Jay Chou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jay Chou
周杰倫
Chou in July 2023
Born	Jay Chou Chieh-lun (1979-01-18) 18 January 1979 (age 46) Linkou, Taipei County, Taiwan
Education	New Taipei Private Tam-kang High School
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	3
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 (traditional Chinese: 周杰倫; simplified Chinese: 周杰伦; pinyin: Zhōu Jiélún; born 18 January 1979) is a famous singer, songwriter, actor, and director from Taiwan. Many people call him the "King of Mandopop" because he is one of the most successful singers in the Chinese-speaking world. His music often mixes Eastern and Western styles. It has also influenced fashion and music trends in places like China and Taiwan.

In 2000, Jay Chou released his first album, Jay, which was a huge hit. His second album, Fantasy (2001), made him even more famous. His album Common Jasmine Orange (2004) sold over 2.6 million copies in China. This was recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling physical album there in the 21st century. He has won more than 15 Golden Melody Awards, which is more than any other singer in the history of the awards. From 2016 to 2020, he was a judge on the TV show The Voice of China. In 2022, his album Greatest Works of Art became the world's best-selling record. This made him the first Mandopop artist to top the IFPI’s Global Album Sales Chart.

Outside of music, Jay Chou is also known for his acting. He first acted in the movie Initial D (2005). He also appeared in big films like Curse of the Golden Flower (2006) and Hollywood movies such as The Green Hornet (2011) and Now You See Me 2 (2016). He directed and starred in films like Secret (2007) and The Rooftop (2013). He also hosted TV shows like Mr. J Channel and the Netflix show J-Style Trip. As a businessman, he started his own fashion brand, PHANTACi, in 2006. He also helped create the music company JVR Music in 2007.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Jay Chou was born and grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. His mother was an art teacher, and his father was a researcher. His mother noticed his musical talent early on. She started his piano lessons when he was four years old. As a child, he loved to record sounds and songs with his tape recorder. He carried it with him everywhere. When he was in third grade, he became interested in music theory and started learning the cello. He was an only child and enjoyed playing piano, acting like TV characters, and doing magic tricks. His favorite composer was, and still is, Chopin.

Jay went to Taipei Jinhua High School. His parents divorced when he was 14. This made him quieter and more private. He often preferred to be alone, listening to music and dreaming. At Tamkang Senior High School [zh], he focused on piano and cello. He was good at making up music on the spot. He also started to love pop music and write his own songs. After high school, he had to do mandatory military service. However, severe back pain led to a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. This meant he did not have to serve in the military. He then found a job as a waiter.

Starting His Music Career

Jay's mother hoped he would become a music teacher. Jay himself wasn't sure what he wanted to do. In 1998, a friend secretly signed them up for a talent show called Super New Talent King. Jay played the piano for his friend, whose singing wasn't very good. They didn't win, but the show's host, Jacky Wu, saw Jay's complex music score. Wu was impressed and hired Jay as a composer for his record company, Alfa Music. He paired Jay with a new lyricist named Vincent Fang.

Jay spent a lot of time in Wu's studio. He learned about music production, sound mixing, and recording. Even though he trained in classical music, Jay started mixing Chinese and Western styles. He combined R&B, rock, and pop. Jacky Wu promised Jay an album if he wrote 50 songs. Jay already had many songs that other artists had rejected. He chose 10 of these for his first album, Jay, which came out in 2000. This album made him famous as a talented singer-songwriter. His style blended R&B, rap, classical music, and Chinese elements. His fame quickly spread across Chinese-speaking areas.

Music Success and Albums

Early Hits and Awards

In 2000, Jay Chou began to sing his own songs. His first album, Jay, was released by Alfa Music. Jay did all the arranging, harmony, and production for the songs. The album mixed R&B, hip-hop, and other styles. The song "Starry Mood" (Chinese: 星晴) became a big hit. Jacky Wu heavily promoted the album on his TV shows. Jay also appeared on TV to promote it.

In 2001, Jay held his first concerts, called the Fantasy Concert. These shows took place in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. His second album, Fantasy, came out in September 2001. It sold about two million copies in Taiwan alone. Fantasy won five awards at the 13th Golden Melody Awards in 2002. Popular songs from this album include "Simple Love" (Chinese: 簡單愛) and "Love Before BC".

