Joker Xue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joker Xue
薛之谦
Xue in December 2019
Born	(1983-07-17) 17 July 1983 (age 41) Shanghai, China
Nationality	Chinese
Alma mater	Glion Institute of Higher Education
Occupation	Singer-songwriter record producer
Years active	2005–present
Notable work	"演员" Actor, "丑八怪" Ugly
Spouse(s)	Leixin Gao ​ (m. 2012⁠–⁠2015)​ Leixin Gao ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	1
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	薛之谦
Traditional Chinese	薛之謙
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xuē Zhīqiān
Musical career
Genres	Mandopop
Instruments	Guitar, Piano
Labels	Chaoshi Music

Joker Xue (Chinese: 薛之谦; pinyin: Xuē Zhīqiān, born 17 July 1983) is a Chinese singer-songwriter and record producer, formerly known as Jacky Xue. Since his 2006 debut, Xue has produced a string of ballads. His musical style melds the classic pop pairing of piano and strings with folk-tinged acoustic guitar and R&B beats; in recent years, he has incorporated more rock elements into his music. Xue is known for his "jokester" nature, a trait that contributed to his popularity as it's "not just about good music, but it is also about him showing his funny side to fans.”

Xue is among the most-streamed Mandopop artists on Spotify and YouTube as well as one of five Chinese artists to perform more than 100 shows in a single tour. On May 30, 2024, Xue announced two stadium shows in Shantou, becoming the first Chinese artist to have 100 stadium shows in a single tour.

Early life

Xue was born and raised in Shanghai, China. At age four, his mother died of a heart disease. He studied painting in his youth, then Hotel Management at Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, before dropping out to pursue a music career.

Music career

2005–2010: Debut and career beginnings

In 2005, Xue participated in the singing competition show My Style, My Show (我型我秀) and released his self-titled debut album Xue Zhiqian (薛之谦) as Jacky Xue the following year. His debut album sold over 200,000 copies within a month and a half and included major hits such as Serious Snow (认真的雪), Yellow Maple Leaves (黄色枫叶). The same year, he was awarded the Most Popular New Artist at the 6th Global Chinese Music Awards. In 2007, Xue recorded his second album How Are You (你过得好吗), which sold more than 150,000 copies within one month of its release. He made history by receiving seven nominations at the Beijing Pop Music Awards, which established his reputation as a promising singer-songwriter.

In 2008, Xue was honored as a torchbearer for the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay. On November 26, 2008, he released his third album Loved You Deeply (深深爱过你) which was considered a commercial and critical success, prompting his company to release an upgraded commemorative album in April the following year. After listening to the song Legend (传说) in this album, Shinji Tanimura was impressed by Xue's compositions and invited him to the Asia Music Festival held in Osaka, Japan. He finished off the year with his first concert in Shanghai on December 20.

In 2009, Xue released his fourth album, Unfinished Songs (未完成的歌), a compilation album composed of selected tracks from several of his albums with three new songs. In 2010, new management of his company was unwilling to fund Xue's album despite his previous successes. Xue, wishing to continue his music career, assumed all the expenditure to produce and advertise his album. During this period, he fell into depression, and lost weight sharply during those days.

2011–2015: Self-funded music and alternate paths

Xue continued to self-fund his music by opening his own hotpot restaurant and its success allowed him to keep pursuing music Xue also appeared on many Chinese variety shows because he needed to make money and to keep exposure during the time when no new music production is released.

In 2012, Xue released his fifth album, Several Xue Zhiqians (几个薛之谦). That year also marked the end of his seven-year contract with Shangteng Entertainment (上腾娱乐), which went out of business soon after he left. It is worth noting that he is the only artist who debuted via My Style, My Show (我型我秀) to fulfill the entirety of his contract as the others had terminated their contracts earlier by paying the penalty. Xue stated he chose to honor it because they opened the door to his music career.

In 2013, Xue released his sixth album An Unexpected Journey (意外), under the record company Ocean Butterflies. In 2015, Xue gained significant popularity through sharing jokes on Weibo. On June 8, Xue released an EP, Gentleman (绅士), which contained three tracks, including the highly popular song Actor (演员), the 4th most viewed Chinese music videos on YouTube with more than 200 million views. However, Xue advised against purchasing the EP because it only contained three songs and recommended listening to the songs online for free, a rarity as popular Chinese music streaming platforms, such as NetEase Cloud Music and QQ Music, follow the freemium model, which requires listeners to either subscribe or purchase in order to listen to the songs in full. Xue has made his music available for free because he wants his music to be accessible and he feels he can be more sincere about it if money is not involved.

2016–2020: Promotional activities and commercial success

Xue in 2017

In 2016, Xue changed his English name from "Jacky" to "Joker" as "Jacky" was the result of a guessing game he played at his debut and his sense of humor was well-known. That same year, Xue produced his seventh album Beginner (初学者), which includes three songs from the EP Gentlemen and the notable single Just Right (剛剛好). The music video for Just Right has over 50 million views on YouTube. In the list of the top ten internet celebrities with the most marketing value, Xue ranked at number ten. Despite the success, Xue pushed himself to appear in more than 40 variety shows in order to maintain exposure and for the audience to connect his name to his music; the physical demands of the packed schedule led to him being hospitalized in May.

