Jolin Tsai (Mandarin:[tsʰaɪ]ⓘ; Chinese: 蔡依林; born September 15, 1980) is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, and actress. Recognized as the "Queen of C-Pop", Tsai is one of the most influential figures in the Chinese-speaking world's pop culture. Her continuous reinvention and versatility in musical style and visual presentation have established her as a leading figure in popularizing dance-pop music in Greater China. Tsai exercises significant creative control over her career, and her work, which often addresses societal issues and ideological themes, has achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim.
Born in Hsinchuang, Taiwan, Tsai gained prominence in 1998 after winning a singing competition organized by MTV Mandarin. Her debut album, 1019 (1999), was a commercial success and cemented her status as a teen idol with a significant following among teenagers. With the release of Magic (2003), Tsai transitioned to a more dance-oriented musical style, further establishing her reputation with Dancing Diva (2006), which solidified her role as a prominent dance-pop artist in the Chinese music scene.
In 2009, Tsai founded her own company, Eternal, and began to assert creative control over all aspects of her career. The album Myself (2010) marked a turning point, showcasing themes of girl power and concern for minority issues. Her subsequent album, Muse (2012), combined mainstream appeal with independent music elements, while Play (2014) was noted for advancing Chinese dance music on a global stage. Her album Ugly Beauty (2018) delved into themes of societal beauty standards and psychological complexity.
Tsai has sold over 25 million records, making her the highest-selling Taiwanese female recording artist since 2000. Since the release of Magic (2003), each of her studio albums has been the highest-selling album by a female artist in Taiwan for the year of its release, with four also being the highest-selling album overall in the country. She has won seven Golden Melody Awards, the most by any dance-pop artist in the award's history. Tsai has frequently appeared on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list, ranking in the top 20 for six out of ten years since 2010 and being named the number one Chinese female singer three times. Her net worth surpassed NT$2 billion in 2014, and she has been ranked as the highest-paid Taiwanese female singer 16 times between 2003 and 2022.
Life and career
1980–1998: Early life and career beginnings
Tsai was born on September 15, 1980, in Hsinchuang City, Taipei County (now Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City), Taiwan.[1] She has an older sister and is of mixed heritage,[2] with her maternal grandmother being a member of the indigenous Papora people.[3] Tsai attended Hsinchuang Elementary School,[4] Hsinchuang Junior High School,[5] and Chingmei Girls' High School.[6] During her high school years, she formed a band named Twister with her classmates and participated in various singing competitions to enhance her university application profile.[7] Notably, she won the Chingmei Girls' High School Singing Competition and secured second place in the popular music category at the BCC National High School Singing Competition.[8][9]
In May 1998, Tsai emerged as a standout performer in an MTV Mandarin singing competition, where she showcased her vocal talents by singing English songs.[10] This victory led to her signing with Universal Music Taiwan in March 1999, marking her as a key newcomer for the label.[11] Universal Music arranged a comprehensive training program for her over the following six months, which included dance classes twice a week to refine her stage presence, makeup classes to enable her to handle her own makeup during busy schedules, and speech training to prepare her for media interactions.[12] Additionally, she was given opportunities to observe live performances in Ireland and the United States to gain further insight into the music industry.[12] In June 1999, she was admitted to Fu Jen Catholic University, where she majored in English literature; she had placed first in the in the college recommendation examination.[13]
1999–2002: 1019, Don't Stop, Show Your Love, and Lucky Number
On July 16, 1999, Tsai released her debut single, "Living with the World".[14] Shortly thereafter, on September 10, 1999, she launched her first studio album, 1019, co-produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, and Paul Lee.[15] This album showcased a fusion of musical styles, including pop, hip-hop, R&B, and world music,[16] highlighting her artistic versatility.[17] Critics generally received the album positively, noting that it filled a niche for a girl-next-door singer in Taiwan at the time. Tsai's combination of idol appeal and vocal strength, along with high-quality production, contributed to the album's success,[16] leading to sales of over 400,000 copies in Taiwan.[16]
On April 26, 2000, Tsai released her second studio album, Don't Stop, which featured collaborations with David Wu, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, and Chen Wei.[18] This album continued to explore diverse genres, blending pop with hip-hop, rock, reggae, and R&B.[19] Critics praised her vocal development, noting a more powerful delivery and emotional range in both fast and slow songs.[19][20] The album resonated with audiences, selling more than 500,000 copies and becoming the second highest-selling album by a female artist and the sixth overall in Taiwan for that year.[21][22][7] Additionally, on May 5, 2000, she published a photo book titled Nineteen Years, which sold over 60,000 copies.[23]
Tsai's third studio album, Show Your Love, was released on December 22, 2000, and co-produced by David Wu, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, Chen Wei, and Jae Chong.[24] This album featured a wider array of musical styles and a more mature vocal performance.[25] Critics recognized it as one of the most musically rich projects of her career with Universal Music, appreciating the balanced mix of fast and slow tracks.[26] The album sold over 260,000 copies in Taiwan.[26] Notably, on September 6, 2001, the music video for "Fall in Love with a Street" won an MTV Video Music Award for International Viewers' Choice.[27]