Jay's third album, The Eight Dimensions, was also very successful. It was similar to his second album. This album also featured songs with strong images and Jay's unique "mumbling" singing style. In 2002, Jay started his first concert tour, The One. He also released a collection album called Partners. This album featured 12 songs with Jay's music and Vincent Fang's lyrics. Fang has written lyrics for over 40 of Jay's songs.

More Albums and Global Recognition

Chou at the MTV Asia Awards 2005

In 2003, Jay released his fourth album, Yeh Hui-Mei, named after his mother. This album was a big success both commercially and musically. It showed that Jay could create different types of music, including rock-style songs like "Sunny Day" (晴天). This song became very popular, and many students learned to play its guitar intro.

In 2004, his album Common Jasmin Orange sold very well in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. It sold 2.6 million copies in China. In September 2004, the World Music Awards in Las Vegas recognized him as the most popular Chinese singer. This was based on his album sales. Jay also started the band Nan Quan Mama in 2004. He helped them produce their albums. In 2005, his album November's Chopin continued his success. It sold 2.5 million copies in Asia. This album included traditional Chinese instruments like the pipa and yangqin in the song "Hair Like Snow".

Continued Success and World Tours

Jay Chou kept releasing one album each year. His seventh album, Still Fantasy, came out in 2006. It reached number one on the Taiwanese G-Music Chart. The album included popular songs like "Far Away" and "Listen to Mom". In 2006, the song "Chrysanthemum Terrace" won Best Original Film Song at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards.

His album On the Run! was released in 2007. It featured hits like "Blue and White Porcelain" (Chinese: 青花瓷). This album also reached number one in Taiwan. Jay started The World Tour in November 2007. He visited many countries, including China, Singapore, and the United States. His concert in Taipei had 30,000 people. After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Jay changed his concert in Chongqing into a charity event. All the money raised went to help the affected area.

Jay's ninth album, Capricorn, came out in 2008. It included songs like "Floral Sea" (Chinese: 花海) and "Rice Field" (Chinese: 稻香). "Rice Field" is about childhood memories. It has been streamed over one billion times. In 2010, Jay started his fifth concert tour, The Era World Tour. This tour celebrated his 10 years in music. It had 40 stops and attracted huge crowds.

Global Tours and New Music

Chou performing during the Opus Jay World Tour in 2013

In 2011, Jay Chou worked with NBA player Kobe Bryant on the song "The Heaven and Earth Challenge". This song promoted youth creativity. Jay released his eleventh album, Wow!, in November 2011. His next album, Opus 12, came out in December 2012. It was his seventh album in a row to top the G-Music chart in Taiwan.

To promote his album, Jay started his sixth concert tour, the Opus Jay World Tour, in May 2013. The tour began in Shanghai. His concert in Sydney, Australia, in 2014 made $1.4 million. After this success, he launched a second part of the tour called the Opus II Jay World Tour. His next album, Aiyo, Not Bad, was released in December 2014. It was his first album to reach number one on the Billboard US World Albums chart. The Opus Jay World Tour ended in December 2015 after 76 shows.

Jay's fourteenth album, Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories, was released in June 2016. It included the song "Shouldn't Be" (不該), a duet with A-Mei. This song won an award for Global Pop Music. One week after the album, Jay started his seventh world tour, The Invincible World Tour. The tour began in Shanghai with four concerts. His concert in Singapore had 40,000 people.

Recent Concerts and Global Success

Chou in 2019

Jay's concerts in Hong Kong in January 2017 attracted 90,000 fans. His concerts in Beijing in August 2017 had 100,000 fans. In January 2018, Jay released the song "Waiting for You" (等你下課) with Gary Yang. This song was about a young man who secretly loved a girl. It became popular in Malaysia and Singapore.

The Invincible World Tour finished in May 2019 after 120 concerts. Jay released his new single "Won't Cry" in September 2019. It featured Mayday vocalist, Ashin. The music video has been viewed over 22 million times on YouTube. The song was so popular that it reportedly crashed China's biggest streaming platform, QQ Music. To celebrate his 20th year in music, Jay started his eighth world tour, The Carnival World Tour, in October 2019. However, the tour was stopped in January 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The song "Mojito" was released in June 2020. It became a viral hit and sold over 3 million digital copies on its release day.

