Pop diva Jolin Tsai's album "Play" picked up the top award at the Golden Melody Awards in Taipei on Saturday night.
The album bagged three awards at Taiwan’s version of the Grammys, including Best Mandarin Album. The album entered the competition with nine nominations – more than any other album. In addition to Best Album, it also picked up Best Vocal Recording Album and Best Single Producer.
This year’s Best Mandarin Female Singer award this year went to Taiwanese pop diva A-mei for her album “Faces of Paranoia.” It was the 12th nomination for the Puyuma Tribe musician, whose Mandarin name is Chang Hui-mei. She won previously in 2002 for her album “Truth” and again in 2010 for “A-mit” which is her indigenous name.
In the Best Mandarin Male Singer category, Hong Kong singer Eason Chan edged out four other nominees with his album “Rice and Shine”. Chan said that the concept behind the album is to inspire people to face each day with an optimistic outlook.
Although he had previously won the award in 2003 for “Special Thanks To…”, this year was Chan’s first time accepting the award in person.
Other highlights of the night included Best Song going to Fire EX’s “Island’s Sunrise”, which was an unofficial anthem of the student movement in Taiwan in 2014. The band Buddha Jump picked up Best Band, and another band – Boxing – picked up Best New Artist.