Agent J (album)

''Agent J'' () is the ninth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on September 21, 2007, by EMI and Mars. The album was produced by Lars Quang, Nik Quang, RnG, Adia, Paul Lee, Michael Lin, Paula Ma, and Jamie Hsueh. The album received mixed reviews from critics. While it was praised for Tsai's bold experimentation and diverse musical styles, some critics felt it lacked freshness and memorable melodies.

''Agent J'' was a commercial success, selling over 200,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 3 million copies across Asia. It also ranked as the top-selling album in Taiwan for 2007. The song "Agent J" won the Golden Melody Award for Best Single Producer for Adia, while Andrew Chen received the Best Music Arrangement award for the same track.

The album was released in conjunction with a film of the same name, which was co-directed by Jeff Chang, Marlboro Lai, and Kuang Sheng. The film starred Kim Jae-won, Stephen Fung, and Carl Ng.

Background and development

On May 12, 2006, Tsai released her eighth studio album, '' Dancing Diva''. The album was a commercial success, selling over 300,000 copies in Taiwan and more than 2.5 million copies across Asia. It was also the top-selling album in Taiwan for 2006. The album was nominated for Best Mandarin Album at the 18th Golden Melody Awards, and Tsai herself was nominated for Best Female Mandarin Singer. The song " Dancing Diva", produced by Adia, earned a nomination for Best Single Producer at the same awards. Tsai won the Best Female Mandarin Singer award and the Most Popular Female Singer award based on audience votes. Additionally, the song " Marry Me Today" (a duet with David Tao) won Song of the Year at the Golden Melody Awards.

In December 2006, Tsai announced that she would begin preparations for her next album in January 2007. On January 13, 2007, she traveled to London for a three-week vocal and dance training session. On May 22, 2007, Tsai traveled to Helsingør, Denmark to begin recording her new album. It was reported that her new album would be released between August and September 2007, and that Lars Quang, who had worked on ''Dancing Diva'', had written three new songs for Tsai's upcoming project.

By June 2, 2007, reports confirmed that Tsai had completed the recording of her new album. She also attended a 10-day dance course in London. On June 8, 2007, Tsai performed the theme song "Let's Move It" at a press conference for the Toyota event, and the song was later included on her new album. The event organizers also announced the Toyota National Street Dance Competition, which would be held on July 15, 2007. The winner of the competition would have the opportunity to film a music video with Tsai for a song from her new album.

On July 9, 2007, it was reported that Tsai and actor Kim Jae-won filmed a music video for a track on the new album in Paris. On August 8, 2007, Universal Music announced it had invested NT$50 million to produce an 80-minute film to accompany the album. The film was divided into three chapters, filmed in Paris, London, and Bangkok, and featured Tsai alongside Kim Jae-won, Stephen Fung, and Carl Ng. On September 4, 2007, it was revealed that the album would include four songs written by Malaysian composers: "Agent J", "Alone", "Ideal State", and "Priceless".

On September 11, 2007, all 11 tracks from the album were leaked online. EMI Greater China's General Manager, Sam Chen, responded by stating that the IFPI in Taiwan had launched a special investigation into the leak and would pursue legal action against those who uploaded, downloaded, or exchanged the songs. Tsai also expressed her disappointment, saying, "I have spent over a year and put in so much effort on this album. It is heartbreaking that people do not respect intellectual property rights."

Writing and recording

The lead single, "Agent J", is a high-energy dance track with a dramatic flair, enhanced by the sound of high heels in the introduction. "Bravo Lover" is a reinterpretation of Infernal's " Keen on Disco" and features a house-electronic dance music style. "Alone" uses mandolin in its intro to create a sense of solitude and helplessness. " Sun Will lNever Set", is a cover of BWO's "Sunshine in the Rain" and is a sweet, retro-inspired track. "Tacit Violence" is a fusion of hip-hop and R&B, with lyrics that depict how to use emotional coldness to deal with a controlling partner.

