Untitled (Jolin Tsai song)

"Untitled"
Single by Jolin Tsai
LanguageMandarin
ReleasedDecember 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
StudioBB Road (Taipei)
GenrePop
Length4:54
Label
Composers
Lyricists
  • Vison Chen
  • David Ke
Producers
  • Jolin Tsai
  • Howe Chen
Jolin Tsai singles chronology
"Equal in the Darkness"
(2021) 		"Untitled"
(2022) 		"Someday, Somewhere"
(2023)
Music video
"Untitled" on YouTube

"Untitled" (Chinese: 親愛的對象; pinyin: Qīn'ài de duìxiàng) is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, written by Tsai, Kay Liu, Vision Chen, and David Ke, and produced by Tsai and Howe Chen. The track was released as a single on December 9, 2022, by Sony and serves as the theme song for the Taiwanese film Marry My Dead Body (2023).[1] The song earned a nomination for Best Original Film Song at the 60th Golden Horse Awards.[2]

Background

On October 5, 2022, Tsai was seen leaving a nightclub in Taipei's Xinyi District, sparking speculation about a new project. Her manager clarified that she had been filming content for an upcoming release.[3] In early November 2022, media reports confirmed that Tsai would release a new single to serve as the theme for a film.[4]

On December 4, 2022, the production team for Marry My Dead Body (2023) teased that the theme song would be sung by a female artist known for keeping pet dogs, leading to speculation that Tsai was the artist in question.[5]

On December 8, 2022, Tsai officially confirmed she had recorded the song, titled "Untitled", which would be released at midnight on December 9, 2022, with its music video premiering at noon the same day. Tsai also hosted a livestream alongside director Cheng Wei-hao and actor Austin Lin to share insights into the creative process.[6]

Composition and recording

Tsai was invited by film director Cheng Wei-hao to perform the theme song a year prior to the release. After reading the screenplay and viewing rough footage of the film, Tsai decided to compose the song herself. She immersed herself in the emotional nuances of the script, experimenting with unconventional ideas. Though Tsai initially doubted whether her composition met the director's expectations, she ultimately produced a version that both she and the director were satisfied with.[7]

Musically, the song blends elements of urban contemporary, featuring ethereal piano passages, dance rhythms, and subtle synthesizer flourishes. The track explores the uncertainties of love, transitioning into a tone of conviction and understanding.[8]

Title

The Chinese title uses the word "object" to signify relationships that defy conventional definitions or labels, emphasizing a love that evolves over time into something more profound, such as family, friends, or partners. The English title, "Untitled", embodies the idea of a relationship that transcends formal categories, allowing for a more open and inclusive view of human connection. Tsai highlighted the universality of love, where individuals can define their relationships in their own terms.[9]

Release

The song reached number 5 on the Billboard Taiwan Songs Chart on December 24, 2022,[10] and later peaked at number 14 on the Metro Radio Hits Pop Chart on January 14, 2023.[11] It also ranked number 18 on Hit FM Top 100 Singles of the Year on January 19, 2023.[12]

Music video

Austin Lin (left) and Wang Man-chiao (right) appear in the music video.

Directed by Yin Chen-hao, the music video for "Untitled" stars actor Austin Lin and veteran actress Wang Man-chiao. The video depicts the emotional journey between a grandson, Mao-mao (Lin), and his grandmother (Wang). Tsai plays a DJ, symbolizing a catalyst for reconciliation between the two characters. The video, conceived as a prequel to Marry My Dead Body (2023), explores the theme of "coming out", both in terms of sexual identity and sharing one's deepest emotions with loved ones. The closing scene, featuring a silent, poignant exchange between grandmother and grandson, symbolizes acceptance and mutual understanding.[13]

Critical reception

Musician Joey Lou praised the song as a distinctive ballad, emphasizing its atmospheric verses, clear chorus rhythm, and the steadily building emotional intensity.[14]

Awards

On June 3, 2023, "Untitled" won Most Popular Digital Single at the Hito Music Awards.[15] On October 3, 2023, it was nominated for Best Original Film Song at the 60th Golden Horse Awards.[2]

Trivia

During the selection process for the 34th Golden Melody Awards, the song was shortlisted from over 4,000 entries for Song of the Year. Though it did not make the final nomination list, it was one of the most discussed "snubs" of the ceremony.[16][17]

Live performances

On June 19, 2023, Tsai performed "Untitled" live on the Japanese YouTube music channel The First Take.[18]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Untitled"
Chart (2022–2023) Peak
position
Taiwan (Billboard)[10] 5

Credits and personnel

  • Lin Jie – piano, bass, synthesizer, production assistance
  • Howe Chen – drum sampling, bass, synthesizer, vocoder
  • Shivia Lee – background vocal arrangement
  • Jolin Tsai – background vocals, vocoder
  • Yeh Yu-hsuan – recording engineering
  • BB Road Studio – recording studio
  • Joe Grasso – mixing engineering
  • The Brewery Recording Studio – mixing studio
  • Shen Kuan-lin – production assistance

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Untitled"
Region Date Format(s) Distributor
Various 2022年12月9日
Sony
China Streaming YDX

References

  1. ^ "亞洲天后Jolin蔡依林2022唯一全新單曲〈親愛的對象〉 12/9全球正式上架". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  2. ^ a b 聯合新聞網 (2023-10-03). "金馬60／蔡依林差點放棄！為「鬼家人」主題曲創作演唱 親吐入圍心聲". 噓！星聞 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  3. ^ "蔡依林營業了！信義區夜店「拍攝新計畫影片」網友目擊驚：本人正到翻掉". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  4. ^ 娛樂星聞 (2022-11-04). "蔡依林開唱倒數兩個月！驚喜宣布「有喜」 藏超久終於產出 | 娛樂星聞". star.setn.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  5. ^ JU豬編 (2022-12-10). "蔡依林 Jolin 為電影《關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事》量身作曲創作主題曲〈親愛的對象〉跨刀演出愛的關係MV". Marie Claire 美麗佳人 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  6. ^ "蔡依林密謀一年曝驚喜：有些人成為彼此「親愛的對象」". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  7. ^ "天后寫歌卡關！蔡依林摸索一年 終於有了「親愛的對象」". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  8. ^ Chou, Inna (2022-12-08). "蔡依林新歌〈親愛的對象〉MV 釋出！找林柏宏當 MV 男主角唱出「不被定義的愛」". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  9. ^ 娛樂星聞 (2022-12-08). "42歲蔡依林宣布喜訊！公開「親愛的對象」 甜說心有靈犀 | 娛樂星聞". star.setn.com (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  10. ^ a b Cusson, Michael (2022-02-15). "Taiwan Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  11. ^ "勁爆本地榜 - 新城知訊台". www.metroradio.com.hk. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  12. ^ "年度百首單曲". www.hitoradio.com. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  13. ^ 中時新聞網 (2022-12-09). "億萬票房導演程偉豪力邀演電影 蔡依林害羞婉拒曝原因 - 娛樂". 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  14. ^ "腾讯音乐榜". yobang.tencentmusic.com. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  15. ^ "周杰倫蔡依林奪大獎了！驚喜「同場現身」 hito流行音樂獎完整名單出爐". Yahoo News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  16. ^ "周杰倫金曲34歌王遺珠 蔡依林夯歌無緣年度歌曲". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  17. ^ "金曲獎遺珠｜周杰倫無緣歌王原因曝光 蔡依林錯失年度歌曲獎". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  18. ^ 中央通訊社 (2023-06-19). "蔡依林再登THE FIRST TAKE選唱「親愛的對象」網友直呼被療癒 | 娛樂". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
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