Ugly Beauty (song)

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"Ugly Beauty"
Single by Jolin Tsai
from the album Ugly Beauty
LanguageMandarin
ReleasedDecember 21, 2018 (2018-12-21)
Recorded2018
StudioMega Force Studio (New Taipei City)
Genre
Length3:02
Label
Composer(s)
  • Rhys Fletcher
  • Stan Dubb
  • Richard Craker
  • Jolin Tsai
  • Starr Chen
  • Jennifer Hung
Lyricist(s)Greeny Wu
Producer(s)
  • Starr Chen
  • Jolin Tsai
Jolin Tsai singles chronology
"The Player"
(2018) 		"Ugly Beauty"
(2018) 		"Gravity"
(2019)
Music video
"Ugly Beauty" on YouTube

"Ugly Beauty" (Chinese: 怪美的; pinyin: Guài měide) is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, featured on her fourteenth studio album of the same name, Ugly Beauty (2018). It was written by Greeny Wu, Rhys Fletcher, Stan Dubb, Richard Craker, Starr Chen, Jennifer Hung, and Tsai herself, and it was produced by Starr Chen and Tsai. It was released on December 21, 2018, by Eternal as the lead single from Ugly Beauty.

The music video for "Ugly Beauty" was nominated for Best Music Video at the 30th Golden Melody Awards. Tsai and Starr Chen were also nominated for Best Single Producer for the track.

Background

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On March 1, 2018, Tsai revealed via Instagram that she had traveled to Karma Sound Studios in Thailand to collaborate with Richard Craker, Rhys Fletcher, and Stan Dubb.[2] On March 14, 2018, she mentioned during the Michelin Guide Taipei 2018 Gala Dinner that she had begun selecting the lead single for her new album.[3]

In an interview with Nylon on May 15, 2018, Tsai shared that the upcoming album would contain eleven tracks, four of which had already been recorded. She described it as her "most honest album".[4] On June 12, 2018, she noted that the album would showcase a diverse range of musical styles, including some she had never explored before. Her manager, Tom Wang, added that the album was about 50% complete and targeted for a year-end release.[5] During a QQ Music's Big Star Show interview on June 24, 2018, Tsai revealed that the album would include self-written material and still be primarily dance-oriented.[6]

On September 12, 2018, media reported that pre-production for the new music video had begun.[7] On October 4, 2018, Wang stated that the album recording was expected to be completed within the month, with cover and music video shoots to follow in November.[8] On October 13, 2018, at the Taipei Fashion Week, Tsai announced the album would be released in December.[9] On November 12, 2018, she confirmed on Weibo that the recording was complete.[10]

Composition and recording

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"Ugly Beauty"
"Ugly Beauty" blends electronic, R&B, and hip-hop elements.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Ugly Beauty" features lyrics by Greeny Wu, who revealed that Tsai requested four rounds of revisions before finalizing the lyrics. Wu noted that Tsai's rising standards stem not from external expectations but from her own evolving artistic vision.[11]

Tsai also co-composed the track and described the creative process as a journey of discovering sounds that moved her. She collaborated with a diverse team, using various musical languages to convey the song's intent.[12] The track blends electronic elements, including lip-smacking effects, punchy drum and bass, and a rap segment in the latter half.[13]

As one of the song's producers, Tsai shared that "Ugly Beauty" took the longest to complete among all tracks on the album, undergoing multiple rewrites and re-recordings as she experimented extensively with different vocal textures and sonic directions in the studio.[11]

Music video

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On December 4, 2018, Tsai announced that the music video for "Ugly Beauty" would be released on December 21.[14] However, on December 19, 2018, she issued an apology via Weibo, informing fans that the music video's release had been postponed to December 26.[15] On the originally scheduled date, she released a lyric video for the song, co-directed by Jimi Chou Chi-min and Yu Jing-pin.

The official music video, released on December 26, 2018,[16] and directed by Muh Chen, centers around the concept of "Tsai judging herself", symbolizing self-reconciliation between her past and present selves. It also reflects on her so-called "dark history" since debut.[17] With a production budget of NT$15 million, it marked the most expensive music video of her career to date.[17] In its first week, the music video topped several charts, including Taiwan's YouTube Trending Videos, YinYueTai's music video chart (Hong Kong and Taiwan category), and Bilibili's overall ranking.[18]

On January 1, 2019, Tsai released a dance version of the music video via her official Facebook page.[19]

Commercial performance

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"Ugly Beauty" debuted at number one on digital music charts in Malaysia, Taiwan, and mainland China, and entered the top ten in regions including Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.[18] On January 4, 2019, the song topped the Billboard China Top 100 weekly chart, becoming the first-ever number-one single since the chart's launch.[20] On January 31, 2019, the track was ranked number one on Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles, making Tsai the most frequent chart-topper in the history of that list.[21]

