Jay Chou facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chou (周).

Quick facts for kids

Jay Chou

周杰倫

Chou in July 2023

Born

Jay Chou Chieh-lun

18 January 1979 (age 46)

Linkou, Taipei County, Taiwan

Occupation

Singer
songwriter
record producer
actor
television personality
businessman

Years active

2000–present

Works

Albums
singles
songs recorded

Spouse(s)

Hannah Quinlivan

(m. 2015)

Children

Awards

Full list

Musical career

Origin

Taipei, Taiwan

Genres

Mandopop
Chinese rock
Latin soul
Chinese hip hop
R&B

Instruments

Vocals
piano
cello
guitar
guzheng
chinese flute
drums
beatboxing

Labels

Alfa
JVR
Universal Music

Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

周杰倫

Simplified Chinese

周杰伦

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zhōu Jiélún
Wade–Giles	Chou Chieh-lun
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Chiu Kia̍t-lûn

Jay Chou Chieh-lun (born January 18, 1979) is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, actor, and director. He is known as the "King of Mandopop" because he is one of the most influential artists in the Chinese-speaking world. Chou is famous for his unique music style, which often mixes traditional Chinese sounds with Western pop, R&B, and rock.

Chou's career began in 2000 with his first album, Jay. He quickly became a superstar with his second album, Fantasy (2001). His music changed the sound of Mandopop. He continued to release hit albums like Common Jasmine Orange (2004), which became the best-selling album in China in the 21st century.

In 2022, his album Greatest Works of Art was the best-selling album in the world based on pure sales. This made him the first Mandopop artist to top the global charts. Besides music, Chou has also starred in movies, including the Hollywood films The Green Hornet (2011) and Now You See Me 2 (2016).

Having sold over 30 million albums, Chou is one of the best-selling artists in Taiwan's history. He has won 15 Golden Melody Awards, the most for any singer. He has also held eight major concert tours, performing for millions of fans around the world.

Early Life and Discovery
Music Career
Unique Music Style
Other Work
- Directing and Acting
- Business and Charity
Personal Life
Discography
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Discovery

Jay Chou was born in Linkou, Taiwan. His parents were both teachers. His mother, Yeh Hui-mei, was an art teacher who noticed his talent for music. She signed him up for piano lessons when he was only four years old.

As a child, Chou loved music. He learned to play the cello in the third grade and was always fascinated by sounds. He even carried a tape recorder everywhere to capture songs. His favorite composer was Frédéric Chopin.

When Chou was 14, his parents divorced. He found comfort in music during this time. In high school, he majored in piano and minored in cello. He loved pop music and started writing his own songs.

In 1998, a friend entered them both into a talent show called Super New Talent King. Chou played the piano for his friend. Although they didn't win, the show's host, Jacky Wu, was very impressed by the complicated music Chou had written. Wu hired him as a composer for his record company, Alfa Music. There, Chou learned about music production and worked with lyricist Vincent Fang, who would become his longtime partner.

Music Career

2000–2005: Rise to Stardom

Jay Chou in the music video for "Starry Mood" in 2000

After writing songs for other artists, Chou was encouraged to sing his own music. In 2000, he released his first album, Jay. The album was a hit, mixing R&B and hip-hop styles. The song "Starry Mood" (星晴) became very popular.

His second album, Fantasy (2001), made him a superstar. It sold millions of copies and won five Golden Melody Awards. Songs like "Simple Love" (簡單愛) and "Can't Express Myself" (開不了口) are still fan favorites today.

Chou continued to release successful albums. His 2003 album, Yeh Hui-Mei, was named after his mother. It won the Golden Melody Award for Best Album of the Year. In 2004, his album Common Jasmin Orange sold over 2.6 million copies in China, a record for a Mandopop artist.

2006–2016: Acting and Global Fame

Chou at the MTV Asia Awards 2005

Besides music, Chou began a successful acting career. He starred in the movie Initial D (2005), which won him a Best Newcomer Actor award. He also appeared in the major film Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) with famous actors like Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li.

Chou continued to release an album almost every year. His albums Still Fantasy (2006) and On the Run! (2007) were huge hits. The song "Blue and White Porcelain" (青花瓷) from On the Run! became one of his most famous songs.

In 2011, Chou made his Hollywood debut as Kato in the movie The Green Hornet. He later co-starred in Now You See Me 2 (2016) with actors like Daniel Radcliffe. During this time, he also released more hit albums, including Aiyo, Not Bad (2014) and Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories (2016). His world tours, like The Invincible World Tour, drew millions of fans.

2017–Present: Record-Breaking Success

Chou at an event in Shanghai in July 2023

After a short break, Chou returned in 2019 with the single "Won't Cry," featuring Ashin from the band Mayday. The song was so popular that it reportedly crashed China's biggest music streaming service, QQ Music. His 2020 single "Mojito" was also a massive hit.

In 2022, Chou released his fifteenth album, Greatest Works of Art. It became the best-selling album in the world for 2022 based on pure sales. This was a historic achievement, making him the first Mandopop artist to ever top this global chart. The album sold over five million copies in China in its first week.

Following the album's success, Chou resumed his Carnival World Tour. His concerts have a huge economic impact, bringing in billions in tourism revenue to cities where he performs.

Unique Music Style

Chou performing in 2013

Jay Chou's music is often called "Chou Style" because it's so unique. He is famous for blending traditional Chinese music with modern Western styles like R&B, rock, and rap. This fusion is known as "Zhongguo feng" (中國風), which means "Chinese Style Music."

He often uses traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa (a type of lute) and writes melodies using the pentatonic scale, which gives his music a distinct Asian sound. He also includes everyday sound effects in his songs, like the bounce of a ping pong ball or dripping rain.

Chou is also known for his "mumbling" style of singing. At first, some people found it hard to understand his lyrics. But Chou explained that he sees his voice as another instrument, and he wants it to blend perfectly with the music. He also wants listeners to pay close attention to the lyrics, which are often like poetry and tell rich stories.

Other Work

Directing and Acting

Chou at the 2007 Shanghai Film Festival

Chou is also a talented director. He started by directing his own music videos. In 2007, he directed and starred in his first movie, Secret. The film was a success and was inspired by his own high school experiences. In 2013, he directed his second film, The Rooftop.

Business and Charity

Chou is a smart businessman. He has endorsed many famous brands like Pepsi, Panasonic, and Motorola. He also has his own record label, JVR Music. In 2016, he entered the world of eSports by buying a team and renaming it J Gaming.

He is also known for his charity work. He supports foundations that help children with disabilities and those living in poverty. He has donated millions of dollars to help students and has supported disaster relief efforts.

Personal Life

In 2014, Jay Chou confirmed his relationship with model Hannah Quinlivan. They had been dating since 2010. The couple got married in a beautiful ceremony in Europe in January 2015. They have three children: a daughter born in 2015, a son born in 2017, and another daughter born in 2022.

Chou is a Christian and was baptized in 2012. He has a medical condition called ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects the spine. This condition exempted him from mandatory military service in Taiwan.