Brave (Chinese: 勇敢; pinyin: Yǒnggǎn) is the eleventh studio album by Taiwanese singer A-Mei. It was released on June 27, 2003, by Warner Music Taiwan.[1] The album was produced by Xu Guangyi, Jae Chong, Will Lin, Eric Chen and Martin Tang.[2] Lyricists include Chen Jiawen, Xia Mu and others, and composers include Tanya Chua and others.[2] Brave incorporates musical genres such as pop, R&B, hip hop, dance, jazz, reggae and ska.[3] Around the time of the album's release, A-Mei landed her first major acting role by starring as the heroine of the movie Brave, with the album's title track serving as its theme song.[4]
| Brave | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 27, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 39:55 | |||
| Label | Warner Music | |||
| Producer | ||||
| A-Mei chronology | ||||
| ||||
Brave is the only studio album by A-Mei to date to not receive a nomination for a Golden Melody Award. Despite that, Brave still ended up becoming a commercial success. It sold over 170,000 copies in Taiwan[5] and 1.6 million copies throughout Asia in total.[2] To help promote the album, A-Mei embarked on a series of live performances and appearances throughout Taiwan.
Background
editIn order to fit in with the social atmosphere, A-Mei wanted to spread her innate passion and vitality, hoping to inspire and encourage her listeners.[6] On May 18, 2003, it was announced that the album would incorporate genres such as hip hop and rap for the first time.[7] The album was developed by the Korean musician Jae Chong, Will Lin, Martin Tang, Ma Yu-fen, Xu Guangyi and Arys Chien.[8] At the beginning of collecting songs, A-Mei often went to different Live Bars with the producer to listen to songs, and expressed her feelings about music through her favorite music style; the music style of the entire album was slowly integrated in this way.[6] With the album Brave, Warner was confused about which song should be the title song. For this reason, Warner held an open and sincere public hearing for A-Mei's fans to vote for their preferred title song.[9] In order to avoid unauthorized recording of the unreleased songs, Warner was strict in checking every fan's bag and body with professional security personnel to find out any recordable equipment that could be entrusted to them before they were allowed to enter the show.[10]
Writing and composition
edit"See Themselves" is a Mandarin adaptation of the song "When I'm Feeling Blue" by Juri.[11] "Fake It" is an upbeat hip-hop and R&B song written by Shefang, while its music was composed by Jae Chong.[8] "It's Me Who's Missing You" is a lighthearted pop song written by Tian Tian and composed by Khalil Fong.[8] The album's title track is a Mandarin adaptation of Juri's "I Hope You Are the End of My Waiting (내 기다림의 끝이 그대이길).[12][13] "Rescue" is a folk pop song written and composed by Tanya Chua.[8]
"Hate That I Love You" is a power ballad written by Daryl Yao and composed by Arys Chien.[8] "Never Mind" is a hip-hop influenced song written by Cui Weikai and composed by Jae Chong.[8] "Goosey" is a jazz-inspired song written by Xia Mu and composed by Tanya Chua.[8] "Because I" is a reggae and ska song written and composed by Will Lin.[8] The closing number, "Forget," was written by Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello and Nick Lachey.[8]
Title and artwork
editThe album was named Brave due to A-Mei hoping to encourage and inspire all of her listeners.[6] The cover shoot was originally chosen to be shot abroad, but due to the SARS epidemic, it was chosen to be shot in Kenting.[14] The album art shows A-Mei with her hair down while wearing a bikini with a silk jacket.[15]
Release and promotion
editOn June 11, 2003, the album was made available for pre-order.[16] On June 19, 2003, it was announced that more than 20,000 copies had been pre-ordered in Taiwan within the first three days.[17] Game agent ** Huayi Digital Entertainment held the "Fall in Love with A3 Product Launch Conference" on June 17, 2003, inviting A-Mei to be the lead singer of the Chinese version of the game theme song.[18] The songs "See Themselves" and the album's title track served as the theme songs for the Korean online game software "A3," which A-Mei was paid NT$12 million to endorse.[19] The album's hardcover edition came with the CD of the game.[20] On June 27, 2003, Tsai held a press conference for the album premiere in Taipei, Taiwan.[21] The high sales of Brave convinced A-Mei's record company to spend tens of millions to hold three "It's Me Who's Missing You" summer concerts in Taitung's Seaside Park, Sizihwan and Fulong Beach.[22] In the second half of 2003 the A-Class Entertainment World Tour was held in Kuala Lumpur, Montville, Las Vegas and other places. On October 24, 2003, A-Mei participated in the "Warner Music 10th Anniversary Charity Concert" at Beijing Workers' Stadium; she sung alongside her labelmates Aaron Kwok, Na Ying, Sun Nan, Stefanie Sun and Sammi Cheng.[23]