"Priceless" is a R&B song with strong contemporary urban elements. "Ideal State" is an upbeat, mid-tempo track. "Let's Move It" is driven by powerful bass drums and conveys boundless energy and musical force. "Fear-Free" is a 3/4-time swing ballad, with clear and pure piano melodies guiding the listener into a warm, nostalgic emotional state. "Metronome" is a self-penned song by Tsai, with lyrics reflecting an inner strength and competitiveness, while the piano and string arrangements evoke a subtle sense of melancholy. "Golden Triangle" blends brass and percussion, taking the listener on an exploration of love's mysterious and enigmatic qualities.

Title and artwork

The album cover features Tsai wearing a black, low-cut, backless leather jacket and knee-high boots, designed by Natsuko Kawabe. This marked her first appearance with a sleek, side-parted short hairstyle.

Release and promotion

On August 12, 2007, EMI released a trailer for the album. On August 29, pre-orders for the album were made available through 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan. On September 5, pre-orders were also opened on Taiwan's online shopping platforms. Two days later, on September 7, pre-orders began at major record stores across Taiwan. By September 15, EMI announced that the album had surpassed 80,000 pre-orders in Taiwan within its first week. Upon its release on September 28, the album quickly topped the weekly sales charts at major Taiwanese record chains, including G-Music and Five Music. On October 2, EMI reported that the album had sold over 150,000 copies in Taiwan. On October 21, Tsai held the Agent J Concert in Tamsui, Taiwan.

On October 26, EMI released a special edition of the album, the "Champion Special Edition", which included 10 music videos, 4 dance version music videos, and a remixed version of "Bravo Lover". On December 7, the "Special Celebration Edition" was released, which featured a live performance from the Agent J Concert and an additional music video. On January 4, 2008, Five Music announced that the album had topped the 2007 annual sales charts. A week later, on January 11, G-Music also declared the album as the number one best-selling album of 2007.

Live performances

On September 24, 2007, Tsai performed at the Hito Mid-Autumn Concert, where she sang "Bravo Lover" and "Fear-Free". On October 24, 2007, she participated in the opening ceremony of the 16th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, performing "Agent J" at the event. On December 26, 2007, Tsai attended the 2007 Metro Radio Hits Music Awards, where she performed "Agent J" and "Fear-Free". On December 31, 2007, she performed at the New Year's Eve Concert in Taichung, singing "Agent J", "Alone", and " Sun Will Never Set". That same day, Tsai also participated in the New Year's Eve Concert in Taipei, where she performed "Tacit Violence", "Fear-Free", and "Sun Will Never Set".

On January 9, 2008, Tsai appeared on the Zhejiang TV variety show ''Sing 2008'', where she performed "Bravo Lover". The following day, January 10, 2008, she participated in the ''Love from the Strait'' variety show on Southeast TV, performing "Agent J", "Alone", "Ideal State", "Sun Will Never Set", "Fear-Free", and "Bravo Lover". On January 11, 2008, Tsai took part in the M Conference, where she performed "Sun Will Never Set" and "Agent J". On January 13, she appeared at the 2nd Migu Music Awards, performing "Agent J" and "Bravo Lover". On January 23, 2008, Tsai attended the 2007 Beijing Pop Music Awards, where she performed "Agent J".

On March 1, 2008, she performed at the 2008 Hito Music Awards, singing "Agent J", "Bravo Lover", and "Sun Will Never Set". On April 7, 2008, Tsai participated in the 2007 Music Radio China Top Chart Awards, where she performed "Agent J". The following day, she appeared on '' The Same Song'' on CCTV, where she performed "Agent J" and "Sun Will Never Set". On April 28, 2008, she performed "Sun Will Never Set" at the 4th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival Opening Ceremony. Subsequently, Tsai participated in various events held across different locations, where she performed songs from the album.

Singles and music videos

On August 29, 2007, Tsai released the single "Agent J". On September 3, 2007, she released the music video for "Agent J", directed by Jeff Chang. In the video, Tsai performed aerial silk acrobatics and pole dancing. Tsai remarked, "After a few days of practice, I felt like my right side was nearly paralyzed because I'm right-handed! The props for these two dances are both soft and hard, and I had to learn how to execute spinning movements in the air. The silk required a sense of unity, while the pole was rigid and couldn't be controlled by brute force; I had to learn how to master it!"

