"I Know You're Feeling Blue" (Chinese: 我知道你很難過) is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, featured on her debut studio album 1019 (1999). It was written by Jimmy Ye and Kiki Hu, and produced by David Wu.[1] It was released as a single from 1019 by Universal and D Sound in September 1999.[2]
Background and release
In May 1998, Tsai won an MTV Mandarin's singing competition show.[3] The competition's judge, Wawa Chen, praised Tsai, saying, "She is truly a born singer, relying on her natural talent to sing." Another judge, Lee Cheng-fan, commented, "I think it would be exciting to help her release an album."[4]Universal's music director, Sam Chen, noted that Tsai exhibited contrasting personas: off-stage, she was a quiet student in a uniform, while on-stage, she displayed the potential of a superstar.[5]
In March 1999, Tsai signed with Universal and became the key newcomer for the year.[6] To help her develop, Universal arranged a series of training sessions, including bi-weekly dance classes to improve her stage presence, makeup lessons so she could manage her appearance during interviews and busy schedules, and language training to help her confidently interact with the media. Additionally, Tsai was sent abroad to observe performances by international artists in Ireland, Japan, United States, and United Kingdom.[7]
On September 10, 1999, Tsai released her debut studio album, 1019.[8] The album's single, "I Know You're Feeling Blue",[2] was accompanied by a music video directed by Chou Ko-tai. The song ranked 30th in Taiwan's Hit FM Top 100 Singles of 1999.[9]
Writing and recording
The song "I Know You're Feeling Blue" is a commercially appealing ballad, and the young Tsai demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity in her interpretation of the song, showcasing a rare level of sophistication for an artist of her age.[10]
Kiki Hu revealed that she was introduced to Jimmy Ye through a mutual friend. After some discussions, they decided to co-write a song for Na Ying. However, as Na did not have plans to release an album in Taiwan at the time, the song was sold to Universal through a copyright agency. Later, it was revealed that the song would be given to a newcomer to perform. Since the original lyrics were relatively mature in tone, Universal requested Hu to adjust the lyrics to better suit the age and persona of the artist, Tsai. Hu subsequently met with Tsai to gain a deeper understanding of the artist. She then rewrote the lyrics to reflect a more innocent and youthful perspective, portraying the feelings of a young girl offering comfort to a friend who is heartbroken, as if sharing experiences of love and offering advice from the vantage point of a supportive listener.
Hu also mentioned that Tsai, often labeled as a "Teenage Boy Killer" due to her large male fanbase, was initially seen as a pop idol primarily appealing to young men. However, with the release of this song, Tsai's image shifted. The warm and relatable lyrics resonated with female listeners, allowing her to establish a deeper connection with them. As a result, she became a "good friend" to her female audience, with the song fostering a sense of empathy and understanding.[11]
