周杰伦 JAY CHOU – OPUS 12 (十二新作) ALBUM REVIEW PART 2

If you haven’t seen part 1 of this review where I introduce the album as a whole and then take apart the first six songs, click here.

7. Love You No Matter What (爱你没差): 7/10

Remember how I said I have a preference for ballads? Not this one. To start off, I don’t like the singing or tune. How Jay Chou ends every single line of the verses by rising to a high note just doesn’t work; it’s way too many high endings. Whatever happened, he sounds like he is choking on his falsetto in this song. His facial expression doesn’t help either. The tune kind of grew on me later and I admit that the chorus is pretty catchy, but when I listen closely, half the chorus is just a lot of screaming with a tune. And the mumbling in this song is just awful. Like, if you’re going to sing, open your mouth. The lyrics to this song, I first thought, were pretty generic. It’s about Jay Chou missing his girlfriend or possibly ex-girlfriend and saying how her leaving is too much for him and that he’ll love him anywhere despite the time difference. My original interpretation of this song was, “Oh boohoo. You got dumped and your girlfriend moved half way across the world to get away from you. You must have been really annoying.” In general, I just don’t like a depressing song without a slight twist in the plot or just something more than, “Damn, I really miss her.” But then I watched the music video and it’s about this guy who married his girlfriend when she had cancer and then she died shortly after. I mean, how am I supposed to make fun of that? But in my defense, the song doesn’t really convey that part.

Anyways, the song, if looking at it from the music video, is about a race with time. This guy is not dead but his girlfriend is, but he says that he will continue to love her despite the fact that they are living in “different times” now. In this case, the instrumental is actually pretty reflective of the song. Most of the instrumental is just a not bad but not amazing mash of guitar, piano, violin and drums and maybe an array of other almost soundless instruments that only a huge star like Jay Chou can afford, but my favorite part of the instrumental is the clock ticking. When the guy in the plot is running, the clock ticking creates this rushing or worrisome effect, but when the video shows Jay Chou singing, the clock ticking actually fits into the instrumental well and serves almost as a drum beat.

The music video…HAS A PLOT. YAY! But Jay Chou doesn’t act in it…? Jay Chou just sings on an oddly lit studio with a band so far behind him it’s pretty much impossible to recognize any of the instrumentalists. And just a few rude comments…is it just me or is the girl in the music video wwaayy to good for the guy? I mean I get the really sweet, “I’m going to marry you even though you have cancer,” idea, but if she did not cancer, which she did not when they had first met, he would’ve been so out of her league. And I could be wrong but isn’t Jay Chou flexing throughout the whole song? He looks like hes grabbing on to his mic stand way too hard and tensing his arms every time he stretches them out because I do not remember him looking this buff on variety shows he went on after coming out with this album…just saying…the little secrets within the entertainment circle.

The music video ended on a very sweet note. The guy in this story could not perform at his violin recital because he was still sad over his wife’s death but he imagined her in the front row and picked up the violin she gave him and carried on. It’s just hard to make fun of a plot where there is someone trying to conquer cancer. Even though cancer-related stories are now a bit overused in music videos and dramas, it’s just a soft spot I have. So for the instrumental and the message, I won’t murder this song too much.

8. Rest Dust Inn / Inn of the Mortal World (红尘客栈): 10/10

He did it again: merging eastern and western music with Vincent Fang’s beautiful poetry and his own composition. I really did not know Jay Chou had it in him. It’s not my type of song and I rarely find myself falling in love with more traditional Chinese songs but if they all sound like this, I’m going to become a fan soon.

The music video, for one, is interesting. It may not have been expertly directed since we have a rookie on our hands, but the plot kept me watching, and maybe even a little nervous. It tells the story of a man, maybe an ex-general or soldier who tries to live a peaceful life with his wife. They live in a rundown straw house and they don’t have much but they’re happy together. Yet for some reason even the most basic form of happiness cannot be achieved because (I’m assuming because the plot isn’t too clear) either the government wants him back on the fighting field or a perverted jerk wants to hit it up with his wife, but he gets hunted down and killed, while his wife is still waiting for him by the river where he said he would meet her. And as far as the music video plays, it seems like she will be waiting there forever.

