# Play World Tour

The Play World Tour (Chinese: Play世界巡迴演唱會) was the fourth concert tour by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. The tour began on May 22, 2015, at Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan, and concluded on July 16, 2016, at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Spanning over one year and two months, the tour visited 23 cities across Asia and North America, with a total of 34 performances. It attracted approximately 600,000 attendees and grossed an estimated NT$1.5 billion in ticket sales.

## Background and development

On October 29, 2014, Tsai revealed that she would begin preparations for her fourth concert tour following the release of her album Play, emphasizing that the new tour would place greater focus on the music aspect. On February 15, 2015, she officially announced that the Play World Tour would kick off on May 22, 2015, at Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan.
On February 29, 2015, Tsai traveled to Los Angeles for a two-week dance rehearsal. During this time, the entire production team also gathered in Los Angeles to begin preparations for the tour. Media reports indicated that Tsai and her dancers would rehearse on a full-scale replica of the stage, which was set up in Taipei two weeks before the tour's start.
On March 31, 2015, Tsai unveiled the tour's poster, shot by Chen Man, with Wyman Wong serving as the style consultant. Tsai also announced a collaboration with concert production company Live Nation and revealed that the tour would be co-directed by Travis Payne and Stacy Walker.
The production cost of the tour was reported to exceed NT$100 million, with the stage crew consisting of professionals from around the world. Additionally, Tsai enlisted the film production team, Jet Tone Films, to create five video interludes for the concert. Live Nation held three audition events in Los Angeles to select the tour's 12 dancers, and 14 choreographers were invited to design the choreography for the songs to be performed.
On June 1, 2015, Tsai held a press conference in Beijing to announce additional tour dates in Mainland China.

## Commercial reception

Tickets for the Taipei shows of the tour went on sale at 12:00 PM on April 12, 2015. The 33,000 tickets sold out within 18 minutes, prompting the addition of an additional show in Taipei on May 25, 2015. Tickets for the May 25 show went on sale at 12:00 PM on April 15, 2015, and the 11,000 tickets sold out within 6 minutes.
On May 24, 2015, Tsai announced that additional performances would be held in Taipei on November 7 and 8, 2015. Tickets for these November shows went on sale at 1:30 PM on June 13, 2015, and the 22,000 tickets sold out within 17 minutes. On August 15, 2015, Tsai revealed that a further show would be added in Taipei on November 6, 2015. On August 28, 2015, she also announced a performance on November 5, 2015, in Taipei. Tickets for the November 5 and 6 shows went on sale at 11:00 AM on September 5, 2015, and the 22,000 tickets sold out within 13 minutes.

## Critical reception

Media personality Kevin Lee commented, "The level of this concert completely exceeded my expectations. From the program content, costume design, to the vocal and dance skills, as well as the stage design, everything was of international standards—if not better. I feel so proud that there is such an outstanding and successful Chinese-speaking artist. The concert was full of sincerity and was worth every penny. Jolin's flawless, precise stage performance shattered my previous belief that singers who can dance can't sing, and singers who can sing can't dance. Jolin is one of the very few solid, talented artists who can both sing and dance. There was a segment where she sang an opera passage, which deeply moved and amazed me, showcasing her vocal strength alongside her dance skills."
Shau, a columnist for PlayMusic, wrote, "In this concert, Jolin Tsai not only proved that she has real singing talent, but also revealed a side of herself that is more relaxed and confident. At times, she playfully raised an eyebrow, at others, she boldly declared herself to be a Barbie doll. She was fearless on stage, and when she picked up the microphone, the entire audience held their breath. Jolin Tsai is a symbol of a generation’s youth, and I believe her influence will continue to burn brightly, leaving an indelible mark on the next generation with her limitless, fiery charm."
Aping, a reporter for ETtoday, noted, "Even though Jolin Tsai has transitioned from 'just cool' to 'full of charisma,' her Play concert saw her boldly remove the 'talking' segment and reduce the acrobatic stunts—like the pommel horse, rings, and pole—that had previously earned her the 'tough-as-nails' label. But this didn’t mean she wasn’t serious about her preparation. She flew to LA for 14 days of intense training, re-arranged all her songs, and discarded her signature moves. Instead, she delivered six full segments of performances, offering fans everything she had. Jolin Tsai fully understands that even without difficult stunts, she can still be a true artist on stage."
BeautiMode magazine wrote, "Perhaps it’s an exaggeration, but compared to her past concerts, like the Myself World Tour and Dancing Forever World Tour, this time Jolin Tsai seemed more comfortable and exuded an even more superstar-like aura. When the white curtain fell and Jolin appeared, adorned with a special headdress resembling the slithering snakes of Medusa, she truly embodied the mythical figure, captivating the entire audience with her voice and dance, turning thousands of fans into stone."

