1999 | Standard | Meika | |
Indonesia | Cassette | Universal | ||
Malaysia |
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Taiwan |
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September 11, 1999 | 2CD | Special Commemorative | ||
October 15, 1999 | CD | Celebration | ||
December 13, 1999 | CD+VCD | Re-Celebration | ||
January 15, 2000 | Back-to-School Celebration | |||
March 25, 2005 | CD | Reissue |
J-Game is the seventh studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony BMG on April 25, 2005. 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.
Dancing Diva is the eighth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on May 12, 2006, by EMI and Mars. The album was produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, Paula Ma, Yuri Chan, and Stanley Huang. Rooted in pop and electronic music, the album features a diverse range of musical styles.
Agent J is the ninth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on September 21, 2007, by EMI and Mars. The album was produced by Lars Quang, Nik Quang, RnG, Adia, Paul Lee, Michael Lin, Paula Ma, and Jamie Hsueh. The album received mixed reviews from critics. While it was praised for Tsai's bold experimentation and diverse musical styles, some critics felt it lacked freshness and memorable melodies.
J-Top is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony BMG on May 5, 2006. The album includes 20 tracks from Tsai's releases during her time with Sony, along with four music videos, one documentary, one remix medley, and two previously unreleased songs. The album achieved commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies in Taiwan and ranking as the fifth best-selling album of the year in Taiwan in 2006.
Butterfly is the tenth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on March 27, 2009, by Warner and Mars. The album was produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, and Paula Ma.
Castle is the sixth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on February 27, 2004 by Sony. The album was produced by Bing Wang, Peter Lee, Jay Chou, Jamie Hsueh, Huang Yi, and G-Power. It incorporates a wide range of musical styles, blending elements of pop, hip hop, Latin, chanson, heavy metal, and British rock. The album received widespread critical acclaim and is regarded as a significant milestone in Tsai's continued success in the Chinese-language music industry.
Myself is the eleventh studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Warner and Mars on August 13, 2010. The album is centered around the concept of "party", with dance tracks making up approximately 80% of its content. It was produced by Andrew Chen, Adia, and Paula Ma.
Don't Stop is the second studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on April 26, 2000, by Universal and D Sound. The album was produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, Paul Lee, and Wei Chen, and it blends various musical elements including pop, hip-hop, rock, reggae, and R&B. The album showcased Tsai's vocal delivery with greater range and maturity.
Show Your Love is the third studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on December 22, 2000, by Universal and D Sound. The album was produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, Paul Lee, Chen Wei, and Jae Chong. It features diverse musical styles and showcases a more mature vocal performance from Tsai.
Magic is the fifth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on March 7, 2003, by Sony. The album was produced by a team including Bing Wang, Peter Lee, Jamie Hsueh, Jay Chou, and Huang Yi, blending a variety of musical styles such as pop, disco, funk, folk, hip-hop, and British rock.
Jeneration is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Gold Typhoon and Mars on February 27, 2009. The album features 27 tracks from Tsai's time with EMI, along with 3 previously unreleased songs.
J9 is a compilation album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony on November 12, 2004. The album includes two new songs and nine remixed tracks.
Final Wonderland is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony BMG on September 19, 2007. The album compiles 40 tracks from Tsai's time with Sony, including 22 music videos and two remix medleys.
Ultimate is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. It was released by Sony on August 28, 2012. The album includes 30 tracks and 10 music videos from Tsai's time with Sony and Universal.
Dance Collection is a remix album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Universal and D Sound on April 2, 2002. The album features remixed versions of 12 tracks from Tsai's time with Universal.
Born to Be a Star is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. It was released by Universal and D Sound on November 12, 2004. The album features 29 tracks from Tsai's time with Universal, along with 15 music videos.
The Age of Innocence is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. It was released by Universal and D Sound on March 14, 2003. The album features a selection of 30 songs from Tsai's early years with Universal, spanning her releases from 1999 to 2001.
Together is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Universal and D Sound on November 6, 2001. The album features 16 tracks from Tsai's time with Universal, along with 14 music videos and behind-the-scenes footage from the production of her album Lucky Number (2001).
The J1 World Tour is the first concert tour by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. The tour began on August 7, 2004, at Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai, China, and concluded on April 22, 2006, at Bren Events Center in Irvine, United States. Spanning 1 year and 9 months, the tour included 8 performances across 7 cities worldwide.
"Dancing Diva" is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, featured on her eighth studio album, Dancing Diva. It was written by Miriam Nervo, Olivia Nervo, Greg Kurstin, and Issac Chen, and produced by Adia. It was released as a single from Dancing Diva on April 26, 2006, by EMI and Mars.