I Want Happiness?

I Want Happiness?
Studio album by
A-Mei
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2006 (2006-02-17)
Recorded2005–2006
Studio
  • Platinum Studio (Taipei)
  • Incredible Ear Studio (Beijing)
  • Atomic Studios (Singapore)
  • Resonance Audio (Singapore)
  • YYYD Studio (Beijing)
  • Audio Plex (Singapore)
GenrePop
Length40:58
LabelWarner Music Taiwan
ProducerEric Chen
A-Mei chronology
Maybe Tomorrow
(2004) 		I Want Happiness?
(2006) 		Star
(2007)
Alternative cover
Singles from I Want Happiness?
  1. "Hostage"
    Released: January 29, 2006
  2. "I Want Happiness?"
    Released: February 17, 2006

I Want Happiness? (Chinese: 我要快樂; pinyin: Wǒ Yào Kuàilè) is the thirteenth studio album by Taiwanese recording artist A-Mei. It was released on February 17, 2006, by Warner Music Taiwan and was her final release with the label.[1] After her 2004 album Maybe Tomorrow underperformed on the record charts,[2] A-Mei took a one-year hiatus from the entertainment industry to study abroad in Boston, Massachusetts to return afresh.[3] Eric Chen served as the sole producer of I Want Happiness. Following the release of Maybe Tomorrow, I Want Happiness? saw A-Mei return to her early lyrical style, setting aside her image as a Chinese pop diva. With a simple microphone and her unadorned voice, she sought to connect with her audience through heartfelt love songs that resonated with her fans.[4]

In contrast to Maybe Tomorrow, which fell short of sales expectations and led to a career slump,[5] I Want Happiness saw success in both sales and critical reception upon release, propelling A-Mei to another peak in her music career.[6] The album sold 160,000 copies in Taiwan,[7] becoming the country's seventh best-selling album of the year.[8] In mainland China, it won the annual album sales championship in 2006 with total sales of 970,000 copies.[9] The album went on to sell over 2 million copies across Asia.[10][11] A-Mei promoted I Want Happiness with a series of live performances throughout 2006.

  1. ^ "张惠妹最新国语专辑《我要快乐?》". music.yule.sohu.com (in Chinese). February 20, 2006. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "张惠妹人气暴跌引争议 前男友难脱其咎(组图)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). November 29, 2004.
  3. ^ "孙燕姿抢尽风头 张惠妹难敌负面赴美充电(图)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). November 30, 2004.
  4. ^ "张惠妹最新国语专辑《我要快乐?》" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). February 20, 2006.
  5. ^ "张惠妹新专辑销量不佳 将暂别歌坛休息1年(图)" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). October 19, 2004.
  6. ^ "專輯銷售不佳 華納唱片建議阿妹休息". tvbs (in Chinese (Taiwan)). October 19, 2004. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "張惠妹攻陷小巨蛋　細數阿妹經典情歌" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). April 6, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  8. ^ 网易 (December 13, 2006). "蔡依林台湾销售夺冠 两张专辑入年度10大". www.163.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ptt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "【岁月有歌】2006年的今天：'我要快乐'" [Today in 2006: 'I Want Happiness']. Nanyang Siang Pau (in Chinese). February 17, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "2014.04.06紀錄台灣／阿妹巡迴跑透透 一線大咖來站台". youtube.com (in Chinese (Taiwan)). April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2023.