The Moment (Stefanie Sun album)

The Moment
Compilation album by
Stefanie Sun
Released22 August 2003
Recorded1999–2003
GenreMandopop
LanguageChinese
LabelWarner
Producer
Stefanie Sun chronology
To Be Continued...
(2003) 		The Moment
(2003) 		Stefanie
(2004)

The Moment is the first greatest hits album by Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun. It was released throughout Greater China on 22 August 2003, by Warner Music Taiwan.[1] The album contains seven new songs and fifteen songs from her previous albums. It contains 22 songs in total and is produced by Peter Lee, Kenn C, Stefanie Sun and Weizhen Chen.

The album sold more than 1.5 million copies in Asia.[2] On the first day of the album's official release, 200,000 copies were sold in Taiwan.[3] By the end of 2003, it was reported that The Moment had sold 257,000 copies in Taiwan, making it the 7th highest selling album of the year in the country.[4] Shortly after the release of The Moment, Sun publicly announced that she would "take a break" from the music industry for about a year.[5]

Background and release

[edit]

After graduating from Nanyang Technological University, Sun signed a recording contract with Warner Music, through which she later released six studio albums—Yan Zi (2000), My Desired Happiness (2000), Kite (2001), Start (2002), Leave (2002) and To Be Continued... (2003). The six albums have sold more than 330,000,[6] 400,000,[7] 300,000,[8] 260,000,[9] 250,000,[10] and 270,000 copies in Taiwan,[11] respectively.

The Moment is the summary of the first stage of Sun's musical journey, and it is also a musical commemorative work that Warner Records wanted to leave behind for Sun before taking a leave of absence. The album contains 5 original songs that had not been released before: "The Moment," "Encounter," "Does Not Bother," "Can't Be with You" and "Under the Sun"; which brought together songwriters from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The album also contains 15 “key songs” selected from Sun's 6 albums that were released during the three years since her debut.[12][13]

Title and artwork

[edit]

The title of the album The Moment was explained as:

What is a critical moment in life?

It is a decision; it is a choice; whether to go left or right; whether to continue or give up; it is the moment to say goodbye to the past; it is the moment to bravely wipe the wound; it is The moment when you decide your future. What is Stefanie Sun’s pivotal moment?

Stefanie Sun, The Moment.[12]

For the album look, stylist Fang Qilun chose simple white and simple styles for Stefanie Sun. For the album photography, photographer Huang Zhongping captured Sun’s multi-faceted emotions through simple studio shots, highlighting Sun’s deepest emotions.[12]

Writing and recording

[edit]

Among the original works of the album The Moment, the title track tells the story of Sun's desire to have the free space of being a non-public figure, her inner choices and review of the past when she is at a decisive moment. "Encounter" is the theme song of the movie Turn Left, Turn Right, and the lyrics are specially designed according to the plot of the movie.[14] Lyrically, "Encounter" is about emotions; you can't know but you know how to cherish.[12] "Does Not Bother" is a lively number that expresses Sun's attitude towards life.[12] "Can't Be With You" is a song about longing for a lost relationship and helplessness.[12] "Under the Sun" informs teenagers and reminds them of the power of self-awareness and positive action.[12] The song "Tonight, I Feel Close To You" was a collaboration with Japanese singer Mai Kuraki.[15] The songs was also included in Kuraki's 2003 album If I Believe.[16]

Release and promotion

[edit]

On 5 August 2003, Warner Records announced that Sun would release her first greatest hits album titled The Moment simultaneously across Asia on 22 August 2003.[17] The Moment was packaged as a double-disc album. CD1 contains 5 brand new songs, CD2 contains 15 old songs that have special meaning to Sun since her debut, and the deluxe edition of the album comes with a bonus VCD containing a 50-minute documentary entitled "Sun Yanzi The Moment". Before the official release of the album, a pre-order campaign was held, where pre-orderers could download the new song "A Sky Full Of Dreams," which was not yet included in the CD, from Warner Records' official website with an exclusive download password.[18] The deluxe version of the album comes with a free video disc titled "Sun Yan Zi The Moment."[18]

The song "Encounter" was used as the theme song of 2003 joint Hong Kong-Singaporean film Turn Left, Turn Right.[19] "Under the Sun" served as the 2003 Sun Project Theme Song.[20] On 13 August 2003, Sun held a press conference in Taipei to promote the compilation album.[21] On the evening of 15 August 2003, Sun held a concert to promote her album The Moment in Taipei.[22] At the concert, she announced that she would take a one-year break from the music scene. Sun described her farewell performance as having "mixed emotions."[22] She even said to the fans in the audience in a sentimental tone: "In the next year, I will be leaving the music industry temporarily. I need some time to settle down. After more than three years, thank you all."[22] Faced with more than 30,000 spectators in the audience, Sun, who had vowed not to cry before, was finally moved to tears.[22]

Singles and music videos

[edit]

The music video for the song "The Moment" was directed by Wayne Peng.[23] The video depicts Sun wearing a black dress while playing a grand piano in a plain white room.[23]

The movie Turn Left, Turn Right plays the song "Encounter" when Gigi Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro are sitting by the pond, one on each side with their backs to each other. The music video for "Encounter" was directed by Shockley Huang.[24] The video still features Gigi Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro in a beautiful love story, simplifying the movie's story of a pair of people who love each other, but are always missing out on life, and in the end the love ends without a trace.[25] Shockley Huang also directed the music video for the song "Does Not Bother."[26]

In January 2004, the tracks "Encounter" and "Tonight, I Feel Close To You" were listed at number 1 and number 53 respectively on the 2003 Hit FM Top 100 Singles of the Year chart.[27][28]

