Jay Chou makes No. 9 on IFPI Global Artist Chart for 2022

Jay Chou makes No. 9 on IFPI Global Artist Chart for 2022

2023-02-23

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has announced its latest Global Artist Chart, which features a Taiwanese artist in the Top 10. Joining U.S. artists such as Taylor Swift and Drake, and K-Pop sensation BTS, was Taiwan’s own Jay Chou, at No. 9 in the world. He’s the first Taiwanese artist to appear on the chart, fresh off the release of his latest album last year titled “Greatest Works of Art.”

After a hiatus of six years, Jay Chou put out a new album in 2022 that immediately became a top seller around the word.

One of his music videos, shot abroad, broke 10 million views in just a few days. According to the IFPI Global Artist Chart, the top recording artists of 2022 were U.S. singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, South Korean boy group BTS, and U.S. rapper Drake. Chou clinched a spot in the Top 10 at No. 9, becoming the first Taiwanese artist to do so and the first artist from the world of Mandopop.

Chou’s work mixes east and west, for example, by collaborating with Jabbawockeez, a renowned U.S. hip-hop dance crew. Last year, Chou topped Spotify’s list of most streamed artists in Taiwan in 2022, and his studio album “Greatest Works of Art” debuted at No. 5 worldwide on the platform. It goes to show, Chou’s fans are still around.

The rise of K-pop was noticed more than ever last year on the IFPI Global Artist Chart, with three South Korean groups in the Top 10. One of them was global sensation BTS at No. 2.

華語歌壇第一人! 周杰倫奪IFPI全球最暢銷第9名

2023-02-23

國際唱片業協會IFPI最新公布，2022年全球暢銷藝人排行，前三名分別是美國歌手泰勒絲、BTS防彈少年團，以及饒舌歌手Drake，而天王周杰倫，去年推出專輯"最偉大的作品"，也以高人氣名列第九名，創下華語歌壇中的第一人。

睽違六年、推出全新專輯，天王周杰倫人氣依舊不減，更在全球暢銷排行當中、榜上有名。

遠赴海外拍新歌MV，推出短短幾天就破千萬點閱。國際唱片業協會IFPI公布，2022年全球暢銷藝人排行，前三名分別是美國歌手泰勒絲、BTS防彈少年團，以及饒舌歌手Drake，而周董風光名列第九，首度出現台灣歌手進榜，成為華語歌壇中的第一人。

跟知名嘻哈舞蹈團合作，結合東西方元素，周杰倫在音樂平台Spotify的2022年度回顧，也拿下華語流行歌手冠軍，全球新專輯排行，更一度擠進第五名，再度證明周董的不敗魅力。

另外，KPOP熱潮也來勢洶洶，因為全球暢銷藝人排行中，有三組屬於韓國藝人，尤其防彈少年團BTS搶下第二名，人氣實力同樣不容小覷。

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The Legislative Yuan on Thursday held elections for the co-chairs of its standing committees, with plenty of alliances playing a role in the outcome. In the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, a Taiwan People’s Party lawmaker helped the DPP edge out the KMT to win both co-chair positions. The favor was returned in the Education and Culture Committee, where DPP votes helped a TPP lawmaker win the co-chair post. Meanwhile, a New Power Party lawmaker voted for a KMT co-chair in the Transportation Committee.

Just two weeks after giving birth, Taiwan People’s Party lawmaker Cynthia Wu headed to the Legislative Yuan. As a member of the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, her vote is crucial. The votes are counted and the results are in. The committee’s two co-chairs are both from the DPP.

Lin Wei-chou
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I’ll be upset for three days. From hope to despair.

KMT lawmaker Lin Wei-chou aired out his helplessness at the KMT’s defeat. Of the 15 seats in the committee, nine are taken by DPP lawmakers, and four by KMT lawmakers. The DPP was sure to get one of the co-chair positions with five of its votes, but votes for the other co-chair role would’ve been tied between the DPP and KMT, at four votes each. That would’ve triggered a lucky draw, but with Wu’s support, the seat went to the DPP.

Lin Wei-chou
KMT lawmaker
She had agreed to vote for me, but in the end she flip-flopped on me. She did it yesterday. She walked on over to cast a vote and voted for the DPP. Had she not come, we could’ve drawn lots. DPP caucus whip Ker and committee co-chair Chiu Tai-yuan all went to visit her at home, and that’s why she agreed to come and vote.

Chiu Tai-yuan
DPP lawmaker
I did not go to her house, absolutely not. Today was the first time I saw her since she had the baby.

The DPP and TPP were strategic with their votes. Over in the Education and Culture Committee, the DPP voted for the TPP’s Chang Chyi-lu張其祿 to trigger a tie with the KMT’s Wan Mei-ling. It was then all left to fate. And luck was on Chang’s side. The committee is now headed by the DPP and TPP, with Fan Yun and Chang as co-chairs.

Lin Wei-chou
KMT lawmaker
What a shame… The trust between the KMT and the TPP has withered to nothing.

Chiu Chen-yuan
TPP caucus whip
What we are hoping to do is to use the few key people we have to reach their maximum potential power.

Over in the Transportation Committee, the New Power Party’s Chen Jiau-hua voted for the KMT’s Chen Hsueh-sheng, helping the KMT win a co-chair position. In the rest of the committees it was all one co-chair each from the DPP and KMT. All in all, the DPP took nine co-chair slots, the KMT six, and the TPP one.

