Teresa Teng

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help improve this article or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since September 2006. (help, talk)

Deng Li Jun

Teresa Teng (Sometimes spelled Teresa Tang or Teresa Deng; Traditional Chinese: 鄧麗君; Simplified Chinese: 邓丽君; Hanyu Pinyin: Dèng Lìjūn; Wade-Giles: Teng Li-chün) (January 29, 1953 - May 8, 1995) was one of the most famous singers in Asia, from Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

She was born in Yunlin County, Taiwan, Republic of China to a mainlander family originating from Hebei province.

She recorded several famous songs, including When Shall You Return? (Simplified Chinese: 何日君再来; pinyin: Hé Rì Jūn Zài Lái) (one of the revamped songs she sang). In addition to her Mandarin repertoire, she also recorded songs in the Taiwanese dialect (a variant of Min Nan), Cantonese, Japanese, Indonesian (in 1977) and English.

In 1983, for the first time in Chinese music history, she released her most-acclaimed album Light Exquisite Feeling (淡淡幽情) containing 12 poems from Tang and Song dynasties with various composers turning them into songs, such as 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 performed in Paris during the 1989 Tiananmen student uprising, singing for the students and proclaiming her support for them and for democracy.

She covered 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); most of which were re-written in Chinese lyrics, some in tribution to original artists like Southern All Stars.

Her songs have been covered by other singers, most notably Faye Wong who released a tribute album (The Decadent Sound of Faye) consisting entirely of cover songs originally done by Teresa Teng.

Teng enjoyed immense popularity all over Asia and particularly in Japan. Because her songs were so popular in Chinese Karaoke bars, it was said that "by day, Deng Xiaoping rules China, but by night, Deng Lijun rules".

She died from an asthma attack while on a trip to Thailand at the age of 42 (43 by Chinese reckoning) on May 8, 1995. She is interred in a mountainside tomb at Chin Pao San (金寶山), 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 [1].

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 was made known in 2002 [2], and subsequently sold for HK 32 million. It closed on what would have been her 51st birthday on January 29, 2004 [3].

A tribute to her, with some of her dresses, jewelry and personal items can be seen at Yuzi Paradise, an art park outside Guilin, China.

[edit] Some Most Popular Song Titles

When Will You Be Back (Simplified Chinese: 何日君再来; pinyin: Hé Rì Jūn Zài Lái)- This theme song was also unofficially used in Meteor Garden where Shan Tsai's (Tsukushi) mother sings the first few stanzas.
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 Ròu, lit: Just Like Your Tenderness) (This was a cover; the song was 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: 看今天你怎么说; pinyin: Kàn Jīn Tiān Nǐ Zěn Mé Shūo, 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 Leslie Cheung in the Forever Album, Jerry Yan in the F4 concerts and Sammi Cheng with Jerry Yan in a duet. A rap format was made by David Tao. This song was also sung by Zsa Zsa Padilla translated in Filipino. This was also sang by Anita Mui and Andy Lau in a duet. Anita Mui sung this song as a dedication to Teresa Teng's legacy.
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, sang by Leon Lai in a livelier format and by Machi Didi in a rap format.
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 Ai Shúi)
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 Ai Rén)(Indonesian : Selamat Tinggal Kekasih ; This is the most popular Teresa Teng's song in Indonesia. In 1970's Teresa Teng recorded Indonesian version of this song, translated by Indonesian composer A. Riyanto . This is one and only Teresa Teng album in Bahasa Indonesia)
Wishing We Last Forever/Shui diao ge tou (Chinese: 但愿人长久/水调歌头; pinyin: Dàn Yuàn Rén Cháng Jǐu/Shuǐ Diāo Gē Tou) (Originally a poem, transformed into a song)- Later sung by Faye Wong.
How Many Worries/Yu Mei Ren (Chinese: 几多愁/虞美人; pinyin: Jǐ Duō Chóu/Yú Měi Rén) (An original poem turned into a song)
I Only Care About You (Traditional Chinese: 我只在乎你; pinyin: Wǒ Zhǐ Zaìhū Nǐ; Japanese: 時の流れに身をまかせ) (This English title is a translation of the Chinese title. The Japanese title translates to "I Leave Myself in the Hands of The Flow of Time")- Was also sang in a duet with Jackie Chan.
Fruit (Japanese: 别れの予感)