# Heartbeat of Taiwan

"Heartbeat of Taiwan" (Chinese: 台灣的心跳聲) is a song by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. The song was written by Michael Lin and Vincent Fang, and produced by Michael Lin. It was released as a promotional single by Warner and Mars on April 27, 2010. It served as the theme song for the Taiwan Pavilion at the Expo 2010.

## Background and release

Tsai was invited to record the theme song for the Taiwan Pavilion at the Expo 2010 and collaborated with Ryan Kou, who performed the rap section of the song. Vincent Fang explained that the song was inspired by the concept of the sky lantern, with references to traditional Taiwanese culture, such as Sanyi wood sculpture, Meinong oil-paper umbrella, and Yanshuei firework. Fang noted that this theme was different from his previous works, which often drew on European influences, such as in "Prague Square".
The song blends pop music with cultural depth, and Tsai expressed her excitement about the project: "I am very happy to be the vocalist for 'Heartbeat of Taiwan', the theme song for the Taiwan Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. The song's imagery is beautiful and showcases Taiwan's unique cultural charm. I hope that through this song, everyone will come to love Taiwan even more. Please look forward to the full release of the 'Heartbeat of Taiwan' music video."

## Music video

The music video for "Heartbeat of Taiwan" was sponsored by Taiwan Real Estate, with a production budget of NT$50 million, and directed by Jerry Fan. It was extensively broadcast on television in Taiwan and was made available for free digital download online or physical DVD distribution.
The music video highlights distinctive aspects of Taiwanese culture, showcasing the island's natural landscapes, traditional neighborhoods, folk customs, and religious practices. Tsai also made a cameo appearance in the music video, where she gently lights sky lantern to offer blessings for the people. Through the music video's poignant lyrics, melody, and visuals depicting Taiwan's warm and welcoming cultural heritage, Tsai invites viewers to set aside distractions and truly listen to the authentic heartbeat of the land.
Fan commented, "Jolin, Vincent Fang, and Michael Lin are all close friends, and their collaboration brought a special emotional resonance to the song. Initially, Jolin wasn't planning to appear in the music video, but when she did, it greatly enhanced the overall effect. This music video was played for six months during the Expo and was also broadcast frequently on Taiwanese TV channels."

## Mentioned items

| Lyrics mentioned | hedera helix, fire hydrant, neon lighting, Sanyi wood sculpture, and Yonghe soy milk |
| Video mentioned | sunrise, sea of clouds, shinboku, water buffalo, diabolo, tai chi, sanheyuan, grocery store, Guishan Island, Bamboo Lake, taekwondo, glove puppetry, ferris wheel, Taipei 101, road traffic safety, street artist, Tamsui Old Street, Hakka blue shirt, Taiwan floral cloth, carousel, people with Down syndrome, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Dihua Street, Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple, Taipei International Flora Exposition Pavilion of Dreams (Xinsheng Park), National Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Drinking Water, Dalongdong Baoan Temple (corresponding to Lungshan Temple in the lyrics), and Huadong Valley (corresponding to Chiayi–Tainan Plain in the lyrics) |
| Both lyrics and video mentioned | swallowtail butterfly, nanohana, Tamsui River, Taroko National Park, Night market in Taiwan, Cloud Gate Dance Theater, Yanshuei firework, sky lantern, Pingtung blackfin tuna, Meinong oil-paper umbrella, baseball in Taiwan (representing Taiwan Spirit), Fengtian Temple (corresponding to Mazu in the lyrics), Pat Ka Chiong (depicted as Guan Jiang Shou in the video), Chiayi–Tainan Plain (depicted as Huadong Valley in the video), and Bangka Lungshan Temple (depicted as Dalongdong Baoan Temple in the video) |

## Live performances

On December 13, 2011, Tsai performed the song in the EVA Air 20th Anniversary Concert. On August 9, 2014, she performed the song at the Hsinchu Hakka Yimin Festival in Taiwan.

## Influences

The catchy lyrics and melody of "Heartbeat of Taiwan" contributed to its widespread popularity and made it a common subject for online adaptations. When the song was released, Taiwan was engaged in significant societal discussions regarding the death penalty. In response, Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty adapted and released a version titled "Heartbeat of Killing", which aimed to highlight the implications and consequences of capital punishment.

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Label |
| Taiwan | April 27, 2010 | Promotional DVD | Warner |