Teresa Teng

Teresa Teng
Chinese name	鄧麗君 (Traditional)
Chinese name	邓丽君 (Simplified)
Pinyin	dèng lìjūn (Mandarin)
Jyutping	dang6 lai6 gwan1 (Cantonese)
Birth name	Teng Li-Chun
Ancestry	Hebei
Origin	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born	January 29 1953(1953-01-29) Yunlin, Taiwan
Died	May 8 1995 (aged 42) Chiang Mai, Thailand
Resting place	Chin Pao San 25°15′04″N 121°36′14″E / 25.251, 121.604
Other name(s)	Teresa Tang, Teresa Deng
Occupation	Singer
Genre(s)	Mandopop, Cantopop, J-Pop
Instrument(s)	Singing
Label(s)	Polydor, PolyGram
Years active	1967 – 1995

Teresa Teng (January 29, 1953 – May 8, 1995) (traditional Chinese: 鄧麗君; pinyin: Dèng Lìjūn; simplified Chinese: 邓丽君), sometimes spelled as Teresa Tang or Teresa Deng, was a legendary and influential C-pop singer from Yunlin County, Taiwan. She enjoyed immense popularity amongst all Chinese-speaking communities and in the rest of East Asia, particularly in Japan, for around 30 years. Teng was known for her folk songs and romantic ballads, which remain popular to this day. She recorded many famous songs, including "When Will You Return?" (simplified Chinese: 何日君再来; pinyin: Hé Rì Jūn Zài Lái). In addition to her Mandarin repertoire, she also recorded songs in Taiwanese, Cantonese, Japanese, Indonesian and English.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Death and commemorations 3 Influence on popular culture 4 Some of her most popular songs 5 Major song awards she received in Japan 6 References 7 External links

Biography

Teresa Teng was born Deng Lijun in Tienyang, a village in Yunlin County, Taiwan, to a mainlander family originating from Hebei province. She was educated at Ginling Girls High School. In 1968, she became famous after giving a performance on a popular music programme in Taiwan, and released eight albums within the next two years. In 1973, she attempted to crack the Japanese market, taking part in Japan's Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a year-round singing match of the most successful artists of that year, and won the prize for "Best New Singing Star".^[1] In 1974, with the song "Airport" (空港), she conquered Japan, where she remained a leading star despite a short exile in 1979 when she was deported for having entered on a fake Indonesian passport, bought for $20,000, a subterfuge rendered necessary by a break in relations between Taiwan and Japan on China's entry to the UN Security Council. Singing by now in Cantonese, Japanese and English as well as her native Mandarin, Teng was soon popular as far as Malaysia and Indonesia. In 1983, she released her most-acclaimed album Light Exquisite Feeling (淡淡幽情). This comprised 12 poems from Tang and Song dynasties, set to music by various composers for the first time in Chinese music history. These included the famous songs "Wishing We Last Forever" (Shuǐ diào gē tóu, 水调歌头) and "How Many Worries" (Yu Mei Ren, 几多愁/虞美人). She was well known and her music was also hugely popular in mainland China despite the fact that the authorities had branded most Western music, including her music, as "decadent". However, she was never to perform there.^[2] She performed in Paris during the 1989 Tiananmen student uprising, singing for the students and proclaiming her support for them and for democracy. On May 27th, 1989, over 300,000 people gathered at the Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong for a gathering called "Democratic songs dedicated for China"(民主歌聲獻中華) She also performed the song called "My home is on the other side of the mountain."^[3] She sang many Japanese songs, including her own originals such as "Airport" (空港) and "I Only Care About You" (時の流れに身をまかせ or 我只在乎你), as well as some in tribute to original artists like Southern All Stars, most of which were re-written with Chinese lyrics.

Death and commemorations

Long time asthmatic, Teng died from a severe asthma attack while on holiday in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the age of 42 (43 by Chinese reckoning) on May 8, 1995. She was given a state funeral at home in Taiwan, with the Republic of China flag draped over her coffin and the ROC President Lee Teng-hui, Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bien, and many other notable politicians in attendance. She is buried in a mountainside tomb at Chin Pao San (金寶山; Jinbaoshan, literally Golden Treasure Mountain), a cemetery near Jinshan, Taipei County in Taiwan. A memorial was built at the tomb with a statue of Teng and her stage clothes on display, with her music playing in the background. There is also a large electronic piano keyboard that visitors can play by stepping on the keys. The tomb is well visited by her fans, a notable departure from traditional Chinese culture shunning visits to burial sites.^[4] A house she bought in 1986 in Hong Kong at No. 18 Carmel Street also become a site of pilgrimage for her fans soon after her death. Plans to sell the home to finance a museum in Shanghai were made known in 2002,^[5] and subsequently sold for HK 32 million. It closed on what would have been her 51st birthday on January 29, 2004.^[6] To commemorate the 10th anniversary of her death, Teresa Teng Culture and Education Foundation launched a campaign entitled "Feel Teresa Teng". In addition to organizing an anniversary concert in Hong Kong and Taiwan, music fans paid homage at her shrine at Chin Pao San Cemetery. Additionally, some of her dresses, jewelry and personal items were placed on exhibition at Yuzi Paradise, an art park outside Guilin, China.^[7] In May 2002, the wax figure of Teng was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.