The song, as said, is old fashioned and tells an ancient story along with the music video, but without the music video, the song could also be interpreted in the modern world. One line in the song is (and this is the reason why I think the man is a general) “The man that cares about fighting for his country can never live happily and freely.” Brought into today, this line doesn’t necessarily have to say soldiers live sad lives, but its the fact that people focused on changing the world, while it may not be a bad thing, will find it hard to find simple happiness. Another line in the lyrics is “Fame and power cannot be turned down.” So put these two lines together and the song is really about how people cannot be two ambitious and the competitive society we live in has reshaped our ideas of happiness. Jay Chou would play a simple man in this song, who is entirely satisfied living a normal life as long as he lives it with someone he loves. He defines this as happiness – the most basic level of happiness, but the most realistic, most wonderful, and the most forgotten. The title of the song, if translated not directly but meaningfully is “Inn of the Mortal World,” which I think is carried through really well throughout the song because an Inn is a place where people leave their mark and leave. Thus Inn of the Mortal World is the tragic story of living.

The composition of this song is just pure genius. The opening sequence of the instrumental did not sound like traditional Chinese music at all; in fact, it reminded me of the opening sequence of Yoga Lin’s “Unrequited Love” (I know I allude to him a lot; I’m a huge fan). But the first verse of the lyrics begins and the singing and instrumental immediately sound a lot more traditional. The best part is that the instrumental stays mostly on piano and later drum beats in the chorus, without transferring to utilizing many traditional Chinese instruments like Pipa, etc (except a little bit in the beginning).  My best guess is that most of the song is played on black keys because black keys on the piano play out a very traditional Chinese sound. In the chorus, the song sounds less traditional, but it alters between traditional music and western pop flawlessly. The singing probably isn’t the most challenging because there are pretty much no high notes or awkward beats but it fits Jay Chou’s vocal range extremely well and in no part does his voice sound strained. The whole song is just sang in his smooth voice without falsetto and flows perfectly with the feeling of the song.

I’m still a little disappointed that Jay Chou did not do the acting in this music video. He just wore this shirt that would otherwise be very traditional-Chinese-like if the sleeves weren’t cut off and he sings in front of doors that you might find in the Imperial Palace. And yes, he’s still flexing half the time, which as much as I like to complain about it, isn’t really a problem for me. The song and video aren’t perfect, but the beauty in both the lyrics and composition have won me over.

9. Dream (梦想启动): 7/10

The message in this song isn’t special, but it’s very encouraging, especially coming form such a big star. The music video and song tells the story of three very talented young boys who were friends in their childhood. One, Kevin Lin, had the dream of becoming a marathon runner. Another, Lang Lang, had a burning passion for piano. And the third, Jay Chou, wanted to create music to change the world. The song is about how people should chase their dreams, even if they have wild ones and even if they fail over and over again. Maybe it’s because as a high school student, I’m in that process of trying to figure out my own dreams, but this song just really touched me.

These three boys grow up to be very successful men because they chased their dreams after each other’s encouragement. Although they’ve lost intimate connection, they see each other being featured on television and news and silently cheer each other on. For example, Kevin Lin is running in the gym. while watching Jay Chou’s concert on TV. Lang Lang sees Kevin Lin on the newspaper, holding up his medal, and Jay Chou stops his music editing to watch a video of Lang Lang performing piano. Years later, they finally meet up and celebrate over their right decision to not give up on their crazy dreams. The screen pans from these three successful men standing together to a frame of three little boys standing together, hoping. It might also have to do with how cute these three little boys are, but it’s is just so adorable that we all know their wishes came true but back in the past they’re still standing on a balcony dreaming togther. This probably means I should not give up on being a Kpop star, right? xP But in all honesty, I really wish all my friends had unrealistic dreams so we could cheer each other on and make history together but it seems like everyone else just wants to major in science or business and live a normal life. One day, I’ll be a Kpop star; watch me, haha.

