J-Top | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | May 5, 2006 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:59:57 | |||
Label | Sony BMG | |||
Producer | ||||
Jolin Tsai chronology | ||||
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Singles from J-Top | ||||
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J-Top is a greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released by Sony BMG on May 5, 2006. [1] The album features 20 tracks from her time with Sony, along with four music videos, a documentary, a remix medley, and two previously unreleased songs. [1] It sold over 100,000 copies in Taiwan and ranked as the fifth best-selling album of the year in 2006. [2]
On April 11, 2006, media reports revealed that Sony BMG planned to release a greatest hits compilation for Tsai in early May of that year. [3] On April 20, 2006, it was further reported that the album would be officially released on May 5. [4] Pre-orders for the album began on April 21, 2006. [1]
On April 11, 2006, media reports revealed that Sony BMG would release a greatest hits compilation for Tsai in early May of that year. On April 20, the label officially announced the release of J-Top on May 5, 2006. Preorders for the album began on April 21. The album, which was released on May 5, included 20 tracks from Tsai's albums under Sony, four music videos, a documentary, a remix medley, and two previously unreleased songs: "My Choice" and "Clothing Astrology". [1] [5]
The songs "My Choice" and "Clothing Astrology" were originally recorded by Tsai during her time with Sony but were excluded from previous albums to maintain a balanced musical style. "My Choice" is a delicate ballad that opens with piano and features sweeping strings in the chorus to heighten its emotional depth, portraying the helplessness and reluctance following the end of a relationship.
"Clothing Astrology" is a mid-tempo dance track with a strong, distinct rhythm infused with hip-hop influences, showcasing Tsai's sultry side. For this compilation, Sony BMG also produced a remix medley, blending six songs—"Signature Gesture", "Magic", "Say Love You", "Overlooking Purposely", "Prague Square", and "Rewind"—into an electronic dance version. [6]
On April 26, 2006, Sony BMG released the music video for the song "My Choice", directed by Chin Cho. The video featured Ring Chiu, a member of the group MYRS who bears a striking resemblance to Tsai, in the lead role. [7] [8] The audience response was mixed. [9] On May 27, 2006, Sony BMG released the music video for "Clothing Astrology", directed by Bill Chia. The video showcased six doll-like costumes recreating Tsai's fashion styles from the era of Magic (2003) through J-Game (2005). Sony BMG described the work as a "graduation gift" to Tsai, expressing their best wishes. [10]
In its first week of release, the album debuted at number one on the weekly sales charts of both G-Music and Five Music in Taiwan. [11] [12] By December 12, 2006, media reports confirmed that the album had sold over 100,000 copies in Taiwan and ranked as the fifth best-selling album of 2006 in the region. [2] Additionally, it placed number 14 on Five Music's annual sales chart for that year. [13]
Shu Wa of Tencent Entertainment noted that this greatest hits compilation was released just one week before Tsai's first album with EMI, Dancing Diva (2006), putting her in a position of competing with her own work in the market. The album features 20 hit singles from her Sony era, alongside two new songs and video content from the J1 World Tour. It was Tsai's first greatest hits album to offer a pre-order option and remains her best-selling compilation from the Sony period. [14]
Stephen Lee of Sina Music commented that the album effectively consolidates Tsai's representative works during her Sony BMG years, including popular tracks like "Say Love You", "Magic", "Sky", "Overlooking Purposely", "Pirates", and "J-Game", all of which enjoyed popularity across the Greater China region. He regarded the compilation as an important retrospective of her musical style at that time. Regarding the new tracks, he felt "My Choice" was a lyrical ballad but lacked distinctiveness, while "Clothing Astrology" was overall unremarkable. In contrast, the older songs held greater appeal. [15]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "My Choice" (我要的選擇) | Tan Boon Wah | Jamie Hsueh | 4:31 | |
2. | "Magic" (看我72變) | Issac Chen |
| Bing Wang | 3:46 |
3. | "Say Love You" (說愛你) | Simon Liang | Jay Chou | Bing Wang | 3:46 |
4. | "Fake Confess" (假面的告白) | Francis Lee | Paul Lee | Peter Lee | 4:10 |
5. | "36 Tricks of Love" (愛情三十六計) | Kiki Hu |
| Bing Wang | 3:34 |
6. | "It's Love" (就是愛) | Simon Liang | Jay Chou | Bing Wang | 4:16 |
7. | "The Smell of Lemon Grass" (檸檬草的味道) | Francis Lee | Peter Lee | Peter Lee | 4:32 |
8. | "Pirates" (海盜) | Issac Chen | Jay Chou | Jay Chou | 4:35 |
9. | "Exclusive Myth" (獨佔神話) | Issac Chen | Wang Leehom | Jack Chou | 4:10 |
10. | "Disappearing Castle" (消失的城堡) | Kevin Yi | Alex Chang Jien | Peter Lee | 4:10 |
11. | "Smell of the Popcorn" (爆米花的味道) | Vincent Fang | Wan Chiu | Bing Wang | 4:20 |
Total length: | 45:50 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Clothing Astrology" (衣服占心術) | Francis Lee |
| Bing Wang | 3:41 |
2. | "J-Game" (野蠻遊戲) | Issac Chen |
| Bing Wang | 3:51 |
3. | "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond" (許願池的希臘少女) | Alang Huang | Ivana Wong | Jamie Hsueh | 3:10 |
4. | "Sky" (天空) |
| Wesley Chia | Adia | 4:38 |
5. | "Signature Gesture" (招牌動作) | Issac Chen |
| Jamie Hsueh | 3:12 |
6. | "Love Love Love" | Simon Liang | Konstantin Meladze | Huang Yi | 3:48 |
7. | "Repeated Note" (反覆記號) | Jolin Tsai | Jamie Hsueh | Jamie Hsueh | 4:24 |
8. | "Overlooking Purposely" (睜一隻眼閉一隻眼) |
| Jamie Hsueh | 2:59 | |
9. | "Prague Square" (布拉格廣場) | Vincent Fang | Jay Chou | Jay Chou | 4:54 |
10. | "Rewind" (倒帶) | Vincent Fang | Jay Chou | G-Power | 4:25 |
11. | "The Spirit of Knight" (騎士精神) | Jolin Tsai | Jay Chou | Jay Chou | 4:17 |
12. | "J-Top Hits" (Signature Gesture / Magic / Say Love You / Overlooking Purposely / Prague Square / Rewind) |
|
| 6:03 | |
Total length: | 49:22 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "My Choice" (music video) | 4:40 |
2. | "Signature Gesture" (music video) | 3:13 |
3. | "Single Harm" (music video) | 3:44 |
4. | "Paradise" (music video) | 3:16 |
5. | "2002–2005 J-Top Documentary" | 69:52 |
Total length: | 84:45 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition | Distributor |
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Various | May 5, 2006 | Streaming | Standard | Sony BMG |
Hong Kong | 2CD+DVD | |||
Malaysia | ||||
Singapore | ||||
Taiwan | ||||
China | July 3, 2006 | 2CD | GSM | |
2 cassette | ||||
DVD | ||||
2VCD | ||||
October 30, 2006 | 2CD+DVD | Limited |