Influence on popular culture

• Her songs were so popular in Chinese Karaoke bars that they bypassed mainland censorship, and it was said that "by day, Deng Xiaoping rules China, but by night, Deng Lijun rules."^[8]
• Teng's songs have been sung by other singers, most notably Faye Wong who released a tribute album (Decadent Sounds of Faye) consisting entirely of cover songs originally sung by Teresa Teng.
• In the 1996 Hong Kong film Comrades: Almost a Love Story (甜蜜蜜), directed by Peter Chan, the life and death of Teresa Teng is featured as a subplot to the main story.
• Her songs are played in various films, e.g. Rush Hour 2.
• In 2007, TV Asahi produced a tanpatsu (単発, TV movie), entitled Teresa Teng Monogatari (テレサ・テン物語)^[9] to celebrate the 13th anniversary of her death. Actress Yoshino Kimura starred as Teresa Teng.

Some of her most popular songs

• "When Will You Return?" - This theme song was also unofficially used in Meteor Garden where Shan Tsai's mother (Tsukushi) sings the first few stanzas. This song was originally sung by the Shanghai songstress Zhou Xuan
• "Endless Love" (Bu Liao Qing)- This was a song originally sang by Koo Mei, who sang on behalf of the late actress Lin Dai in the movie with the same name (Bu Liao Qing). This was covered by Tsa Chin and a Cantonese version was sung by Anita Mui. This was later given a rap version by David Tao
• "Wine Added to Coffee" - This theme song was unofficially used in Meteor Garden II when Shan Tsai's father gets drunk after work where a few stanzas were sung
• "As Gentle As a Breeze" (simplified Chinese: 恰似你的温柔; pinyin: Qià Sì Nǐ De Wēn Róu, lit: Just Like Your Tenderness), covering a song originally recorded by Tsai Chin (蔡琴)
• "A Small Wish" (simplified Chinese: 一个小心愿; pinyin: Yī Gè Xiǎo Xīn Yuàn)
• "The Milky Way" (simplified Chinese: 云河; pinyin: Yún Hé, lit: Cloud River)
• "Fragrance of the Night" (simplified Chinese: 夜来香; pinyin: Yè Lái Xiāng)
• "How Would You Explain" (simplified Chinese: 你怎么说; pinyin: Kàn Jīn Tiān Nǐ Zěn Mé Shuō, lit: Let's See What You'll Say Today)
• "Raining on the East Mountain" (simplified Chinese: 东山飘雨西山晴; pinyin: Dōng Shān Piāo Yǔ Xī Shān Qíng, lit: East Mountain Raining West Mountain Clear)
• "The Moon Represents My Heart" (Chinese: 月亮代表我的心; pinyin: Yuè Liàng Dài Biǎo Wǒ De Xīn) - This song has been popularized by other artists like the late Leslie Cheung in the album Forever, Jerry Yan in the F4 concerts and Sammi Cheng with Jerry Yan in a duet. A fast version was sung by Linda Wong. The late Anita Mui sang this song as a tribute to Teresa Teng; she had also performed it as a duet with Andy Lau. A rap format was made by David Tao. This song was also translated into Filipino and sung by Zsa Zsa Padilla for the film Mano Po 2. Kim Chiu also sang her own version of the song
• "Stroll on the Road of Life" (Chinese: 漫步人生路; pinyin: Màn Bù Rén Shēng Lù)
• "Your Sweet Smiles" (Chinese: 甜蜜蜜; pinyin: Tián Mì Mì, lit: Sweet Honey Honey) - This song was later used in Love Storm, sung by Leon Lai in a livelier format and by Machi Didi in a rap format. The late Roman Tam also sang this in tribute to Teresa Teng
• "On the Other Side of the Water" (Chinese: 在水一方; pinyin: Zài Shǔi Yī Fāng)
• "Small Town Story" (Chinese: 小城故事; pinyin: Xiǎo Chéng Gù Shì)
• "Forget Him" (simplified Chinese: 忘记他; pinyin: Wàng Jì Tā)
• "Do You Know Whom I Love" (simplified Chinese: 你可知道我爱谁; pinyin: Nǐ Kě Zhī Dào Wǒ Ài Shéi)
• "Thank You" (simplified Chinese: 谢谢你; pinyin: Xiè Xiè Nǐ)
• "Goodbye My Love" (simplified Chinese: 再见，我的爱人; pinyin: Zài Jiàn, Wǒ De Ài Rén, Indonesian language: Selamat Tinggal Kekasih) - This is Teresa Teng's most popular song in Indonesia. Teresa Teng recorded the Indonesian version of this song in 1977, translated by Indonesian composer A. Riyanto for her only album in Indonesian
• "Wishing We Last Forever" (Chinese: 但愿人长久/水调歌头; pinyin: Dàn Yuàn Rén Cháng Jǐu/Shuǐ Diāo Gē Tou) - A traditional poem, transformed into a song. Faye Wong later covered this song. Jolin Tsai also sang this song while Jay Zhou was on piano
• "How Many Worries" (Chinese: 几多愁/虞美人; pinyin: Jǐ Duō Chóu/Yú Měi Rén) - Another poem turned into a song
• "I Only Care About You" (traditional Chinese: 我只在乎你; pinyin: Wǒ Zhǐ Zài hū Nǐ; Japanese: 時の流れに身をまかせ, "I Leave Myself in the Hands of The Flow of Time") - She also sang this in a duet with Jackie Chan and with Itsuki Hiroshi. This was also sung by Gigi Leung later on
• "Fruit" (Japanese: 別れの予感)
• "To Live With You From Now On" (Japanese: あなたと共に生きてゆく)(Anata to Tomo ni Ikite Yuku) - This was her last Japanese single. This song was re-sung by the song's lyricist Zard's Izumi Sakai in 2005. Surprisingly, the new version included music played by Erhu and contained Mandarin dialogues, in memory of Teng's 10th death anniversary.