Singles and music videos
editThe movie version of the "Brave" music video was directed by director Teng Yung-Shing.[24] It took A-Mei 10 days and 10 nights to complete the filming. Each time, she shot from 3 a.m. to 4 or 5 a.m. the next morning. The production cost of the music video was NT$8 million, but A-Mei didn't get paid a penny, and one of the most NG scenes in the whole drama was her passionate scene with Miao Zijie. In the movie, A-Mei plays a foreign girl who comes to Taipei to work and has beautiful fantasies about love just like any other girl.[25] The music video for "Fake It" was directed by Xu Renfeng.[26] A-Mei found Miluko, a dance teacher who is good at R&B and Hip-Hop, to choreograph the video.[27] In addition, she put in a lot of effort to practicing table dancing.[27] During the shooting, A-Mei is seen jumping from the chair to a high platform neatly.[27] The music video for "It's Me Who's Missing You," which was directed by Xu Renfeng,[28] co-starred actor Ethan Juan.[29]
Accolades
editIn 2004, A-Mei won the Best Female Singer Award in Taiwan on the Music IN China TOP list for this album.[30] The song "Brave" became the champion song in the gay love song vote that year.[31]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "See Themselves" (看見自己) | Kate Liao | Kim Hyeon-Cheol | Wang Meilian | 4:21 |
| 2. | "Fake It" (假惺惺) | Shefang | Jae Chong | Jae Chong | 3:31 |
| 3. | "It's Me Who's Missing You" (就是我想你) | Tian Tian | Khalil Fong | Wang Meilian | 4:12 |
| 4. | "Brave" (勇敢) |
| Shin In Soo | Eric Hung | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Rescue" (解圍) | Tanya Chua | Tanya Chua |
| 3:35 |
| 6. | "Hate That I Love You" (我為什麼那麼愛你) | Daryl Yao | Arys Chien | Baby Chung | 4:55 |
| 7. | "Never Mind" (無所謂) | Cui Weikai | Jae Chong | Jae Chong | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Goosey" (說傻話) | Xia Mu | Tanya Chua |
| 3:27 |
| 9. | "Because I" (因為有我) | Will Lin | Will Lin |
| 4:01 |
| 10. | "Forget" (忘記) | Xia Mu | Martin Tang | 4:05 | |
| Total length: | 39:55 | ||||
References
edit- ^ "张惠妹《勇敢》"现身"全新大碟今天发行". music.yule.sohu.com. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c "張惠妹『勇敢』專輯介紹" (in Chinese). Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "新专辑呈现新面貌 张惠妹《勇敢》现身(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "张惠妹推出大屏幕处女作 "勇敢"演出床戏（图）". China News Service. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 孫燕姿阿妹金曲兩大遺珠 (in Chinese). March 31, 2004. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c "张惠妹《勇敢》". Sohu. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 张惠妹六月全新出辑挑战嘻哈音乐 (in Chinese). June 17, 2003. Archived from the original on August 8, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 勇敢 (CD album; Liner notes). 張惠妹. Warner Music Taiwan. 2003. 50-50466-7203-2-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "张惠妹新专辑歌迷定主打(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 新专辑触动心扉张惠妹泪洒抢听会 (in Chinese). June 17, 2003. Archived from the original on June 18, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ When I'm Feelin Blue, retrieved June 16, 2024
- ^ "张惠妹何以"勇敢"". Sohu Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 내 기다림의 끝이 그대이길, retrieved June 16, 2024
- ^ "张惠妹新专辑《勇敢》月底全亚洲同步发行". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "新专辑月底亮相 张惠妹比基尼造型勇敢登场(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "张惠妹新专辑比基尼造型登场(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "最新大碟预购三天 张惠妹《勇敢》狂卖两万张". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "图文：音乐天后主唱《勇敢》走向A3". news.17173.com. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "张惠妹新台币1200万元天价代言电子游戏". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Brave (Limited Edition)". YesAsia. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "张惠妹出新碟激动到哭 白色短裙表现女人味(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "張惠妹【就是我想你】夏日演唱會，一連舉辦三場!!!". mypaper.pchome.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "华纳音乐亮雄厚"家底" 四大天后争奇斗艳(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 張惠妹 A-Mei - 勇敢 Brave (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved June 16, 2024
- ^ ""勇敢"突破尺度 张惠妹演激情戏不取分文(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 張惠妹 A-Mei - 假惺惺 Fake It (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved June 16, 2024
- ^ a b c "张惠妹《假惺惺》MV显媚态(图)". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 張惠妹 A-Mei - 就是我想你 It's Me Who's Missing You (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved June 16, 2024
- ^ "才华横溢、清醒自律的他，为何巅峰时选择隐退？". Sina Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ 2003Music IN中国TOP排行榜获奖名单 (in Chinese). June 20, 2004. Archived from the original on June 20, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "張惠妹「勇敢」勇奪同志情歌票選的冠軍". mypaper.pchome.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). August 30, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2024.