Taipei Arena erupted on Saturday night as the 37th Golden Melody Awards – the Grammys of the Mandarin pop world – delivered one of its most memorable ceremonies, with pop titan Jolin Tsai walking away with the evening’s ultimate prize.
The Golden Melody Awards have long served as the definitive measure of excellence across Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous-language music.
The night’s defining moment came when Jolin Tsai’s album “Pleasure,” released through Warner Music Taiwan, claimed Album of the Year. Fittingly, “Pleasure” had already powered her to the Best Mandarin Female Singer award earlier in the night, making it a landmark double for one of Asia’s most enduring entertainers.
Singer-songwriter Chang Chen-yue owned the performance and craft awards. His album “Walk with Feelings,” released via Rock Records, earned him Best Mandarin Album, while he also took home Best Mandarin Male Singer and Best Composer.
Song of the Year went to “Singing with Happiness,” the theme song (Happy Version) from the film “The Sunshine Girls Choir,” performed by A-Lin and composed by Li Fangrui with lyrics by Lin Xiaoqian.
Best Taiwanese Album went to Ricky Hsiao for “Be a Kind and Soft-Hearted Person” (Warner Music Taiwan), with Hsiao also claiming Best Taiwanese Male Singer. PiA Wu Bei-ya took Best Taiwanese Female Singer for “First Experience of Divorce.” In the Hakka category, Huang Yu-han’s “Ngai” won Best Hakka Album, while Sarah Chen Yi-nuo claimed Best Hakka Singer for “Slow Flower Journal.” The Indigenous language awards went to Outlet Drift’s “Masonolay i Cepo'” for Best Indigenous Language Album and to the beloved Suming Rupi, who won Best Indigenous Language Singer for “Mikerid Guiding the Way.”
The group categories delivered two distinct flavors of excellence. Sunset Rollercoaster – the beloved Taiwanese indie outfit comprising Tseng Kuo-hung, Lo Tsun-lung, Chen Hung-li, Wang Shao-hsuan, and Huang Hao-ting – claimed Best Musical Group for their album “Quit Quietly,” a win that delighted their devoted following. Meanwhile, girl group Genblue took Best Vocal Group for “Mirror,” marking a rising generation’s arrival on the Golden Melody stage.
Best Newcomer was awarded to Chen Xianjing for “Who Wants to be Sad if Every Day Could be Happy Happy,” a win that introduced a vibrant new voice to Taiwan’s music scene.
The technical awards recognized the craftspeople behind the music. “Pleasure” – Jolin’s triumphant album – also earned Best Vocal Recording Album, a sweep that made clear the project’s excellence extended from performance to production. ØZI and The Crane were named Best Single Producer for “Final Final Final,” while Jude and Chui Chin-hung claimed Best Arranger for “Leaving the Silver Wilderness.”
The Jury Award went to Chen Xiao-xia’s “Old Wings” album. The Special Contribution Award was presented to two legends: Lin Huang-kun and the late Tu Ying, whose lifetimes of work helped build the very stage upon which tonight’s winners stood.
37TH GOLDEN MELODY AWARDS – FULL WINNERS LIST
Album of the Year: “Pleasure” – Warner Music Taiwan (Jolin Tsai)
Song of the Year: “Singing with Happiness” (Happy Version, theme from “The Sunshine Girls Choir”) – Zhongyue Entertainment (performed by A-Lin; composed by Li Fangrui; lyrics by Lin Xiaoqian)
Best Mandarin Album: “Walk with Feelings” – Rock Records (Chang Chen-yue)
Best Taiwanese Album: “Be a Kind and Soft-Hearted Person” – Warner Music Taiwan (Ricky Hsiao)
Best Hakka Album: “Ngai” – Yulang Chuangle (Huang Yu-han)
Best Indigenous Language Album: “Masonolay i Cepo'” – Wind Music (Outlet Drift)
Best Composer: Chang Chen-yue – “Drifter’s…” from “Walk with Feelings” – Rock Records
Best Lyricist: Xiao Han – “Chéngrén zhī Měi” from “Wánzhěng de Dàrén” – Sony Music Taiwan (Peng Jiahui)
Best Arranger: Jude and Chui Chin-hung – “Leaving the Silver Wilderness” – Asia Music Entertainment (Jude)
Best Album Producer: Chang Shilei – “Chún Mèimei” – Hesheng Culture Entertainment (Dan Yichun)
Best Single Producer: ØZI and The Crane – “Final Final Final” (feat. The Crane, Gummy B) from “Swirl” – Warner Music Taiwan (ØZI, The Crane, Gummy B)
Best Mandarin Male Singer: Chang Chen-yue – “Walk with Feelings” – Rock Records
Best Mandarin Female Singer: Jolin Tsai – “Pleasure” – Warner Music Taiwan
Best Taiwanese Male Singer: Ricky Hsiao – “Be a Kind and Soft-Hearted Person” – Warner Music Taiwan
Best Taiwanese Female Singer: PiA Wu Bei-ya – “First Experience of Divorce” – Wu Bei-ya Studio
Best Hakka Singer: Sarah Chen Yi-nuo – “Slow Flower Journal” – Universal Music Taiwan
Best Indigenous Language Singer: Suming Rupi – “Mikerid Guiding the Way” – Mida Creative
Best Musical Group: Sunset Rollercoaster (Tseng Kuo-hung, Lo Tsun-lung, Chen Hung-li, Wang Shao-hsuan, Huang Hao-ting) – “Quit Quietly” – Sunset Music Industry
Best Vocal Group: GENBLUE (XXIN, Yuanyuan, AYEON, Lili, Ayako, Nico) – “Mirror” – Sky Entertainment
Best Newcomer: Chen Xianjing – “If Every Day Could Be Happy Happy Who Would Want to Be Sad” – Yanshe Enterprise
Best Instrumental Album: “Over the Moons” – Zhongzhong Keneng Enterprise (Su Yuhan)
Best Instrumental Album Producer: Huang Ruifeng and Wu Zhengjun – “Legend: Double Strike – New Vision” – Mading Culture
Best Instrumental Composer: Su Yuhan – “Pieces Peace” from “Over the Moons” – Zhongzhong Keneng Enterprise
Best Album Art Direction: Wu Jianlong, Yali Sanxiao, Tsai Weichun – “Sax Tape” – Sunset Music Industry
Best Vocal Recording Album: “Pleasure” – Warner Music Taiwan
Best Instrumental Recording Album: “I Am Here” – Warner Music Taiwan
Best Music Video: “Dumplings” from “Wǒ Hěn Bàoqiàn” – Hele Music (dir. Lin Hongrui)
Special Contribution Award: Tu Ying; Lin Huang-kun