Chou at an event in Shanghai in July 2023

On July 15, 2022, Jay Chou released his fifteenth album, Greatest Works of Art. This album included six singles released from 2018 to 2022. The album was a huge success worldwide. It was the best-selling album of 2022 globally in pure sales. It sold over 7.2 million units across all formats. In China, it sold five million units in one week. This broke the record for the highest first-week sales for an album worldwide.

After the success of Greatest Works of Art, Jay continued his Carnival World Tour. He performed in mainland China for the first time since the pandemic in June 2023. His four-day concert in Haikou, Hainan, attracted 154,600 people. This tour also boosted tourism and the economy in cities like Tianjin and Hohhot. In December 2023, Jay and Gary Yang released a Christmas song called "Christmas Star" (Chinese: 圣诞星).

Jay Chou's Unique Artistry

Musical Styles

Jay Chou's music is very special in the Chinese-speaking world. His songs combine old themes with futuristic ideas. He uses vivid storytelling to create clear pictures for his listeners. One unique thing about Jay is his singing style. Sometimes, listeners find it hard to understand his words until they read the lyrics. Critics have called his singing "mumbling." Jay says this is his special style. He wants his vocals to blend with the music. He also wants listeners to read the deep lyrics written by Vincent Fang.

Jay's music is generally called pop music. Many of his songs are in Western styles like R&B, rap, and rock. But people often use the term "Chou Style" (Chinese: 周式風格; pinyin: zhōu shì fēnggé) to describe his unique mix of cultures in music. The Taipei Times said "Chou Style" blends pop, rap, blues, and other world music elements.

Jay often mixes traditional Chinese instruments with Western pop styles like R&B or rock. He calls this new genre "Zhongguo feng" (Chinese: 中國風), which means "Chinese Style Music." Some of these songs use the Pentatonic Scale (a five-note scale) to sound more East Asian. This is different from the common seven-note scale. Jay's most popular songs often have elements of traditional Chinese culture and music. He also uses sounds from everyday life in his music. These include bouncing ping pong balls, phone dialing, and dripping rain.

His classical music training is clear in his songs. For example, he uses counterpoint in "Perfection" and "Sorry." He uses polyphony in "The Wound That Ends War" and "Twilight's Chapter Seven." Some people say his albums don't change much from his earlier works. But Jay says he won't change his style. He named his 2006 album Still Fantasy after his 2001 album Fantasy to show this. Recently, he has sung some traditional Chinese songs with clearer pronunciation, like "Faraway" and "Chrysanthemum Terrace."

Song Lyrics

Jay Chou is known more as a composer than a lyricist. Many "regular" writers create the lyrics for his songs. But the words always fit his personality and image. They cover many different topics. Vincent Fang writes more than half of the lyrics in Jay's albums. His lyrics are meaningful and full of images and emotions. Sometimes, they are like Chinese poetry and refer to Chinese history or stories. Besides romantic songs, Jay's music also talks about war, the Bible, sports, and martial arts. Vivian Hsu has also helped with lyrics for his early hits.

Jay himself has written lyrics for many ballads. He has also written about social problems. For example, "Terrace Fields" talks about losing rural areas to cities. "Dad, I'm Home" discussed domestic violence. This song caused a lot of talk because it was one of the first to bring up this topic in Chinese music.

Chinese Cultural Elements in Music

Jay Chou is a leader in a new music trend. He combines Western music with Chinese literature. This unique mix has created a musical style called "Zhongguo feng" (Chinese: 中國風), or "Chinese Style Music." This style has become very popular in East Asian music. Jay's success comes from his marketing and the musical elements in his songs. In the early 2000s, China was changing its economy. Young people wanted pop culture that showed their unique identity. Jay's music fit this perfectly. He also gained attention on CCTV by celebrating traditional Chinese culture.

Chou's 2007 tour outfit exhibited at the Hard Rock Cafe 40th anniversary tour in Seattle, 2011

Traditional Chinese culture in Jay's music has made him very important in modern East Asian pop music. The "Zhongguo feng" in his songs brings many traditional Chinese parts into pop music. This is different from just following Western music styles. Jay's "Zhongguo feng" is clear in his lyrics and his use of traditional Chinese instruments. Lyricist Vincent Fang has worked with Jay since 2000. Fang's lyrics often use traditional Chinese elements like poetry and Confucianism. His song "Chrysanthemum Terrace" (Chinese: 菊花台), released in 2006, shows many cultural elements. In this song, Fang uses images like the chrysanthemum to create an ancient setting. He uses the flower as a symbol of love. Other examples include "Blue and White Porcelain" (Chinese: 青花瓷) and "Orchid Pavilion" (Chinese: 蘭亭序).

