Dancing Diva
Dancing Diva is the eighth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on May 12, 2006, by EMI. The album was produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, Paula Ma, Yuri Chan, and Stanley Huang. Musically, it is rooted in pop and electronic music, incorporating a wide range of musical styles.
The album sold over 300,000 copies in Taiwan and surpassed 2.5 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album of the year in Taiwan in 2006. It was nominated for Best Mandarin Album at the 18th Golden Melody Awards. Tsai also received a nomination for Best Mandarin Female Singer, while Adia was nominated for Best Single Producer for the track "Dancing Diva". Ultimately, Tsai won both the Best Female Mandarin Singer and the Most Popular Female Singer awards.
Background and development
On December 21, 2005, media reports revealed that Tsai had begun collecting songs for her upcoming album, which was scheduled for release in March or April of the following year. On February 14, 2006, she signed with EMI and announced that recording for the new album was already underway, with a planned release date of May 12. Tsai expressed that record label provided her with abundant musical resources and greater creative freedom.On February 22, 2006, Ashin revealed that he would be contributing a song to Tsai's new album. By March 15, 2006, media reports confirmed that 80% of the album had been recorded and that the lead single had been finalized.
On March 25, 2006, it was reported that Tsai had completed the album's recording and was planning to travel to Budapest, Hungary, to film music video. On April 11, 2006, media revealed that Tsai had written the song "The Prologue" for the album. Her manager, Howard Chiang, stated that she had penned the lyrics in September of the previous year and had spent a long time searching for the right melody. On April 24, 2006, Tsai traveled to Los Angeles to train in dance for the songs "Pulchritude" and "Mr. Q". On April 28, 2006, it was reported that Stanley Huang had written the track "Nice Guy" for the album.
Writing and recording
The lead single, "Dancing Diva", blends smooth rhythms with exotic flair, featuring a strong beat paired with catchy lyrics. "Pretence" portrays the emotional struggle of a woman who, despite feeling wronged in a relationship, continues to feign strength. "A Wonder in Madrid" transforms pure emotion into vivid imagery through elements like "arched rooftops" and "flaming red dresses", with the sound of a xylophone evoking a youthful and dreamy atmosphere. "Mr. Q", is an American-style dance track, with Tsai herself contributing lyrics to the English rap segment. "The Prologue" is a melancholic ballad that expresses a liberated perspective on love, where ex-lovers can still remain friends after parting ways."Pulchritude" conveys the modern woman's autonomy in both fashion and emotions, emphasizing that women should neither rely on love nor blindly follow trends. "Nice Guy" is a heavy-beat rock duet performed by Tsai and Stanley Huang. "Love in the Shape of a Heart" is a beautifully melodic ballad. "Heart Breaking Day" explores longing after separation and offers a reversed reflection on Valentine's Day. "The Finale" is a heartfelt ballad with sincere and introspective lyrics, delivered by Tsai with a subdued and soulful vocal style. Lastly, "Attraction of Sexy Lips", a commercial song for Max Factor's lip gloss, features a bold rhythm that complements Tsai's sensual image.
Title and artwork
The album title Dancing Diva not only refers to a woman who dances but also conveys the idea of a girl who transforms her inner energy and dances through life. Tsai expressed her desire to showcase her unique style through the album's music and performances, which include both emotionally stirring ballads and energetic dance tracks paired with choreographed routines. Tsai described the album as autobiographical, stating that the term "Dancing Diva" perfectly aligns with her identity as a performer. She emphasized that dance plays a vital role in her performances and is the aspect in which she feels most confident, promising to deliver entirely new choreography. On the official edition of the album cover, Tsai appears in a sheer blouse, white bikini, hot pants, and over-the-knee stockings, holding a three-foot ribbon—striking a pose that radiates both strength and elegance.Release and promotion
