[album] Jay Chou: On The Run

Artist: 周杰倫 (Jay Chou)
Single: 我很忙 (On The Run)
Released: 2007/11/02
Label: JVR Music


*1. 牛仔很忙 Cowboy On The Run (Niu Zai Hen Mang): Who ever thought country music and Jay Chou would ever mix? I don't normally listen to country music, but if anyone can make country music sound good, it has to be Jay Chou. It's a fast-paced song, and it reminds me of the cowboys of the west. This song has really grown on me since I first listened to it. I never thought I would enjoy a Western-country song, it's just too bad it's a bit short!

*2. 彩虹 Rainbow (Cai Hong): The acoustic guitar background at the beginning of this song is lovely. It's a very melodic song, and I really like Jay Chou's vocals here. I think he sounds a bit different; perhaps he is trying out a new method of singing, but I like it! Beautiful song.

*3. 青花瓷 Blue Vase (Qing Hua Ci): Track 3 is his 中國風 (Zhong Guo Feng, literally meaning China wind) song. Each of his albums will have one song with traditional Chinese instruments, it's one which I really look forward to hearing each time. It's a really nice song, and it reminds me of old Chinese films.

4. 陽光宅男 Sunshine Homeboy (Yang Guang Zhai Nan): It's a kind of surprising to hear this type of upbeat pop-rock songs on Jay Chou's album. I say surprising because it's not a type of song you would expect from Jay Chou, but he surprises me! Some people have said this is like a Mayday song, and I do agree with them, it does sound like something they would write. I guess Jay Chou is really into trying new musical styles with this album, and I think this type of song works for him.

*5. 蒲公英的約定 Dandelion's Promise (Pu Gong Ying De Yue Ding): This is a slow song with a melody that breaks your heart. I love the piano in the background and how it complements Jay Chou's vocals in this song. I think ballads are his strong and solid songs, and this is no exception.

6. 無雙 Unparalleled (Wu Shuang): I would say this is a typical Jay Chou alternative-rock kind of song, as he has done something similar in earlier albums. This is nothing new from Jay Chou, but I do like the background melody.

7. 我不配 I'm Not Worthy (Wo Bu Pei): Classic Jay Chou ballad. This is the type of song I would associate with Jay Chou, it's really his style. It's a nice song, but it sounds too much like something from his previous albums.

8. 扯 Pull/Ripping (Che): An R&B track with rapping. I like the intro to this song. The beat is really catchy and I find myself having this song on repeat. I've never really been much of a fan of Jay Chou's rapping, but I really like this one.

9. 甜甜的 Sweetness (Tian Tian De): Like the title of this song, I would describe this song as full of sweetness. It's a very happy, cheery, and upbeat song. I think this song is definitely a pop song, and it just seems very cute. I love the little sound effects of kissing like *chuu*. I would never expect a Jay Chou song to be described a sweet or cute, but I can't help but smile when I listen to this song.

*10. 最長的電影 The Longest Movie (Zui Chang De Dian Ying): I've always loved Jay Chou's piano playing, and I really like it in this song. I like Jay Chou's vocals in this song. The combination of the piano and his vocal just makes me swoon. My favorite type of Jay Chou songs are slow ballads, and I think this is a good one.

*Stephanie's pick for must-hear songs

Rating: 8/10

With this new Jay Chou album, we can see him trying out new musical styles, and it does seem like he is going in a different musical direction as his previous albums. The album as a whole is okay, but the individual songs are good by themselves. I say this because what I've always liked about his albums is that each song in the album really fits like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and the completed puzzle is his album. While I do like the songs individually, this album doesn't really have songs that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. I do think it's a good album from Jay Chou, and although the songs are good, I feel like he could have done better on this album. Maybe I'm just biased, but his earlier albums are my favorites, and I really, really love his earlier songs. Having said that, I think with this album is still good, maybe not as good as his earlier works, but I think I'll enjoy listening to it for the next few weeks.

(image credit to Yesasia)

[album] Girls' Generation: Girls' Generation

Artist: 소녀시대 (Girls' Generation)
Album: 소녀시대 (Girls' Generation)
Released: 2007/11/01
Label: Seoul Records

*1. 소녀시대(Girls’ Generation): This is their title song, and it's a remake of Lee Seung Chul's 1989 hit song by the same name. When I first heard about about it, I was curious to see how it would turn out, especially since the original singer is a guy and the song is from the late 80's! I think the song was rearranged very well. The song now sounds refreshing, which I think fits perfectly with Girls' Generation's image. I think fans of the original version would also enjoy this remake. The tune is catchy and I think this song is a great choice for a title song.