On September 15, 2007, Tsai released the music video for "Fear-Free", also directed by Jeff Chang. Two days later, on September 17, she released the music video for "Bravo Lover", directed by Marlboro Lai. On October 1, 2007, she released the music video for "Alone", again directed by Jeff Chang. On October 10, Tsai released the music video for "Sun Will Never Set", which was also directed by Marlboro Lai.

On October 24, she released the music video for "Tacit Violence", directed by Kuang Sheng. On November 5, Tsai released the music video for "Priceless", also directed by Kuang Sheng. On November 29, she released the music video for "Ideal State", directed by Marlboro Lai. The music video for "Golden Triangle" was directed by Kuang Sheng, and the music video for "Metronome" was directed by Marlboro Lai. On December 6, 2007, Tsai released the music video for "Let's Move It", also directed by Marlboro Lai.

"Agent J" ranked 14th on the 2007 Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart in Taiwan, while "Sun Will Never Set" and "Bravo Lover" ranked 1st and 41st, respectively.

Critical reception

Stephen Lee, a music critic for Sina Music, commented, "Jolin continues her tradition of experimentation on ''Agent J'', exploring various genres and musical elements, from dance tracks to ballads. Overall, I believe the album meets the tastes and expectations of Taiwanese fans. While it may not offer more surprises than her previous albums like '' Magic'' or ''Castle'', it avoids monotony and clichés. The album successfully highlights Jolin's sensual and passionate qualities, and the lyrics capture the modern female mindset. Several tracks are very appealing and definitely worth listening to. Jolin's vocal skills remain solid, with a distinctive voice and excellent emotional delivery, though she still needs to focus on enunciation and clarity, which would enhance the overall quality and emotional impact of the songs. I wouldn't say this is Jolin's best album in recent years, but it is certainly a work worth paying attention to."

MTV Mandarin's critic noted, "Overall, the ballads on ''Agent J'' are more impressive than the dance tracks. Jolin's ability to handle slower songs shows marked improvement, but the dance tracks seem more focused on external glamor and physical performance. The effort she put into mastering these styles is clear, but the 'agent' persona softens in the moving ballads. It's a surprising shift for a character meant to exude toughness, more suited to a film like ''Lust, Caution'', where emotional ballads capture betrayal in a delicate, drawn-out manner." DJ Luo Yi of ERS Chinese Top Ten remarked, "The album maintains the overall standard of '' Dancing Diva'' and brings an upbeat, fashionable set of tracks. The fast-paced songs are stylish and retro, offering a refreshing sound without being boring or outdated. However, since the album maintains the same level as ''Dancing Diva'', there isn't much new. Jolin's songs are still mostly designed for mainstream tastes, with the primary goal of providing karaoke-friendly pop hits. The lyrics can feel forced and lack depth at times."

Musician Qu Shicong commented, "The overall production of the album is of a high standard, especially with the contribution of Danish producers who brought a sense of freshness to three tracks. I particularly enjoyed 'Let's Move It,' which stands out as a commercial song. However, compared to ''Dancing Diva'', this album is less striking, primarily due to weaker melodies and some disappointing tracks produced by Paul Lee, which lack the energy that Jolin is known for." Musician Keith Chan observed, "Jolin's packaging has always been impressive, and this album is no exception. Some have compared her to Japan's Ayumi Hamasaki, but I think Ayumi is the Japanese Jolin when it comes to dancing skills." He added, "The album has a strong polarization between fast and slow songs, with a lack of mid-tempo tracks, which makes the album feel a bit structurally one-dimensional."

'' Tencent Entertainment'''s critic Shu Wa noted, "The album largely matches the 'agent' image, with many tracks fitting this persona. However, the fast tracks don't leave as deep an impression as the ones from ''Dancing Diva''. The disco-inspired retro sound isn't new for Jolin, but it's bolder in terms of arrangement. The slower songs maintain the mature vibe from ''Dancing Diva'' but don't offer much in terms of freshness. The music film related to ''Agent J'' is more captivating, and most of the promotional music videos were adapted from scenes in the movie. While the international producers Lars Quang, Nik Quang, and RnG collaborated for the first time, their dance tracks lacked the energy of Jolin's previous hits, though their arrangements were quite remarkable." ERC Chinese Top Ten DJ Li Xin commented, "Once again, with Adia's collaboration, we see familiar fast and slow songs. What's most captivating about Jolin is her performances and diligence, especially her dedication to the music videos. She is really committed to working hard, and this should be praised. However, the songs themselves feel average, lacking the unforgettable melodies of 'The Spirit of Knight', 'Magic', or ' Dancing Diva'."