On June 28, 2001, Tsai released the Mandarin version of the theme song "Where the Dream Takes You" for the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.[28] Following this, she released her fourth studio album, Lucky Number, on July 7, 2001.[29] This album, also co-produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, Paul Lee, Chen Wei, and Kay Huang, integrated pop, R&B, disco, and hip-hop.[28] Despite being considered one of her most engaging works during her time with Universal, the album faced promotional challenges due to a contractual dispute with her management company, D Sound.[30] Nevertheless, it sold over 150,000 copies and ranked among the top 20 highest-selling albums in Taiwan that year.[31] On February 18, 2002, Tsai represented Mandopop alongside William Roedy, chairman and CEO of MTV, and the group t.A.T.u. on the cover of Businessweek.[32]
2002–2005: Magic, Castle, and J-Game
On July 23, 2002, Tsai signed a contract with Sony Music Taiwan.[33] Shortly thereafter, on August 2, 2002, she published her book, The Masque of the Princess, the Spirit of Knight,[34] which sold over 50,000 copies in Taiwan.[35]
On March 7, 2003, Tsai released her fifth studio album, Magic, co-produced by industry figures including Bing Wang, Peter Lee, Jamie Hsueh, Jay Chou, and Huang Yi.[36] The album featured a diverse mix of genres, including pop, disco, funk, ballads, hip-hop, and Britpop, tailored to suit her vocal abilities and artistic vision.[37]Magic received generally positive reviews from critics and was instrumental in defining her musical direction, with dance-pop emerging as a prominent style.[38] The album sold over 360,000 copies in Taiwan and over 1.5 million copies throughout Asia,[39][40] making it the highest-selling album by a female artist in Taiwan that year and the second highest-selling overall.[41] It garnered nominations for the Golden Melody Award for Album of the Year, with Tsai nominated for Best Female Mandarin Singer and Baby Chung nominated for Best Music Arranger for the track "Prague Square", which Chung ultimately won.[42][43]
On March 9, 2003, Tsai starred in the Taiwanese television series Hi Working Girl, which premiered on CTV.[44] She also released several songs for the 2003 Hong Kong film Why Me, Sweetie?! on April 10, 2003.[45] On June 14, 2003, Tsai graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University with a bachelor's degree in English literature.[46] Later, on September 10, 2003, she released the theme song "Mirage" for the film Warriors of Heaven and Earth and translated Madonna's book The English Roses, eventually translating five additional works for the artist.[47][48]
On February 27, 2004, Tsai released her sixth studio album, Castle, again collaborating with producers including Bing Wang, Peter Lee, Jay Chou, Jamie Hsueh, Huang Yi, and G-Power.[49] This album embraced a wide range of musical styles, including hip-hop, Latin, chanson, heavy metal, and Britpop.[50] It was well-received by critics and solidified her successful trajectory in the Chinese music scene,[51] selling over 300,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 1.5 million copies in Asia,[52][53] making it the highest-selling album by a female artist in Taiwan that year and the second highest-selling overall.[54]
On August 7, 2004, Tsai commenced her first concert tour, J1 World Tour, at Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai, China.[55] The tour spanned one year and nine months, featuring eight performances in seven cities.[56] On November 12, 2004, she released the compilation album J9,[57] and on February 8, 2005, she performed "36 Tricks of Love" at the CCTV New Year's Gala.[58] On March 9, 2005, Tsai published her book, Jolin's English Diary Book,[59] which sold over 120,000 copies in Taiwan.[60]
She released her seventh studio album, J-Game, on April 25, 2005.[61] This album, co-produced by Jamie Hsueh, Jack Chou, Bing Wang, and Adia, combined elements of pop, hip-hop, electronic, disco, and Chinese traditional music.[62] Although J-Game received mixed reviews, noting its adherence to trends but critiquing its vague positioning and lack of distinct personality,[63][64] it sold over 260,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 1.2 million copies in Asia,[65][66] making it the highest-selling album by a female artist in the country that year and the second highest-selling overall.[67] On September 23, 2005, Tsai released the live video album J1 Live Concert,[68] and on September 28, 2005, she collaborated with Show Lo on the single "Destined Guy".[69] Additionally, on December 30, 2005, she published her book, Jolin's Party,[70] which sold over 150,000 copies in Taiwan.[60]
On February 16, 2006, Tsai signed with EMI Taiwan.[71] Subsequently, on May 5, 2006, Sony Music released her greatest hits compilation, J-Top,[72] which sold over 100,000 copies in Taiwan and ranking as the fifth highest-selling album in the country for that year.[73]
On May 12, 2006, Tsai released her eighth studio album, Dancing Diva.[74] Co-produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, Paula Ma, Yuri Chan, and Stanley Huang, the album showcased a blend of pop and electronic music, featuring a diverse array of musical styles characterized by smooth melodies and dynamic dance tracks.[75][76] Critics lauded the album for its rich content, sophisticated production quality,[77][78] and widespread appeal, solidifying Tsai's status as a prominent dance-pop artist in the Chinese music industry.[79][80]Dancing Diva sold over 300,000 copies in Taiwan and over 2.5 million copies across Asia,[77][81] becoming the highest-selling album of the year in Taiwan.[73] It garnered nominations for the Golden Melody Awards, including Best Mandarin Album and Best Female Mandarin Singer, with Adia nominated for Best Single Producer for the title track.[82] Tsai ultimately won both Best Female Mandarin Singer and Favorite Female Singer/Group.[83][84]
