My Review: Still Fantasy (by Jay Chou)

Still Fantasy is the seventh album by this Taiwanese star. Since his breakthrough in the American music industry, Jay Chou had been well received as his popularity begins to pick up momentum. In fact, this album is the first to be adapted with official translation to all of the title tracks. Thank God for globalisation. I say I'd be proud for Jay Chou. His state of stardom is very much important to act as an Asian ambassador especially his native of Taiwan. Besides his music is everyone's cup of tea since he is able to fit in various genre in his collection of music. Ballads, pop, hip hop, R&B, you name it. Jay did it all, though I prefer for him to do R&B and pop most of the time. Now back to the review. I must warn you, listening to this album for the first time will spark any interest yet. But as you proceed to the later tracks, you sense a familiar feeling of his music. You know that this album is not a rip-off after all. The opening track, Ye De Di Qi Zhang (Twilight's Seven Chapter) was a subtle one. Let's say it a oh-not-so-bad track. Then we have Ting Ma Ma De Hua (Listen to Mama's Words), which follows through. I gotten clueless. As ridiculous as it may sound, it is a good one fortunately. There are a few hip-hop oriented tracks but from the fifth track to the eighth, things gone to a better change. Nicely composed and somewhat very nostalgic as the tunes are very familiar as the previous albums. Despite the possible failure there, the type of music blended into those track are delicately redefine, making it a fresh new view to his music perspective. Also another track to look out for, Mi Die Xiang (Rosemary). The adapted music is something from the '50 ball dance music... waltz or anything associated to it. I find it rather amusing, mainly on Jay Chou's effort in "redefining" his music. If you want something similar to the grand-styled classical, the last track won't disappoint you. Ju Hua Tai (Chrysanthenum Flower Bed) is not something you might expect as far as I have described it. You need to get a peek to know the best bits of this track. By and large, Still Fantasy is what it suppose to be - Still Fantasy, a fantasy enthralled music with various genres to fit in the dreamland as it is. The familiar tunes are applauded to reminisce the greatest of his previous achievements of the previous tracks. Somewhat to be an album of dreams. Check out the official English-based fansite; www.jay-chou.net for more.

Best bits: Xin Yu (Heart's Rain), Bai Se Feng Che (White Windmill)
Best to listen to when you feel like crap. It'll cheer you up.