In January 2017, Xue was again hospitalized in January due to acute gastroenteritis while filming the variety show Our Challenge (我们的挑战). Throughout 2017, Xue released singles Noble (高尚) and Animal World (动物世界) that focused on reflecting and critiquing the darker side of human nature, a deviation from his previous ballads. Xue held his first concert tour I Think I've Seen You Somewhere Tour (我好像在哪见过你巡回演唱会), which was very well-received. In December, Xue released his eighth album The Crossing (渡) and was recognized as the most popular male solo singer of the year in terms of total plays, downloads, and searches at the 2017 Kugou Music Awards.

In 2018, Xue announced he would decrease his variety show appearances to better focus on music and he suffered from laryngitis for several months before making a full recovery. He released his ninth album Freak (怪咖) with songs like Skyscraper (摩天大楼) and Reckless (肆无忌惮), incorporating different musical elements, while The Best (最好) featured a more balladic composition. He ranked first amongst solo artists in terms highest cumulative playback volume on QQ Music for the second consecutive year. Later that year, he embarked on his Skyscraper World Tour.

In 2019, after concluding his Skyscraper World Tour that spanned spanned China, North America, Australia, and Europe, Xue released his tenth album Dust (尘), which contained ten songs. He was named Male Singer of the Year at CMIC Music Awards. In 2020, Xue released his eleventh album Extraterrestrial (天外来物), which contained ten songs. However, only nine are available for streaming in the US as "小尖尖" is unavailable on Spotify or Apple Music. Extraterrestrial was named one of the Best Songs of the Year and Xue won awards as "The Most Covered Singer on WeSing" and "Most Influential Male Singer (Mainland China)" at the 2021 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards.

2021–present: Extraterrestrial World Tour

Xue began on his Extraterrestrial World Tour in October 2021, which began at the Suzhou Sports Center in Suzhou. In 2022, he performed at Wuyuan River Stadium. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he only held four shows in 2021 and one show in 2022.

The Extraterrestrial World Tour fully took off in 2023. Xue headlined 75 shows, with consecutive shows at most stops and a series of three consecutive shows at the Beijing National Stadium on August 11–13, 2023, attracting around 60,000 people per show. Many of the Chinese cities he toured in were categorized by Chinese city tier system as second- and third- tier cities, typically not sites for large-scale consecutive concerts. Quzhou, a third-tier city and the first stop of Xue's 2023 shows, placed first as fastest-growing city in the country’s box office rankings and prompted Quzhou News Media Center voicing their gratitude to Xue in a video on their official Douyin account.

In 2022, Xue released his twelfth album, Countless (无数), which included ten songs, including the lead single Turning Waste Into Treasure (变废为宝), But (可) featuring Jane Zhang, and You Are Not Alone (你不是一个人) featuring Jeff Chang. At the 15th Migu Music Awards, Turning Waste Into Treasure was named one of the Best Songs of the Year and Xue won Best Male Singer; Xue's previous album Extraterrestrial won Album of the Year (Male Singer). He was also named Male Singer of the Year by CMIC Music Awards for a second time.

In 2023, Xue released Youth of the Galaxy (银河少年), Nothing, Worship (拜), Idea (念), and Love Letter (情书). In December, Xue ranked number one in total number of fans across all music streaming platforms in China with 83.62 million fans. In 2024, Xue released single AI. On April 21, 2024, Xue performed the 100th show of the Extraterrestrial World Tour in Luoyang, becoming the sixth Chinese artist to reach the milestone of 100 shows in a single tour. As of May 2024, the Extraterrestrial World Tour spanned 30 of the 34 province-level divisions of China.

Social impact

In 2007, Joker Xue went to Russia with other artists to participate in the China Cultural Festival key project "Friendship Tour along the Volga River" jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation Cultural Film Agency.

On 20 January 2008, Joker Xue presented the "Wings of Happiness" charity evening; then, he was elected torchbearer and passed the torch in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, and passed the torch. In March, a new book release was held in Shanghai. Not only donating part of the manuscript fee, he also took out 10 photos for auction. The proceeds were donated to the snow disaster-stricken area through the Shanghai Red Cross to support the reconstruction.

In 2018, Xue served as promotion ambassador for the "Run Beijing" charity project, aimed to raise awareness for the importance of physical and mental health.

In September 2023, Xue was forced to cancel the second show on his Chengdu stop due to a high fever. He announced the news in person because he felt it was only right to do so given the fans had already travelled to the stadium. Not only were fans offered to choice to refund or keep their tickets for a future show, but those from out of town could also be reimbursed for their travel and lodging expenses. This considerate gesture drew widespread praise. Other artists began providing more comprehensive accommodations for concert cancellations in the following year.

Xue has stated multiple times that he is against Ticket resale. To protect his fans, he often adds one or two more shows at each location to increase the likelihood that his fans can get tickets and decrease the chances that his fans will engage with scalpers. He has also urged his fans to only come to one show and to spend their time and money on other things in life.

