# Butterfly (Jolin Tsai album)

Butterfly (Chinese: 花蝴蝶) is the tenth studio album by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai, released on March 27, 2009, by Warner and Mars. The album was produced by Adia, Paul Lee, Peter Lee, and Paula Ma.
The album achieved commercial success, with pre-sale orders exceeding 120,000 copies in Taiwan, marking it as the highest pre-sale figure in the country's history. The album sold over 210,000 copies in Taiwan alone and reached more than 1 million copies sold across Asia. It was ranked as the top-selling album of 2009 in Taiwan.
Despite its commercial success, the album received mixed reviews from critics, with some feeling that it lacked surprise, sincerity, and innovation.

## Background and development

On July 4, 2008, Tsai's manager, Howard Chiang, revealed that Tsai would begin recording her new album in August of the same year. On October 14, it was reported that Tsai would sign with Warner in December and that she had traveled to New York in late September to learn new dance routines for her upcoming album. Chiang responded by stating that Tsai was accelerating her recording schedule in hopes of releasing the album by the end of the year. On November 23, media outlets reported that Tsai's new album would be released around the Chinese New Year of the following year.
On December 16, 2008, Tsai officially signed with Warner. She revealed that the recording for her new album had been completed and that she would soon begin shooting music videos for the new songs. Tsai mentioned that the album would feature 10 tracks, with a focus on dance music, though she also experimented with different musical styles compared to her previous works. She also revealed a collaboration with Real Huang from the band F.I.R., who had written a soft rock ballad for her. Tsai described the album as "really enjoyable" and promised fans would understand once they heard it.
On January 29, 2009, it was reported that the album would be released by the end of March. On February 27, it was announced that Tsai would collaborate with newcomer Nick Chou on a track for the new album. On the same day, Warner disclosed that the production budget for the album exceeded NT$60 million.

## Writing and recording

The lead single, "Real Man", is an adaptation of Lexington Bridge's "Real Man" and features newcomer Nick Chou. The song blends dance-pop music with hip hop elements, and its lyrics describe the modern woman's ideal standards for a boyfriend.
"Compromise" is a soft rock ballad that explores the unhealthy, yet common, phenomenon of dysfunctional relationships. Tsai explained, "The perspective on love described in this song is quite similar to my own experience in relationships. I would often compromise a lot for the other person, which led to emotional hurt because I didn't dare to express my issues, and I gradually lost my sense of self. This is one of my biggest flaws! So mutual understanding is very important; there cannot only be one-sided compromise."
"Butterfly" encourages women to be brave, to stay true to themselves, and not to fear the judgment of others. "Slow Life" is a cover of Lena Philipsson's "Det gör ont". Tsai explained, "People today are often in a hurry to handle everything—changing relationships, changing jobs. In reality, we should slow down and enjoy a life that's paced a little slower." "Accompany with Me" is a tender, heartfelt love song. Tsai shared, "This song is very sweet and perfect for a wedding day, as it conveys the message that you are my support, and I'll be by your side through life's ups and downs. It's really sweet!"
"Love Attraction" is a cover of Vanessa Paradis's "Divine Idylle", a French romantic love song with a sweet, dreamy tone. "The Shadow Dancer" centers around the theme of dancing in the dark. The lyrics depict individuals in relationships who prioritize their partner's needs above their own, akin to a dancer who can only see shadows while dancing in the dark—symbolizing the sadness of neglecting one's own identity for the sake of the relationship. "Parachute" wishes that those who are eager for love may experience it as effortlessly as a parachute falling from the sky. Tsai commented, "I like to use metaphors to express my views on love." "You Hurt My Feelings" is a bittersweet love song that describes the emotional wounds experienced by one person in a love triangle. "Hot Winter" is a cover of Monrose's "Hot Summer". The song is a high-energy dance track with a strong rhythm, and its lyrics touch on environmental issues, while also exploring a positive and active approach to love in the modern world.

## Title and artwork

The album title "Butterfly" symbolizes "rebirth through breaking free from the cocoon." Tsai explained, "Through this album, I want to tell all women to stay true to themselves, be brave, and not be afraid of others' judgments. Be bold and become a beautiful butterfly." For the standard album cover, Tsai wore a colorful gown by The Blonds.