Global Chinese Music Chart DJ Zhu Yun said, "The album is flashy and lively, with an average level of song quality. While it may not offer any surprises, it won't disappoint fans. However, I think the two main singles, 'Agent J' and 'Bravo Lover', are weak. 'Agent J' lacks any distinctive features, and it seems like Jolin is trying to change her style but hasn't fully committed. 'Bravo Lover' fails to capture the intended retro vibe." '' Sina Entertainment'''s critic summarized, "Jolin remains the same hardworking artist, willing to put in the effort for things like music videos and dance performances, even if they don't contribute directly to the music itself. While this approach has earned her a large fanbase and solidified her as a trendsetter, it also means the era of highly impressive albums like ''Magic'' is gone. The album is stylish, the music videos are stunning, and the performances are glamorous, but the songs themselves lack freshness, weak melodies, and repetitive song structures. While the album is commercially strong, Jolin needs to push her musical boundaries to create a more substantial breakthrough."

Accolades

On December 16, 2007, the music video for the song "Agent J" won the Best Music Video at the 2007 TVB8 Mandarin Music On Demand Awards. On December 26, 2007, Tsai was awarded the Best Asian Artist and the Most Popular Singer in the 2007 Metro Radio Hits Music Awards. The song "Agent J" also received the Best Mandarin Song. On January 12, 2008, Tsai was recognized as one of the Top 3 Most Popular Female Singers and the Most Searched Female Artist at the 2007 Baidu Boiling Point Awards. The following day, January 13, 2008, she was honored as the Best Selling Female Singer of the Year at the 2nd Migu Music Awards. On January 14, 2008, the song " Sun Will Never Set" won the Top 10 Mandarin Songs of the Year at the Canadian Chinese Pop Music Awards. On January 23, 2008, Tsai was awarded the Most Popular Hong Kong/Taiwan Female Singer at the 2007 Beijing Pop Music Awards, with "Sun Will Never Set" also winning the Song of the Year. On January 31, 2008, Tsai was named one of the Top 10 Singers of the Year and Best Female Singer at the 3rd KKBox Music Awards.

On February 28, 2008, she received the Top 10 Singers of the Year and Outstanding Dance Performance Singer at the 2nd Family Music Awards, with the album also being recognized as one of the Top 10 Albums of the Year. On March 1, 2008, Tsai won the Best Female Singer at the 2008 Hito Music Awards, and her album was awarded the Most Long-Lasting Album. "Sun Will Never Set" was named Listener's Favorite Song and one of the Top 10 Mandarin Songs of the Year. On March 11, 2008, Tsai received the Most Popular Female Artist at the 2007 Music Pioneer Awards. On April 8, 2008, the music video for "Agent J" won the Best Music Video at the 8th Top Chinese Music Awards. On April 12, 2008, Tsai was named the Most Popular Female Singer and Best Selling Female Artist at the Music Radio China Top Chart Awards, with "Agent J" also receiving the Best Song in the Hong Kong/Taiwan category.

On June 14, 2008, Tsai was nominated for the Favorite Artist Taiwan at the MTV Asia Awards 2008. On July 5, 2008, Adia and Andrew Chen won the Best Single Producer and Best Music Arrangement at the 19th Golden Melody Awards for their work on "Agent J". On October 25, 2008, Tsai received the Asian Media Female Artist Award at the 14th Singapore Hit Awards. On October 30, 2008, she was awarded the Most Popular Female Singer, Best Taiwanese Female Singer, and Best Stage Performance at the 8th Global Chinese Music Awards, with "Sun Will Never Set" being named one of the Top 20 Most Popular Songs. On November 16, 2008, Tsai was named the Most Popular Taiwanese Female Singer at the 9th CCTV-MTV Music Awards. On December 15, 2008, she was named the Best Hong Kong/Taiwan Female Artist of the Year at the 2008 Tencent Stars Awards.

Track listing

Release history

References

External links

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2007 albums
EMI Music Taiwan albums
Jolin Tsai albums