2. Ooh La-La!: This song is really upbeat and you can just hear the cuteness. I think normally this type of song is too cute or too pop-ish for my taste, but for some reason, I find myself listening to it again and again. Some might describe this as a generic bumble gum pop song, but I find the melodies and beats to be very charming and cheerful.

3. Baby Baby: I think this is one of those songs that you appreciate when you listen to it a few more times. When I first heard this song, I thought it was pretty easy to listen to, but I didn't really think much about it. After a few more listens, I find that it is a very sweet song, and the chorus is especially addicting.

*4. Complete: A mid-tempo ballad that just simply shows the voices of Girls' Generation. It's a pretty song, and their voices are lovely in this. The voices of each member really complement each other. They don't need a song with complicated melodies or beats, just something simple like Complete really lets their voices shine through.

5. Kissing you: The melody and rhythm in this song really makes it stand out. I really like how they sing this song, it's like they are really singing this to a boyfriend. It has a really pleasant melody that when paired with the girls' voices, it makes a really for a sweet and charming song.

*6. Merry-go-round: The harmonization in this song is simply lovely. I think this is a good example of a Girls' Generation song that really shows their charm and what makes them appealing to audiences. When I listen to this song, I can feel the pleasant feeling that this song creates. It's just such a nice song to listen to.

7. 그대를 부르면(Tears): This ballad is nice to listen to, and their voices really evoke the emotions that this song is about. There is a good balance between the melody and the voices of the girls, so their voices are heard clearly in this song. I think it's a typical ballad, but they really performed well in it.

8. Tinkerbell: I really like the intro of this song, it really sets the tone for the entire song. It's a nice and sweet song, which is I fits with the image that Girls' Generation are trying to project to the audience. The way they sing 'Tinkerbell' is really cute!

*9. 7989: A duet between Girls' Generation leader TaeYoun and former H.O.T member KangTa, who both belong to the SM talent agency. This song is really a KangTa-type of song, in my opinion. It's no surprise to me that he wrote, composed, and arranged this song. The song is about a couple with a 10-year age difference, which is also the age difference between TaeYoun and KangTa. It's a cute song about how this age gap really makes a difference in how they interact with each other. Their voices harmonize together very well, and they sound good together. It's a charming song, I really like it! (I may be biased, since I'm a huge fan of KangTa, but still, it's a cute and sweet song.)

10. Honey(소원): This song can be described as a mid-tempo dance music. It was included in their single Into The New World under a different name 'Perfect For You.' I don't know why they changed the name, but it's the same song. The girls' voices sound especially clear and sweet in this song. I really like the background melody, it gives the song a bright and charming feeling.

*11. 다시 만난 세계(Into the new world): This is an energetic pop dance song that was their first single. I can really feel that this song embodies the passion and energy that Girls' Generation wants to bring to their audience. I think this is a perfect song for Girl's Generation, because it's very youthful and catchy.

*Stephanie's pick for must-hear songs

Rating: 9/10

I think Girls' Generation's first album is a good debut album. Some of the songs I think are a bit like generic pop songs, but I don't really have any complains, since their songs fit perfectly with the image they want to project. Their songs really fit within that image: charming, youthfulness, and energetic. Girls' Generation is a group that's targeted towards those in their pre-teen or teenage years, so I think that image is perfect for that purpose. Most importantly, their songs are very catchy and easy to listen to, which I think is important for a first album, so everyone will keep their songs in mind and will want to hear more about them.

(image credit to Shenyue)

About this blog

Welcome to this blog! My name is Stephanie, and I've created this blog so that I can have an archive of the reviews of albums and singles of various artists. All entries on this blog will be about artists in the Asian entertainment scene. You can expect reviews on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean music. I like music from a wide range of different genres, so I'll be reviewing rock bands, pop singers, hip hop groups, and many more.

For reviews, albums and singles will be rated out of a total possible score of 10. All reviews are my own personal opinions, so please don't hate me if I don't think a certain song is the best thing ever.

If you need to contact me for exchanging links or just want to tell me what you think, email me at redmangoandblueroses@gmail.com or by leave me a comment!

Hope you enjoy your visit!