## Release and promotion

On March 4, 2009, the album became available for pre-order at 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan. On March 12, 2009, the album was made available for pre-order at other record stores across the region. On the same day, Tsai hosted an album preview session in Taipei. On March 23, 2009, Warner announced a collaboration with Chunghwa Telecom to release a digital version of the album, which would include additional content such as behind-the-scenes footage and the music video for "Butterfly". This made Tsai the first Taiwanese artist to release a digital album.
On March 28, 2009, Tsai kicked off the Butterfly Campus Tour at Chung Hua University in Hsinchu. By March 29, Warner reported that pre-sales of the album in Taiwan had exceeded 120,000 copies. On April 7, 2009, media outlets revealed that due to a recurrence of a previous health issue and the demands of her busy schedule, Tsai had informed her manager, Howard Chiang, that she would cancel plans for a new concert tour. The tour, which had been set to begin in September, was originally planned to include approximately 10 concerts in Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia. Chiang confirmed that Tsai would likely take a break from September until the end of the year.
On May 9, 2009, Tsai held the Butterfly Concert in Taichung, to celebrate the album's success. On May 22, 2009, she released a special edition of the album, "Ultimate Edition", which included five additional music videos. Later that month, Tsai had to cancel the remainder of the Butterfly Campus Tour due to her ongoing health issues, resulting in the tour being shortened from the planned 10 performances to just four.
On June 2, 2009, Tsai held a press conference in Beijing to celebrate the album's success in Asia, announcing that the album had sold over 1 million copies across the continent. The album also achieved the highest rankings on various Taiwanese sales charts, including those of stores like Chia Chyun Record, G-Music, and Five Music. By December 31, 2009, the album had sold more than 210,000 copies in Taiwan and ranked as the top-selling album of the year on several Taiwanese charts, including G-Music and Five Music. It was also the top-selling album of 2009 in Taiwan overall.

### Live performances

On April 2, 2009, Tsai appeared on the Anhui TV's variety show Star Magic 2009 and performed the songs "Butterfly", "Real Man", and "Compromise". The following day, April 3, 2009, she performed "Butterfly", "Slow Life", and "Compromise" on Hubei TV's variety show Music Rally. On April 5, 2009, she appeared on Hunan TV's variety show Happy Camp, where she performed "Real Man" and "Compromise". On April 26, 2009, Tsai performed "Butterfly" and "Real Man" at the 2009 Music Radio China Top Chart Awards. On May 2, 2009, she took part in 2009 Jade Solid Gold Awards, where she performed "Real Man". On July 11, 2009, she appeared on CCTV's variety show The Same Song and performed "Butterfly".
On August 8, Tsai participated in the Zhejiang TV's variety show Pepsi's Voice of the New Generation, where she performed "Compromise". The following day, August 9, 2009, she attended the 2009 Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards, where she performed "Compromise", "Real Man", and "Hot Winter". On September 2, 2009, Tsai appeared on Beijing TV's Super Talk Show and performed "Compromise". On January 24, 2010, she performed "Compromise" at the 5th KKBox Music Awards. On February 12, 2010, she participated in the Hometown of the Sun—Hualien Shining Concert in Hualien and performed "Real Man" and "Compromise". On April 24, 2010, she performed "Butterfly" at the 2010 Music Radio China Top Chart Awards. Subsequently, Tsai participated in various events, where she performed songs from the album.