Jay also sings in an R&B style. But he adds traditional Chinese melodies and rhythms to this Western form. His 2003 song "East Wind Breaks" features a typical Chinese melody with an R&B style. It uses instruments like the pipa to create a Chinese feeling. In the lyrics, Jay expresses sadness and loneliness, similar to traditional Chinese poetry. He combines traditional Chinese musical instruments with Western pop music.

Collaborations

Jay Chou started his career writing songs for other Mandopop singers. He continued to do this even after becoming a successful singer himself. He often wrote songs for famous artists like Jolin Tsai and Landy Wen. He also wrote for singers like Coco Lee, S.H.E, Vivian Hsu, and A-Mei. He even wrote for older singers like Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau.

Film Career

Jay Chou started acting in movies in 2005 with Initial D. Since then, he has acted in several movies and directed two films. He also directed many of his music videos. Jay once said, "I live because of music." But he started making movies because he wanted a new challenge. Fans worried that movies would take away from his music. But Jay has always said that movies inspire him. He tries to balance both careers.

Acting Roles

Jay Chou at a promotional event for Kung Fu Dunk in January 2008

Acting was a surprise for Jay. His high school English teacher thought he didn't show many emotions. But in 2005, Jay got his first main acting role in Initial D. This movie was based on a Japanese comic. Jay played Takumi Fujiwara, a quiet and skilled racer. Some critics said his acting was a bit plain. Others felt he acted naturally because the character was like him. He won Best Newcomer Actor for this role at the Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards.

Jay's second film was Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). He played Prince Jai, an ambitious prince and general. His role showed the Chinese value of filial piety (respect for parents). This movie was released internationally, so North American audiences saw Jay for the first time. Critics had mixed reviews about his acting, but Western reviewers praised him. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for this movie. In the 2008 film Kung Fu Dunk, Jay played a kung fu student who was amazing at dunking. The film earned over ¥100 million.

Jay played Kato in The Green Hornet, released in 2011. This Hollywood film made over $228 million worldwide. MTV Networks named him one of the "Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011." In 2011, Jay also started filming The Viral Factor. This movie was released in Asia in 2012.

Chou at the 2007 Shanghai Film Festival

Jay co-starred with Daniel Radcliffe in Now You See Me 2, released in June 2016. In 2018, it was announced that Jay joined the cast of Vin Diesel's fourth XXX film. In 2021, Jay briefly appeared in Nezha. He was also an executive producer for that film.

Directing Films

Jay Chou first directed music videos in 2004. He worked on a song by the group Nan Quan Mama called "Home." He was involved in every step, from research to editing. He learned how hard directing was. But his interest came back, and he directed music videos for his own album November's Chopin in 2005. He also directed TV commercials. By 2006, he was directing and editing all his music videos. Director Zhang Yimou said that Jay's directing skills might even surpass his own in the future.

In February 2007, Jay started directing his first film, Secret. The story was inspired by his own high school relationship. It focused on music, love, and family. Jay starred as the main actor, with Gwei Lun-mei as the female lead. Anthony Wong played Jay's father. Jay admitted that movies are harder to direct than music videos because of the story and time limits. This movie was released in July 2007. In 2013, Jay released his second film as a director, a musical drama called The Rooftop.

Other Activities

Book: Grandeur de D Major

Jay Chou released his first book, Grandeur de D Major (simplified Chinese: D调的华丽; traditional Chinese: D調的華麗; pinyin: D diào de huálì), on November 25, 2004. This 200-page book includes a start written by his family and friends. The main part shares his thoughts, ideas, and childhood memories. It also has pictures from his music videos that had never been seen before. The book also lists his awards, songs, and albums. This book showed his personality and beliefs. He showed how much he values family, especially his mother and grandmother. His confidence in music is clear. He talked about the music industry, how he writes songs, and why being unique helped him succeed.