The music video ends with a quote “Although we have very different goals in life, we need to trust in ourselves all the same.” I think that as a very famous artist, Jay Chou is not only showing off how his outrageous goal in life came true, he is also trying to encourage aspiring artists, or just anyone with a dream but is going through a hard time, to keep going.

I’m not going to lie: Apart from the message, I cannot really say I love this song. The beginning starts with a piano piece by Lang Lang that really brings out a confused feeling. It might be described as the type of music that would be played in Alice in Wonderland as she is falling down the pit and first exploring the new world. It really fits the idea of confused little children looking for a future in something they love. But then the instrumental stops and abruptly transfers into a light drum beat with way too much sparkling sounds…what’s with Jay Chou and sparkling sounds. Seriously, you’re not Girls’ Generation, and please don’t try to be. The rap doesn’t necessarily sound good, and the tune of the chorus is a bit repetitive, but they flow into each other nicely. And I also like how part of the adlibbing is down by a kid’s voice, which presumably is the little kid that plays Jay Chou in the music video, while the other half of the adlibbing is down my Jay Chou himself. This also really fits the theme because it shows a younger Jay Chou using a water bottle as a microphone and rocking out in a park while Lang Lang is on a piano, and then the present Jay Chou singing at a concert. It shows how far he has come for his love for music.

The song probably isn’t something I would listen to many times again unless I’m just bored, but it has a very carefree and cute tune yet carries a very encouraging message. I’m really happy that Jay Chou is willing to talk about how the most successful people we know now started off just like any other child and that finding a passion is the most important stage of life.

10. “You’re Everywhere” (“哪里都是你”): 8/10

By far the most heart-wrenching and catchy chorus. I don’t know how he does it. The composition in the beginning does not really have a direction. Fading from orchestra to soft piano, it roughly fits for the soundtrack of a environmental video showing a sped up version of a flower growing and blooming…getting stronger and stronger. The entire verse and basically sang with one note – maybe two, which is actually pretty disappointing because that’s the type of thing SHINee does when SM Entertainment pays hobos to write songs. And the first half of the verse is just bland: forget her; she’s not yours anymore. But the second half of the verse, uses the analogy of playing piano. Jay Chou sure likes his analogies. There’s a way of saying how the closest people in a person’s life is his right or left hand. So in this song, Jay Chou says, “just follow the melody of your right hand and forget the bitterness in your left, because even without it harmonizing, you can still continue on.” It’s actually a really cool way of describing  what it feels like to lose someone you are close to .

Just before the chorus, the drums come in and serious power-singing begins. In this world there are two types of ballads that are sad. There is the kind that is just soft and longing the entire time, and then there is the kind that decides it can speak up for itself at some point in the song. And this song is the latter…and it’s perfect. A translation of what I consider the highlights of the chorus is “When my tears are pouring like rain, you are everywhere. If I wipe my eyes dry will you finally disappear? I’m not sure if the person I cannot see clearly is you or me, so I’m just waiting for the rain to stop.” Compared to a lot of songs, the chorus isn’t all too mind-blowing. Tears like rain, confusion…we’ve seen it before, I know. But the tune is just…perfect. And the singing is pretty easy to appreciate because a) like i said, it is powerful and b) he actually sounds like a man. In a lot of his previous ballads he started off really high. If I had to have one complaint it would be on the voice vibration. Voice vibration is supposed to sound natural but his is just too much…like I can just imagine him shaking his head quickly to create that sound.

There is not music video for this song quite yet which is actually pretty disappointing because this would be the perfect song to just sing into a stand-up mic and sob and clutch the mic stand and make painful expression…would’ve been interesting. In any case, top-tier composition during the chorus, not he brightest composition for the verses, and a little lacking in the lyrics.

11. “Big Ben” (“大笨钟”): 8/10

Nice skull jacket Jay Chou; last time goth was cool was like middle school, but at least you’re all covered up this time. I love this song and I hate this song. It’s really cute, fun, lighthearted but the message isn’t.  Jay Chou is saying that his girlfriend compares him to a Big Ben tower clock but he’s saying that cannot be true because tower clocks are loud but he is dead silent when his girlfriend is scolding him. The verses are funny but then the chorus, Jay Chou finally admits that he still likes his ex-girlfriend and then this admittance leads to the spotlight line: “please don’t be be too please [that i still love you.]” I guess the composition is lighthearted because it’s a form of innocent first love, where both sides of the relationship are too filled with pride to admit that he/she is still in love. And the music video also has a happy ending where Jay Chou finally puts away his pride and goes to wait in front of his girlfriend’s house until she comes out…which takes all of half a second.

