November's Chopin

November's Chopin (Chinese: 十一月的蕭邦; pinyin: Shí Yī Yuè Dè Xiāo Bāng) is Taiwanese Mandopop artist Jay Chou's sixth Mandarin studio album. It was released on 1 November 2005^[1] by Alfa Music and distributed by Sony Music Taiwan. It was released with a bonus DVD containing three music videos.

The album's title refers to Frédéric Chopin, "The Poet of the Piano", the 19th century Polish composer whom Chou admires and is inspired by. The music video for lead track "夜曲" (Nocturne) was filmed in New York. It includes the opening theme, "一路向北" (All the Way North), and ending theme song, "飄移" (Drifting), of Initial D starring Chou, Anthony Wong and Edison Chen.

Reception

The track "夜曲" (Nocturne) was nominated for Top 10 Gold Songs at the Hong Kong TVB8 Awards, presented by television station TVB8, in 2006.^[2] It also won one of the Top 10 Songs of the Year and Best Loved by Audience; and the album won Best Producer for Chou at the 2006 HITO Radio Music Awards presented by Taiwanese radio station Hit FM.^[3]

The track "飄移" (Drifting) was nominated for Best Original Song at the 42nd Golden Horse Awards in 2005^[4] and 25th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2006.^[5]

The album was awarded one of the Top 10 Selling Mandarin Albums of the Year at the 2005 IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards, presented by the Hong Kong branch of IFPI.^[6]

Track listing

All music composed by Jay Chou.

Music videos

1. "夜曲" (Nocturne) MV
2. "髮如雪" (Hair Like Snow) MV
3. "黑色毛衣" (Black Sweater) MV
4. "一路向北" ('All the Way North) MV

Track contents

1. "Nocturne" 夜曲 (Yè Qǔ)

The first track is an R&B piece, with a moderately strong beat and light classical-themed background music played by piano and acoustic guitar. The mood of the background music is sombre, matching the lyrics. The chorus is sung while the verses are rapped; the lyrics describe the death of a lover, and is relatively poetic, using metaphors involving black crows and wells to express emotion.

2. "Blue Storm" 藍色風暴 (Lán Sè Fēng Bào)

This track begins with basic sounds and other effects, such as a church choir and telephone dial tones. The main background music involves distorted electric guitar and turntable scratching. The lyrics deal with religious themes.

3. "Hair Like Snow" 髮如雪 (Fà Rú Xuě)

This is a "Chinese Wind" piece, utilising traditional Chinese instruments including the pipa and yangqin, at a moderately slow tempo. This track also involves a typical R&B beat. The vocal is sung softly, and towards the end, a false voice is used (an emphasis on traditional Chinese music). The lyrics are romance-centered, and use metaphoric language to some degree.

4. "Black Sweater" 黑色毛衣 (Hēi Sè Máo Yī)

An R&B piece with a slow tempo, this track begins with an acoustic guitar, and involves soft vocals. The lyrics expresses one's longing for their beloved.

5. "Besieged From All Sides" 四面楚歌 (Sì Miàn Chǔ Gē)

A piece which somewhat resembles hip-hop music, utilising a strong and heavy beat, as well as including violin, cello and synthesizer music. The majority of the track is rapped, while the chorus is sung. The lyrics, written entirely by Jay Chou, express his resentment for the paparazzi, openly calling them "dogs" which "bite an apple in their mouths and hold a camera in their hands" (他們咬著蘋果 手裡拿著長鏡頭), and tabloids as "dogs weekly" (狗週刊), who take photos of him for "bones". Towards the end of the track, Jay raps a few lines in Korean, being the only piece in which he has used a foreign (non-Chinese) language in a considerable amount. The orchestral background in the song is the "Apple loop" named "Orchestra Strings 08" found in GarageBand and also in Logic Pro. Fort Minor's "Believe Me", GReeeeN's "パリピポ", MYRS' "熱浪", and G&G Sindikatas's "Muzika Kuri Saugo", also use the same loop.

6. "Maple" 楓 (Fēng)

A softer, romantic piece, "Maple" uses piano, violin and cello over a soft R&B beat at a moderately slow tempo, and is exclusively sung. The lyrics describe the sorrow behind a lost love.

7. "Romantic Cell Phone" 浪漫手機 (Làng Màn Shǒu Jī)

An R&B piece which involves electric guitar.

8. "Reverse Scale" 逆鳞 (Nì Lín)

A hip-hop piece which involves orchestra music, this track has a dark mood within its composition. Sound effects are used, such as female screams.

9. "Malt Candy" 麥芽糖 (Mài Yá Táng)

A lighthearted piece, which uses violin and electric guitar. It is exclusively sung, with lyrics focusing on romance themes.

10. "Coral Sea" 珊瑚海 (Shān Hú Hǎi)

A duet between Jay Chou and Lara Veronin, with rather soft background music made from piano, violin and both acoustic and electric guitars. Exclusively sung, where both male and female vocals are expressed softly. The lyrics depict a relationship in a regretful tone.

References

External links

• (Chinese) Jay Chou discography@JVR Music