On September 21, 2007, Tsai released her ninth studio album, Agent J.[91] This album was co-produced by Lars Quang, Nik Quang, RnG, Adia, Paul Lee, Michael Lin, Paula Ma, and Jamie Hsueh,[92] and was released in conjunction with the film of the same name, co-directed by Jeff Chang, Marlboro Lai, and Kuang Sheng, featuring Kim Jae-won, Stephen Fung, and Carl Ng in leading roles.[93] The album received mixed reviews from critics, who noted Tsai's consistent bold style and diverse musical approach,[94] though some criticized it for lacking freshness and melodic appeal.[95]Agent J sold over 200,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 3 million copies in Asia,[90][96] becoming the highest-selling album in Taiwan for that year.[90] Adia won the Golden Melody Award for Best Single Producer for the title track, while Andrew Chen received the award for Best Music Arranger.[97]
On November 21, 2007, Tsai collaborated with Kylie Minogue on the single "In My Arms".[98] On July 18, 2008, she was honored with the Butterfly Award by Taiwan's Ministry of Labor for her significant contributions to the entertainment industry.[99] On October 31, 2008, she released her cover album Love Exercise, which coincided with a book of the same name featuring her interpretations of ten English songs.[100] The album was co-produced by Paula Ma, Peter Lee, Jim Lee, Daniel Bi, Paul Lee, and Adia.[101] Initially scheduled for release on March 7, 2008, the album's launch was delayed due to personnel changes and stock acquisition at EMI in Greater China.[102][103][104] The album sold more than 30,000 copies in Taiwan,[105] while it became the highest-selling Western-language album in the country for the year,[106] it received criticism from music reviewers for lacking innovative production and relying too heavily on classic songs.[107][108]
2008–2018: Butterfly, Myself, Muse, and Play
On December 16, 2008, Tsai signed with Warner Music Taiwan.[109] Her tenth studio album, Butterfly, was released on March 27, 2009,[110] co-produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, and Paula Ma.[111] The album received mixed reviews from music critics, who noted a lack of surprise, sincerity, and innovation.[112] Despite this, Butterfly achieved notable commercial success, with over 120,000 copies pre-ordered, making it the most pre-ordered album in Taiwan's history.[113] It ultimately sold over 130,000 copies in Taiwan and over 1 million copies across Asia,[114][115] becoming the highest-selling album of the year in Taiwan.[116] On March 28, 2009, Tsai launched her Butterfly Campus Tour at Chung Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan.[117] The tour was initially planned for ten shows but was cut short to four due to the recurrence of an old injury.[118]
On October 9, 2009, she released the live video album Love & Live.[119] Later, on October 15, 2009, Tsai co-founded the company Eternal with Ke Fu-hung, focusing on artist management, music production, concert production, and fan club activities.[120] On April 27, 2010, she released "Heartbeat of Taiwan", the theme song for the Taiwan Pavilion at Expo 2010.[121]
Tsai's eleventh studio album, Myself, was released on August 13, 2010.[122] Co-produced by Andrew Chen, Adia, and Paula Ma,[123] the album centered around a party theme,[124] with dance music comprising ninety percent of its content.[125] While it received mixed reviews,[126] it was acknowledged as a new benchmark for Chinese dance music albums.[127]Myself sold over 65,000 copies in Taiwan, becoming the highest-selling album by a female artist that year and the fourth highest-selling overall.[128] The music video for the track "Honey Trap" was nominated for a Golden Melody Award for Best Music Video.[129] Tsai commenced her Myself World Tour on December 24, 2010, at Taipei Arena,[130] which lasted two years and four months, encompassing 35 shows in 31 cities and attracting approximately 600,000 attendees, generating about NT$1.5 billion in box office revenue.[131] On July 12, 2011, she published her book Living Slim,[132] which sold over 120,000 copies in Taiwan.[133]
On September 14, 2012, Tsai released her twelfth studio album, Muse.[134] Co-produced by Michael Lin, Peggy Hsu, JJ Lin, and Tanya Chua,[135] the album blended pop music with pop art,[136] spanning both mainstream and independent styles.[137] It received generally positive reviews, praised for its thematic clarity and balance of fast and slow songs.[138]Muse sold over 95,000 copies in Taiwan, becoming the highest-selling album by a female artist in the country that year and the third highest-selling overall.[139] It was nominated for four Golden Melody Awards, with the track "The Great Artist" winning Song of the Year.[140][141]
On January 16, 2013, Tsai represented Taiwanese artists at MIDEM in Cannes, France.[142] On October 19, 2013, she released the live video album Myself World Tour.[143] On May 19, 2014, she contributed the song "Now Is the Time" for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, included in the compilation album Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game.[144] She also released the theme song "Kaleidoscope" for the Chinese film Tiny Times 3 on June 13, 2014,[145] and the campaign theme song "Be Wonderful Together" in collaboration with Pepsi and Tmall on August 27, 2014.[146] Tsai served as a judge on the CCTV variety show Rising Star from October 31 to December 30, 2014.[147][148]
Tsai performing in 2015
On November 15, 2014, she released her thirteenth studio album, Play,[149] co-produced by Starr Chen, Andrew Chen, Tiger Chung, JJ Lin, and Michael Lin.[150] This album marked a departure from previous works, featuring rich content and diverse themes.[151][152] It received critical acclaim and was recognized for raising the standard of Chinese dance music.[153]Play sold over 85,000 copies in Taiwan,[154] becoming the highest-selling album by a female artist and the fourth highest-selling overall in the country that year.[155] The album garnered ten nominations at the Golden Melody Awards,[156][157] making it one of the most nominated albums in history,[158] ultimately winning both Best Mandarin Album and Best Vocal Recording Album, with Andrew Chen receiving the award for Best Single Producer.[159]
