Skyscraper World Tour

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Skyscraper World Tour
Joker Xue Skyscraper 2018-2019.png
Associated album
Start dateJuly 14, 2018 (2018-07-14)
End dateMay 19, 2019 (2019-05-19)
No. of shows23
Attendance400,000
concert chronology

The Skyscraper World Tour is the second concert tour and first world tour held by Chinese singer-songwriter Joker Xue. Xue performed 23 shows across four continents with 15 shows in Asia, 1 show in Europe, 4 shows in North America, and 3 shows in Oceania.

Contents

All venues in Mainland China were upgraded from arena to stadium. [1] The tour began on July 14, 2018, at Workers' Stadium in Beijing and concluded on May 19, 2019, at AsiaWorld–Arena in Hong Kong. Total attendance is approximately 400,000. [2]

Background

In 2017, Xue promised his fans that if they weren't able to meet at the I Think I've Seen You Somewhere Tour, he would meet them again on a bigger stage. In 2018, he fulfilled that promise with Skyscraper World Tour. [3] [4] Unlike his previous tour, there was no stage play element in the Skyscraper World Tour because of the change from arenas to stadiums, Xue was concerned about the audio quality of the larger outdoor venues. [5]

Xue named his tour "Skyscraper" because, much like his own slow climb to fame, there is a metaphoric skyscraper in everyone's hearts that they wish to scale. [6] Through his music and stage performance, Xue hoped to remind himself and the audience of their original aspirations while pursuing their dreams and not be consumed by greed. [7] He explained the tour poster, where he is bent over and reaching for a tree sprout, the sprout is a symbol for the dreams and hopes we once had, and even though we are surrounded by skyscrapers in real life, we are still reaching for it. [8] 。

Concert synopsis

Skyscraper World Tour is a reflection on greed, both internal and external, and analyzes the metaphorical skyscraper we sought to acquire. It consists of five parts: [9] [10]

  1. Highlighting our greed and desire through songs such as "Skyscrapers" (摩天大楼) and "Ugly" (丑八怪);
  2. Revealing the persistent loneliness underneath material comforts through songs such as "Fox" (狐狸) and "Animal World" (动物世界) along with exaggerated choreography;
  3. Reflecting upon and eventually rejecting the skyscraper of greed through songs such as "I Think I've Seen You Somewhere" (我好像在哪见过你) and "What Do You Want From Me" (你还要我怎样);
  4. Rediscovering our true selves and our younger innocence through songs such as "Serious Snow" (认真的雪);
  5. Embarking on a new path forward through songs such as "Freak" (怪咖) and "Forsaken Youth" (违背的青春).

Critical reception

Xue received praise for his performance for his "richly resonant voice that smouldered at its lower end and shimmered in its higher register" [11] and "delicate yet intense" interpretation and performance of the songs. [12] The strength of Xue's songwriting is also highlighted with "songs that draw one in with their sensitive observations." [11] Another highlight was Xue's charismatic personality was showcased between songs as he shared anecdotes from the tour and playfully interacted with the audience. [13]

The stage design featured floating light matrix and LED stacking design that are "cleverly combined" to created a three-dimensional effect that is "immersive and magnificent." [14] Visual effects were "perfectly integrated" with the performance [5] and presented a spectacle that is bound to impress fans. [15] The light sticks provided to the fans "gave a unique atmosphere that can only be experienced if you were in attendance." [13]

Straits Times named the tour one of the best Asian concerts of 2018 [16] and China Daily stated the "exploration of human nature, desire, and society is the real core of Skyscraper." [17]

Commercial performance

"Skyscraper World Tour" set the record for highest concert box office by a mainland China male singer. [9] His four stops in North America all sold out. [18] In Singapore, he filled every one of the 8,000 seats at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. [19] After selling out the Kuala Lumpur show on February 16, an additional show was added on February 14 in Penang. [20] The organizer of his Taipei concerts described the ticket sale for his two shows as "legendary" with more than 80% of the tickets sold upon release, even though Xue has never attended any promotional or public events in Taiwan and did not make any arrangements to promote this tour in Taiwan. [21]

