Pop legend Jeff Chang releases new album to reinvent himself

Legendary Chinese pop singer Jeff Chang has released a new album titled "Be Part Of," on which he reinvents himself and showcases his ability to expand his musical styles.

Jeff Chang poses with his new album "Be Part Of" at a press conference in Beijing, Aug. 28, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Tide Music Co., Ltd]

For decades fans have hailed Chang, now 58, as the "Prince of Love Songs." He boasts a legacy of classic love ballads and released more than 30 albums. On this new album, there is something new, something different. He has stepped away from what we have come to expect and experimented with a diverse range of genres. Everything from pop and classical-inspired ballads to rock, New Age, City Pop, and orchestral arrangements are found in this new musical crossover. Through this latest exploration, he aims to showcase a different side of his artistic energy and vision.

When discussing "Be Part Of" at the album launch event in Beijing on Aug. 28, Chang explained: "The concept behind it is that a person's life is actually made up of many different parts, which together form the whole of who you are."

"Each part represents a fragment of life's emotions and stories. 'Be part of' isn't about belonging in an exclusive or rigid sense – it's more about being connected, being a piece of the whole," he said.

The 12-track album contains many songs through which he aimed to reinvent himself and push beyond his previous limits. The song "Further Yet Closer" conveys his desire to distance himself from the past — even forgetting his own label and name — and start over again, while "Our Story" expresses his resolve to embrace a wonderful world. Meanwhile, "Accomplice" shares his insights into the darker aspects of the world, "Solitary Silence" explores themes of missed love and self-sacrifice, and "Perhaps, My Sole Witness" reflects on the philosophy of facing death and endings.

He co-wrote two songs, "Quit You" and "Fabulous," for the album. In his words, he simply couldn't find anyone else to write lyrics that accurately reflected his mindset and reflections, so he decided to write them himself. "These two songs are about — okay, when you've let go of everything, and when you see everything clearly — whether you can truly release your grip and accept yourself again," he said.

Jeff Chang gifts his new album "Be Part Of" to café owner and songwriter Ren Jiayi, a disabled man and longtime fan, as they share the stage at a press conference in Beijing, Aug. 28, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Tide Music Co., Ltd]

"And then comes 'The Name I Carry in This Life'," Chang continued, elaborating on his album's concept and structure. "It's about when you've clearly defined yourself — when you've made peace with who you are and rediscovered your identity — you become willing to share with others. You hope that there is at least one person in this world who will remember you and everything you've shared. It's only then that all forms of cherish begin to emerge: the companionship in 'Abide with You', the unspoken depth in 'More Than Words Can Say', and the reassurance in 'You Are Not Alone'."

The album concludes with a Minnan-dialect song titled "Autography of Age," which the singer described as a tribute to mothers and his first time singing in Minnan dialect. "It also carries another meaning: this world is like a mother. No matter what we go through or how we mistreat it, she still embraces us as a mother would, and she, too, has the capacity to heal herself," he said.

Jeff Chang also showcased a physical copy of his new album on stage and gifted it to café owner and songwriter Ren Jiayi. He is a longtime fan who has listened to Chang's music since his school years and has continued to draw inspiration from it throughout his journey as an entrepreneur living with a disability. Ren's story also inspired a short film set to the track "Our Story." Chang has created several such short films to highlight touching and inspirational narratives from people's lives.

He promised to perform songs from his new album on his upcoming "Our Story" World Tour, which begins in Las Vegas on Sept. 27 and will continue across cities in North America, Europe, and Australia for three months.

At the press conference, he surprised attendees by revealing a real star had been named after him. He then shared its astronomical coordinates in the constellation Aries, encouraging everyone to look up to the sky.

The album cover art exhibit with a shining star and Jeff Chang's autograph, at the press conference in Beijing, Aug. 28, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Tide Music Co., Ltd]

"What I really want to convey is that everyone deserves to be named and recognized. So whenever you face challenges, difficulties, or find yourself in any problematic situation, if you're willing to look up toward the sky, I believe you can find a star that belongs to you. As long as you are willing to take that step — instead of letting yourself sink deeper — even the faintest starlight can guide you, if only you lift your eyes toward the light," Chang said.