Too Softhearted (Chinese: 心太軟; pinyin: Xīn Tài Ruǎn), is the fifth studio album by Taiwanese recording artist Richie Jen, released on December 24, 1996, via Rock Records. The album spawned the titular track as the lead single. Musically, the album incorporates a range of musical styles such as R&B, pop, disco and flamenco.
| Too Softhearted | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 24, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
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| Length | 45:18 | |||
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| Label | Rock Records | |||
| Richie Jen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Too Softhearted | ||||
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A major commercial success, Too Softhearted sold over 1 million copies in mainland China and over 2.3 million copies across Asia. It is one of the best-selling albums in China in terms of physical sales. When accounting for unofficial sales of the album, it is claimed that the album sold over 26 million copies in China.
Background and release
editToo Softhearted was released through Rock Records on December 24, 1996. Jen had initially decided that he would abandon his career as a singer and pursue a profession in sports journalism if the album did not perform well.[1] This was because it was the last chance given to him by his record company.
The album subsequently saw large amounts of success and won the singer various accolades.[1] The titular single was one of the most popular songs in China following its release and became one of Jen's signature songs.[2]
Composition
editThe album was recorded at studios in Taipei and Los Angeles. The lyrics of the single "Too Softhearted" depicts Jen's sentiments of heartbreak. It was written and produced by Taiwanese musician Johnny Chen and arranged by Christopher Troy. The track "5151" incorporates free and rhythmic reggae while "I Love You" (Dance version) is characterized as a bouncy funk number. "The Bell Hanging on the Ivy" samples the flamenco dance-pop song "Macarena" (1993) and contains Spanish verses interspersed throughout the track.[3]
Commercial performance
editToo Softhearted experienced major commercial success in Asia upon its release. The album is claimed to have sold over 26 million copies in mainland China, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time in the country. However, the lack of official statistics have made authenticating the claim difficult;[4] Jen himself later stated in an interview that legitimate sales of the album stood at over 1 million copies in mainland China, and 2.3 million copies throughout Asia.[4][5] Initially, the album received lukewarm reception in Taiwan; however, its sales surged following its widespread popularity in China, eventually leading to sales of approximately 600,000 copies in the territory.[4]
Awards
edit| Organization | Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Chinese Music Awards | 1997 | Top 20 Chinese Songs | Won | [6] |
| RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards | 1997 | Outstanding Mandarin Song (Bronze) | Won | [7] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Too Softhearted" (心太軟) | 5:50 |
| 2. | "5151" | 4:39 |
| 3. | "Hand in Hand" (浪漫手牽手) | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Something's Coming" (愛的不輕) | 3:30 |
| 5. | "I Love You" (Disco version; 我愛你(Disco版)) | 4:21 |
| 6. | "Crying in the Night" (哭個痛快) | 4:39 |
| 7. | "A Man's Tears" (一個男人的眼淚) | 3:50 |
| 8. | "The Bell Hanging on the Ivy" (長藤掛銅鈴1997) | 3:18 |
| 9. | "I Love You" (House version; 我愛你(House版)) | 6:25 |
| 10. | "Fairy Tale" (童話) | 4:18 |
| Total length: | 45:18 | |
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Taiwanese Albums (IFPI Taiwan)[8] | 15 |
Sales
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| China | — | 1,000,000[5] |
| Taiwan | — | 600,000[4] |
| Summaries | ||
| Asia | — | 2,300,000[5] |
References
edit- ^ a b "讀體育系還曾想當記者 任賢齊心善救人來自於超強體魄！" [I studied physical education and wanted to be a reporter. Ren Xianqi’s kindness in saving people comes from his super physical strength!]. Yahoo! Taiwan Sports (in Chinese). May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "心太软：流行音乐进入娱乐大众时代" [Too soft-hearted: pop music enters the era of mass entertainment]. NetEase Entertainment (in Chinese). September 15, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "Too Softhearted – Richie Jen" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Apple Music Taiwan. December 24, 1996. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "王杰《游戏》和任贤齐《心太软》，数千万张的销量哪个更离谱？" [Wang Jie's "The Game" or Ren Xianqi's "Heart Is Too Soft", which one is more outrageous with sales of tens of millions of copies?]. Sina News (in Chinese). August 2, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c "音乐流浪季任贤齐和他的"销量神话"专辑《心太软》_歌曲_小虫_齐哥" [Music wanderer Richie Jen and his "sales myth" album "Too Softhearted"]. Sohu (in Chinese). July 1, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "第四届华语榜中榜获奖名单(1997年)" [List of winners of the 4th Chinese Language List (1997)]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). November 22, 2002. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "香港十大中文金曲奖历届回顾" [Review of Hong Kong’s Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody Awards]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). December 19, 2003. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "IFPI Taiwan Album Chart Top 20" (in Chinese). IFPI Taiwan. Archived from the original on June 19, 1997. Retrieved May 13, 2024.