Music critic Wang Jifan – 25/06/2025
Tonight’s TMEA was a sea of cheering lights for Tan Jianci! The yellow Mona Lisa roses perfectly matched Tan Jianci’s color scheme…
Beyond Tan Jianci’s loyal fans, I believe everyone watching at the Galaxy Arena or online, even those who had never heard him before, was instantly captivated by his performance of “Mona Lisa.” The final half-minute, when Tan Jianci pulled his jacket down a bit, revealing his muscular shoulders, was the night’s magic moment. Tan Jianci’s live performances possess such an uncanny ability: fluid, exuberant, and even full of surprises—this is the true direction of C-Pop’s future!
Winning the “Best All-Around Vocalist” award at TMEA is a truly well-deserved achievement for Tan Jianci, a multifaceted artist. On the podium, Tan Jianci stated, “Beyond acting, being a singer allows me to connect more quickly and intimately with all those who love me.” He expressed his hope to continue producing more excellent music, sharing his stories through song.
As the copywriter who witnessed the album “Huan” from beginning to end, I was truly honored to witness singer Tan Jianci’s ascent to the top of the TMEA competition. There were moments where I was so moved I felt my scalp tingle… Writing the copy for Tan Jianci’s second album, “Huan,” was perhaps a time when I rekindled my inner creative fire. Starting with “Mona Lisa,” the album’s first single, I had the privilege of participating in the creative brainstorming process by “translating” music through words.
As the pre-release track for the second album, we coined the term “Tan-style musical hormone” for “Mona Lisa” during the writing discussions. Tan Jianci exudes a masculine masculine energy that’s both abstinent and slightly aggressive, embodying a touch of danger and mystery, just like the radical “火” (fire) in the title of “焕” (Huan). Last year, while writing copy for the album and listening to the new album’s demos in advance, I felt that these eight songs were eight “fires” striving to break through the dull ceiling of the Chinese music scene. The Chinese character “焕” (Huan) literally means “firelight,” and is often used to describe things that shine with intense light.
A fleeting glimpse of Mona Lisa on the dance floor is like the “unreachable rose” in your heart. The magnetic attraction between two people also kicks off the next extraordinary adventure of love. An unexpected encounter may not conform to the preconceived rules of love, but it leaves you captivated and obsessed. “Not afraid of approaching, dangerous you” embodies the courage to boldly break through obstacles.
The flower language of Mona Lisa is “You don’t need to chase the sun every day; you can shine on your own.” This passionate dance track, “Mona Lisa,” is like a “coal fire in winter,” igniting the beautiful imagination of love in every listener. Remember: if you have the courage to “forget the rules,” all problems can be easily solved. A fire in winter can warm your life, and we all need that life-changing “fire.” “Huan,” which uses music to awaken forgotten dreams deep within you and me, will also define a brighter and more renewed future for a new generation of Chinese musicians like Tan Jianci.
When we begin to realize that “I” am unique in this world, your second life truly begins. The opportunity to embark on this second life requires awakening—or, in other words, being “awakened” by music. “Huan” is more like a deep exploration of Tan Jianci’s inner self-reflection. This time, with a more personal musical expression and deep reflection, Tan Jianci showcases unprecedented musical explorations on his second album: a return to authenticity and self-expression.
I recall my first encounter with Tan Jianci backstage at the 2011 Chinese Music Media Awards, interviewing these newly debuted young artists. More than a decade later, Tan Jianci remains as committed to music as he stated in that initial interview. After all these years, I’m grateful to singer Tan Jianci for his unwavering love and belief in music, expressing and spreading his attitude through his music. I’m also honored to have had the opportunity to personally participate in this process, to be part of the awakening of Tan Jianci’s music, “Huan.” May all of us who pursue our dreams continue to encounter ourselves unexpectedly through music.
Khi chúng ta bắt đầu nhận ra rằng “tôi” là duy nhất trên thế giới này, cuộc sống thứ hai của chúng ta thực sự bắt đầu. Cơ hội để bước vào cuộc sống thứ hai này đòi hỏi sự thức tỉnh – hay nói cách khác, được “đánh thức” bởi âm nhạc. “Hoán” giống như một cuộc khám phá sâu sắc về nội tâm của Đàn Kiện Thứ. Lần này, với cách thể hiện âm nhạc mang tính cá nhân hơn và sự suy ngẫm sâu sắc, Đàn Kiện Thứ thể hiện một thử nghiệm âm nhạc chưa từng có trước đây: trở về với sự chân thực và thể hiện bản thân.
Tôi nhớ lại lần đầu tiên gặp Đàn Kiện Thứ ở hậu trường Lễ trao giải Truyền thông Âm nhạc Trung Quốc năm 2011, khi phỏng vấn những nghệ sĩ trẻ mới ra mắt này. Hơn một thập kỷ sau, Đàn Kiện Thứ vẫn luôn tâm huyết với âm nhạc như anh đã bày tỏ trong buổi phỏng vấn đầu tiên đó. Sau ngần ấy năm, tôi vô cùng biết ơn ca sĩ Đàn Kiện Thứ vì tình yêu và niềm tin bất diệt của anh dành cho âm nhạc, thể hiện và lan tỏa quan điểm sống động của anh qua âm nhạc. Tôi cũng rất vinh dự khi có cơ hội đích thân tham gia và trở thành một phần trong hành trình thức tỉnh âm nhạc “Hoán” của Đàn Kiện Thứ. Mong rằng tất cả chúng ta, những người theo đuổi ước mơ, sẽ tiếp tục gặp gỡ chính mình một cách bất ngờ trong âm nhạc.
Tan Jianci - A fireworks from sky 