2016 studio album by Jay Chou
| Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Digital cover | ||||
| Studio album by Jay Chou | ||||
| Released | 24 June 2016 (2016-06-24) | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:53 | |||
| Language | Mandarin | |||
| Label | JVR Music | |||
| Producer | Jay Chou | |||
| Jay Chou chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories | ||||
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Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories (traditional Chinese: 周杰倫的床邊故事; simplified Chinese: 周杰伦的床边故事; pinyin: Zhōu Jiélún Chuángbiān Gùshì) is the fourteenth studio album by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Jay Chou, released on 24 June 2016, by JVR Music. A pop and R&B album, Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories was penned by Chou, his long-time collaborator Vincent Fang, and Alang Huang, whilst production was handled by Chou. He envisioned the album as an audiobook, where he narrates ten music stories.
The album received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its musical styles and production. It reached number one on the Hong Kong album chart and number three on the US World Albums chart published by Billboard. In China, the digital album was commercially successful and recorded over 2 million units in sales.
The album spawned the singles "Shouldn't Be", "Failure of Love", and "Love Confession". It was nominated for three Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan, and won Best Mandarin Album of the Year at the 2017 Chinese Music Awards. Chou embarked on the Invincible World Tour a week after the release of the album, which spanned shows across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
Background and release
Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories was produced over a span of 18 months. Initially, the album title and promotional photos were set to be revealed on 6 June 2016, but they were leaked online on 2 June. Chou's record company, JVR, announced their intention to pursue legal action, but it was later discovered that the source of the leak was the iTunes pre-order page.
Chou envisioned the album to resemble that of an audiobook, with him narrating ten imaginative music stories. The album cover was designed by Chou himself, the first time he had done so since November's Chopin (2005). It was shot on the set built for the "Bedtime Stories" music video. Under the large clock on the wall, Chou sits in the middle of an old house while narrating the album's stories.
Composition and songs
The lyrics of "Bedtime Stories" are about various bedtime stories being told to children. "Let's Go" incorporates the elements of American cowboy folk music into the structure of rock music. The lyrics speak about one's urge to travel freely without boundaries. "A Little Bit" is a slower song incorporating piano and strings. The lyrics speak of a man who never paid any attention to his girlfriend, who then eventually leaves him. "Lover of Past Life" is a song dedicated to his daughter, with its lyrics describing Chou's unceasing love for his daughter and what's in store for her future. The song is in 3/4 time, and features a R&B rock beat. Chou wrote the song after hearing his daughter play only a few notes on a toy piano.
"Hero" is a rock song with heavily incorporated electric guitar. This song was made for the online multiplayer game, League of Legends. "Shouldn't Be" is a duet between Jay Chou and A-Mei. This song begins with piano, but later incorporates electronic sounds. The lyrics are about how fate does not allow two lovers to be together. It was featured in Ice Fantasy as the opening theme. "Turkish Ice Cream" is a mixture of rock, hip-hop, and a tinge of middle eastern elements, while its lyrics emphasize how Chou can do anything he wants with his songs. The music video features NBA star and friend Jeremy Lin.
The lyrics of "Love Confession" describe someone wanting to confess their love to another. The music video is set in Paris, with clips of Jay Chou singing along the Seine River. "Now You See Me" was featured in the Hollywood film Now You See Me 2, which Chou made a cameo in. This song blends Chinese folk elements with a modern hip-hop rhythm, and contains influences from Arabian and Indian musical styles. The music video for the ballad track "Failure at Love" features Chou walking through Prague in the winter.
Commercial performance
Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories peaked at number one on the Hong Kong Record Merchants Association (HKRMA) album chart. It also reached number three on the Billboard US World Albums chart during the chart issue dated 16 July 2016, marking his second entry on the chart.
Promotion and tour
On 30 June 2016, Chou embarked on The Invincible World Tour with four consecutive shows at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China. It spanned 120 shows across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania, attracting a total of 3 million people.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Chinese Music Awards | Best Mandarin Album | Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories | Won | |
| Golden Melody Awards | Best Male Vocalist Mandarin | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | "Love Confession" | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Video | "Bedtime Stories" | Nominated |
Track listing
All music is composed by Jay Chou.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bedtime Stories" (床邊故事) | Vincent Fang | 3:46 |
| 2. | "Let's Go" (說走就走) | Vincent Fang | 4:26 |
| 3. | "A Little Bit" (一點點) | Vincent Fang | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Lover of Past Life" (前世情人) | Alang Huang | 3:20 |
| 5. | "Hero" (英雄) | Jay Chou | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Shouldn't Be" (不該; with A-Mei) | Vincent Fang | 4:49 |
| 7. | "Turkish Ice Cream" (土耳其冰淇淋) | Jay Chou | 3:15 |
| 8. | "Love Confession" (告白氣球) | Vincent Fang | 3:35 |
| 9. | "Now You See Me" | Vincent Fang | 2:54 |
| 10. | "Failure at Love" (愛情廢柴) | Jay Chou | 4:45 |
| Total length: | 37:53 | ||
Chart
Weekly charts
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Albums (HKRMA) | 1 |
| US World Albums (Billboard) | 3 |
References
- 周杰倫創作「出神入化」 全世界都得聽他的！ (in Chinese). JVR Music. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- "【周杰倫的床邊故事 Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories】6月8日展開預購Pre-sale!". 杰威爾音樂 JVR Music. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- "Jay Chou promotes new album 'Bedtime Stories'". China Daily. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- "周董《床邊故事》早洩 唱片公司追殺黑手". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- Ku, Daniel (4 June 2016). "周董最新專輯周杰倫的床邊故事, MV猶如有聲立體書" [Jay Chou's latest album "Jay Chou's Bedside Stories", the MV is like a three-dimensional audio book]. Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- "《周杰伦的床边故事》带给行业希望：正版数字音乐有甜头" ["Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories" brings hope to the industry: Genuine digital music has sweet benefits]. People's Daily Online (in Chinese). 28 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ "本週香港唱片商會銷量榜" [This week's Hong Kong Recording Merchants Association sales chart] (in Chinese). 22 July 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Jay Chou Chart History – World Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- "杰威爾音樂 JVR Music" [The DVD of Jay Chou's "Strongest on Earth" concert touring four continents around the world was released on 11/1] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). JVR Music. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- "大赢家！陈奕迅邓紫棋同获华语金曲奖四个大奖" [Big winners! Eason Chan and G.E.M. Deng won four awards at the Chinese Golden Melody Awards]. Phoenix New Media (in Chinese). 10 August 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- "Mayday lead Golden Melody Award nominations, Jay Chou will face off with Malaysian rapper Namewee for Best Singer". The Straits Times. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
External links
- (in Chinese) Jay Chou discography@JVR Music
| Jay Chou | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Soundtrack albums | |
| Extended plays | |
| Singles | |
| Concert tours | |
| Films directed | |
| Television series directed | |
| Related articles | |
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