Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou (Jay) wrapped up a three-night run of his China tour in Hangzhou on the 5th, but not without controversy. In recent days, some attendees complained that his singing time was too short, and that his voice was hoarse and he hadn’t memorized the lyrics well, leaving fans quite dissatisfied! Despite the flood of negative reviews, this tour has successfully spurred surrounding consumption and showcased impressive earning power!
Currently on his world tour “Carnival II,” Jay opened his first stop in Hangzhou, featuring a 14-meter tall giant mech and two 12-meter tall giant robots to create a sci-fi world. As the show began, the mech opened and he appeared with kingly grandeur, joining 28 dancers to ignite the stage. As the prelude to “Big Ben” started, the scene shifted into a dreamy castle, revolving ferris wheel, and Big Ben, instantly transporting the audience into a London fairy tale.
Although a lot of effort was put into staging and set design, Jay Chou once again attracted criticism—many in the audience pointed out that out of the three-hour performance, he personally sang for less than 90 minutes, spending much of the time on song requests and chatting with the audience. During the request segment, Jay performed his new song “Son of the Sun,” but it was obvious he hadn’t memorized the lyrics, drawing criticism of poor preparation. When singing classics such as “Incomparable Beauty” and “Hair Like Snow,” he performed in a lower key, and frequently handed his mic to the audience for high notes; issues such as uneven breath control and a hoarse voice also appeared, leaving some attendees disappointed! However, loyal fans still supported their idol, saying the concert was exciting and they were completely engaged.
Despite the controversies this time, Jay Chou’s money-making ability remains astounding. Tickets sold out instantly, with 4.25 million people vying to purchase; it is said that ticket revenue alone nearly reached 200 million yuan (about 110 million MYR). This tour coincided with China’s spring holiday and the Qingming Festival break, boosting tourism and consumption around Hangzhou. It’s reported that hotel bookings near the concert’s location at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center rose 1.6 times, with room rates commonly increasing by 2 to 6 times, and the restaurant and transportation sectors also benefited. Online ride-hailing platforms saw over 450,000 orders per day—quite impressive!#
Source: Oriental Daily