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Legendary Western restaurant in Kaohsiung still popular after more than 50 years

A legendary institution of Kaohsiung high society continues to be a popular location in the port city, even after more than 50 years in business. The Western-style restaurant was founded in 1964, based on the menu of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Its menu of classic U.S. cuisine became synonymous with a fancy night out in Kaohsiung. Some viewers might remember it as the spot for a formal date night. Now, under the leadership of third generation of owners, the restaurant is still delighting loyal customers, and thriving post-COVID.

A beef steak more than 10 centimeters thick sizzles on the pan. When it’s browned, it goes into the oven to bake on a low heat, coming out sweet and juicy. Some customers have been coming here for decades just for the famous steak.

Member of public
It started when I was in middle school. You know, it’s rare for something to not change its flavor at all. I come here for this memory.

Member of public
It’s so peaceful here. I’ve also been coming here since middle school. Then as an adult I’ve also brought my own children to dine here.

The restaurant has been serving a menu of classic Western cuisine since it was founded in 1964. Once it was a glittering jewel in Kaohsiung’s social scene: the place to be for politicians, business people, and celebrities, as well as families toasting major celebrations and lovers enjoying a fairy-tale dinner date. Alongside the classic American burger menu, you can order starters with spectacular dry ice effects, luxurious seafood gratins, and even garlic escargots.

Chen Wan-hung
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When the water droplet rolls over the top, then the temperature is definitely hot enough.

These plates made of galvanized iron are another tradition that makes the restaurant stand out from competitors. The plates and recipes are based on the kitchen of the U.S. Seventh Fleet from the 60s. The cooking techniques have been updated since then, but retain the same aesthetic of American cuisine.

Chen Wan-hung
Third-generation Western restaurant owner
Something we’re famous for is the iron plate fillet, because it uses these galvanized iron plates that were originally given us by the U.S. Navy. My father ran the restaurant for 36 years, and he realized that actually some of his ways of working didn’t conform to the demands of this era. So he asked me if I wanted to take over. If I didn’t, then perhaps our restaurant would have had to close. So it felt like a responsibility to me, because I grew up here at the restaurant.

Third-generation owner Chen Wan-hung started his management training by studying in the kitchen. He’s passionate about everything from ingredients to plating. And with the restaurant sticking to its ideals of classic luxury, it is going from strength to strength even after more than 50 years in business.

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DGBAS revises 2023 GDP forecast down to almost eight-year low of 2.12%

Despite post-COVID recovery, the global economy is struggling due in part to inflationary pressure. In view of the downturn, the Executive Yuan has revised Taiwan’s 2023 GDP growth forecast down to an almost eight-year low. Experts say the manufacturing sector will be hit hard, but other sectors such as tourism and retail are predicted to improve. Let’s hear more on this year’s economic forecast.

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Chu Tzer-min
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Certainty of a global economic downturn has increased. Corporate capital expenditure in the short term is taking a more prudent direction. Coupled with last year’s base already being high, the forecast for this year’s private investment is a negative growth of 1.13%. The forecast for this year’s economic growth rate is 2.12%.

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Chu Tzer-min
DGBAS minister
Last year, inflation was 2.9% or so, close to 3%. In this year’s forecast we’re near 2.16%, so there’s a downward trend, but we still have the pressure of rising prices.

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Times are changing. In the past, the manufacturing industry was good, but now it has too much inventory. That’s because before, purchases were high. They had to prepare materials and spare parts. So it will be revised downward this year, and that will lengthen its recovery time. But now, since countries are opening up, the hospitality, food and beverage, tourism, and retail sectors will all improve. That’s another piece of better news.

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Eatery combines the best breakfast menu items from Hong Kong and Taiwan

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A piece of bread is toasted golden and spread with Hong Kong-style scrambled eggs for a delicious texture. Then a layer of satay beef goes on top and the sandwich is complete. Cut in half, all the layers shine at once.

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My relatives run a restaurant in Hong Kong, so I guess I’ve always dreamed about the industry or opening a restaurant. After I came to Taiwan, I really liked Taiwanese breakfast. I wanted to have a place of my own style, or with things we liked, where everyone could come.

She only tried milky cream spread for the first time in Taiwan. But it was love at first bite. The couple then started making their own, in original and sesame flavors, and selling them online, later adding chocolate to the range. Customers at the eatery love the spreads on toast. But neither of the pair were trained in restaurant skills.

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Diyudian performer
The god is normally very strict in his demands; the rules must be followed to the letter. It seemed like it would be quite difficult to do that abroad, so he didn’t require us to be strictly vegan. But he did require those of us who wear the generals’ dress to maintain the standards of manners and behavior that we ought to.

Wang Kun-tsan
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It represents the will of the god, and the importance of art. We manage the Ba Jia Jiang extremely strictly.

The company received the invitation in late December. They considered saying no because of the prohibitive costs of time and money. But eventually, the company members decided to finance the trip from their own pockets. Temple officials were touched when many temple adherents contributed time and money to the fundraising effort. Taiwanese residents of France also supported the project, even bringing the tradition of “Sending a Towel” to France.

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The temple members created this towel. They told us that going to France is tough and they specially made us a French towel, with French writing on it. It’s very interesting and cute. It’s brought Taiwanese culture, Taiwanese spirit, and even the Taiwanese national flag to the French people.

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