The Crossing (Joker Xue album)
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| The Crossing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 28, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2017 | |||
| Genre | Mandopop | |||
| Length | 42:29 | |||
| Language | Mandarin | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Zheng Wei | |||
| Joker Xue chronology | ||||
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The Crossing (Chinese: 渡) is the eighth album by Chinese singer-songwriter Joker Xue. It was released on November 28, 2017, by Huayu World Expo and later acquired by Xue's own label Chaoshi Music.[2]
The concept behind The Crossing is a reflection of life and living as one crosses from childhood to adulthood, from one role to the next, and from yesterday to today.[2] This album marks a shift in Xue's music from emotional ballads about heartbreak to examinations and critique of the darker side of human nature.[3]
Composition
Of the ten tracks on the album, Xue composed music for five tracks and wrote lyrics for nine tracks. The only song he did not participate in creating was "Camel" which was written by Gan Shijia and composed by Guo Ding, both had collaborated with Xue on Several Of..., An Unexpected Journey, and Beginner.
Xue has stated that "Noble", a song exploring the twistedness of values and emotions under societal pressures, is one of the song he's satisfied with. Despite many people thinking he was writing about himself, he clarified that it is about "a group of people who are in pain."[3]
"The Crossing" is a cover version of "Here She Comes Again" by the Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp. Xue penned the Chinese lyrics, sharing "insights into his life experiences and his analysis of himself" to the audience through his words.[4]
There are three original soundtrack songs on this album: "Like the Wind" for the historical drama series I Will Never Let You Go, "The Martian Has Come" for season two of the variety show "Mars Intelligence Agency", and "I'm Afraid" for the drama series "Boy Hood".[5]
Reception
The Crossing was the top-selling album on YinYueTai in mainland China in 2017.[6] "Ambiguous" ranked tenth on KuGou Music's Top 500 list in August 2017.[7]
On TME Physical Album Annual Sales Chart, launched in 2021, The Crossing continued to appear top 50 despite being released years ago, ranking 38th in 2023, 43th in 2024, and ranked 44th in 2025.[8]
This album signified a breakthrough in Xue's musical style, shifting away from the "Xue Style Love Songs" he was known and sometimes critiqued for.[9] The Crossing, with songs of different styles such as "Animal World", "Camel", "Noble", "I'm Afraid", and "The Martian Has Come", told a "a grand urban fable."[10]
