How do you evaluate Jay Chou's brand new single "Christmas Star" in 2023?

J-Wi, J-Wi, how could such a significant release mishap happen, causing the premature leak of the music source? This would have been old news for any other company…

To get back on track, let’s discuss this song “Christmas Star”:

“Christmas Star” is a single that follows the release pattern and function of “Waiting for You at School,” “If You Don’t Love Me, It’s Okay,” “Don’t Cry,” “I Believe,” and “Mojito.” On one hand, it aims to maintain the exposure frequency of Jay Chou’s music in the Chinese market, and on the other hand, it sets the stage for future albums, indirectly informing fans that he is still making music.

However…

I don’t know why Jay Chou’s subsequent works have such obvious traces of his previous works.

For example, the rhythm of “Christmas Star” is so similar to a previous work that even a fan could easily identify the resemblance. In the past, given Jay Chou’s obsession with creativity, he would have made every effort to avoid this, or else he wouldn’t have bothered writing it. But evidently, Jay Chou seems to be taking a different approach, which surprises me.

Speaking purely in terms of the listening experience, is “Christmas Star” considered a good song?

If I were to be honest, I would rate it a 6 out of 10, mainly because it’s Jay Chou.

“Christmas Star” lacks a discernible melody, which is quite dreadful! In pop music, without a melody, this song would have sunk without a trace, even with Jay Chou’s name attached.

The introduction of the chorus initially creates a sense of suspense, but I didn’t expect Jay Chou to write it so blandly.

How bland is it, you ask?

Listen to “Nocturne,” which also has a winter theme. Jay Chou’s rap skillfully overlays the melody, and the prelude directly incorporates the core melody of the chorus with a simple guitar prelude that captivates many listeners.

However, the prelude of “Christmas Star” is uninspired, and one could even interpret it as the production team being too lazy to design it.

Any musician with some level of skill would have taken advantage of the Christmas theme to captivate the audience with their prelude, as everyone knows the importance of a pop music prelude. The golden 10 seconds can make passersby stop and listen if the prelude is catchy.

What’s even more lackluster than the prelude is the arrangement of “Christmas Star.” Almost 95% of what you hear is repetition. This repetitive accompaniment is extremely dull, lacking any melody or rhythmic variation, and listening to it becomes tiring and unpleasant.

As for the lyrics, well, they match the quality of the song. Even a student hired online for a few hundred bucks could have done a better job.

As for the singing, which is Jay Chou’s vocals, let’s just say it’s understandable given his age.

The only thing that truly comforts me about “Christmas Star” is the music video…

Although there’s an odd color correction in one outdoor scene, the warm setting of the Christmas cottage exudes a festive atmosphere. Unfortunately, the song itself doesn’t live up to the video. Without the added Christmas elements in the music, “Christmas Star” would have had no connection to Christmas beyond its name.

In conclusion:

I’ve been listening to Jay Chou for over two decades, I’ve researched his interviews, magazines, demos, songs, and even his gossip. I can play his songs with my eyes closed. But when it comes to “Christmas Star,” I don’t know how to evaluate it. I can’t seem to find any highlights in this song.

Music requires sincerity and warmth. It’s not just about adding a reindeer, setting up a Christmas tree, wearing Santa hats with a few buddies, and ringing some Christmas bells to make it a Christmas song. If you can’t write, or if inspiration eludes you temporarily, you can learn from Li Zongsheng. Even with years of accumulation, he created a song like “Hills.” It’s okay not to write, and it’s entirely normal for Jay Chou to experience a creative drought in his later years. There’s no need to produce a bunch of mediocre works in the middle and late stages of his career.

Lastly, I’d like to recommend another Christmas song, “Christmas List.” I won’t claim it’s better than “Christmas Star,” but you can hear the sincerity of a musician in “Christmas List.” You can feel the warmth of Christmas and hear a genuine voice.

Each person’s life is limited, and your ears deserve to listen to better music. Your musical taste should evolve and improve over time, not regress.

