Skyscraper World Tour

The Skyscraper World Tour is the second concert tour and first world tour held by Chinese singer-songwriter Joker Xue. Xue performed 23 shows across four continents with 15 shows in Asia, 1 show in Europe, 4 shows in North America, and 3 shows in Oceania.

All venues in Mainland China were upgraded from arena to stadium. The tour began on July 14, 2018, at Workers' Stadium in Beijing and concluded on May 19, 2019, at AsiaWorld–Arena in Hong Kong. Total attendance is approximately 400,000.

Background

In 2017, Xue promised his fans that if they weren't able to meet at the I Think I've Seen You Somewhere Tour, he would meet them again on a bigger stage. In 2018, he fulfilled that promise with Skyscraper World Tour.

Xue named his tour "Skyscraper" because, much like his own slow climb to fame, there is a metaphoric skyscraper in everyone's hearts that they wish to scale. Through his music and stage performance, Xue hoped to remind himself and the audience of their original aspirations while pursuing their dreams and not be consumed by greed. He explained the tour poster, where he is bent over and reaching for a tree sprout, the sprout is a symbol for the dreams and hopes we once had, and even though we are surrounded by skyscrapers in real life, we are still reaching for it.。

Concert synopsis

Skyscraper World Tour is a reflection on greed, both internal and external, and analyzes the metaphorical skyscraper we sought to acquire. It consists of five parts:
# Highlighting our greed and desire through songs such as "Skyscraper" (摩天大楼) and "Ugly" (丑八怪);
#Revealing the persistent loneliness underneath material comforts through songs such as "Fox" (狐狸) and "Animal World" (动物世界) along with exaggerated choreography;
#Reflecting upon and eventually rejecting the skyscraper of greed through songs such as "I Think I've Seen You Somewhere" (我好像在哪见过你) and "What Do You Want From Me" (你还要我怎样);
#Rediscovering our true selves and our younger innocence through songs such as "Serious Snow" (认真的雪);
# Embarking on a new path forward through songs such as "Freak" (怪咖) and "Forsaken Youth" (违背的青春).

Critical reception

Xue received praise for his richly resonant voice that smouldered at its lower end and shimmered in its higher register, and his ability to play up the drama in performance without being showy, instead dramatising with emotive singing. The strength of Xue's songwriting is also highlighted as he eschews the big singalong choruses but still crafts songs that draw one in with their sensitive observations.

Another highlight was Xue's charismatic personality was showcased between songs as he shared anecdotes from the tour and playfully interacted with the audience.

The stage, in true skyscraper glory, was a visual spectacle that is bound to impress fans. The light sticks provided to the fans made the show a spectacle from each seat of the arena.

The tour was named one of the best Asian concerts of 2018 by Straits Times.

Commercial performance

"Skyscraper World Tour" set the record for highest concert box office by a mainland China male singer. His four stops in North America all sold out. In Singapore, he filled every one of the 8,000 seats at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. After selling out the Kuala Lumpur show on February 16, an additional show was added on February 14 in Penang. The organizer of his Taipei concerts described the ticket sale for his two shows as "legendary" with more than 80% of the tickets sold upon release, even though Xue has never attended any promotional or public events in Taiwan and did not make any arrangements to promote this tour in Taiwan.

The London show, held on March 10, ranked 45 on ''Billboard''s March 2019 boxscore list with $852,202, Xue is one of three Chinese artists on the list, behind JJ Lin at 15 and G.E.M. at 40. The Sydney show, held on April 7, ranked 33 on ''Billboard''s April 2019 boxscore list with $1,228,720, the only entry by an Asian artist. His two shows in Taipei were estimated to bring the city NT$53.8 million in tourism revenue.

Venue Records

Setlist

* Skyscraper (摩天大楼)
* Ugly (丑八怪)
* Beginner (初学者)
* Like the Wind (像风一样)
* Actor (演员)
* Fox (狐狸)
* Gentleman (绅士)
* Ambiguous (暧昧)
* Animal World (动物世界)
* I Think I've Seen You Somewhere (我好像在哪见过你)
* The Mute (啞巴)
* What Do You Want From Me (你还要我怎样)
* Hand Behind the Back (背过手)
* The Crossing (渡)
* Unbridled (肆无忌惮)
* Serious Snow (认真的雪)
* The Best (最好)
* Half (一半)
* Just Right (剛剛好)
* Actually (其实)
*Radius Around You (方圆几里)
* Child (小孩)
* Yes or No (有没有)
* Camel (骆驼)
* An Unexpected Journey (意外)
* Freak (怪咖)
* Forsaken Youth (违背的青春)

Special guests

* April 13, Taipei: Hebe Tien
* April 14, Taipei: Jacky Wu

Tour dates

References

{{Joker Xue

2018 concert tours
2019 concert tours
Concert tours of Australia
Concert tours of Canada
Concert tours of China
Concert tours of Hong Kong
Concert tours of Malaysia
Concert tours of New Zealand
Concert tours of Singapore
Concert tours of Taiwan
Concert tours of the United Kingdom
Concert tours of the United States
Joker Xue concert tours