The instrumental is…I think electronic. Except it’s not like super digital electronic; it’s acoustic sounding but I’m not sure any instrument I am aware of makes that sound. The drum beats are also lighthearted and Jay Chou’s expressions were mostly just…cute and made him look like a 20 year old. So that is the other great thing – HE ACTS IN THIS MUSIC VIDEO. And I think he plays a homeless man because he was clearly broke enough to live in his girlfriend’s house and now that he got kicked out of the house, he is just roaming the streets of …London? Why London? But in any case, big bonus on the Notting Hill reference. So in the song Jay Chou talks about how his girlfriend still will not call him to return the DVD that he borrowed from her because she does not want to “lose” by calling him first. Turns out the DVD is Notting Hill, an European romantic melodrama with a famous scene where the female lead also tells the male lead that she is still in love with him and begs him to take her back. Clearly this is very fitting with the plot of the song. Then in the lyrics, Jay Chou says he is sitting in his girlfriend’s favorite movie theater, when in the music video he is sitting outside of the bookstore and setting for the movie: Notting Hill. For everyone unfamiliar with the movie, the male lead works at the bookstore and that is where he and the female lead meet each other.

The lyrics, in all honesty, are a bit too immature, with really unsophisticated and informal language. I’m not saying that Jay Chou cannot experiment with fun music like this because I think he pulls it off rather well, but just listening to the song itself was kind of like….wtf? But the equally fun music video really brought out the essence of the meaning and adorableness of the song so for those of you who have not heard this song yet, definitely listen to it with the music video first.

12. “Ukulele” (“乌克丽丽”): 9/10

I think the best part of this song is the music video, so I will just go ahead and talk about that first. The song is just very fun and Jay Chou is on a beach wooing girls and having fun. I just have a question. What beach is it, where the only guys are stick thin Asian dudes but for some reason these European supermodels all fall for them? Not that Asian guys are not worth falling for, but where can I find a beach where guys are all Asian, and girls are all…not? And what gave Jay Chou the idea that he could hula dance? The lyrics also contradict the music video big time. The lyrics carry a good message at some points: “Girls, don’t starve yourself too thin because then a ukulele will look as big as a guitar next to you,” and “girls do not need to wear a bikini to be mesmerizing because your smile is already cute enough.” But in the music video, every single girl is wearing a bikini and they are all very skinny. Then the one bustier woman that shows up in the music video gets to see all the guys sprinting away from her. What?

And Jay Chou really is carrying the hobo theme in the last three songs of his album. In “You’re Everywhere” I said the tune is like the kind of music SM pays a hobo five bucks for. In “Big Ben” Jay Chou walked the streets like a hobo. In this song, Jay Chou mentions the word “hobo.” He says, “Guys, if you want to wear a flower shirt, make sure to carry a ukulele because otherwise you will look like a hobo.” There are a lot of fun parts to the song and it’s basically a how-to-get-girls-for-dummies guide and he throws a few confident-boosting comments at girls along the way.

For the record, the ukulele does take up quite a large portion of the instrumental which is very impressive because the ukulele isn’t exactly a choice instrument for instrumentals in a song. The lyrics and composition are both by Jay Chou and they fit together really well…both fast and cute. Not necessarily my type of song but I will probably listen to it once in a while for fun.

Considering this album holistically, I’d probably give it a 8/10. Way above passing, but not quite my taste…a few good songs, a few okay songs, and a few could’ve-been-left-out songs. But overall I enjoyed listening to Opus 12 by Jay Chou. Feel free to tell me your rating out of ten for this album in the comments, or just comment on my ratings. And I hope I wasn’t just a jerk bashing on Jay Chou to anyone. Thanks for reading!