"Where the Dream Takes You" () and "If Don't Want" () are songs recorded by Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai. Both songs were released together as a single on June 28, 2001, by Universal.
"Where the Dream Takes You" is a Mandarin adaptation of American singer Mya's song of the same name, originally composed by James Newton Howard and Diane Warren. The Chinese lyrics were written by Hsieh Meng-chuan, and the track was produced by David Wu. It served as the Mandarin theme song for Disney's animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001).
"If Don't Want" was written by Hsieh Meng-chuan, Low Shao Ying, and Chervun Liew, and produced by Peter Lee and Paul Lee.
Background and release On June 19, 2001, media outlets reported that Tsai would perform the Mandarin version of "Where the Dream Takes You" for Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, making her the third artist, after Coco Lee and Jacky Cheung, to perform a Chinese-language theme song for a Disney film. The film, characterized by its adventurous narrative and romantic subplots, features a princess known for her determination and courage, qualities that were cited as aligning with Tsai's public image.
On June 21, 2001, reports indicated that Tsai's next studio album was expected to be released on July 13, 2001, with pre-orders opening on July 28, 2001.
Composition and recording In "Where the Dream Takes You", Tsai's vocal range is approximately half a semitone higher than Mya's original version. The song's lyrics and the film's storyline share themes of courage, perseverance, and the pursuit of dreams in both life and love.
"If Don't Want" is a mid-tempo ballad characterized by a subtle sense of melancholy. The lyrics emphasize sincerity, persistence, and tolerance in relationships. Tsai described the song as "absolutely tailor-made" for her vocal style and emotional expression.
Release The single "Where the Dream Takes You" / "If Don't Want" was released on June 28, 2001. On June 30, 2001, Tsai held a press event in Taipei to premiere "Where the Dream Takes You". The music video for "Where the Dream Takes You" was directed by Marlboro Lai, while the music video for "If Don't Want" was directed by Chin Cho and featured actor Ryan Kuo.
In collaboration with McDonald's, a McDonald's exclusive limited version of the single was also released as part of a promotional campaign.
Track listings CD single "Where the Dream Takes You" – 3:58 "If Don't Want" – 4:12
CD single – McDonald's exclusive limited version "Where the Dream Takes You" – 3:58
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Where the Dream Takes You" / "If Don't Want"RegionDateFormat(s)DistributorTaiwanJune 28, 2001Radio airplayUniversalCDMcDonald's
References