Mirrors (Jackson Wang album)

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Mirrors
Studio album by
Jackson Wang
ReleasedOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)
Recorded2019
Genre
Length21:37
Language
  • English
  • Chinese
Label
Jackson Wang chronology
Mirrors
(2019) 		Lost & Found
(2022)
Singles from Mirrors
  1. "Bullet to the Heart"
    Released: September 24, 2019
  2. "Dway!"
    Released: October 22, 2019

Mirrors is the debut full-length studio album by Hong Kong recording artist Jackson Wang. It was released by his own label, Team Wang and Western and 6th, on October 25, 2019.[1] "Bullet to the Heart" and "Dway!" served as the album's lead singles.

Background[edit]

On September 12, 2019, Wang held a listening session of his first album Mirrors for the press: the digital record, which expresses the emotions of the contemporary youth and incorporates elements of China's traditional culture, was produced in China, South Korea, and the United States.[2] Wang supervised the whole process, from the initial creation to the packaging, and was personally involved in arrangements, lyrics writing, and music video shooting.[2] The album features the Chinese version of Stephanie Poetri's "I Love You 3000" and seven tracks in English,[3] among which "Faded" was supposed to be released as a standalone single in March 2019.[4]

In an interview with i-D, Wang stated "For this album I actually found my true identity. I've released a lot of rap songs in the past; In China I release many ballads and R&B songs, so it just came to a conclusion where I felt like the fusion of it all was me."[5] Through Mirrors, he shares his truest and deepest feelings, talking about love, running out of time, his achievements and where he is in life.[5] Although the songs' main theme looks like romantic love, the counterpart he sings about is himself, his demons, fears, or his passions.[5]

The album's first single, "Bullet to the Heart", was released on September 24 and is about overcoming the obstacles and hardships experienced while pursuing a dream.[3][6][7][8] The album's second single was "Dway!", published on October 22,[9][10] and expresses Wang's pride towards his achievements and his conviction that he's able to master his life. The title is a word play with the Chinese word "对", which means "I'm right".[4] The full album was released on October 25, 2019 along with a music video for "Titanic", a collaboration song with Indonesian singer and rapper Rich Brian.[11] In the music video, Wang dances with Asian dance group Kinjaz.[3]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[12]

About the album, Clash said "Jackson Wang's solo career is set to truly shine. [...] What's most impressive about the record [...] is the brilliant range of distinct sounds the young artist has managed to cover in eight short tracks; no track sounds like another and that sets the bar really high for whatever he comes out with next. Connections of the heart, the career he has worked for and his conviction in seeing himself through the hard journey, and a celebration of his Asian culture to boot, makes up Jackson Wang's debut album – and it's hard to find any glaring faults with it barring the slow start of the first few tracks and a wish that the record was longer than just a total of 20 minutes."[12] It also indicated "Titanic" as the highlight of the record.[12]

Jeff Benjamin from Billboard wrote "The album's title of Mirrors is a perfect fit as an album shooting a real, sometimes harsh, reflection of one's true self. It's a change-up from the previously announced Journey to the West title Jackson was previously playing, as these eight songs all look to be a larger meditation on Wang as a human rather than about a crossover attempt. [...] One of Mirror's standout tracks "Bad Back" shines as one of the most interesting on the album as it seems to have multiple layers to representing Jackson as both an artist and as a person"[13] and "Mirrors felt like a journey of self-discovery with a tracklist that showcased new sides of Jackson as an artist."[14]

Daniel Spielberger of HipHopDX deemed the record heartfelt but unoriginal, lacking a knock-out hit and lyricism.[15]

Commercial performance[edit]

Upon its release, "Bullet to the Heart" debuted at #1 on the Billboard China Chart and peaked at #1 on the China Social Chart.[16]

In the November 3–9 week, the album placed #32 on Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting debut album ever from a Chinese artist.[13] In the same week, it also debuted on other Billboard's charts: it placed #3 on Digital Albums Chart,[3] #1 on Independent Albums Chart, #2 on Rap Album Sales Chart, #3 on Digital Albums Chart, #4 on Top Album Sales Chart and Top Current Albums Chart, #18 on Top Rap Albums Chart, and #22 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.[16]

Track listing[edit]

Credits adapted from NetEase Music.[17]