On May 22, 2015, Tsai launched her fourth concert tour, Play World Tour, at Taipei Arena.[160] The tour lasted one year and two months, consisting of 34 shows in 23 cities and drawing an audience of approximately 600,000, with box office revenue of about NT$1.5 billion.[56] On December 2, 2015, she received the Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Asian Artist.[161]
Tsai made her dubbing debut in the Taiwanese Mandarin edition of the 2016 Disney film Zootopia as Judy Hopps on February 26, 2016.[162] She collaborated with Alesso on the single "I Wanna Know", released on September 30, 2016,[163] and with Starr Chen on "Ego-Holic", released on October 31, 2016.[164] Additionally, she released several theme songs for various projects, including "Give Love" for a Mother's Day campaign on May 12, 2017,[165] "We Are One" with Hardwell on June 20, 2017,[166] and "On Happiness Road" for the film of the same name on November 20, 2017.[165] On December 29, 2017, she released "Stand Up", the theme song for the 2018 film Monster Hunt 2.[167] On January 30, 2018, Tsai released the live video album Play World Tour,[168] and on June 12, 2018, she unveiled "The Player", a theme song for the 10th anniversary of the video game Dungeon & Fighter.[169]
2018–present: Ugly Beauty
On December 26, 2018, Tsai released her fourteenth studio album, Ugly Beauty.[170] Co-produced by Starr Chen, Razor Chiang, Howe Chen, Øzi, and Tsai herself,[171] the album blends pop with reggae, electronic, and hip-hop influences.[172] Thematically, Ugly Beauty delves into the concept of breaking societal beauty standards and exploring inner psychological complexities.[173] Music critics generally praised the album for its cohesive concept, comfortable vocal delivery, and high production quality, ranking it among the top Chinese albums of the year.[174][175][176]Ugly Beauty became the highest-selling album of 2019 in Taiwan.[177] As of August 13, 2023, it has sold over 850,000 digital copies in China,[178] making it the highest-selling digital album by a female artist from Hong Kong or Taiwan in history.[179] Tsai also became the female artist from Hong Kong or Taiwan with the highest digital sales of all time.[180] The album garnered eight nominations at the Golden Melody Awards,[181][182] and ultimately Ugly Beauty won Album of the Year and "Womxnly" was awarded Song of the Year.[183]
On January 21, 2019, Tsai began serving as the dance mentor on the iQiyi variety show Youth with You,[184] which concluded on April 6, 2019.[185] She released the single "Happy New Year Do Re Mi" on January 24, 2019, in collaboration with Liu Yuning and TikTok influencers.[186] On November 1, 2019, she released the single "Gravity" featuring Karry Wang.[187] Tsai embarked on her fifth concert tour, Ugly Beauty World Tour, on December 30, 2019, at Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan.[188] The tour lasted four years and eight months, comprising 63 performances across 27 cities. On April 3, 2020, she released the single "Fight as One" in collaboration with Eason Chan.[189] On November 22, 2020, she released the songs "Who Am I", "Turn Back Time", and "Opposite", for the 2020 Chinese television series The Wolf.[190]
On March 21, 2021, Tsai released the single "Stars Align" featuring R3hab,[191] followed by the single "Equal in the Darkness" with Steve Aoki and Max Schneider on October 21, 2021.[192] On December 9, 2022, she released the theme song "Untitled" for the Taiwanese film Marry My Dead Body,[193] which was nominated for a Golden Horse Award for Best Original Film Song.[194] On October 31, 2023, she released the theme song "Someday, Somewhere" for the 2023 Taiwanese web series At the Moment,[195] receiving a joint nomination with Richard Craker for Best Composer at the Golden Melody Awards.[196] On November 20, 2023, she released the 40th anniversary theme song "Oh La La La" for McDonald's Taiwan.[197]
Artistry
Influences
Tsai's opening yoga act during the J1 World Tour (2004–06) drew inspiration from Madonna's Re-Invention World Tour (2004). Tsai also utilized voguing, which Madonna brought into the mainstream, in the music video for "Honey Trap" from her album Myself (2010).[198]
Tsai has cited Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Destiny's Child as major influences. In May 1998, she won a singing contest held by MTV Mandarin where she performed songs by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. She acknowledged the significant influence that the two artists had on her during her student years, stating, "I've been listening to music since I was a child, at that time, I often listened to tapes and radios. Western music was very popular at that time, I liked Whitney Houston, and I often recorded myself imitating her singing voice. After that, I made my debut as a singer by participating in singing competition."[199] She also mentioned how Destiny's Child were a source of inspiration for her, expressing admiration for the group's singing and dancing abilities.[199][200]
Tsai remarked that she became a fan of Madonna after watching her perform,[201] and expressed a desire to "lead trends in music, stage, dance, and fashion" in the same vein of the singer.[198] Taiwanese choreographer Bruce Chang recalled Tsai's observations about how Madonna seldom does line dancing, yet her dance movements remained powerful. Tsai expressed a desire to emulate her, commenting, "Madonna has always been an artist I admire and she has done a lot of stuff that became very innovative, even at the moment when her works have been criticized by a lot of people, looking back people still think of her as amazing."[202] Tsai also believed that "when making popular music, we should lead people to accept new styles and new elements, and challenge existing concepts."[153] She has additionally cited Kylie Minogue,[203]Britney Spears,[204]Lady Gaga,[205] amongst others, as inspirations.
