Jeneration (Chinese: J世紀) is the sixth greatest hits album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. It was released on February 27, 2009, by Gold Typhoon.[1] The album contains 27 songs released by Capitol and three previously unreleased song, "Hauteur", "Run Run", and "Habitual Betrayal".[2]
The album peaked at number two on the weekly record charts of Five Music and G-Music in Taiwan.[3][4]
Background and release
On February 16, 2006, Tsai signed a recording deal with Capitol Music Taiwan, and released her eighth studio album Dancing Diva on May 12.[5] The album has sold more than 260,000 copies in Taiwan,[6] and it became the best-selling album of the year in the region.[7] On September 15, 2006, Tsai embarked her second concert tour Dancing Forever World Tour, and she concluded the tour on February 8, 2009. Comprising 28 shows, the tour grossed NT$1 billion and played in front of 500,000 people from 21 cities in Asia, Oceania, and North America.[8] On June 16, 2007, Tsai won a Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Female Singer.[9] On September 21, 2007, Tsai released her ninth studio album Agent J, it has sold more than 200,000 copies in Taiwan, and it also became the best-selling album of the year in the region.[10] On August 3, 2008, former president of EMI Asia, Norman Cheng, announced he would acquire all of EMI Great China, including Taiwan's EMI, Hong Kong's Gold Label, and China' Push Typhoon, and these three companies would be merged into a new company named Gold Typhoon.[11] On October 21, 2008, Tsai released a cover album titled Love Exercise, it was scheduled to be released on March 7, but the release date was postponed due to the personnel change in her record label.[12] The album has sold more than 30,000 copies in Taiwan without any actual promotion, and it became the best-selling Western-language album of the year in the region.[13] On December 16, 2008, Tsai signed a recording deal with Warner Music Taiwan at Beijing National Aquatics Center.[14] In February 2009, Gold Typhoon announced they would release a greatest hits album, and it would include 27 songs released by Capitol and three previously unreleased songs, "Hauteur", "Run Run", and "Habitual Betrayal".[15] "Hauteur" is the Chinese cover of Sarah Connor's "Are U Ready to Ride?", and "Run Run" is the Chinese cover of Girls Aloud's "On a Round".[16] In the same month, media reported Gold Typhoon planned to release a greatest hits album together with Sony Music Taiwan, they planned to include Tsai's songs released by either Sony or Capitol, but the plan was cancelled due to copyright and profit sharing issues.[17] The album debuted at number two on the weekly record charts of Five Music and G-Music in Taiwan.[18][19]
Critical reception
Hong Kong Economic Times wrote: "In terms of new songs, both 'Hauteur' and 'Run Run' are electropop songs, but they sound not outstanding. The ballad 'Habitual Betrayal' merged minor key element, and it sounds not bad. Among those of her old works, both 'Dancing Diva' and 'Agent J' are magnum opuses of Tsai's dance songs, which also have established her diva status. In fact, she also has a lot of good ballads, such as 'Pretence' and other hits. This album also includes her covers of Sandy Lam's 'Heard That Love's Ever Been Back' and Faye Wong's 'Missing', showing Tsai's diverse singing style."[20]Tencent Entertainment wrote: "The three new songs are highlights of the album, although there is nothing new in style, they can even be regarded as remainder of her Gold Typhoon period, but for her fans, the album has a lot of collection value."[21]