Accolades

Xue's artistry has received praise from other acclaimed musicians, producers, and songwriters.

Zhang Yadong said: "Through these lyrics, you can understand his particularly delicate thoughts, which are very, very good...” Yuan Weiren said: "I think that for a musician as good as Xue Zhiqian, he has many of the most important aspects of Chinese music." Li Jian described him as: "a true pioneer of mainland music, a great singer who can be compared with and compete with any singer in Hong Kong and Taiwan." Zhao Yingjun said: "he is one of the best lyricists in the music industry." Jay Chou said: "His live performances resonate well. He really puts his heart into making music."

Both of his Skyscraper World Tour and Extraterrestrial World Tour received positive reviews from The Straits Times. Of the Skyscraper World Tour, Xue's voice "smouldered at its lower end and shimmered in its higher register" and he was able to "play up the drama in performance without being showy." Of the Extraterrestrial World Tour, Xue's style was "playful and wisecracking", his voice "rang with a pleading intensity perfect for the grand anthems he is known for", and he familiarized "himself with all things Singapore" to include local details into his performance.

Discography

Albums:

• (2006.06) Jacky (薛之謙)
• (2007.07) How Are You? (你過得好嗎)
• (2008.11) Deeply Loved You (深深爱过你)
• (2009.12) Unfinished Songs (未完成的歌)
• (2012.08) Several Of... (幾個薛之謙)
• (2013.11) An Unexpected Journey (意外)
• (2016.07) Beginner (初學者)
• (2017.12) The Crossing (渡)
• (2018.12) Freak (怪咖)
• (2019.12) Dust (塵)
• (2020.12) Extraterrestrial (天外來物)
• (2022.09) Countless (无数)

Extended plays:

• (2015.06) Gentleman (绅士)
• (2015.10) Half (一半)

Singles:

• (2023.01) Youth of the Galaxy (银河少年)
• (2023.04) Nothing
• (2023.06) Worship (崇拜)
• (2023.07) Idea (念)
• (2023.12) Love Letter (情书)
• (2024.02) AI

Concerts and tours

Xue held his first concert in 2007 in Shanghai, as it was a single show, it did not count as a tour. Since 2017, he has headlined three tours. His first tour, I Think I've Seen You Somewhere, had 10 shows and was based in China. He expanded the scope for his second and third tours, Skyscraper World Tour and Extraterrestrial World Tour, to include stops in other Asian countries and cities in North America, Europe, Australia.

He holds numerous records as the first Mainland China and/or first artist to hold a concert at specific stadiums, both due to his willingness to travel to second- and third-tier cities (as categorized by Chinese city tier system) and his widespread fanbase. He is the first Mainland China artist to hold two consecutive concerts at Taipei Arena as well as the first Chinese male artist to perform at top venues in Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Trusts Arena, and Qudos Bank Arena). On August 11–13, 2023, Xue held three consecutive concerts at Beijing National Stadium, fulfilling his ultimate wish of headlining the venue as stated in an interview eighteen years ago.

Xue headlined the 100th concert of his career on November 11, 2023 in Wenzhou. He held the 100th concert of the Extraterrestrial World Tour on April 21, 2024 in Luoyang, placing him among the handful of artists (Jacky Cheung, Eason Chan, Jay Chou, and Mayday) who have also held more than 100 concerts in a single tour. As of May 2024, his Extraterrestrial World Tour has held concerts at 30 of the 34 Province-level divisions of China with more than 120 total shows attended by approximately 3,600,000 people. On May 30, 2024, with the announcement of two stadium shows in Shantou, Xue now holds the record as the first Chinese artist to have 100 stadium shows in a single tour. A significant milestone as stadiums have much larger capacity compared to arenas, therefore demand more of the artist's performance, tour equipment, and ticket sales.

Headlining

Tours

• I Think I've Seen You Somewhere Tour (2017)
• Skyscraper World Tour (2018–2019)
• Extraterrestrial World Tour (2021–present)

Concerts

• Live Concert in Shanghai (2008)
• Douyin Online Concert: Ke (2023)

Business ventures

In 2011, Xue opened a hotpot restaurant named Shang Shang Qian (上上谦, a play on 上上签 meaning the luckiest draw and the character 谦 in his name). At its peak, Shang Shang Qian had multiple locations across the country. As of 2023, only 2 locations remain in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

In 2015, Xue established the streetwear brand Dangerous People and said in an interview that he doesn't want it to only rely on fan economy but also be accepted by others who aren't his fans. In January 2019, he is no longer a shareholder but remains the brand manager. As of December 2023, he still promotes the brand on social media.

In July 2020, Chaoshi Music was registered and established, its business scope includes cultural and artistic exchange activities, radio and television program production, performance management, and Internet cultural engagement. Xue's father owns 33% of the stocks and serves as a director. On December 24, 2021, he released a new single "Pheonix Feathers and Unicorn Horns" (凤毛麟角) through Chaoshi Music. On May 31, 2022, Xue posted a photo on his Weibo announcing the opening of Chaoshi Music. Chaoshi Music produces Xue's Extraterrestrial World Tour.

See also

In Spanish: Joker Xue para niños