Mirrors (Jackson Wang album)

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Mirrors
Mirrors album.jpg
Studio album by
Jackson Wang
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Recorded2019
Genre
Language
  • English
  • Chinese
Label
Singles from Mirrors
  1. "Bullet to the Heart"
    Released: September 24, 2019
  2. "Dway!"
    Released: October 22, 2019

Mirrors (stylized in all caps) is the debut full-length studio album by Hong Kong singer and rapper Jackson Wang. It was released by his own label, Team Wang and Western and 6th, on 25 October 2019.[1] "Bullet to the Heart" and "Dway!" served as the album's lead singles.

Background[]

On 12 September 2019, Wang held a listening session of his first album Mirrors for the press: the digital record, which expresses the emotions of the contemporary youth and incorporates elements of China's traditional culture, was produced in China, South Korea, and the United States.[2] Wang supervised the whole process, from the initial creation to the packaging, and was personally involved in arrangements, lyrics writing, and music video shooting.[2] The album features the Chinese version of Stephanie Poetri's "I Love You 3000" and seven tracks in English,[3] among which "Faded" was supposed to be released as a standalone single in March 2019.[4]

In an interview with i-D, Wang stated "For this album I actually found my true identity. I've released a lot of rap songs in the past; In China I release many ballads and R&B songs, so it just came to a conclusion where I felt like the fusion of it all was me."[5] Through Mirrors, he shares his truest and deepest feelings, talking about love, running out of time, his achievements and where he is in life.[5] Although the songs' main theme looks like romantic love, the counterpart he sings about is himself, his demons, fears, or his passions.[5]

The album's first single, "Bullet to the Heart", was released on September 24 and is about overcoming the obstacles and hardships experienced while pursuing a dream.[3][6][7][8] The album's second single was "Dway!", published on October 22,[9][10] and expresses Wang's pride towards his achievements and his conviction that he's able to master his life. The title is a word play with the Chinese word "对", which means "I'm right".[4] The full album was released on 25 October 2019 along with a music video for "Titanic", a collaboration song with Indonesian singer and rapper Rich Brian.[11] In the music video, Wang dances with Asian dance group .[3]

Reception[]

About the album, Clash said "Jackson Wang's solo career is set to truly shine. [...] What's most impressive about the record [...] is the brilliant range of distinct sounds the young artist has managed to cover in eight short tracks; no track sounds like another and that sets the bar really high for whatever he comes out with next."[12] Jeff Benjamin from Billboard wrote "The album's title of Mirrors is a perfect fit as an album shooting a real, sometimes harsh, reflection of one's true self. It's a change-up from the previously announced Journey to the West title Jackson was previously playing, as these eight songs all look to be a larger meditation on Wang as a human rather than about a crossover attempt. [...] One of Mirror's standout tracks "Bad Back" shines as one of the most interesting on the album as it seems to have multiple layers to representing Jackson as both an artist and as a person"[13] and "Mirrors felt like a journey of self-discovery with a tracklist that showcased new sides of Jackson as an artist."[14]

Upon its release, "Bullet to the Heart" debuted at #1 on the Billboard China Chart and peaked at #1 on the China Social Chart.[15]

In the 3–9 November 2019 week, the album placed #32 on Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting debut album ever from a Chinese artist.[13] In the same week, it also debuted on other Billboard's charts: it placed #3 on Digital Albums Chart,[3] #1 on Independent Albums Chart, #2 on Rap Album Sales Chart, #3 on Digital Albums Chart, #4 on Top Album Sales Chart and Top Current Albums Chart, #18 on Top Rap Albums Chart, and #22 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.[15]

Commercial performance[]

Mirrors went on pre-sale on September 26 and sold 453,000 copies within ten days, making it the third best selling digital album of 2019 on NetEase.[citation needed] By the end of the year, it became the best selling record on the platform with more than 800,000 copies sold.[16]

Track listing[]

No.TitleLength
1."Bullet to the Heart"2:26
2."On the Rocks"3:09
3."Dway!"2:25
4."Unless I'm With You"2:27
5."Bad Back (feat. GoldLink)"2:42
6."Titanic (feat. Rich Brian)"2:21
7."Faded"2:37
8."爱 (I Love You 3000 Chinese version)"3:30

Accolades[]

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2019 NetEase Cloud Music 2019 Music List Best Selling Digital Album of the Year Won [17][18][19]
Most Popular Chinese Album of the Year Won
Most Popular Pop Album of the Year Won
2020 Channel R Radio Awards Best Album Nominated [20]

Charts[]

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[21] 18
French Digital Albums (SNEP)[22] 62
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[23] 83
US Billboard 200[24] 32
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[25] 4

References[]

  1. ^ Dodson, P. Claire (2019-10-25). "Jackson Wang Is Working Double Time for His Vision". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "终于等到你！王嘉尔首张数字专辑网易云音乐预售在即" [It's finally here! Jackson Wang's first digital album to go on pre-sale on NetMusic soon]. m.ikanchai.com (in Chinese). 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Haddad, Hanan (2019-11-07). "GOT7's Jackson Wang Opens Up About His Goals, Hardships and Solo Debut". E! Online. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jackson Wang Breaks Down His Debut Album 'Mirrors': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Malis, Carolina (2019-10-25). "Jackson Wang on embracing his flaws and breaking the mold". i-D. Archived from the original on 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  6. ^ Tamar, Herman (2019-09-24). "Jackson Wang Unveils Dramatic 'Bullet to the Heart' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  7. ^ Riddhi, Chakraborty (2019-09-24). "Watch Jackson Wang's Harrowing Video For 'Bullet To The Heart'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  8. ^ "王嘉尔新歌《BULLET TO THE HEART》上线 纯白极简MV打造东方美学 首张数字专辑《MIRRORS》八面镜映射不同心境 9/26开启预售". Billboard China (in Chinese). 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  9. ^ "Jackson Wang Breaks The Fourth Wall In New Video "DWAY!"". Aupium. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  10. ^ Murray, Robin (2019-10-23). "Chinese Star Jackson Wang Shares Explosive Single 'DWAY!'". Clash. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  11. ^ "Jackson Wang Releases "Titanic" Music Video With Rich Brian". WiLD 94.9. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  12. ^ "Jackson Wang - Mirrors". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jackson Wang Finds His Voice & Makes Chart History, Embracing Himself With Debut Album 'Mirrors'". Billboard. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  14. ^ "Jackson Wang Interview on '100 Ways,' New Album". Billboard. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b Mainam, Conan Altatis (2019-11-05). "Jackson Wang's 'Mirrors' is highest Billboard 200 chart debut for any Chinese artist's debut album". CONAN Daily. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  16. ^ "2019年数字专辑销售数据". y.saoju.net. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  17. ^ "2019年度音乐榜单人气类奖项投票开启 - 网易云音乐". music.163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  18. ^ "网易云音乐2019年度音乐榜单". music.163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  19. ^ "网易云音乐2019年度音乐榜单：华晨宇新单狂揽人气单曲等多个奖项". ex.chinadaily.com.cn (in Chinese). 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  20. ^ "Channel R Radio Awards 2020". Channel R. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  21. ^ ARIA Digital Album Chart:"Mirrors - 1st Full Album (2019)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  22. ^ French Digital Albums:
  23. ^ UK Official Album Downloads Chart:
  24. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". November 9, 2019.
  25. ^ "Top Album Sales Chart". November 9, 2019.
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