The Moon Represents My Heart

"The Moon Represents My Heart" (Chinese: 月亮代表我的心; pinyin: Yuèliàng Dàibiǎo Wǒ de Xīn) is a Mandarin song. It was made famous by Teresa Teng.

Background

The lyrics to the song were written by Sun Yi (孫儀)[1][2] and the music was composed by Weng Ching-hsi (翁清溪).[3] It was first sung by Chen Fen-lan (陳芬蘭) in around 1972 or 1973[3][4] but was made famous by Teresa Teng's version later in the 1970s.[5][6] Teng's rendition, which is three minutes and 29 seconds long,[7] was described as a "love song with a waltz-like lilt".[8]

Cultural impact in China

Until the late 1970s, foreign music had not been allowed into mainland China for several decades.[2] "The Moon Represents My Heart" became one of the first popular foreign songs (called "gangtai" songs) in the country under the new Open Door Policy.[2]
"The Moon Represents My Heart" - Teresa Teng
A short clip of "The Moon Represents My Heart" by Teresa Teng.
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Teng's songs over the following decade revolutionized music in China. Her singing, described as "soft, sweet, often whispery and restrained," was considered the "ideal" in gangtai music at that time.[2] The style was in striking contrast to the then officially-sanctioned songs in mainland China which were often revolutionary songs, and made a strong impact on its listeners.[2] She became so popular that "within months the country was literally flooded with [her] songs."[2] "The Moon Represents My Heart," however, is often cited as one of her best-known or most popular pieces.[9][10][11][12]

Before Teng's music arrived, love songs were nonexistent in China.[2] As film director Jia Zhangke later said, "'The Moon Represents My Heart' [was] something completely new. So people of my generation were suddenly infected with this very personal, individual world. Before that, everything was collective..."[13]

Legacy

Teng died of an asthma attack in 1995,[13] but "The Moon Represents My Heart" has been performed frequently in Asia into the 21st century, including in places like Malaysia,[14][15][6] Singapore,[16] and Taiwan[17][18]—even at political functions.[19] It has been covered by several famous singers, including Shila Amzah, Faye Wong, David Tao, Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, Jon Bon Jovi[20][21] and Hong Kong acappella group, Metro Vocal Group. The song is considered a "classic,"[17] and according to one source, "Chinese all around the world are familiar with [it]."[22]

"The Moon Represents My Heart" is also popular in karaoke,[8] with one chain in Singapore listing it at #42 on their hits list (which made it the highest ranked of all Teng's songs).[23] According to The New York Times, it is one of the best-known Chinese pop songs of all time.[24]

Copyright status

Lyricist Sun Yi filed a lawsuit against the Li Ge Record Company (麗歌唱片公司). Sun lost the lawsuit, so the company owns the copyright of this song.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Xiang Chengzhen (項程鎮) (1 December 2012). "月亮代表我的心作詞者 爭著作權敗訴" [Writer of "The Moon Represents My Heart" fights for copyrights]. The Liberty Times.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Baranovitch, Nimrod. China's new voices: popular music, ethnicity, gender, and politics, 1978–1997 (University of California Press, 2003), pp. 10–13.
  3. 1 2 "Taiwan's "Hibari Misora" — Chen Fen-lan [台灣的「美空雲雀」 ──陳芬蘭]". Taiwan Panorama. March 2001. p. 108. This source neglected to confirm Sun Yi (孫儀) as the lyricist of this song.
  4. ↑ "作曲曝光《月亮代表我的心》原唱非邓丽君(多图)" [Composer says Teresa Teng is not original singer of 'Moon Represents My Heart']. HSW.cn. 1 October 2004. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Chen, David (5 June 2009). "Jazz for the musicians ... but for the masses, too". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 Chan, Dawn (24 October 2010). "Hearty tribute to Teresa Teng". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo de Xin – Teresa Teng". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 LaFleur, Robert André. Asia in Focus: China (ABC-CLIO, 2009), p. 285.
  9. ↑ WuDunn, Sheryl (10 May 1995). Teresa Teng, Singer, 40, Dies; Famed in Asia for Love Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Teresa Teng: Alive in the Hearts of Chinese Around the World". china.org.cn, 9 May 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Terrific Teresa Teng tribute at corporate night". The Star (Malaysia). 18 September 2005. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Sui, Cindy (27 November 2010). "Hidden love". Taipei Times. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  13. 1 2 Berry, Michael. Speaking in images: interviews with contemporary Chinese filmmakers (Columbia University Press, 2005), pp. 190–550.
  14. ↑ Ling, Sharon. "Freelance model crowned Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2007". thestar.com.my, 5 March 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Fans of Teresa Teng take nostalgia trip". thestar.com.my, 6 September 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  16. ↑ Tan, Jeanine. "They came, they sang, these divas dazzled". channelnewsasia.com, 11 September 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  17. 1 2 "Buzzing: Chyi Chin proposes to Belle". news.asiaone.com, 26 January 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  18. ↑ Huang, Andrew C.C. (14 May 2010). "Kenny G has sax appeal". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Pandiyan, M. Veera (10 April 2008). "Take a good look in the mirror". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  20. ↑ Tham Ai Mei (15 September 2005). "Sadness behind the smile". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVBEXS7LHJ8
  22. ↑ "Show set to be a glittering affair". The Star. 19 August 2003. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  23. ↑ Tanu, Elrica (29 September 2010). "Teresa Teng tribute". RazorTV via AsiaOne. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  24. ↑ Seno, Alexandra A (21 November 2007). "Cantopop: Lauding Hong Kong's homegrown music". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2014.

External links

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