^ Sometimes I'm wondering Chinese people's taste. I have heard so much bland sounding ballads and found out later that those songs are hugely popular.
I can't claim it affects on every issue. Of course there's individuals and we all have different taste. Maybe lyrics itself have a deeper meaning which I can't understand because I'm a foreigner and don't own any kind of emotional bond to their motherland.
Jolin's best ballads are the ones with wishful/hopeful/haunting melody. And I'm big fan of any kind of stringed instruments. I agree that her latest album didn't include any ballad which will give goosebumps.