## Recording

On January 30, 2018, Tsai released the live video album Play World Tour. The album features live performances from Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan, recorded between May 22 and 25, 2015. It also includes four documentary short films titled We're All Different, Yet the Same, directed by Hou Chi-jan and Gavin Lin, as well as a behind-the-scenes video of the tour. The album was directed by Leo Hsu and post-produced by 3 Aqua Entertainment. Warner revealed that the album’s content was captured using a total of 26 ground and aerial cameras and edited from 400 hours of video footage. Tsai personally supervised the post-production process for the third time.
The album was released physically only in Taiwan, where it topped the weekly video album sales charts at major retailers, including Books.com.tw, Eslite, Kuang Nan, Chia Chyun Record, G-Music, Five Music, and PChome. In 2018, the album was ranked number one on the annual video album sales charts at Books.com.tw, Kuang Nan, and Five Music, and number seven at Chia Chyun Record. It also ranked second on the YesAsia's annual video album sales chart.

## Set list

* "Medusa"
* "Real Man"
* "Honey Trap"
* "Bravo Lover"
* "I'm Not Yours"
* "Agent J"
* "Butterfly"
* "Love Love Love"
* "Prague Square"
* "I Love, I Embrace"
* "Exclusive Myth"
* "The Great Artist"
* "Mr. Q"
* "Rewind"
* "The Smell of Lemon Grass"
* "I Know You're Feeling Blue"
* "Sky"
* "Butterflies in My Stomach"
* "Miss Trouble"
* "Queen of the Night Aria"
* "Sunshine in the Rain"
* "Nothing Left to Say"
* "You Gotta Know"
* "J-Game"
* "Fantasy"
* "36 Tricks of Love"
* "Phony Queen"
* "Dr. Jolin"
* "Dancing Diva"
* "Magic"
* "We're All Different, Yet the Same"
* "Out on the Street"
* "The Spirit of Knight"
* "Play"
* Since the second concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "The Third Person and I", but didn't perform "I Love, I Embrace".
* During the second concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Lucky Number", and "Don't Stop", but didn't perform "Rewind".
* During the third concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "Mosaic", "Blame It on the Age", "Alone", "Pretence", and "Marry Me Today".
* During the fourth concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "I'm Not Yours" with Namie Amuro, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Mosaic", "Blame It on the Age", "Alone", "Good-Bye", "Overlooking Purposely", "Say Love You", and "Don't Stop".
* During the concert in Guangzhou, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Missing You", "Accompany with Me", and the Cantonese version of "Pretence", but didn't perform "Out on the Street".
* During the first concert in Beijing, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Love in the Shape of Heart", "Priceless", "Good-Bye", "Because of You", and "A Wonder in Madrid".
* During the first concert in Shanghai, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond", "Fall in Love with a Street", "Can't Speak Clearly", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Singapore, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Encounter", "Living with the World", "Can't Speak Clearly", "The Prologue", "The Finale", and "Take Immediate Action", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Changsha, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Color Photos", "Because of You", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading" or "Out on the Street".
* During the concert in Tianjin, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "I Am What I Am", "Living with the World", "Heard That Love's Ever Been Back", "Be You for a Day", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading" or "Out on the Street".
* During the concert in Chongqing, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Moonlight in the City", "The Moon Represents My Heart", "Singlehood Plague", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Hohhot, Tsai performed "Are You Happy", "Say Love You", "Don't Stop", and "Pretence", but didn't perform "Lip Reading" or "Out on the Street".
* During the concert in Dalian, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Color Photos", "Kaleidoscope", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "You Gotta Know", or "Out on the Street".
* During the fifth concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "Devotion", "Fragrance of Roses", "Evening Primrose", "Heard That Love's Ever Been Back", "Good Thing", "Hot Winter", and "Say Love You", and Tsai performed "We're all Different, Yet the Same" with Sandy Lam, but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the sixth concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Priceless", "Feel You Presence", "Pretence", "Black-Haired Beautiful Girl", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Rewind", "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the seventh concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "The Phantom of the Opera", "Overlooking Purposely", "Fake Confess", "Marry Me Today", "Pretty Pretty Day", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the eighth concert in Taipei, Tsai performed "Viva Love" and "The Great Artist" with Mayday, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Disappearing Castle", "Under the Sea", "Attraction of Sexy Lips", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Rewind", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Hangzhou, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Habitual Betrayal", "Marry Me Today", "Can't Speak Clearly", "Do You Still Love Me", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Nanjing, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Greek Girl by the Wishing Pond", "Reluctant", "Fake Confess", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Fuzhou, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Disappearing Castle", "Love in the Shape of Heart", "Love Is Near", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the first concert in Hong Kong, Tsai performed "Wedding Invitation Street", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Accompany with Me", the Cantonese version of "Pretence", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the second concert in Hong Kong, Tsai performed "Wedding Invitation Street", "Do You Still Love Me", "Singlehood Plague", "Priceless", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading" or "Out on the Street".
* During the first concert in Atlantic City, Tsai performed "Heard That Love's Ever Been Back".
* During the second concert in Atlantic City, Tsai performed "Wedding Invitation Street".
* During the concert in Hefei, Tsai performed "The Phantom of the Opera", "Love in the Shape of Heart", "Kaleidoscope", "Alone", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Shenzhen, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Mosaic", "Missing You", "Heard That Love's Ever Been Back", and "Black-Haired Beautiful Girl", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Wuhan, Tsai performed "The Prologue", "Fall in Love with a Street", "My Choice", "The Finale", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Macau, Tsai performed "Brink of Love and Pain", "Marry Me Today", "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Be You for a Day", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the second concert in Beijing, Tsai performed "Disappearing Castle", "Love in the Shape of Heart", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the second concert in Shanghai, Tsai performed "Agent J" with Chris Lee, Tsai performed "The Smell of Lemon Grass", "Priceless", "A Wonder in Madrid", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Zhengzhou, Tsai performed "Little Child", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Manual of Youth", "I Am What I Am", "Take Immediate Action", "Marry Me Today", "Feel Your Presence", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Queen of the Night Aria", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Chengdu, Tsai performed "Little Child", "Are You Happy", "I Am What I Am", "Can't Speak Clearly", "Disappearing Castle", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Taiyuan, Tsai performed "Little Happiness", "Under the Sea", "Wandering Poet", "Living with the World", "Are You Happy", and "Say Love You", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".
* During the concert in Kuala Lumpur, Tsai performed "Little Love Song", "Journey", "Pretty Pretty Day", "Don't Stop", "Fake Confess", and "A Wonder in Madrid", but didn't perform "Lip Reading", "Out on the Street", or "The Spirit of Knight".

