Teresa Teng, The Singer Not The Song?
November 4, 2009 | Comments | Connecting, Music, Politics
I wish I could consolidate my blogs into one ‘cos the scales are kinda tipped unevenly at the moment. But, I really do not wish to abandon my readers here at “AkitaWoof.com”. It’s like one’s First Love… yunno… after all, this is my very First Blog. So…
Until I run out of money, time and sanity, I will plod on…
But today, I’m doing another “2 For 1″, meaning I’m importing my “just a few minutes ago freshly-published” article post from my niche site, “CreativeThinkingForWomen.com” and planting it here as well. Reason?? Great music that I absolutely must share with my readers here at “AkitaWoof.com”.
But for those who “miss” (ya, right!!) my insane “rants, ravings and ramblings”, you can always catch me at my busy, busy niche site at (where else but):
http://www.creativethinkingforwomen.com
Well, if you’re still here with me right now, continue on and read, and listen, and enjoy, as always…
Quote/Unquote:
I’ve always believed that “Music”, in any form, transcends politics. And time and time again, it has proven so. And in my belief that since music is timeless, it will go on and on forever. It never dies, not in our “memory” and certainly not in our “heart”. I say this in the “singular format”, because I feel that mankind as a whole is united under “one mind” and “one soul” when great music is felt.
It was by chance that I heard the closing theme song from an old Chow Yun-Fat movie on television the other day and I recognised the melody as one that I encountered in the past, often sung by various artistes from the Asian music world. But, not being able to read Mandarin, I was unable to figure out the title of the song when the credits began to roll. After a little effort surfing online, I discovered the title – “The Moon Represents My Heart”.
On further research, I discovered the version sung by the late Teresa Teng, a worldwide influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan, whose life was cut short at the early age of 42. Her songs, recorded in Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian and English made her immensely popular among the Chinese population from other countries other than Taiwan and China. She acquired fans from near and far – Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
It was written that in spite of censorships in China, her songs managed to gain popularity there and it was quoted somewhere that “Deng Xiaoping Rules China by Day and Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng) Rules China by Night”.
It was also mentioned that the Communist Party of China eventually extended her an invitation to perform in Mainland China but she died before she could accomplish this feat. The legacy she left behind in the songs she sang during her lifetime, made listening to them even more heart-wrenching.
So, to all “romantics” out there, let’s forget “politics” for a moment, let’s forget the wars that we fight, the differences that we have and will continue to have, the illogical reasons we give for starting confrontations and just listen to your heart when you click on the following videoclip.
I do not understand the language so I do not know what the words mean. But I do know that the haunting melody speaks to me. And every time I listen to it, it moves me and I cry buckets of tears. Okay, maybe not buckets, but a great deal. So, let it move you too ‘cos I can’t think of a better way to remind you of all the sorrow in this world: of premature deaths and mindless wars and unnecessary poverty and uncontrolled diseases and all things painful in this dark world of ours.
So once again, “Creativity in Music” rules the world. Not kings, not diplomats, not politicians. Words, however powerful may not always find a way to reach us all. But music… it will sneak up on you somehow, when you least expect it. And when it does, it leaves an indelible mark on you and it will never leave you and never let you go.
Decades ago, they say that “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword”. But now, in our time, I think it should be that “Music is mightier than the Sword” ‘cos it speaks without a word being spoken, a letter being written nor blood being shed. And when it does, the sound is “deafening” because it blows one’s mind, shatters ones thinking and bursts one’s heart, all in one clear easy sweep, one instant motion… okay, I better stop now. I ain’t no poet. I’m just a regular human being trying to express how I feel when great music is heard.
Anyway, back to the title of this post: Teresa Teng, The Singer Not The Song? Well, in my case, it was the Song that led me to the Singer. Either way, it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is that this piece of music made my day. So, let it make yours too…
The Moon Represents My Heart - Teresa Teng - More amazing video clips are a click away