Musical style
Tsai has utilized a diverse range of musical genres and concepts throughout her career.[206][207] Tsai noted, "Apart from experimenting with a variety of styles, I try to interpret and express them with my own colors".[208] Tsai's predominant musical style is dance-pop;[209] she holds the belief that "every singer must establish their own identity and unique traits." The singer expressed that "Maybe I don't have many representative ballad works, but dance music is what I am best at."[153] Her debut album 1019 (1999) featured a variety of styles such as ballads,[210]R&B, and hip-hop.[17] Her 2000 album, Don't Stop, incorporated elements such as rock and reggae, and began to feature dance tracks such as "Don't Stop" and "You Gotta Know".[20] Her next two albums, Show Your Love (2000) and Lucky Number (2001), utilized R&B and hip-hop styles in addition to disco elements.[26][30]
Tsai's 2003 album, Magic, combined elements of disco, funk, hip-hop, rock, and R&B,[37] and marked the singer's shift towards a predominantly dance-oriented musical direction.[38][209] Her 2004 album, Castle, expanded on the styles of its predecessor; it contained tracks such as "36 Tricks of Love" and "Priority", which incorporated heavy metal elements, along with the chanson track "Love Love Love".[50] Many of the dance tracks on her album J-Game (2005) were heavily influenced by electronic music and retained the disco and hip-hop elements found in her previous two albums.[65] The track "Exclusive Myth" incorporated hip-hop and Chinese traditional music.[62]Dancing Diva (2006) is primarily a pop and electronic album;[75] its title track is recognized for its exotic elements, while the track "Good Guy" utilizes electronic rock.[211]Agent J (2007) showcased Eurodance and continued to utilize elements like disco and hip-hop. It also included the swing track "Fear-Free".[92]
Tsai possesses a mezzo-sopranovocal range.[216] Since her debut, she has received criticism for her weak singing skills,[217] directed towards her thin voice and limited vocal range.[218] Taiwanese musician Bing Wang noted that while Tsai's voice might be considered average, he acknowledged the distinctiveness of her articulation.[219] Wawa Chen, one of the vocal judges from MTV Mandarin, also expressed appreciation for Tsai's voice,[220] whereas Sohu Entertainment felt that the singer's vocals and delivery had improved substantially over the years.[221] Qu Er from Tencent Entertainment felt that Tsai's vocal skills have often been misinterpreted, and expressed that only a handful of singers can sustain such seamless breath control throughout an entire performance.[222]
Tsai has been nominated for Golden Melody Award for Best Female Mandarin Singer four times,[223] and won the award for her 2006 album Dancing Diva.[83][224] Some observers questioned whether her vocal ability was enough for Tsai to be qualified to win the award.[225] In response, chief jury of the 18th Golden Melody Awards Liu Ya-wen publicly praised Tsai's singing and performance skills in Dancing Diva, and felt that the record signified the singer's transformation from merely a performer to a true vocalist.[224] During the 26th Golden Melody Awards in 2015, she received ten nominations for her 2014 album, Play. However, she was not nominated in the Best Female Mandarin Singer category after a judge pointed out significant pitch correction in the album, which swayed the votes of other judges.[226] In response to this, Tsai's manager Tom Wang dismissed the claim that Tsai had been reliant on pitch correction while recording Play. DJ Casey Cheng commented that he did not see an issue with pitch correction in the first place, emphasizing that "records are designed to produce unique sounds."[226]
In 2017, during her opening performance at the 54th Golden Horse Awards, she was off-key while singing a cover of "Tian Mi Mi" by Teresa Teng.[227] As the following songs she performed were characterized by low pitches, critics believed her overall performance fell short of expectations as she usually excelled in songs with mid and high pitches.[216] The performance sparked discussion and criticism, while Tsai openly acknowledged her mistakes.[228]
Tsai is often involved in the creative direction of her music videos, which have been noted for blending creativity and aesthetic appeal, while also considering commercial aspects.[229] According to Apple Music, Tsai has "always been on the cutting edge of fashion, and her music videos are full of varied costumes, sometimes colorful and sometimes avant-garde, very dazzling."[230] You Zuo of The Beijing News wrote, "In the production of her music videos, she has achieved advancements with each release. While there are traditional music videos that primarily showcase the singer's image, she simultaneously releases videos with a distinctive style like 'Play', 'Womxnly', and 'Lady in Red', demonstrating the continual evolution of her work with every album."[229]
Tsai's music videos have been recognized domestically and overseas. The music videos of the songs "Honey Trap", "The Great Artist", "Play", "I'm Not Yours", "Ugly Beauty", and "Lady in Red" have all been nominated for Golden Melody Award for Best Music Video,[231] while the music videos of the songs "The Great Artist", "Play", "I'm Not Yours", and "Ugly Beauty" all won Golden Pin Design Awards.[232] In addition, the video for "The Great Artist" was awarded the Bronze Award for Visual Design at the International Design Awards.[233]Time remarked that the video for "Play" "might be 2014's best pop music video";[234][235] it later won a Red Dot Design Award for Best Visual Communication Design.[236] The video for "Sweet Guilty Pleasure" won the Gold Award for Best Music Video at the Telly Awards.[237]