Critical reception

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The Beijing News observed that "Ugly Beauty" employs a fragmented and straightforward mode of expression that disrupts the smooth flow typical of electronic dance music. With a melody that resists catchiness, it blends elements of R&B and hip-hop, as if deliberately constructing barriers. However, the review emphasized that Tsai does not merely indulge in superficial self-mockery; rather, she boldly tears away labels long associated with her image, revealing a determined pursuit to explore new possibilities within Mandopop music.[22]

The CMIC Music Awards praised the song for its depth in lyrics, composition, and vocal delivery. Regarding the music video, it was commended for its ability to visually convey the song's emotional essence, complementing and expanding upon the music's message.

Accolades

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On May 15, 2019, the nominees for the 30th Golden Melody Awards were announced, with the music video for "Ugly Beauty" receiving a nomination for Best Music Video. Both Starr Chen and Tsai were nominated for Best Single Producer for their work on the song.[23] On June 2, 2019, "Ugly Beauty" won two major awards at the 2019 Hito Music Awards: Top 10 Mandarin Songs and the 2018 Top Song of the Year.[24]

On July 31, 2019, "Ugly Beauty" won three awards at the 3rd CMIC Music Awards, including Best Music Arrangement, Best Single Production, and Best Music Video for its music video.[25] On August 30, 2019, the song was named Song of the Year at the 2019 Global Chinese Music Awards.[26] On December 14, 2019, "Ugly Beauty" was awarded one of the Top 10 Songs of the Year at the 13th Migu Music Awards.[27]

Live performances

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Tsai made a performance of "Ugly Beauty" at the 2019 Jiangsu TV's New Year's Eve Concert on December 31, 2018.[28] She performed it at the 2019 Super Star, hosted by TTV on January 5, 2019,[29] and at the 14th KKBox Music Awards held on January 25, 2019.[30] On April 5, 2019, Tsai appeared on the iQIYI variety show Youth With You, where she performed "Ugly Beauty" alongside trainees Guan Yue, Jia Yi, Sun Zelin, Feng Junjie, and Lian Huaiwei.[31] The following week, she performed the song again, this time with Greeny Wu, on the Hunan TV variety show Singer 2019.[32]

At the 30th Golden Melody Awards on June 29, 2019, Tsai performed the song and was the closing performer of the event.[33] She continued to perform the song at various events throughout the year including the 2019 Global Chinese Music Awards on August 30,[34] the Suning Double 11 Gala on November 10,[35] and the 13th Migu Music Awards on December 14.[27] Later, on December 23, 2019, she recorded a performance of "Ugly Beauty" for the 2020 New Year's Eve Gala organized by China Media Group.[36]

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Ugly Beauty"
Chart (2018–2019) Peak
position
China (Billboard)[37] 1
China (Tencent)[38] 5

Credits and personnel

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  • A-Hao – executive production
  • Paula Ma – backing vocal arragenment, backing vocals
  • Jolin Tsai – backing vocals
  • Jansen Chen – backing vocal recording engineering
  • AJ Chen – recording engineering
  • Luca Pretolesi – mixing engineering
  • Scott Banks – mixing assistance
  • Andy Lin – mixing assistance
  • Mega Force Studio – recording studio
  • Studio DMI – mixing studio

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Ugly Beauty"
Region Date Format(s) Distributor
Various December 21, 2018
Eternal