### Single and music videos

On March 8, 2009, Tsai released the music video for "Real Man" and held its premiere event in Beijing, which was organized at a cost of NT$850,000. The music video was directed by Marlboro Lai, with choreography by Jonte' Moaning. On March 9, 2009, Tsai officially released the single "Real Man".
On March 23, 2009, Tsai released the music video for "Compromise", directed by Hsu Yun-hsuan, and featuring actor Ethan Juan. On March 30, 2009, the music video for "Butterfly" was released, also directed by Marlboro Lai, with choreography by Bobby Newberry. In the video, Tsai performed a pirouette technique from ballet. She commented, "Ballet is truly a difficult dance style. Dancers usually train for 10 to 20 years, but I spent three intense months learning it. Of course, I only learned part of the essence, such as the 'Black Swan' pirouette, which requires 32 turns, but I can only manage 20. After learning it, I have even more admiration for these dancers. I still have a long way to go, and I will continue practicing!"
On April 14, 2009, Tsai released the music video for "Slow Life", which was again directed by Marlboro Lai. On April 24, the music video for "Accompany with Me" was released, directed by Hsu Jun-ting, and featuring actors Ivy Chen and Jason Tsou. The songs "Real Man" and "Butterfly" ranked 25th and 10th, respectively, on the 2009 Hit FM Top 100 Singles chart in Taiwan.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Freshmusic | 5/10 |
| Smart Info Magazine | |
| Southern Metropolis Daily | |
| The Beijing News | |
NetEase Entertainment's critic Xiao Huan Xiong praised the album, stating, "Overall, Butterfly is a rare, absolutely high-quality commercial dance-pop album.' With 10 tracks, it consistently surprises and never loses momentum." The critic also noted, "For Jolin Tsai, this album represents not only an improvement in her dancing but also a significant step forward in her control and delivery of slower songs."
Fei Bi-an of Smart Info Magazine gave the album a 3/5 rating, commenting, "The album's track selection is very mainstream, and while fans have been waiting for Jolin's return, she plays it safe once again. There are no major surprises or breakthroughs, but it's competent enough. Having held the top position among female artists in the Chinese pop music scene for years, Jolin's courage in music pales in comparison to her limits in dance and physical performance."
Another NetEase's critic, Ai Di Ren, stating, "In reality, Jolin Tsai's current awkward position reflects a broader issue in the Chinese pop music industry. We've fallen into a strange cycle of dance music production, where it's an essential component for artists who aim to appeal to youthful, trendy, and sensual images. However, Chinese producers have yet to create truly outstanding dance tracks that balance both form and content. As a result, they end up borrowing heavily from Western styles. Unfortunately, in this era of shared global platforms, comparisons between similar genres are inevitable."
Freshmusic rated the album 5/10, noting, "If this were the debut album of a newcomer, it might have been received more favorably. But as the work of one of the most commercially successful Chinese pop stars, signed to a new label, it falls short of expectations." Music critic Harry remarked, "I believe Jolin Tsai needs to focus not only on pushing the boundaries of her dance skills but also on spending more time developing the songs in her albums. Otherwise, in the end, people will only remember her for her dancing, forgetting the essence of the music itself, which would be a misstep."

## Accolades

On May 3, 2009, the song "Real Man" won the 2009 Jade Solid Gold Award for Most Popular Mandarin Song. On August 9, 2009, Tsai received several awards at the 2009 Metro Radio Mandarin Hits Music Awards, including the Singer of the Year, Global Dancing Singer, and Global Stage Performance. The song "Real Man" was also awarded the Best Dance Song, while "Compromise" won the Top Songs. On December 20, 2009, Tsai received further recognition at the 2009 Migu Music Awards, where she won Best Album-Selling Female Singer and Best Selling Female Singer.
On January 23, 2010, "Real Man" won the 1st My Astro Music Awards for Top Dance Song and Top 20 Songs. The following day, Tsai was awarded the Top 10 Singers at the 5th KKBox Music Awards. On January 31, 2010, "Compromise" and "Real Man" were awarded the Top 10 Songs at the 2009 Baidu Boiling Point Awards.
On April 11, 2010, at the 10th Top Chinese Music Awards, Tsai was honored with the Most Influential Hong Kong/Taiwan Musician of the Decade award, and her song "Butterfly" was named one of the Top 10 Hong Kong/Taiwan Songs of the Decade. On April 24, 2010, she won several accolades at the 2010 Music Radio China Top Chart Awards, including Best Hong Kong/Taiwan Female Singer of the Year, Best Hong Kong/Taiwan Album of the Year for the album Butterfly, and Top Hong Kong/Taiwan Songs of the Year for "Butterfly". Additionally, the album received the 2010 Hito Music Awards for Longest Chart-Topping Album and the song "Real Man" was named one of the Top 10 Mandarin Songs of the Year.

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Edition(s) | Distributor |
| Various | March 27, 2009 | Streaming | Standard | Mars |
| China | March 27, 2009 | CD | Standardpre-ordered | Sky |
| China | May 22, 2009 | CD+DVD | Ultimate | Sky |
| Hong Kong | March 27, 2009 | CD | Standardlimited | Warner |
| Malaysia | March 27, 2009 | CD | Standard | Warner |
| Malaysia | May 22, 2009 | CD+DVD | Ultimate | Warner |
| Singapore | March 27, 2009 | CD | Standardlimited | Warner |
| Singapore | May 22, 2009 | CD+DVD | Ultimate | Warner |
| Taiwan | March 27, 2009 | CD+DVD | Standard | Warner |
| Taiwan | March 27, 2009 | CD | Pre-ordered | Warner |
| Taiwan | March 27, 2009 | Digital download | Digital | Warner |
| Taiwan | May 22, 2009 | CD+DVD | Ultimate | Warner |