Don't Stop is the second studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on April 26, 2000, by Universal and D Sound.[1] The album was produced by David Wu, Peter Lee, Paul Lee, and Wei Chen, and it blends various musical elements including pop, hip-hop, rock, reggae, and R&B. The album showcased Tsai's vocal delivery with greater range and maturity.[2]
The album received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its energetic up-tempo tracks and emotional ballads.[3] Commentators also noted that the album laid the groundwork for Tsai's future releases, with up-tempo songs becoming a staple in her subsequent releases.[1] In Taiwan, the album sold over 500,000 copies,[4] ranking as the sixth highest-selling album of 2000 and the second highest-selling album by a female artist that year.[5] It remains Tsai's best-selling album in Taiwan to date.[6]
Background and development
On September 10, 1999, Tsai released her debut studio album 1019, which sold over 450,000 copies in Taiwan.[7] Around Christmas of the same year, Tsai traveled to Quad Studios in New York City to record tracks for her upcoming album, including "Don't Stop", "Are You Happy", and "Eternity". During this time, she also collaborated with American photographer John N. to shoot the cover and promotional photos for the new album.[8]
Writing and recording
"Don't Stop" is the Mandarin version of S Club 7's "Bring It All Back".
The lead single "Don't Stop" is an adaptation of S Club 7's song "Bring It All Back". The lyrics of "Don't Stop" reflect the fearless aspirations of the new generation, expressing their pursuit of dreams and love.
Along with "Don't Stop", the tracks "Are You Happy" and "Eternity" were all recorded at Quad Studios in New York City. For these tracks, Tsai once again collaborated with the four African-American backing vocalists who had worked with her on her previous album 1019.
"Sugar Sugar" is a cover of the song originally performed by The Archies, with Tsai's version incorporating a more prominent hip-hop influence compared to the original.[9]
Release and promotion
Prior to its official release, Don't Stop had already accumulated over 140,000 pre-orders in Taiwan. To promote the album, Universal organized a series of album preview sessions across Taiwan, which began on April 11, 2000, and invited distributors from all over the island to attend.[9] On April 16, Tsai held the Don't Stop Concert in Taichung,[10] followed by an album signing event in Taipei on April 22.[11]
On June 1, 2000, in celebration of the album surpassing 400,000 copies sold in Taiwan, Universal released a new "Victory" edition of the album. This limited edition of 50,000 copies came with a bonus photo book titled New York/Hawaii Documentary Photo Book.[12]
On July 10, 2000, Tsai held the Examination Night Concert in Taipei.[13] The following day, in recognition of the album surpassing 450,000 copies sold in Taiwan, Universal released another new "Celebration" edition, which was also limited to 50,000 copies. This edition included three additional music videos and three live performance videos from the Don't Stop Concert.[14]
On September 5, 2000, Tsai released the video album Don't Stop Karaoke, which was available in three versions. The DVD version featured 17 music videos from the albums 1019 and Don't Stop. The VCD version included 12 music videos from the same albums, while the 2VCD version not only included the 12 music videos from the VCD version but also added content from the 1019 I Can Concert video album.[15]
The album ranked 10th and 14th on the 2000 annual sales charts of Rose Records and Tachung Records, respectively.
Live performances
On May 21, 2000, Tsai performed at the Presidential Inauguration Celebration Concert organized by TVBS, where she sang the song "You Gotta Know".[16] Following this, Tsai continued to participate in various events across Taiwan, performing songs from Don't Stop at these appearances.
Singles and music videos
Tsai released the single "Don't Stop" from the album, which ranked number 17 on the Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart of 2000.[17] The music videos for both "Don't Stop" and "Are You Happy" were directed by Tony Lin, with the latter featuring actor Claire Chien. The music video for "You Gotta Know" was directed by Kuang Sheng, while the video for "What Kind of Love" was directed by JP Huang and featured actor Michael Chang.[18] The music video for "Sugar Sugar" was directed by Showx2.
Artwork
The album cover features a close-up portrait of Tsai, with her tousled bangs and a half-smiling, enigmatic expression. This image conveys a sense of youthful innocence and vulnerability.[1]
Critical reception
Tencent Entertainment's Shu Wa reviewed the album, stating: "Unlike her first album, Jolin Tsai's second release shifts away from the strategy of using ballads as the main focus, instead opting for upbeat and lively tracks as the album's lead singles. However, the consistent theme of expressing youthful emotions remains. Whether it is the energetic 'Don't Stop,' the reflective 'You Gotta Know,' or the melancholic 'Are You Happy' all the songs capture the various moods of a young girl. Notable songwriters like Kuo Heng-chi, Jerry Huang, and Michael Tu have contributed to enhancing the album's mainstream appeal. In terms of production, the album retains the involvement of producers Peter Lee, Paul Lee, and David Wu, who worked on the first album, while Tsai's collaboration with Chen Wei on 'You Gotta Know' also produced notable results. Although the album introduces fashionable elements like rock and reggae, the overall musical approach remains somewhat conservative, with these styles placed toward the latter part of the album. It is undeniable that pop music remains the central focus."[1]
Sina Hong Kong's Stephen Lee offered a review, noting: "Jolin Tsai's debut album 1019 had strong R&B influences, but Don't Stop almost completely abandons this style in favor of a more typical Taiwanese mainstream pop sound. It seems the record label hasn't fully decided on her musical direction yet. I recently read that Tsai might follow in the footsteps of Japanese artist Hikaru Utada, which could mean a return to an R&B style. But we will see when that time comes. As for Don't Stop, it is still a good album—simple and accessible, yet it stands out among mainstream releases for its effort and attention to detail. Jolin Tsai's vocal abilities are evident and strong, and with continued development, she has a promising future."[19]