## Shows

List of concert dates :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Revenue |
| Asia ||||||
| May 22, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| May 23, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| May 24, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| May 25, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| July 4, 2015 | Guangzhou | China | Guangzhou International Sports Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| July 11, 2015 | Beijing | China | Capital Indoor Stadium | Un­known | Un­known |
| July 18, 2015 | Shanghai | China | Mercedes-Benz Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| July 25, 2015 | Singapore | Singapore | Singapore Indoor Stadium | Un­known | Un­known |
| September 4, 2015 | Changsha | China | Hunan International Convention & Exhibition Centre | Un­known | Un­known |
| September 19, 2015 | Tianjin | China | Tianjin Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| September 26, 2015 | Chongqing | China | Chongqing International Convention & Exhibition Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| October 10, 2015 | Hohhot | China | Inner Mongolia Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| October 24, 2015 | Dalian | China | Zhongsheng Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| November 5, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| November 6, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| November 7, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| November 8, 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | Taipei Arena | 44,000 | NT$120 million |
| November 11, 2015 | Hangzhou | China | Yellow Dragon Sports Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| November 28, 2015 | Nanjing | China | Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium | Un­known | Un­known |
| December 5, 2015 | Fuzhou | China | Straits Sports Centre Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| December 11, 2015 | Hong Kong | China | Hong Kong Coliseum | Un­known | Un­known |
| December 12, 2015 | Hong Kong | China | Hong Kong Coliseum | Un­known | Un­known |
| North America ||||||
| March 26, 2016 | Atlantic City | United States | Borgata Casino Event Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| March 27, 2016 | Atlantic City | United States | Borgata Casino Event Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| Asia ||||||
| April 2, 2016 | Hefei | China | Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| April 16, 2016 | Shenzhen | China | Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| April 23, 2016 | Wuhan | China | Hongshan Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| April 30, 2016 | Macau | China | Cotai Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| May 14, 2016 | Beijing | China | LeSports Center | Un­known | Un­known |
| May 21, 2016 | Shanghai | China | Mercedes-Benz Arena | Un­known | Un­known |
| June 11, 2016 | Zhengzhou | China | Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre | Un­known | Un­known |
| June 18, 2016 | Chengdu | China | Sichuan Gymnasium | Un­known | Un­known |
| July 2, 2016 | Taiyuan | China | Shanxi Gymnasium | Un­known | Un­known |
| July 16, 2016 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Stadium Merdeka | Un­known | Un­known |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 600,000 | NT$1.5 billion |

### Cancelled dates

List of cancelled dates :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Reason |
| October 31, 2015 | Nanning | China | Guangxi Sports Center Arena | Stage collapse |