Info

Album: 魔杰座 / Capricorn (Buy Album)

Artist: 周杰倫 / Jay Chou

Release Date: October 15, 2008

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Tracklisting:

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Blurb

So, Jay Chou’s Capricorn has finally “officially” been released. Quite seriously though, this is the tackiest album cover I’ve ever seen on one of his albums - last I checked, this was a Jay Chou album, not the Taiwanese version of World of Warcraft. Since Capricorn is supposed to be all about sorcery, where’s that at?

As I noted in my really brief note that it had been leaked two weeks ago, there’s not that much that I like about the album. There’s a variety of different styles and directions, but the vocals strike me as rather weak, and there’s not a whole lot of originality in the songs - no song really “sticks,” or makes me imagine playing it over and over again.

That’s not to say there’s nothing that’s interesting on Capricorn - Fragrant Rice (稻香) is still as good as ever, though it’s actually the last track on the album. 喬克叔叔 (Uncle Joker) and 時光機 (Time Machine) I like, but the rest, meh.

Going through midterms now, will post a more through review later.

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• Album Review: 林俊傑 - 陸 / JJ Lin - Sixology
• 魔杰座 / Capricorn Leaked?

So apparently Jay Chou’s new album, 魔杰座 / Capricorn has been leaked - we’re trying to see if it’s really real or just some random stuff masquerading as him… Keep you posted.

Update: Yep, we’re pretty sure it’s real…. Only thing is, first impression wise, it’s really not that good…

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• First Listen: 周杰倫 - 魔杰座 / Jay Chou - Capricorn

Info

Song: 稻香 / Fragrant Rice

Album: 魔杰座 / Capricorn

Artist: 周杰倫 / Jay Chou

To Be Released: October 9, 2008

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Preview

Literally less than an hour ago, Jay Chou’s (周杰倫) first song from his upcoming album Capricorn (魔杰座) was aired on Taiwan’s HitFM radio - mad props to Alex for letting me know. Entitled Rice Fragrance (稻香), it’s a very folksy tune, yet as Jay Chou himself put it, it has some hip-hop influences to it, and the song is primarily a lesson for everyone to be “content” (知足), and to find that spark in a simple life.

Listen to it above, and let us know what you think! I, for one like it a lot. A far better start to an album than last time. Catch the lyrics, written by Jay himself, after the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Info

Artists: 群星 / Various Artists

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Blurb

This year’s Olympics truly is a proud moment for all those of Chinese descent throughout the world, regardless of the political controversies that have surrounded it. Just as sports unite people regardless of political affiliation, background, or creed, music can do so too.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Translation By: Ting

小學籬芭旁的蒲公英　是記憶裡有味道的風景
The dandelion next to the hedge in our elementary school
is a flavored and fragrant memory that’s worth savoring.
午睡操場傳來蟬的聲音　多少年後也還是很好聽
The chirps of cicadas on the playground flowed into our siesta
The sound is still mellifluous, after so many years.

將願望折紙飛機寄成信　因為我們等不到那流星
Come fold our wishes into paperplanes and letters
Because we cannot wait for the coming of shooting stars
認真投決定命運的硬幣　卻不知道到底能去哪裡
With all your heart, throw the coin that would determine our fate
though never knowing, where it goes and where it will take us

＃一起長大的約定　那樣清晰　打過勾的我相信
Our promise about growing up together, in stark clarity.
I believe in deals made with interlocked fingers
說好要一起旅行　是妳如今　唯一堅持的任性
We said we would go travelling together
and that is the only willful consistency I can find in you now

在走廊上罰站打手心　我們卻注意窗邊的蜻蜓
On the corridor, our palms were slapped as punishment
but we only noticed the dragonfly on the window ledge
我去到哪裡妳都跟很緊　很多的夢在等待著進行
Wherever I went, you followed closely
Many dreams were waiting to be realized

Repeat ＃

一起長大的約定　那樣真心　與妳聊不完的曾經
Our promise about growing up together, in sincerity,
a ‘once’ that we could not stop talking about
而我已經分不清　妳是友情　還是錯過的愛情
though I can no longer tell whether it is friendship
or a love that has slipped through my fingers

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• First Listen: 周杰倫 - 魔杰座 / Jay Chou - Capricorn

Translation by: Ting

哪裡有彩虹告訴我
Where will I find a rainbow to tell me
能不能把我的願望還給我
whether I can have my wish back?
為什麼天這麼安靜
Why is the sky so quiet?
所有雲都跑到我這裡
Because all the clouds are with me now.
有沒有口罩一個給我
Do you have a mask for me?
釋懷說了太多就成真不了
If I open up, my thoughts will overflow and they won’t come true.
也許時間是一種解藥
Perhaps time is an antidote
也是我現在正服下的毒藥
or a poison that I am taking
看不見你的笑 我怎麼睡得著
How can I sleep without seeing your smile?
你的身影這麼近我卻抱不到
Your image is so near yet so far, out of my embrace
沒有地球太陽還是會繞
The sun still rotates without the earth
沒有理由我也能自己走
I can still go on without reason
你要離開 我知道很簡單
I know it is easy for you to leave
你說依賴 是我們的阻礙
You said over-reliance is our obstable
就算放開 那能不能別沒收我的愛
Even if I must let go, can I at least keep the love to myself?
當作我最後才明白
Just treat it as my late realization

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Info

Album: 我很忙 / On the Run (Buy Album)

Artist: 周杰倫 / Jay Chou

Release Date: November 2, 2007

Tracklisting:

1. 牛仔很忙 (Cowboy On The Run)
2. 彩虹 (Rainbow)
3. 青花瓷 (Blue and White)
4. 陽光宅男 (Sunshine Homeboy)
5. 蒲公英的約定 (Dandelion’s Promise)
6. 無雙 (Unparalleled)
7. 我不配 (I’m Not Worthy)
8. 扯 (Tear)
9. 甜甜的 (Sweet)
10. 最長的電影 (The Longest Movie)

Review By: illuminance

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Blurb

Well, after so much waiting, it’s finally here! 我很忙/On The Run - perhaps an album that had many worried and other ecstatic. After listening to it for a couple of days (after all, it was leaked on Halloween 2007), I’d say that in reality there wasn’t that much to be worried about, and there’s certainly a lot to be happy for.

The album certainly showcases Jay Chou’s versatility well. Arguably one of his greatest abilities is to perform in a wide variety on genres and styles, and it is definitely reflected in “On The Run”. From the country/folk of 牛仔很忙 (Cowboy on the Run) to the R&B of 扯 (Tear), there’s a lot to consider. In such a way, people may like or dislike Jay Chou, but no one’s going to call him boring.

Read the rest of this entry »

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• First Listen: 周杰倫 - 魔杰座 / Jay Chou - Capricorn

Info

Song: 彩虹 / Rainbow

Album: 我很忙 / On the Run (Buy Album)

Artist: 周杰倫 / Jay Chou

To Be Released On: November 2, 2007

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Blurb

Perhaps I’m a bit late, but another song from Jay Chou has surfaced. Called 彩虹 (Rainbow), it is more along the lines of 退後 from the last album. This is certainly good news, because it shows that On The Run is going to encompass a large variety of genres and styles, just like the previous albums.
Read the rest of this entry »

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• First Listen: 周杰倫 - 魔杰座 / Jay Chou - Capricorn