References

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  1. ^ "蔡依林用《怪美的》，回击恶评也重塑了自信" [Jolin Tsai used "Ugly Beauty" to fight back against negative reviews and restore her confidence]. Beijing News (in Chinese). December 22, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "呸姐蔡依林最新復工照曝光！私服造型偷穿「男朋友襯衫」帥翻天！". Yahoo News (in Chinese). March 4, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  3. ^ ETtoday新聞雲 (March 14, 2018). "蔡依林「正在寫演唱會腳本」 新計劃曝光：希望快確定！ | ETtoday星光雲 | ETtoday新聞雲". star.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  4. ^ "蔡依林"雀斑妆"大胆撞色演绎美式复古". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  5. ^ 中時新聞網 (June 11, 2018). "蔡依林新專輯進度五成 年底發片有信心 - 娛樂". 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Jolin Fans Club & 依林520 (June 24, 2018). 2018-06-24 樂見大牌-蔡依林透露新作是最誠實的一張專輯 五月天阿信助陣成功交歌. Retrieved April 20, 2025 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ 中時新聞網 (September 12, 2018). "同台安室 蔡依林最棒生日禮 - 娛樂新聞". 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  8. ^ 自由時報電子報 (October 4, 2018). "蔡依林新輯孵4年 被虧比奧運久 - 自由娛樂". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "蔡依林：11月会非常忙 12月新专辑肯定发_Jolin". Sohu. November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  10. ^ ETtoday (November 12, 2018). "等到了！蔡依林发文预告新专辑即将发布难掩激动|蔡依林|舞娘|渡边直美_新浪娱乐_新浪网". ent.sina.com.cn. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b ETtoday新聞雲 (December 14, 2018). "蔡依林新歌曝光！吳青峰歌詞改了4次：她要求越來越高了 | ETtoday星光雲 | ETtoday新聞雲". star.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  12. ^ Ku, Daniel (November 27, 2018). "Jolin蔡依林新專輯《UGLY BEAUTY》，擁抱自己的陰暗醜陋面得到的反饋是美好的！". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  13. ^ "蔡依林《怪美的》：看不见我的美，是你瞎了眼_歌曲". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jolin蔡依林《UGLY BEAUTY》，「追求完美讓我活得不像人！」". VOGUE時尚網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  15. ^ "蔡依林《怪美的》MV花絮曝光 表情包激发创意_Jolin". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  16. ^ 聯合新聞網. "多圖／蔡依林「怪美的」MV變囚犯 嗆「看不見我的美，是你瞎了眼」". udnSTYLE (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b 聯合新聞網. "多圖／蔡依林「怪美的」MV變囚犯 嗆「看不見我的美，是你瞎了眼」". udnSTYLE (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "【榜單】蔡依林《Ugly Beauty》各大排行榜彙整 (2/14更新) - 討論聖地 蔡依林國際歌友會Jolin's Fans Club". February 23, 2019. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "蔡依林開高衩胸腿齊露 被舞蹈感動催淚｜蘋果新聞網｜蘋果日報". 蘋果新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  20. ^ "蔡依林成为首位中国公告牌单曲榜冠军_公告牌音乐". www.billboardchina.cn. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  21. ^ NOWnews今日新聞 (February 1, 2019). "年度百首單曲榜名單揭曉！蔡依林〈怪美的〉奪冠 | 娛樂". NOWnews今日新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  22. ^ "蔡依林用《怪美的》，回击恶评也重塑了自信_Beauty". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  23. ^ "公司橫掃13項入圍 蔡依林攬7獎怪猛的". Yahoo News (in Chinese). May 16, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  24. ^ "《2019 hito流行音樂獎》頒獎典禮38組歌手無間斷接力轟蛋 跨媒體轉播全球樂迷都在看！". www.hitoradio.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  25. ^ "第三届唱工委音乐奖 新声与奖格坚守音乐标准_奖项". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  26. ^ "庆祝澳门回归20周年，音乐有你，四海一家，2019华人歌曲音乐盛典在澳门举行". ent.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "蔡徐坤拿下咪咕音乐"年度最佳人气男歌手"，五月天成乐团奖大赢家_乐坛_华晨宇_郁可唯". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  28. ^ TVBS. "辮子頭+高衩禮服 蔡依林陸唱新歌跨年│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  29. ^ 娛樂星聞 (January 5, 2019). "等了十年！蔡依林首登《紅白》…抱病嗨唱3首竟「零破綻」 | 娛樂星聞". star.setn.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  30. ^ "蔡依林登KKBOX風雲榜首度曝光〈甜秘密〉、〈腦公〉舞蹈！觀眾歪樓留言狂問：「帽子怎麼不會掉？」". Cosmopolitan (in Chinese (Taiwan)). January 27, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  31. ^ TVBS. "霸氣拉住練習生 蔡依林台上險親小鮮肉│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  32. ^ "蔡依林首登《歌手》替青峰助陣 飆高音爆雞皮｜東森新聞". 東森新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  33. ^ TVBS. "聲光效果猛！ 蔡依林霸氣嗨唱「怪美的」│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  34. ^ 中時新聞網 (September 1, 2019). "周杰倫蔡依林隔6年「雙J同台」 - 娛樂新聞". 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  35. ^ "别眨眼！《2019湖南卫视苏宁易购11.11嗨爆夜》全明星阵容官宣_天天兄弟". www.sohu.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  36. ^ 三立新聞網 (December 31, 2019). "差超多！蔡依林大陸跨年穿這樣…網對比「台灣演唱會」笑了 | 娛樂星聞 | 三立新聞網 SETN.COM". www.setn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  37. ^ "中国公告牌音乐单曲榜" [China Music Singles Top 100]. Billboard China (in Chinese). January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "TME UNI Chart Top 10". Tencent Music (in Chinese). January 6, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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