Public image
Tsai's fashion sensibilities have consistently garnered public interest,[238][239] with her style influencing trends within the Mandopop music industry.[240][241] The singer has been recognized for her unique approach to fashion throughout her career;[240][242]Vogue Taiwan's Anny Ting noted that Tsai's style had evolved from a youthful and sensual aesthetic to a more contemporary and avant-garde approach.[243] Tsai was initially associated with a girl next door image upon her debut, which resonated with a younger demographic and led her to be dubbed a "Teenage Boy Killer" by the media. Following a contractual dispute, she made a return with the album Magic (2003), showcasing a more fashionable and sexy image accompanied by energetic dance music.[243] In recognition of her style, the Taiwanese edition of Ray magazine named her Taiwan's "Fashion Hierarch" in 2003.[244] She received the Style Award at the MTV Asia Awards 2006 and was voted Best Fashion Artist by fashion magazine editors and internet users in a poll conducted by Yahoo! Taiwan.[245][246]
Since 2007, Tsai has made appearances at international fashion events such as the "Big Four" fashion weeks, the Met Gala, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She became the first Chinese singer to attend all six of these events,[247] the first Taiwanese artist to attend the Met Gala,[248] and the first Asian artist to attend the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[249] Tsai has appeared on the cover of publications such as Vogue,[250]Elle,[251]Harper's Bazaar,[252] and Marie Claire several times.[253] She has also been featured in FHM Taiwan's 100 Sexiest Women list eight times between 2000 and 2018.[254] In addition to her contributions to fashion, Tsai has been a trendsetter in nail art.[255] In 2005, she appeared on the cover of the Taiwan edition of Nail Up magazine, who referred to her as the "Queen of Nail Art".[citation needed]
From 2004 to 2019, she was the highest-earning female singer in Taiwan,[256] and the second highest in 2020 and 2021.[257][258] According to a 2014 report by Hong Kong's Next Magazine, Tsai's net worth surpassed NT$2 billion.[259] Several media outlets have thus referred to her as a "Queen of Money-Making".[260][261][262] With record sales exceeding 25 million copies,[208][263] Tsai is the best-selling Taiwanese female recording artist since 2000.[264] Each of her studio albums, beginning with Magic in 2003, has been the top-selling album by a female artist in Taiwan in its release year,[265][177] with four of them being the top-selling album overall in their respective years of release.[266][177] Tsai has been ranked in the top 20 of the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list six times since 2010, including three times as the top-ranked Chinese female singer.[267] She was also listed among Forbes Asia's 100 Digital Stars. With over 43 million followers on Sina Weibo and 4 million on Instagram by the end of 2020, she became one of the most followed Asian celebrities on social media.[177]
Tsai is recognized as a gay icon by the LGBTQ community.[268] In 2012, she participated in a gender equality initiative led by the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.[269] She has expressed her support for the LGBTQ community through songs such as "Dr. Jolin", "Fantasy", "Gentlewomen", "We're All Different, Yet the Same", and "Womxnly".[270][271] In 2015, she was awarded Icon of the Year at the Asia LGBT Milestone Awards, with judges acknowledging her public support for LGBTQ rights in the face of societal pressure.[272] That same year, she appeared on the cover of the lesbian magazine Lezs, affirming her advocacy for gender equality and same-sex marriage rights.[273] In 2017, Billboard's Tamar Herman highlighted Tsai's work for promoting love and equality through her provocative songs and music videos in the traditionally conservative Chinese music industry, making her one of the most visible icons for LGBTQ people in Asia. In response, Tsai stated: "I don't intend to become an idol for any specific group of people. All I want to do is to encourage some people by saying things I think to be right, so that they know they are not alone."[274][275]
Legacy
Referred to as the "Queen of C-pop",[276] Tsai has emerged as a significant figure in the C-pop music scene, earning recognition for her music, image, dance, and resilience.[152][277][278] Liu Hsiu-wen of Billboard noted that in the early 2000s, Taiwanese artists like Jay Chou and Tsai dominated Chinese-speaking markets across Asia, marking a golden era for Taiwanese pop music.[279] Former chairwoman of the Kuomintang, Hung Hsiu-chu, remarked that Tsai's artistic accomplishments have set a "high standard" in the C-pop music industry, adding that Tsai's name had been synonymous with a generation's vibrant youth over two decades.[280] Liang Xiaohui of NetEase Entertainment suggested that when future generations reflect on the early 21st-century Chinese divas, Tsai might be the first name that comes to mind, in a similar vein to Madonna in the late 20th-century.[127] In 2010, Tsai was honored as one of the Top Ten Influential Hong Kong/Taiwan Music Figures of the Decade at the Top Chinese Music Awards.[281]