Major song awards she received in Japan

• The Japan Record Awards (日本レコード大賞, Nihon Rekōdo Taishō)

Awarded each year are: Grand Prix (1), Best Song Award (1), Best New Singer Award (1), Gold Awards (10), New Singers Award (5), and more than 20 other awards. Teresa Teng won the New Singers Award (新人賞) for her 「空港」（Kūkō) in 1974, and the Gold Award (金賞) in 1986 for her 「時の流れに身をまかせ」 (Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase). In 1995, she was awarded the Special Merit Award (特別功労賞）.

• All-Japan Cable Radio Awards (全日本有線放送大賞, Zen-Nihon Yūsen Hōsō Taishō)

Awarded each year are: Grand Prix (1) and about 15 other awards. Teresa Teng won the Grand Prix （グランプリ）three times, as follows: for her 「つぐない」 (Tsugunai) in 1984, 「愛人」(Aijin) in 1985, and 「時の流れに身をまかせ」(Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase) in 1986. This was the first time that any singer had won the Grand Prix for three years in a row. In 1987, she won the Outstanding Star Award (優秀スター賞) for her 「別れの予感」(Wakare no Yokan).

• Japan Cable Radio Awards (日本有線大賞, Nihon Yūsen Taishō)

Awards Teresa Teng received were as follows: 1984: the Grand Prix （大賞）, the Best Hit Award, and the Cable Radio Music Award -- for 「つぐない」 (Tsugunai) . 1985: the Grand Prix, the Best Hit Award, and the Cable Radio Music Award -- for 「愛人」(Aijin) . 1986: the Grand Prix, the Best Hit Award, and the Cable Radio Music Award -- for 「時の流れに身をまかせ」(Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase) . Again, this was the first time that any singer had won the Grand Prix for three years in a row. 1987 and 1988: the Cable Radio Music Award for her 「別れの予感」(Wakare no Yokan). 1995: She was awarded the Cable Radio Special Merit Award (有線功労賞) for having won the Grand Prix three years in a row,

References

External links

• Teresa Teng Foundation 鄧麗君文教基金會
• One And Only- Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 テレサ・テン
• publicradio.org
• Moon Represents my Heart Lyrics and Meaning
• Teresa Tang at the Internet Movie Database

Awards
Preceded by George Lam	Golden Needle Award of RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award 1995	Succeeded by Alan Tam