Christmas List

In conclusion, it’s a pity if Jay Chou has lost the initial passion for music that he had when he entered the music industry, despite his wealth, family, wife, children, friends, and leisure activities.

Jay Chou, do you know?

I’ve listened to “Seven Miles Fragrance,” “Chapter Seven of the Night,” “Track,” “My Tears Are Scattered Emotions,” “Huo Yuanjia”…

What I mean is, I’ve had my share of coarse bran.

Please, no more feeding me coarse grains.

I can only say that Jay Chou is becoming more down-to-earth.

After a simple listen, my personal feeling is “mediocrity with a touch of rustic.”

As soon as the prelude, filled with the taste of MIDI electric guitar, comes out, I feel that something is not right, and indeed, the arrangement is still that familiar formula.

When the rap comes in, it adds a bit of Douyin (TikTok) rustic style to the song.

I won’t listen to it a second time.

2023/12/21

Before listening, I thought the song title seemed promising. When I heard the chorus, I thought the melody was decent, but when I heard the bridge, I realized I was mistaken.

Not disappointing for the year.

There’s only one reason: because the new songs in the pseudo works from last year were just too formulaic. You can call this song cliché, the imitators can continue imitating, the market can stick to its routine and industrialization; after all, the new songs in the pseudo works have already embraced the clichés. The only one that didn’t, the eponymous song, awkwardly pays homage to itself, awkwardly sewing together its past masterpieces. The clichéd melody and the no longer comfortable rhythm also make it less formulaic. At least, this song isn’t clichéd.

Haha, I have just two words to describe it - perfunctory. But “perfunctory” might not be the right word because this is a trashy piece.

The same old walking.

The same old walking + trying to be cool.

The same old walking + trying to be cool + European scenery.

I suspect they filmed all this European scenery in one go and saved it up because walking every day, just walking, it’s uninspiring.

The whole song lacks dynamics, it’s extremely flat, the chord progressions are clichéd, no surprises.

We all know the singing skills, no need to talk about that.

The only thing remotely related to Christmas in this whole song might be the lyrics.

Don’t pay attention to the lyrics, just listen to the music. Maybe the jingling bells in the arrangement will vaguely give you a sense of Christmas, but I can only say it’s a stretch. If it weren’t for Christmas, you probably wouldn’t even think about it - yeah, it’s that unexpected.

The chorus is flat, no ups and downs, no bridge, no variations, not even in the second repetition.

It feels like it’s just the chorus + verse, okay, wrap it up, done. And the instrument sounds are very rough.

To sum it up,

A disappointing, perfunctory, and rough piece without any sincerity in its forced Christmas theme.

Stop acting like a music emperor all the time, seriously.

When this plastic MIDI guitar comes in, it’s really hard to keep a straight face. Recording a real guitar shouldn’t be that difficult, right?

I’m ready to assist you with the translation. Please provide the paragraphs you’d like me to translate, and I will do so promptly.

Wow, it’s really you! Haha, oh my!

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Overall, it’s still listenable. The duration, range, and production are all quite small; it’s truly a skit. The musical style is similar to the R&B tracks from the previous album, such as “Red as Frost” and “Reflection,” which are Jay Chou’s specialties. Given the production quality, this song was probably written not too long ago.

The use of the bright A major key is in line with the holiday atmosphere, and the composition is stable. A few notes are repeated back and forth, and there’s a simple mumble in the chorus, seemingly between F#3 and E4, but this time it doesn’t sound as out of place within the comfort zone. The arrangement also follows this pattern, a fairly conventional R&B Type Beat, with a few crisp guitar notes breaking down 4-3-6-5-1 looping from start to finish. Yang Rui’s part, on the other hand, seems to have undergone some pitch correction and sounds like it descends half a tone like AI, perhaps to provide some intensity.

The structure is roughly like this:

Bilibili, YouTube, and Netease all have a fair share of these sweet songs. The difference lies in that they usually add an atmospheric touch to the background to create romance, or use a light rhythm section like claps and snaps to create a chill vibe. This song, on the other hand, is filled with a bass-heavy drum arrangement, showcasing Jay Chou’s style. A significant characteristic is the sudden increase in tempo when transitioning between sections. Personally, I find pure love rap songs a bit annoying, but thankfully, Jay hasn’t fallen too deep into that trap and has woven his feelings into paper and pen.

