"The Great Artist" (Chinese: 大藝術家) is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, featured on her twelfth studio album Muse. The song was composed by Robin Jessen, Anne Judith Wik, Nermin Harambasic, Ronny Svendsen, Charite Viken Reinas, Eirik Johansen, Alexander Puntervold, and Matthew Yen, and was produced by Michael Lin.[1] Released as a single on August 15, 2012, by Warner and Mars,[2] It was nominated for two awards at the 24th Golden Melody Awards, including Song of the Year and Best Music Video.[3] The song ultimately won Song of the Year.[4]
Background and release
On February 22, 2012, Sam Chen, the General Manager of Warner Music Greater China, revealed on Sina Weibo that Tsai's new album was expected to be released in the summer of the same year. He also mentioned that the album was in the song selection phase.[5] On June 12, 2012, media reports indicated that Tsai had completed recording half of the songs for her upcoming album.[6]
On June 25, 2012, it was further reported that the album was still slated for an August release. Tsai's manager, Tom Wang, stated, "Jolin is very meticulous about this album, and it has taken the longest to record. Some songs were repeatedly scrapped and re-recorded. She has put a lot of her own ideas into the music, music videos, and photoshoots."[7] On July 10, 2012, Tsai revealed that the album was planned to be released around her birthday on September 15.[8] On July 23, 2012, media outlets reported that the recording of the album had been completed.[9]
On August 15, 2012, Tsai released the single "The Great Artist" from the album Muse.[2] On January 2, 2013, the song was ranked second on the 2012 Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart in Taiwan.[10]
Writing and recording
The song encourages women to maintain a brave and determined attitude, believing that true love will eventually be found. The lyrics also depict, from a female perspective, a relationship with a fickle male partner. Unlike Tsai's previous dance tracks, this song features multiple emotional shifts, and the rap section presents a more challenging vocal range compared to her earlier work.[2]
Tsai explained, "The song 'The Great Artist' is quite unique. In addition to a strong rhythmic beat, it also incorporates some electronic elements. The melody is something I had never attempted before, as it involves a more spoken-sung style. It also required a certain attitude, because the lyrics, written by Matthew Yen, are very bold. The song conveys a message of female empowerment and independence, so when I performed it, I immersed myself in the persona of a strong, confident woman."[11]
Music video
Dadong Arts Center, one of the filming locations for the music video of "The Great Artist"
On August 22, 2012, Tsai released the music video for "The Great Artist", directed by Muh Chen. Set against the backdrop of a "futuristic salon", Chen explained, "In the 17th and 18th centuries, salons were social gatherings where the French bourgeoisie and aristocracy discussed literature and art. The hosts of these salons were typically intelligent, elegant, and cultured noblewomen. The rise of feminism aligns perfectly with the themes of the song's lyrics." The video was filmed over 38 hours across locations in Kaohsiung and Taipei, with three designers creating five outfits for the video. The total production cost amounted to NT$8 million.[12]
On August 23, 2012, Tsai held a promotional event for the music video at Taipei Circle.[13] The video achieved success, ranking 9th on Taiwan's YouTube Most Popular Videos of 2012.[14] It also became the first music video by a female artist to receive a perfect score on YinYueTai.[15] The video was nominated for Best Music Video at the 24th Golden Melody Awards and for Best Visual Effects at the 2014 Berlin Music Video Awards.[3][16] Additionally, it won the Bronze Award for Visual Design at the 2013 International Design Awards and the Visual Communication Design Award at the 2016 Golden Pin Design Awards.[17]
Critical reception
Music critic Michael McCarthy reviewed the song, stating: "The album opens up with 'The Great Artist', a propulsive mid-tempo banger complete with gorgeous synth and electro-flourishes along with its loud and proud beats. 'Wake up', she sings with a strong sense of determination in her voice. 'Go get it', she adds, clearly intending to inspire or motivate her fans—exactly what you'd expect from an album called Muse."[18]Freshmusic magazine praised the song, stating: "'The Great Artist' is energetic and full of attitude, packing a punch. It's a perfect opening track, and Matthew Yen's lyrics are some of the most assertive and powerful in a long time."[19]
PlayMusic's music critic Wei Ting commented: "'The Great Artist' is a glamorous and attention-grabbing opening. As the lead single, the song, paired with its music video, made a strong impression on listeners even before the album's release. The popular electronic style, combined with the spoken-sung verses, gives it a strong pop feel, while the theme of female empowerment is clearly conveyed in Tsai's bold performance."[20] Li Wen-hao from Cool-Style website noted: "'The Great Artist' is forceful and commanding. The verses build through rap, and the chorus is powerful enough to stand on its own, even without the music video. Jolin's rap delivery and sense of rhythm showcase noticeable growth in this track."[21]
On May 22, 2013, the nominations for the 24th Golden Melody Awards were announced, with "The Great Artist" and its music video receiving nominations for Song of the Year and Best Music Video, respectively.[3] On June 2, 2013, the song was named one of the Top 10 Mandarin Songs of the Year at the Hito Music Awards.[25] On July 6, 2013, the song won Song of the Year at the 24th Golden Melody Awards.[4]
Live performances
On September 30, 2012, Tsai performed the song at the 2012 CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.[26] On September 13, 2012, she appeared on the Hunan Television's variety show Happy Camp, where she also performed the song.[27] On December 31, 2012, Tsai participated in the 2013 New Year's Eve Concert, organized by Hunan Television, and performed "The Great Artist".[28] On January 19, 2013, she performed the song at the 8th KKBox Music Awards.[29] On January 30, 2013, she sang the song at Taiwan Music Night held in Paris.[30]
^西小姐,朵小姐,西朵小姐. "蔡依林，【MUSE】女神的秘密(上)". Hitoradio.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Jolin 沙龍宮廷舞 4分鐘耗資800萬元". tw.news.yahoo.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