Endorsements

Jay Chou has been a spokesperson for many popular brands. These include Pepsi, Panasonic, Motorola, and Levi's. He also endorsed Colgate, the computer game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and National Geographic magazine. His advertisements often link to his music. Sometimes, he even directs the TV commercials himself. In 2003, he was the tourism ambassador for Malaysia. In 2008, Jay signed with Sprite. He worked with artists like Angela Chang and JJ Lin on commercials. He also did a Sprite commercial with NBA player Kobe Bryant. In 2011, Jay became a designer and spokesperson for the "N43SL Jay Chou Edition" laptop by ASUS Computers. In 2015, he endorsed Luxgen, a Taiwanese car company.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Jay Chou is also very active in charity work. Since 2012, he has been the spokesperson for the "Angel Heart Foundation." This charity helps children with intellectual disabilities. In 2013, he held a free concert for them.

In 2014, Jay took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. He also donated NT$100,000 to the Taiwanese ALS Foundation. He donated NT$2 million after the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions. He also helps the Fubon Charity Foundation. This charity helps school children with disabilities or those living in poverty get scholarships. He has donated a lot of money over the years. He has helped over 300 students and plans to offer 300 more scholarships. In June 2014, he visited schoolchildren in remote areas of Taiwan with Will Liu.

J Gaming

In the mid-2010s, Jay Chou entered the world of eSports. In 2016, he bought the eSports (League of Legends) team Taipei Assassins. He renamed it J Gaming. He is the team owner and investor. He only plays in celebrity matches and is not involved in the team's daily operations.

In 2017, Jay spent about 18 million RMB to build a Jay eSports building in Shenzhen, China. This building has modern computer equipment and streaming areas for eSports players. This helps the eSports industry grow in China.

Personal Life

Jay Chou has been married to model Hannah Quinlivan since 2015. They started dating in 2010. They had a wedding ceremony on January 17, 2015, the day before Jay's birthday. They also had private ceremonies for family and friends in Taipei and Australia. The couple has three children: a daughter born in 2015, a son born in 2017, and another daughter born in 2022.

Religion

Jay Chou became an Evangelical Protestant Christian. His wife, mother, and some friends, like Will Liu and Vanness Wu, are Protestants. He was baptized in 2012.

Health

Jay Chou has a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. This condition caused him to be excused from Taiwan’s military service in 1999.

Discography

• Jay (2000)
• Fantasy (2001)
• The Eight Dimensions (2002)
• Yeh Hui-Mei (2003)
• Common Jasmin Orange (2004)
• November's Chopin (2005)
• Still Fantasy (2006)
• On the Run! (2007)
• Capricorn (2008)
• The Era (2010)
• Wow! (2011)
• Opus 12 (2012)
• Aiyo, Not Bad (2014)
• Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories (2016)
• Greatest Works of Art (2022)

Filmography

Film

Television Series

Television Shows

Adapted Musical

Concert Tours

Jay Chou's 3D enhanced stage at his Singapore concert in 2010, as part of his The Era World Tour

• Fantasy Tour (2001–2002)
• The One World Tour (2002–2004)
• Incomparable Tour (2004–2006)
• The World Tour (2007–2009)
• The Era World Tour (2010–2011)
• Opus Jay World Tour (2013–2015)
• The Invincible World Tour (2016–2019)
• Carnival World Tour (2019–2024)

Awards and Achievements

Since starting his music career in 2000, Jay Chou has won many awards as a singer, songwriter, and producer in Asia. His first album, Jay (2000), won "Best Album" at the Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan in 2001. The next year, his album Fantasy (2001) won five awards, including "Best Album" and "Best Composer." Even though he wins many awards each year, Jay has said he focuses more on album sales to see how popular his music is. In 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008, the World Music Awards named him the Best-Selling Chinese Artist.

In 2002, Jay Chou's song "Nunchucks" was very popular on radio and TV in Italy. On January 11, 2006, Jay won many awards at the 12th annual Channel V Music Awards in Hong Kong. He was named best male singer, most popular male singer, and best singer/songwriter. He also won best music video and best song of the year for "Night Song."

On October 12, 2006, the CCTV/MTV Music Awards in Beijing named Jay Chou the best Asian artist. He was also one of five Chinese musicians who helped with events for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Jay won the Favorite Male Artist award at the 20th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan. He was on tour in mainland China and could not attend the event to accept his award.

Businesses

• J Team
• JVR Music

See also

In Spanish: Jay Chou para niños

• Forbes China Celebrity 100
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of best-selling albums in Taiwan