In addition to her influence on Chinese popular culture, Tsai has made significant contributions to social issues.[271][282][283] Tamar Herman of Billboard described Tsai as a leading figure in Chinese pop music who has represented same-sex couples and diverse LGBTQ lifestyles through her "vibrant" pop songs, providing a platform for diverse expression in the conservative Chinese music scene.[274] Herman noted that through her music that promoted self-love and understanding of differences, Tsai became a prominent icon in Asia's LGBTQ community.[274] Liao Yuanling of Business Today wrote that Tsai consistently uses her platform to advocate for gender equality, empowering minority groups to speak up for themselves.[271] In a 2019 survey conducted by Cheers magazine and Elle Taiwan titled "Who Are the Most Influential Women to the New Generation", Tsai ranked first in the field of fashion styles and second in both fields of gender issues and life attitudes.[284]
Tsai is regarded for having led the way for dance-pop's mainstream acceptance in the Greater China region.[285][286]QQ Music critic Mimimao wrote that "Jolin Tsai is undoubtedly the biggest contributor to the development of electronic dance music in the C-pop music industry", and opined that Tsai's innovative approach had placed her "far ahead" of her contemporaries.[213] Hou Cheng-nan, an associate professor at the Department of Mass Communication at I-Shou University, remarked how Tsai "elevated" the landscape of Chinese dance music and "set a high standard that is difficult to surpass".[153] Fan Jung-ching of Bloomberg Businessweek Taiwan referred to her as a "Great Chinese Dance Music Artist", writing how Tsai showcased the "world-class quality" of Chinese dance music to global audiences.[153]Apple Music wrote that songs such as "Play" and "Ugly Beauty" not only served as "sharp societal critiques", but also helped set "new visual and creative standards for Mandopop".[287]
Additionally, Tsai has collaborated with several brands to create co-branded products. Notably, in December 2018, Pony launched two limited-edition sneakers designed by her, based on the M100 series.[339] In July 2019, Gap introduced six collaborative T-shirts that she designed, each inspired by a song from her 2018 album Ugly Beauty.[340] Furthermore, in September 2019, Gap released four long-sleeved pullover hoodies designed by Tsai.[341]
Products
In September 2007, Tsai and her sister launched the nail polish brand Oops! Jealous, initially available through the Taiwanese online shopping platform PayEasy. Tsai played a key role in developing the brand's nail polish colors and styles.[342] In August 2010, Oops! Jealous expanded its distribution by collaborating with PayEasy to sell products through vending machines at Qsquare in Taipei, Taiwan.[343] By October 2011, the brand had entered the personal care retail market, establishing a presence in Watsons stores.[342] However, the brand was discontinued in 2014.[344]
In February 2009, Tsai, in partnership with Ken Erman, introduced the fashion brand Seventy Two Changes in New York City.[345] The brand was initially sold at Nordstrom across 12 North American cities, with plans to expand into Asia, including Taiwan, China, Singapore, and Malaysia.[346][347] In February 2010, it successfully entered the mainland Chinese market, opening its first flagship store at Shanghai Times Square.[348] However, due to differences in business philosophy among shareholders in the U.S. and China, combined with the expiration of her two-year contract, Tsai stepped down as the brand's designer in 2011.[349]
On October 20, 2015, Tsai launched a fondant cake fan page titled Your Majesty on Facebook.[350] Subsequently, on December 7, 2015, she established a company focused on the fondant cake sector, offering customized cake orders via Facebook and Instagram.[351] By January 8, 2018, she reported that her cake business employed four cake chefs.[352]
Tsai has received a total of 16 nominations for the Golden Melody Awards, which includes nominations for two Album of the Year, four Song of the Year, four Best Mandarin Album, four Best Female Mandarin Singer, one Best Composer, and one Best Single Producer.[353][196] She has won seven Golden Melody Awards, including Album of the Year for her 2018 album Ugly Beauty, and three Song of the Year awards for "Marry Me Today", "The Great Artist", and "Womxnly". Additionally, she has been honored with the Best Mandarin Album for Play (2014), Best Female Mandarin Singer for Dancing Diva (2006), and a Favorite Female Singer/Group award.[353] Tsai is recognized as the dance-pop artist with the highest number of nominations and awards in Golden Melody Awards history.[354] She also holds a Guinness World Record for the most Golden Melody Awards for Song of the Year.[355] Her album Play garnered ten nominations, tying it with Jay Chou's Fantasy (2000) and A-Mei's Amit (2009) for the most nominations in history,[356] while Ugly Beauty received eight nominations.[181][182]