The comments section below is filled with endless discussions, making it seem strange and boring, as if other artists are always doing better. In fact, it’s all just appearances. Compared to songs like “Plum Sauce,” this one is relatively normal and can fit in the middle of his works. Let’s hope for a new album.

This style of Jay Chou’s music originated from the fusion of contemporary Western R&B and Hip-Hop. Artists like Janet Jackson, Boy II Men, Joe, and Craig David influenced it.

Then, based on his own characteristics, he strengthened the melody while weakening the rhythm, creating this unique style. When done well, it’s like “Love Before BC” where both strengths are utilized. Upon closer examination, it’s indeed not pure; the American approach is more authentic, while the Australian approach, as seen in the example of “Plum Sauce,” is not necessary.

Now, it feels like he could transition to the style of the song below. When I listened to “Red as Frost,” I thought of it. This album by MC is also quite good; it’s more enjoyable than Xuan Gong’s music at the same age. The future looks promising.

Um. First, let me declare that I’m here to save my own skin. Half of my playlist consists of Jay Chou’s songs, covering about 90% of his entire discography, and I can sing more than 85% of his tracks.

Now, let’s talk about something that’s likely to receive criticism (normal comments are fine, but if someone wants to argue, I’ll hide the comments and block them).

To be brutally honest, it seems that Jay Chou has reached his limit. I always feel that his educational background and cultural literacy are still holding him back from further development. He should have continued to progress and push the boundaries of the Chinese music industry. However, now, he has come to a standstill, and the development of Chinese music has temporarily stagnated.

Perhaps no one is better than him for the time being, but what I mean is that he has ultimately been defeated by himself.

Now, let’s talk about this song. I can only express my feelings with words like “mediocre,” “greasy,” “formulaic,” and “awkward.” Is the melody unpleasant? Not unpleasant, but it can’t be called pleasant either. It’s like a drink you’ve been sipping for years, with a lot of additives mixed in.

Now, let’s talk about the lyrics. Ah Lang/Fang Wenshan? It’s not a step forward; it’s a step backward (Who the heck actually wrote these lyrics? I searched for a long time and couldn’t find any information; it’s baffling).

Finally, let’s discuss the music video, which I would rate poorly, and I wouldn’t dare to watch it a second time. What’s with this internet celebrity style? It’s hard to believe that this is the same Jay Chou who used to produce music videos like “Stop the Battle,” “In the Name of Father,” and “Back to the Past.”

All I can say is, it’s time to call it quits, Jay.

No surprises, no changes, I’ve been listening for three years…"

To be honest, if it weren’t for Jay Chou, I really wouldn’t listen to it a second time…

Jay, the last time you wrote a catchy melody feels like it was ages ago.

Listening to the main song feels like everything is back, especially those harmonies and instrument arrangements are spot on. So, I started waiting for the chorus, and when I finished listening to it once, I realized the seriousness of the situation. Is this chorus for real??? If it didn’t repeat several times, I wouldn’t even consider it a chorus. It lacks melody, and I can’t believe that the same composer who wrote top-notch melodies like “Cute Girl” and “Carnival” could produce this.

I forced myself to listen to it several times, but it left no impression… That’s when I realized my mistake. It’s just like Weizuo’s “Red as Frost” and “Reflection.” My voice was worn out, and I didn’t even touch the high notes. There’s no emotional ups and downs.

Once again, I lament the unfortunate timing of some songs before 2016. In 2014, “Mermaid,” or even in 2012, “Silly Smile,” “Sign Language,” “Loving You Makes No Difference,” and the catchy “Dreams Take Off” and “Ukulele.” If they were released one by one now, they would be better than this new song! They wouldn’t have become forgotten gems in the so-called “12 bad works”…

Even though they were cheesy, they were really fun. I hope you don’t forget your original intentions.

