Color Version 60 Records to Appreciate in a Lifetime

Author: Gu Jianqin, Tong Xiaozhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: "The Eternal Teresa Teng – Commemorative Album" Must-Listen Reasons: In the hearts of many, Teresa Teng is the most successful female singer in Chinese history, a status she will always hold. Her charm lies in her sweet voice and highly infectious singing. This album features a selection of the countless beautiful songs performed by Teresa Teng, offering celestial melodies that are timeless and endlessly enjoyable.
Teresa Teng (January 29, 1955 – May 8, 1995), known as TERESA TENG in English, is one of the most influential female singers in Chinese history. Revered as the "Golden Voice of the Chinese World," she left an indelible mark on the music scene. Her discography is vast, with representative works including "Sweetness," "Moon Over the Town," "Little Town Story," "Only You Matter to Me," "When Will You Return?" "The Moon Represents My Heart," and "Don’t Pick Wildflowers by the Roadside."
Teresa Teng’s Major Awards:
- 1977: Won the Golden Record Award at the "1st Hong Kong Golden Record Awards."
- 1978: Her albums "Teresa Teng Greatest Hits" and "Island Love Songs – Volume 3" both won the Hong Kong Third Golden Record Award; in Japan, "Tokyo Night" earned her the "Shinkō Shōchō Award";
- 1980: At the "4th Hong Kong Golden Record Awards," three of her albums won the Platinum Record Award; won the Taiwan Golden Bell Award for "Best Female Pop Star";
- 1982: Held a personal concert in Hong Kong, releasing the dual album "Teresa Teng Concert," which quickly became a Platinum Record;
- 1983: Returned to Japan to release the album "Repayment," which won numerous awards, including the "Annual Cable TV Award" and "Most Popular Song Award," and was nominated for the "Japan Record Award’s Best Vocal Performance Award."
- 1985: In Japan, her new song "Lover" topped the Japanese radio "Request Popularity Chart" for 14 consecutive weeks, earning her the "Cable Broadcasting Award" and setting two historic records in the Japanese music industry;
- 1986: Her single "Let Time Pass By" won the "Annual Cable TV Award" for Record Appreciation.
Album Review: "The Eternal Teresa Teng – Commemorative Album" not only includes classic hits like "Sweetness," "Moon Over the Town," "Little Town Story," "Only You Matter to Me," "When Will You Return?" "The Moon Represents My Heart," and "Don’t Pick Wildflowers by the Roadside" but also revisits the original audio and footage of her 1978 Hong Kong concert, TV performances, and the first public release of 8mm footage from her home in Harajuku, Japan. The album took 10 years to compile and features invaluable content.
Flipping open the cover of "The Eternal Teresa Teng – Commemorative Album," one sees a pure and innocent beauty with a round face and curly hair. Thus, curly hair became beauty, and perming became fashionable. Wherever there are Chinese people, someone can sing Teresa Teng’s songs. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, in mainland China, when young men in cool blue shirts buttoned all the way down to their chins, with their hair combed like brooms and wide military pants, walked through desolate streets, Teresa Teng’s voice suddenly filled their ears, and the dreams of an entire generation began to take flight in her sweet melodies.
"How deep is your love for me? How much do I love you? Your feelings are true, my love is true, the moon represents my heart."
Teresa Teng’s voice, coming from the records, was like gentle, clear moonlight, spreading over the parched earth and slowly seeping into the hearts of a generation. Her echoes lingered, lingering in the air. Her delicate and charming face, sweet and round voice, and refined and ethereal demeanor were so captivating. As the "Sweet Queen," she became an idol in the hearts of many.
Teresa Teng’s songs were perfectly polished, rooted in folk music, sweet yet not cloying. In her songs, there was also a subtle hint of melancholy, with faintly melodies and sorrow. If sung by others, it might have become a song of debauchery. For example, Zhou Xuan, the first of the "Five Great Singing Queens of the 1930s Shanghai," known as the "Golden Voice," sang "When Will You Return?" leaning against a broken window in an old Shanghai alley, her voice warbling, leaving people with the image of a suppressed and mistreated courtesan. But when Teresa Teng sang the same song, her slightly hoarse voice poured out a sweet melody like silver moonlight spreading over the earth. Even if there was a trace of sorrow, it was hidden behind deep affection.
Today, the women on the streets are becoming increasingly glamorous and sensual, and the classical romance is nearly extinct. The pure yet slightly melancholic Teresa Teng remains an unshakable dream in the hearts of men. In the 1980s, her songs, accompanied by her beautiful image, spread across the Chinese communities worldwide, and in the blink of an eye, she became a beloved figure.
As a lover, Teresa Teng was like her songs—gentle yet sorrowful, hinting at weakness and stubbornness. Her first love was the son of a wealthy businessman in Taiwan. When the two were about to make a lifelong commitment, they were interfered with by the boy’s family. Worried that scandals in the entertainment industry would tarnish their reputation, they sat on a golden threshold, listing conditions for Teresa Teng to give up her career and focus solely on marriage and raising children. If they agreed, she would marry him; if not, it would be over. Due to her soft side, she allowed love to flow away like water slipping through her fingers, even as a faint sorrow lingered in her heart, filled with helplessness. Just like she sang in "As Gentle as Your Warmth": "Let it come softly, let it go well, let everything fade away."
Musical: May We Live Long Together
Time flies like a white steed. It has been exactly 10 years since Teresa Teng rested in "Yun Yuan" in Bao Shan, Taiwan. 2005 marked the 50th anniversary of her birth. If she had still been on stage, her half-century appearance would undoubtedly have been as radiant as ever. Over the past 10 years, the commemorative activities for Teresa Teng’s fans have never faded. The musical May We Live Long Together, a tribute to the late Taiwanese singer, began performances in Hong Kong in late July 2002. After a series of auditions, Xiao Qiao, Li Xiaojie, and Peng Ling were selected to portray Teresa Teng in her childhood, teenage, and adult stages, deeply portraying her beautiful yet brief life, which became a sensation at the time.