Mirrors track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Bullet to the Heart"
  • Jackson Wang
  • Gregory "Aldae" Hein
  • The Roommates
2:26
2."On the Rocks"
  • Wang
  • Sean Turk
  • Kyle "Ko" Owens
  • Hein
  • Maurice "Barney Bones" Powell
  • Wang
  • Sean Turk
  • Kyle "Ko" Owens
  • Hein
  • Maurice "Barney Bones" Powell
3:09
3."Dway!"
  • Wang
  • Sebastian Lopez
  • Bijan Amirkhani
  • Amber Marie Sassman
  • Jake Asher Rahman
  • Ray "August Grant" Jacobs
  • Powell
  • Hein
  • Wang
  • Sebastian Lopez
  • Bijan Amirkhani
  • Amber Marie Sassman
  • Jake Asher Rahman
  • Ray "August Grant" Jacobs
  • Powell
  • Hein
2:25
4."Unless I'm With You"
  • Wang
  • Hein
  • Seunghyo Hahm
  • Christian Dold
  • Mathias Rosenholn
  • Wang
  • Hein
  • Seunghyo Hahm
  • Christian Dold
  • Mathias Rosenholn
2:27
5."Bad Back (feat. GoldLink)"
  • Wang
  • Montana Wayne Best
  • Hahm
  • Turk
  • GoldLink
  • Wang
  • Montana Wayne Best
  • Hahm
  • Turk
  • GoldLink
2:42
6."Titanic (feat. Rich Brian)"
  • Wang
  • Michael Graham Oatman
  • Rich Brian
  • Paolo Rodriguez
  • Wang
  • Michael Graham Oatman
  • Rich Brian
  • Paolo Rodriguez
2:21
7."Faded"
  • Wang
  • Alexander Hewitt
  • Luis Angel Fuentes
  • Amber Marie Sassman
  • Jake Asher Rahman
  • Wang
  • Alexander Hewitt
  • Luis Angel Fuentes
  • Amber Marie Sassman
  • Jake Asher Rahman
2:37
8."爱 (I Love You 3000 Chinese version)"
  • Wang
  • Stephanie Poetri
  • Wang
  • Stephanie Poetri
3:30
Total length:21:37

Accolades[edit]

Accolades for Mirrors
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2019 NetEase Cloud Music 2019 Music List Best Selling Digital Album of the Year Won [18][19][20]
Most Popular Chinese Album of the Year Won
Most Popular Pop Album of the Year Won
2020 Channel R Radio Awards Best Album Nominated [21]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Mirrors
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[22] 18
French Digital Albums (SNEP)[23] 62
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[24] 83
US Billboard 200[25] 32
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[26] 4

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dodson, P. Claire (October 25, 2019). "Jackson Wang Is Working Double Time for His Vision". Teen Vogue. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "终于等到你！王嘉尔首张数字专辑网易云音乐预售在即" [It's finally here! Jackson Wang's first digital album to go on pre-sale on NetMusic soon]. m.ikanchai.com (in Chinese). September 20, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Haddad, Hanan (November 7, 2019). "GOT7's Jackson Wang Opens Up About His Goals, Hardships and Solo Debut". E! Online. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Jackson Wang Breaks Down His Debut Album 'Mirrors': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Malis, Carolina (October 25, 2019). "Jackson Wang on embracing his flaws and breaking the mold". i-D. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Tamar, Herman (September 24, 2019). "Jackson Wang Unveils Dramatic 'Bullet to the Heart' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Riddhi, Chakraborty (September 24, 2019). "Watch Jackson Wang's Harrowing Video For 'Bullet To The Heart'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "王嘉尔新歌《BULLET TO THE HEART》上线 纯白极简MV打造东方美学 首张数字专辑《MIRRORS》八面镜映射不同心境 9/26开启预售". Billboard China (in Chinese). September 5, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Jackson Wang Breaks The Fourth Wall In New Video "DWAY!"". Aupium. October 22, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Murray, Robin (October 23, 2019). "Chinese Star Jackson Wang Shares Explosive Single 'DWAY!'". Clash. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "Jackson Wang Releases "Titanic" Music Video With Rich Brian". WiLD 94.9. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Jackson Wang - Mirrors". Clash Magazine. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Jackson Wang Finds His Voice & Makes Chart History, Embracing Himself With Debut Album 'Mirrors'". Billboard. November 7, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "Jackson Wang Interview on '100 Ways,' New Album". Billboard. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  15. ^ Spielberger, Daniel (October 29, 2019). "Review: Jackson Wang's "MIRRORS" Is A Heartfelt But Unoriginal Debut". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Mainam, Conan Altatis (November 5, 2019). "Jackson Wang's 'Mirrors' is highest Billboard 200 chart debut for any Chinese artist's debut album". CONAN Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "MIRRORS". NetEase. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  18. ^ "2019年度音乐榜单人气类奖项投票开启 - 网易云音乐". music.163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  19. ^ "网易云音乐2019年度音乐榜单". music.163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "网易云音乐2019年度音乐榜单：华晨宇新单狂揽人气单曲等多个奖项". ex.chinadaily.com.cn (in Chinese). December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  21. ^ "Channel R Radio Awards 2020". Channel R. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  22. ^ ARIA Digital Album Chart:"Mirrors - 1st Full Album (2019)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  23. ^ French Digital Albums:
  24. ^ UK Official Album Downloads Chart:
  25. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. November 9, 2019.
  26. ^ "Top Album Sales Chart". Billboard. November 9, 2019.
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