Accolades

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The album earned an IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award for Top 10 Best Selling Mandarin Albums of the Year in 2003.[29] The following year, in 2004, the song "Encounter" made it onto the leaderboard of the 4th Global Chinese Songs Ranking's Top 20 Songs.[30] At the same ceremony, Chet Lam won the Best Composer of the Year Award.[30]

Track listing

[edit]
CD1
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."這一刻" (The Moment)Justin ChenJustin ChenGoh Kheng Long4:12
2."遇見" (Encounter)Kevin YiChet LamTerence Teo3:28
3."懶得去管" (Does Not Bother)Shuo HsiaoChen WeigangEric Ng4:04
4."不能和你一起" (Can't Be With You)Eric ChenEric NgEric Ng4:40
5."太陽底下" (Under The Sun)Liao YingruRonald Ng
  • Ronald Ng
  • Kenn C
3:25
6."全心全意" (One United People)Wu QingkangJoshua WanJoshua Wan2:52
7."One United People"Joshua WanJoshua WanJoshua Wan2:52
CD2
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."我要的幸福" (My Desired Happiness)Matthew YenPaul LeeMartin Tang3:33
2."超快感" (Turbo)
Tino BaoAnthony Bao3:43
3."天黑黑" (Cloudy Day)
  • Liao Yingru
  • Wu Yizheng
Peter LeeGoh Kheng Long3:59
4."很好" (Fine)Jennifer HsuStefanie SunGoh Kheng Long4:32
5."Someone"Stefanie SunStefanie SunKenn C3:23
6."風箏" (Kite)Keven YiPaul LeeGoh Kheng Long4:34
7."任性" (Abandon)He QihongStefanie SunGoh Kheng Long3:47
8."逃亡" (Abscondence)Lin YifenPeter LeeKenn C4:42
9."害怕" (Fear)Arys ChienArys ChienArys Chien4:02
10."永遠" (Forever)Tu KaizhiYang JunliangMartin Tang3:35
11."眼神" (Wink)Daryl YaoStefanie SunZhong Xingmin3:30
12."橄欖樹" (Olive Tree)SanmaoLi Tai-hsiangKenn C3:29
13."沒有人的方向" (A Direction Without Anyone)Jacky Yang
  • Stefanie Sun
  • Peter Lee
Kenn C4:07
14."真的" (Really)Jennifer HsuStefanie SunAnthony Bao4:08
15."Tonight, I Feel Close To You" (feat. Mai Kuraki)Mai KurakiAika ŌnoCybersound4:08

References

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  1. ^ (in Chinese) Warner Music Taiwan The Moment album info Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 22 August 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2011
  2. ^ "懷舊專題／孫燕姿《天黑黑》一唱成名奠定天后寶座" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 22 July 2017.
  3. ^ "孫燕姿一天賣20萬張". appledaily.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ "2003年度唱片銷量(統計：2002/12~2003/11)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 26 July 2019.
  5. ^ "唱片：孙燕姿--《The Moment》(图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 15 October 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ^ Suryadinata, Leo (2012). "Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: Biographical dictionary". Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 1019. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ 懷舊專題／孫燕姿《天黑黑》一唱成名奠定天后寶座 (in Chinese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  8. ^ "孙燕姿：她的成功不容复制". 简书. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ^ "2002年台灣唱片銷量排行榜". mypaper.pchome.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. ^ "2002年台灣唱片銷量排行榜". mypaper.pchome.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. ^ "2003年度唱片銷量(統計：2002/12~2003/11)". mypaper.pchome.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 26 July 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "孙燕姿：《The Moment》". ent.163.com (in Chinese (China)). 15 August 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  13. ^ "孙燕姿配唱《向左走向右走》". ent.163.com (in Chinese (China)). 15 August 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  14. ^ "孙燕姿"遇见"感动". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 17 September 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  15. ^ "孙燕姿新发型出道以来最短 专集亚洲同步发行 (组图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 7 August 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  16. ^ Kuraki, Mai (2003). I I Believe (CD Album; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. GZCA-5031.
  17. ^ "孙燕姿寸头造型亮相 新专辑八月底发行(附图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 5 August 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b "孙燕姿新单曲线上付费下载 开华人歌手先河(图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 11 August 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  19. ^ Yesasia.com The Moment (New Song + Collection) album info 22 August 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2011
  20. ^ "首张新歌加精选专辑 为"换发"孙燕姿苦熬两天 (图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 5 August 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ "组图：孙燕姿以"靓仔头"亮相新歌发布会". yule.sohu.com (in Chinese). 14 August 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d "孙燕姿宣布暂别歌坛(图)". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 18 August 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  23. ^ a b 孫燕姿 Sun Yan-Zi – 這一刻 The Moment (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved 16 April 2024
  24. ^ 孫燕姿 Sun Yan-Zi – 遇見 Encounter (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved 16 April 2024
  25. ^ "孙燕姿献声《向左走 向右走》"遇见"为主打曲". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 27 September 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  26. ^ 孫燕姿 Sun Yan-Zi – 懶得去管 Does Not Bother (official 官方完整版MV), retrieved 16 April 2024
  27. ^ "Hitoradio‧Hit Fm --華人音樂入口指標". www.hitoradio.com. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Hitoradio‧Hit Fm --華人音樂入口指標". www.hitoradio.com. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  29. ^ IFPI Hong Kong 2003 IFPI Hong Kong Album Sales Awards winners list Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 April 2011
  30. ^ a b "第四届全球华语歌曲排行榜完全获奖名单". ent.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 4 September 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
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