The London show, held on March 10, ranked 45 on Billboard 's March 2019 boxscore list with $852,202, Xue is one of three Chinese artists on the list, behind JJ Lin at 15 and G.E.M. at 40. [22] The Sydney show, held on April 7, ranked 33 on Billboard's April 2019 boxscore list with $1,228,720, the only entry by an Asian artist. [23] [24] His two shows in Taipei were estimated to bring the city NT$53.8 million in tourism revenue. [21]

Venue Records

YearDateCityVenueRecordRef
2018January 11Los AngelesDolby TheatreFirst Chinese singer to sell out all four levels [2]
2019April 1MelbourneMelbourne Convention and Exhibition CentreFirst Chinese male artist to perform at the top three venues in Australia and New Zealand [2]
April 4AucklandThe Trusts Arena
April 7SydneyQudos Bank Arena
April 13–14TaipeiTaipei ArenaFirst mainland China singer to perform two shows in a row [25]

Setlist

Special guests

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
July 14, 2018 Beijing [26] [27] China Workers' Stadium
July 28, 2018 Shenzhen [26] [28] Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre
August 11, 2018 Chengdu [26] Shuangliu Sports Centre
August 26, 2018 Foshan [26] Century Lotus Stadium
September 8, 2018 Hangzhou [26] Yellow Dragon Sports Center
September 21, 2018 Changsha [26] Helong Sports Center Stadium
September 30, 2018 Macau [29] Cotai Arena
October 6, 2018 Shanghai [26] Hongkou Football Stadium
October 7, 2018
November 3, 2018 Vancouver [18] Canada Thunderbird Sports Centre
November 6, 2018 Toronto [18] Paramount Fine Foods Centre
November 9, 2018 San Jose [18] United States San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
November 11, 2018 Los Angeles [18] Dolby Theatre
November 17, 2018 Singapore [30] Singapore Indoor Stadium
February 14, 2019 Penang [31] Malaysia SPICE Arena
February 16, 2019 Kuala Lumpur [32] Axiata Arena
March 10, 2019 London [33] England Wembley Arena
April 1, 2019 Melbourne [2] Australia Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
April 4, 2019 Auckland [2] New Zealand The Trusts Arena
April 7, 2019 Sydney [2] Australia Qudos Bank Arena
April 13, 2019 Taipei [25] Taiwan Taipei Arena
April 14, 2019
May 19, 2019 Hong Kong [9] China AsiaWorld–Arena