If you can’t write, there’s no need to force it. Apparently, there’s no lower limit to mediocrity. This is the kind of song that 20-year-old Jay Chou could have scrapped.

I hope the saying “A Jiang Lang is never exhausted” doesn’t come true. If you really can’t write anymore, stay at home with your wife and kids. Your fans and friends only wish for your health and happiness. Why burn your own wings, Jay?

Similar musical style to “Red as Frost,” but not as good as “Red as Frost.” “Red as Frost” at least has a rising melody, but this song is really as plain as water.

This song is not included in “The Greatest Works,” which is a pity.

People used to say that Jay Chou’s “The Kiss of Christmas” surpassed it, and now it’s become a reality. Jay Chou, “Thank you for making the wrong meal.”

It’s hard to evaluate, but I can only say:

The main song maintains the consistent quality of recent years, and the chorus is even more heavyweight.

During the main song, I was thinking, it’s at the same abstract level as last year. During the chorus, I was thinking, huh?

In the past few years, the singles, although the songs are quite mediocre and formulaic, at least they could make most listeners find them catchy and earworms… Jay Chou’s later works have been criticized by many, but many of those works could still make most listeners find them pleasant… I don’t quite understand why this song was released as a single.

“Red as Frost” (Youth Version) (Merry Christmas Version).

It’s cliché but not entirely cliché. Surprisingly, this song was written by Jay Chou…

The arrangement is also overly abstract. Is it paying homage to early songs by Xu Song? Doing subtraction.

This is purely turning in an assignment, letting the fans know that I’m still writing songs and singing…

You can’t find many songs as plain as this one in the entire year.

The main song is okay, more in line with the taste, but the chorus feels like it was written by a college student who just learned to write songs…

This time, I believe Jay Chou might have written this song while he was on the toilet. Maybe it was written when he wasn’t feeling too well during a bathroom break, and he thought it could be released for Christmas.

The melody is old-fashioned, and I feel like Jay Chou should update some of his lyricists. Calling this song nostalgic is not quite right, and calling it trendy would be even more off the mark. It’s clearly lagging behind the times.

I know I have high expectations, but let’s try not to expect too much. He’s writing for fun, and we’re listening for fun, that’s all.

There’s no longer any emotion in Jay Chou’s songs. No matter how much he releases, it’s futile. Fans are just here for the sake of his signature style.

In a way, he’s like an Apple iPhone now, always lagging behind but irreplaceable.

I previously guessed it was related to Christmas,

I didn’t expect I got it right, hahaha.

The December skit is a free Christmas gift,

My voice has improved quite a bit,

Since I didn’t have high expectations, I found it quite comfortable this time,

It’s that kind of relaxing, lazy feeling,

Although it’s a skit, three minutes is really short, hahaha.

The only Jay Chou’s work I haven’t fast-forwarded to the end.

From eagerly anticipating each frame of the new album to not even willing to give a song a full listen.

The listeners have changed because the singer has also changed.

High Emotional Intelligence: Jay Chou has released a new song that can be widely sung by ordinary people.

Low Emotional Intelligence: Jay Chou’s new song is too plain, with minimal fluctuations, and the lyrics are mediocre. Overall, it feels like a catchy but shallow song.

Can’t believe this was written by Jay Chou!

Huang Yuxun’s arrangement has become this lazy. Is he lacking the ability to arrange or doing it on purpose?

Let me give you an example, listen to this year’s re-arranged “Liu Sha” by David Tao, and you’ll know what proper arrangement is.

Huang Yuxun, if you can’t do it, you can’t do it. This is laziness!

Can you believe this reflects Jay Chou’s attitude towards music?

Just a low-budget version of “Red Makeup.”

As a spiritually void Christian, writing something like this suits his background. But to be honest, compared to “Jesus Fashion,” which is also a religious-themed song, it lacks sincerity.

Of course, as the fans say, “If the heavenly king writes a song for you, it’s good enough just to listen to it.” So, I won’t say much more.

Charlotte lived to the time before he traveled through.