In terms of chart performance, Tsai has achieved number one status on Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles of the Year chart five times with "Marry Me Today", "Sun Will Never Set", "Honey Trap", "Play", and "Ugly Beauty", making her the artist with the most number one songs on this chart.[381] Each of her studio albums, starting with Magic (2003), has been the highest-selling album by a female artist in Taiwan for the year of its release.[265][177] Notably, four of these albums—Dancing Diva (2006), Agent J (2007), Butterfly (2009), and Ugly Beauty (2018)—were the overall highest-selling albums in the country in their respective years.[266][177]
Personal life
Tsai's personal life has attracted considerable public and media interest throughout her career. She has been linked romantically to three prominent male artists: Jay Chou, Eddie Peng, and Vivian Dawson.[382]
Tsai and Chou first met in January 2001 while appearing on the CTV variety show Guess.[383] Their relationship was noted when they were spotted dining together in Shinjuku, Japan, in December 2001 and subsequently meeting privately in Taiwan.[384][385] However, by February 2005, following Chou's public appearance with Patty Hou in Japan,[386] the two began to distance themselves from each other.[387] Tsai later performed as a guest at Chou's The Era World Tour concert in Taipei in June 2010.[388]
In January 2007, Tsai was seen with Eddie Peng in London,[389] and they were also observed meeting privately in Taiwan on several occasions.[390] In September 2008, Peng faced management issues reportedly linked to his relationship with Tsai.[391] In August 2009, Peng's former manager confirmed that the couple had been together for over three years since mid-2006,[392] with their breakup speculated to be influenced by Peng's mother's disapproval of Tsai's reluctance to publicly acknowledge their relationship.[393]
Vivian Dawson entered Tsai's life in July 2010 when he appeared in the music video for her song "Love Player".[394] They were seen together in Tokyo later that year and traveled extensively together in the following years.[395][396] In November 2011, Tsai's father indirectly confirmed their relationship, along with her past connections to Chou and Peng.[397] Their relationship became more serious, as evidenced by a trip to New Zealand in February 2013 to meet Dawson's parents.[398] However, by December 2016, Tsai's manager confirmed that she and Dawson had ended their relationship the previous month.[399]
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^"'吸金女王'蔡依林6天拍3支广告赚3千多万(图)" ['Queen of Money' Jolin Tsai earned more than 30 million yuan by filming 3 commercials in 6 days (picture)]. Sina Entertainment. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"蔡依林2009丰收 收入4580万人民币成吸金女王" [Jolin Tsai had a bumper harvest in 2009, earning 45.8 million yuan and becoming the queen of money-making]. Sina Entertainment. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
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^"蔡依林心疼同志被抹黑 氣到胃抽筋「荒謬的社會言論」" [Jolin Tsai feels sorry for gay people being smeared and is so angry that she has stomach cramps "ridiculous social remarks"]. ETtoday (in Traditional Chinese). December 4, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
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^"盤點/從少男殺手登「流行教主」 蔡依林叱吒華語樂壇42歲不婚當亞洲天后" [From boy killer to "pop leader" Jolin Tsai dominates the Chinese music scene and becomes an Asian queen at the age of 42 without getting married]. CTWant (in Chinese). June 23, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"谦虚小女生王心凌: 蔡依林是我的前辈、榜样(图)" [Modesty little girl Cyndi Wang: Jolin Tsai is my senior and role model (picture)]. China News Service. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"可爱教主杨丞琳《遇上爱》3月17日亚洲正式发行" [Cute leader Rainie Yang's "Meeting Love" will be officially released in Asia on March 17]. Sina Entertainment. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"A-Lin健康亮紅燈急瘦身, 向偶像Jolin看齊轉型唱跳歌手" [A-Lin's health is a red flag and she is in a hurry to lose weight and transform into a singing and dancing singer to follow her idol Jolin]. Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). December 21, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"徐佳瑩選唱蔡依林舞曲! 一講完歌名全場傻眼" [Xu Jiaying chooses to sing Jolin Tsai's dance music! After telling the song title, everyone was dumbfounded]. Yahoo News (in Chinese). April 4, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"艾怡良想摸Jolin手臂 - 娛樂新聞" [Ai Yiliang wants to touch Jolin's arm – Entertainment News]. China Times (in Chinese). June 27, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"吴映洁强音盛典将携手JUNJIN 盼见蔡依林" [Emma Wu's will join hands with Junjun, looking forward to meeting Jolin Tsai]. Sina Entertainment. May 23, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"直擊/郭書瑤見偶像蔡依林 興奮尖叫: 她跟我說話耶" [Direct Attack/Guo Shuyao screamed excitedly when she met her idol Jolin Tsai: She is talking to me]. ETtoday (in Traditional Chinese). September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"图文: By2跳芭蕾叫板蔡依林-视蔡依林为偶像" [Photo and text: By2 dances ballet to challenge Jolin Tsai – regards Jolin Tsai as an idol]. Sina Entertainment. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
^"蔡依林辣秀21吋小蠻腰 自曝重磅消息「要發新歌了」". Mirror Media (in Traditional Chinese). July 30, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
In 2010, the list started to include Chinese celebrities born in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries. Prior to that it only included celebrities born in mainland China.
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