Jolin Tsai (traditional Chinese: 蔡依林; pinyin: Cài Yīlín; Wade–Giles: Tsai I… Read Full Bio ↴Jolin Tsai (traditional Chinese: 蔡依林; pinyin: Cài Yīlín; Wade–Giles: Tsai I-lin; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhoà I-lîm) (born in Hsinchuang City, Taipei County, Taiwan on 15 September 1980) has been a solo artist since 1998. She is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award Mandopop singer, dancer and actress.

She started out with a MTV singing competition. Followed by her contract with Universal Music, she produced hits like "I Know You Are Sad" (我知道你很難過) from her first album Jolin 1019. Then she had hits like "Don't Stop" and "You Gotta Know" by her 2nd album Don't Stop. After that, Tsai's contract came into conflict, which put her music career in hiatus. However, she change both her image and moved to Sony Music Entertainment (Taiwan), with the hit "Spirit of the Knight" (騎士精神). Followed by the album Magic 看我72變, which produced hits like "See My 72 Changes"(看我72變 ), "Say Love You"(說愛你) and Prague Square(布拉格廣場).

The success continued into the next album, "Castle" (城堡), which produced hits like "36 Tricks of Love" (愛情36計), "It's Love" (就是愛), "Pirates" (海盜) and her famous "Rewind" (karma police). A remix album was released, along with the famous hit "Signature Pose"(招牌動作). After that, Tsai embarked on the J1 World Tour, which spanned over Asia and for the first time she performed in North America. Then, Tsai released J-Game, which sold over 1 million in Asia over a month. The album also produced "J-Game" (野蠻遊戲), "Eyes Half Shut" (睜一隻眼閉一隻眼) and her famous ballad "Sky" (天空).

By 2006, Tsai decided to leave Sony Music Entertainment (Taiwan), but soon switched to EMI Music Taiwan. Her 8th album, "Dancing Diva" (舞孃) prove to be more successful than her previous albums. The album had hits like "Dancing Diva" (舞孃), "Mr Q", "Wonder In Madrid" (馬德里不思議) and "Pretence" (假裝).
This album was also famous for her dance moves in her dance track, along with her famous ribbon dance. After another remix album was produced, she embarked on Dancing Forever Tour, which featured Tsai dancing in concert. The tour spanned across Asia, North America and for the first time in Australia. The Dancing Diva album also won her the Golden Melody Award of Best Mandarin Female Singer Award in 2007.

"Agent J" (特務j) was then produced, featured Tsai in a music movie along with her pole dance and aerial ribbon dance, the dance which almost paralysed her, learned in 10 Days. The album was as successful and left Tsai with hits like "Agent J" (特務J), "Alone" (一個人), "Sun Will Never Set" (日不落) and "Bravo Lover" (愛無赦).
In 2008, Tsai continued her tour and her first English cover album "Love Exercise" (愛的練習語) was released, however the sales were lower than expected. By 2008, Tsai's contract with EMI Music Taiwan ended.

Tsai started to work on her next album and along with her contract with Warner Music Taiwan. Her 10th album, "Butterfly" (花蝴蝶), was her most succesful album, selling 68% during the first week of release, which broke Mayday's album record. The album featured Tsai's most challenging dance, ballet, which she spent 3 months learning. The album spanned hits like "Real Man" (大丈夫), "Butterfly" (花蝴蝶), "Slow Life" (愈慢愈美麗) which was used as a bell ring in 3000 schools in Taiwan and her famous ballad "Compromise" (妥協). She then embarked on the 'Butterfly School Tour', which only traveled around Taiwan schools. By May 2009, she injured her waist, which forced her to cancel the rest of the tour and a 3 month break from her career.

Jolin attended the 2010 Head & Shoulders Chinese Show as the ambassador in Shanghai. She announced that her new album "Vogue" could be booked since early August, but the album name was later changed to "Myself". It is said that to make "Vogue" more attractive, Jolin has invited the vogue teacher Benny Ninja (teacher of "America's Next Top Model") and Ahn Hyung Suk (dance teacher of Dong Bang Shin Ki, also known as TVXQ) to teach her hand-gesture-based Voguing dance.
The lead single of her album, "Honey Trap" (美人計), along with its music video, was leaked through the Internet. Two other songs, "Take Immediate Action" (即時生效) and "Real Hurt" (小傷口), were leaked as well, which would be the 5th and 6th single of the album. Her album was stated to supposedly be released on 3 August 2010. The album, titled Myself, was released on August 13, 2010. The music video of "Love Player" (玩愛之徒), also the 2nd single of the album, feature Jolin naked in the bathtub. While the 3rd single, "Nothing Left to Say" (無言以對), feature her 1st dance in her ballad.