References

  1. ↑ "薛之谦巡演杭州站预售"摩天大楼"三地齐亮打call" [Xue Zhiqian's "Skyscraper" tour Hangzhou stop pre-sale three places are calling]. Sohu (in Chinese). June 29, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "薛之谦三巡苏州站官宣加场 连唱两日演绎高质量音乐舞台" [Xue Zhiqian's third tour in Suzhou officially announced an additional show, with two consecutive days of performances to present a high-quality music stage]. tom.com (in Chinese). September 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ "薛之谦巡演启动 感谢歌迷：: 没你们我早就死了" [Xue Zhiqian starts his concert tour, thanks his fans: Without you, I would have died a long time ago]. Sohu (in Chinese). June 27, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Joker Xue – Skyscraper World Tour in San Jose". San Jose Theaters. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "薛之谦"摩天大楼"登陆深圳 歌迷热情点燃全场" [Xue Zhiqian's "Skyscraper" landed in Shenzhen, and the enthusiasm of fans ignited the whole audience]. IFeng Entertainment (in Chinese). July 30, 2018.
  6. ↑ Lam, Michelle (September 21, 2018). "Mariah, Sam Smith, Jay Chou: 8 Macau concerts you won't want to miss this autumn". South China Morning Post.
  7. ↑ "薛之谦"摩天大楼"巡演发布会在京举办 PLUS版开拓海外版图" [Joker Xue's "Skyscraper" tour press conference held in Beijing, PLUS plans to expand to overseas territory]. Ifeng (in Chinese). June 28, 2018.
  8. ↑ "薛之谦"摩天大楼"2018巡演发布会举行" [Xue Zhiqian's "Skyscraper" 2018 Tour Press Conference Held]. Sohu (in Chinese). June 28, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 ""薛之谦摩天大楼世界巡回演唱会香港站收官万名歌迷挥泪道别"摩天大楼"" [Joker Xue's Skyscraper World Tour Concert in Hong Kong ended with thousands of fans tearfully bidding farewell to "Skyscraper" Tour]. Sina (in Chinese). May 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ "出道13年的实力创作歌手薛之谦, 首度来马开唱, 带来多首耳熟能详的"薛氏情歌" 陪粉丝度过浪漫情人节!" [Xue Zhiqian, a talented singer-songwriter who debuted 13 years ago, will perform in Malaysia for the first time, bringing many well-known Xue-style love songs to accompany fans through a romantic Valentine's Day!]. China Press (in Chinese). February 15, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Chan, Boon (November 18, 2018). "Concert review: Joker Xue shows vocal chops and funny side in first Singapore concert". Straits Times.
  12. ↑ "薛之谦摩天大楼世界巡回演唱会香港站收官" [Joker Xue's Skyscraper World Tour Concert Concludes in Hong Kong]. China Daily (in Chinese). May 20, 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Joker Xue brings SOLD OUT show to UBC". Thunderbird Arena. November 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ "薛之谦巡演上海两场连唱 内地收官感动全场" [Xue Zhiqian's domestic tour ends in Shanghai with two consecutive concerts in the mainland, moving the audience]. Sina (in Chinese). October 8, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Joker Xue Skyscraper World Tour 2018 in Singapore". timeout.com. October 1, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Best and worst of 2018 in entertainment, the arts and lifestyle". The Straits Times. December 23, 2018.
  17. ↑ "薛之谦摩天大楼世界巡回演唱会香港站收官" [Joker Xue's Skyscraper World Tour Concert Concludes in Hong Kong]. China Daily (in Chinese). May 20, 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "漂洋过海的"摩天大楼", 你看过了吗?" [Have you seen the "skyscraper" that crossed the ocean?]. Sohu (in Chinese). November 13, 2018.
  19. ↑ Ang, Benson (January 3, 2024). "The 5 'Jewels' of Mandopop: China's Joker Xue is the newly minted gem". The Straits Times.
  20. ↑ "Skyscraper Tour: Joker Xue To Hold Another Concert In Penang In 2019". hype.my. December 4, 2018.
  21. 1 2 "《娛樂世界》大陸歌手吸逾5000海外歌迷朝聖小巨蛋，薛之謙登台". Yahoo Taiwan (in Chinese (Taiwan)). February 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Billboard Boxscore April 13 2019" (PDF). Billboard. April 13, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "薛之谦台北小巨蛋连开两场" [Xue Zhiqian opened two shows in a row at the Taipei Arena]. Sohu (in Chinese). April 16, 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "薛之谦"摩天大楼"2018巡回演唱会" [Xue Zhiqian "Skyscraper" 2018 Concert Tour]. Taihe Music (in Chinese). July 14, 2018.
  27. ↑ "薛之谦单曲《最好》上线 愿把"最好"的都给你" [Xue Zhiqian's single "The Best" is online, I wish to give you the "best"]. Sohu (in Chinese). July 26, 2018.
  28. ↑ "薛之谦"摩天大楼"2018巡回演唱会深圳站 6.25正式预售!" [Joker Xue's "Skyscraper" 2018 Tour Concert Shenzhen Station will officially start pre-sale on June 25!]. Sohu. June 22, 2018.
  29. ↑ "相约澳门威尼斯人金光综艺馆 与薛之谦共攀"摩天大楼"" [Meet at the Venetian Macao Cotai Arena and climb the "Skyscraper" with Joker Xue]. Sohu (in Chinese). September 10, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Concert review: Joker Xue shows vocal chops and funny side in first Singapore concert". The Straits Times. November 11, 2018.
  31. ↑ "薛之谦首度来马开唱 与槟城粉丝共度浪漫情人节" [Xue Zhiqian performs in Malaysia for the first time and spends a romantic Valentine's Day with fans in Penang]. Sinchew Daily (in Chinese). February 15, 2019.
  32. ↑ "薛之谦大马个唱26日开售" [Tickets for Xue Zhiqian's solo concert in Malaysia will be on sale on the 26th]. Sinchew Daily (in Chinese). October 26, 2018.
  33. ↑ "薛之谦英国演唱会官宣！世巡再添伦敦一城" [Xue Zhiqian's UK concert officially announced! London is added to the world tour]. Sohu (in Chinese). January 12, 2019.
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