On April 12, 2006, Tsai held a countdown event in Taipei, Taiwan, to mark the upcoming release of her new album. On April 26, 2006, EMI officially announced the start of pre-orders for the album. On May 12, 2006, Tsai hosted a press conference in Taipei to celebrate the album's release. She shared that the album features a wide variety of musical styles, making it difficult to categorize under a single genre, but promised it would bring a fresh experience to listeners. She also revealed that the dance tracks in this album are more diverse than ever, incorporating elements of rock and strong rhythmic beats. Her hope was that the album would inspire greater interest in both music and dance. On July 1, 2006, Tsai held the Pulchritude Concert in Kaohsiung. On July 7, 2006, she released a deluxe edition of the album, which included 11 additional music videos.Single
On April 26, 2006, Tsai released the single "Dancing Diva". The following day, she unveiled the music video for the song, co-directed by Marlboro Lai and Bill Chia. The choreography in the video blends elements of reggae, hip-hop, and Middle Eastern dance, resulting in a unique style called the "light wave dance"—a form characterized by explosive power expressed through fluid, undulating movements of the hips and chest. To achieve a distinct visual effect in the choreography, Tsai incorporated rhythmic gymnastics ribbon elements into the performance. She explained that the inspiration struck during a promotional event when she saw the use of ribbons in gymnastics and felt it was the perfect addition for the song. She added that ribbon dancing requires significant strength and demands the legs to be extended to a full 180 degrees, noting that the training left her physically exhausted.Music videos
On May 9, 2006, Tsai released the music video for "Pretence", directed by Leste Chen. This marked Tsai's first foray into narrative-style music videos, featuring a storyline closely rooted in real life. Inspired by the visual style of filmmaker Shunji Iwai, the video tells the story of a woman who unexpectedly encounters her ex-boyfriend and his current girlfriend on a bus, triggering memories of her passionate past relationship. On May 15, 2006, Tsai released the music video for "A Wonder in Madrid", directed by Terry & Friends, which was filmed in Szentendre, Hungary. On May 30, 2006, she unveiled the music video for "Mr. Q", directed by Kuang Sheng, featuring a guest appearance by Edison Chen.On June 12, 2006, the music video for "The Prologue" premiered, directed by May Wen and starring Waser Chou. On June 20, 2006, Tsai released the video for "Pulchritude", directed by Marlboro Lai, characterized by a red-dominant backdrop and dazzling lighting effects that create a shimmering atmosphere. The music video for "Nice Guy" was directed by Chen Hung-i. Both "Love in the Shape of a Heart" and "Heart Breaking Day" had their videos directed by May Wen. The music video for "The Finale" was directed by JP Huang. The music video for "Attraction of Sexy Lips" was directed by Marlboro Lai.
Live performances
On April 24, 2006, Tsai attended the 2005 Music Radio China Top Charts Awards, where she performed "Attraction of Sexy Lips". On May 6, 2006, she participated in the MTV Asia Awards 2006, performing "Dancing Diva". On May 26, 2006, Tsai took part in the Golden Melody Orz Concert, where she performed "Dancing Diva", "Pretence", and "A Wonder in Madrid". The following day, May 27, she performed "Pretence", "A Wonder in Madrid", and "Dancing Diva" at the Le Party. On May 30, 2006, Tsai appeared on the Taiwanese variety show Variety Big Brother, where she performed "Dancing Diva" and "Mr. Q".On June 4, 2006, she participated in the Shandong-based variety show Fans Party, performing "Dancing Diva". On July 13, 2006, Tsai performed "Dancing Diva", "Mr. Q", and "A Wonder in Madrid" at the 2006 Volunteer Beijing Concert. On July 21, 2006, she joined the ZPop Charity Concert, where she performed "Pulchritude", "Love in the Shape of a Heart", "Dancing Diva", and "Mr. Q". On July 24, 2006, Tsai recorded a segment for the Chinese variety show Heaven and Earth Heroes Campus Tour, where she performed "Pulchritude", "A Wonder in Madrid", "Pretence", "Love in the Shape of a Heart", "Dancing Diva", and "Mr. Q".
On July 25, 2006, Tsai performed "Dancing Diva", "Pretence", and "Mr. Q" at the Summer Music Festival. On July 26, 2006, she held a special online concert for Sohu Music in Beijing, where she performed "Pulchritude", "A Wonder in Madrid", "Pretence", "Dancing Diva", and "Mr. Q". On August 5, 2006, Tsai participated in the Nine Planets Concert, where she performed "Mr. Q" and "A Wonder in Madrid".
On August 6, 2006, she attended the Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards 2006, where she performed "Dancing Diva". On August 9, 2006, Tsai appeared on the Hong Kong variety show Jade Solid Gold, performing "Dancing Diva" and "Mr. Q". On August 14, 2006, she performed "Pulchritude", "A Wonder in Madrid", "Dancing Diva", and "Mr. Q" at My FM 8th Anniversary Music Magic Tour. On September 1, 2006, Tsai performed "Dancing Diva", "Kiss Me", "Mr. Q", and "Pretence" at the MTV Mandarin Awards.