Myself has topped the chart of G-Music for 3 consecutive weeks only to be overtaken by Hebe Tien's first solo album. However, the album rebound back to first, during its 6th week and sold higher than its debut week. The lead single, "Honey Trap" (美人計), managed to peak at #3 of the Yes 93.3 Music Chart, while "Real Hurt" (小傷口) managed to top the Singapore Yes 93.3 Music Chart for two consecutive weeks.
The 4th single, "Butterflies in my stomach" (七上八下), was also made into an MV. "Take Immediate Action" (即時生效) video was also released in September 2010, featuring her dog in the video and "Real Hurt" (小傷口) video was released in the 2nd week of September 2010.

Jolin made an appearance in the China Got Talent final, in which she performed "Black-Haired Beautiful Girl" (黑髮尤物). The winner of China's Got Talent, Liu Wei, got to perform in Jolin's subsequent World Tour.

As of 2010, Tsai was ranked 2nd of the Taiwanese Singers Earning ranking, with US$14.51 million. She is also the Top Female Singer Earner in Taiwan.

Surprise
蔡依林 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

不知道现在发生的事
应该如何解释
是谁盗走了我的凝视
时间终于静止
翻阅这座城市流行的杂志
心不在焉的姿势
发现自己搜寻不到
不偷看你的位置

快想个方式
给你一个暗示
心跳推我来回的跺步
突然你靠近
踩乱我的影子
Oh what a big surprise
不知道刚才发生的事
应该如何解释
是谁施展了一道魔术
世界竟然消失
转来转去这台彩色电视
不过一个空壳子
发现自己无法停止
不去想你的样子
快想个方式
给你一个暗示
心跳推我来回的跺步
突然你靠近
踩乱我的影子
Oh what a big surprise
那是你的影子
轻轻地拥抱着我
随着风在晃动
用光影Say Hello
快想个方式
给你一个暗示
心跳推我来回的跺步
突然你靠近
踩乱我的影子
Oh what a big surprise
快想个方式
给你一个暗示
心跳推我来回的跺步
突然你靠近

踩乱我的影子
Oh what a big surprise

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 蔡依林's song "Surprise" seem to convey a sense of confusion and surprise in a relationship. The singer reflects on not knowing how to explain what is happening at the moment and feeling like someone has stolen their gaze. Time suddenly freezes and the singer finds themselves absent-mindedly flipping through popular magazines of the city, disconnected from their surroundings. They realize they cannot find themselves, unable to sneak a peek at the other person's whereabouts.

In the chorus, the singer describes their heart pounding and taking uncertain steps as the other person suddenly approaches, disrupting their sense of self. It is described as a big surprise. There is a mention of a magic trick, where the world seems to disappear, and the singer is left rotating a colorful television, which is nothing but an empty shell. They find themselves unable to stop thinking about the other person's appearance, and they desperately search for a way to give them a hint or signal.

The second half of the chorus repeats the same emotions of surprise, confusion, and disruption caused by the other person's presence. The bridge introduces the concept of shadows, with the other person's shadow gently embracing the singer, swaying in the wind, and saying hello with light and shadow. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the feeling of being surprised and overwhelmed by the other person's unexpected actions.

Overall, the lyrics of "Surprise" explore the theme of unexpected encounters, confusion, and the emotional impact of someone's presence in one's life. It portrays a sense of disorientation and the struggle to understand and express oneself in the face of these surprises.

Line by Line Meaning

不知道现在发生的事
I have no idea what is happening right now

应该如何解释
I don't know how to explain

是谁盗走了我的凝视
Someone stole my gaze

时间终于静止
Time finally stands still

翻阅这座城市流行的杂志
Flipping through the fashionable magazines of this city

心不在焉的姿势
In a distracted posture

发现自己搜寻不到
I found that I can't search for

不偷看你的位置
Not sneaking a look at your location

快想个方式
Quickly think of a way

给你一个暗示
To give you a hint

心跳推我来回的跺步
My heart beats pushing me back and forth