By Quintus Ni 

 Every time I listen to a song by Teresa Teng, my heart is filled with sweetness, warmth and brightness–as if I was surrounded by a delicate fragrance. The songs sung by Taiwanese artist Teresa Teng, beautiful but not gloomy, make one feel the happiness of life. Accompanied by her tender and enchanting songs, one would forget all trouble or loneliness. Her music is so classical that it reaches the incomparable height manifested by its unique style. It always gives one a sense of sweetness, just like her character. Despite her short life, she created countless classics. She has sung so many songs–over three thousand. With a colorful life and great influence, she is really a legend.

  In the early 1980s, when the Chinese mainland was fully opened to the outside world, Teresa Teng, known by every household in China, walked into people’s hearts with her beautiful singing. At that time, it was everyone’s dream to buy these popular tapes and listen to the melodious tone of Teresa Teng. The popularity of her music made me know for the first time that such songs well expresses one’s emotions.

  At that age of spiritual emptiness, when people in homespun clothes got accustomed to listening to revolutionary songs and model operas, Teresa Teng was absolutely a fallen fairy, fashionable and fresh, fascinating everyone with her songs and image. A piece of song by Teresa Teng could relieve people’s depressed souls and emotions, getting people refreshed and comforted. We found our lost selves and reshaped our personalities in her song. A lot more people have learned to sing her classic songs by following what is played everywhere on the street.

  “Seeing the Smoke Again” presents me with a picture of smoke curling up from kitchen chimneys in hometowns; “Love in the Village” brings me back to my hometown with its unforgettable small village; “Hometown Love” arouses my homesickness; “Story of Little Town” makes me dream of living in a beautiful little town and wandering in the alleys of the town. Her love songs are also not sentimental, but full of sweetness of love. “See You Tomorrow” reminds me of my first love with its lines of “Remember when we first met, you overshadowed the flowers flying in the wind…” Such a sweet love, brilliant and charming, lingers in one’s heart. “Goodbye My Love” depicts a peaceful breakup which is not as hysterical and painful as the common separation of lovers. Teresa Teng’s voice, totally natural, sweet and beautiful, echoes in the depth of my soul. I can’t stop missing her for even one second. Her fresh and clear voice lingers in my ears forever.

  Today, her melodious tone is still enjoyed by us again and again. We can listen to her songs online repeatedly, and don’t have to buy pirated CDs like in the 1970s when the government frowned upon Teng and genuine CDs were too expensive. The sweet voice of Teresa Teng keeps ringing in our ears. Although she passed away in 1995, her songs will never fade away. With these good memories deep in my heart, I listen to old songs, miss the past times and recall Teresa Teng.

  In the lifetime of Teresa Teng, she brought rich spiritual wealth–though she doesn’t meet her Mr. Right and get married in a white wedding gown. Her songs make people long for beautiful love. Maybe she is lonely in the depth of her heart, but still she provides comfort for people with her singing. No matter how distressed you are, she will make you feel happy. Although she is gone, she remains alive in people’s hearts. Her lovely image and beautiful voice echo in people’s mind. As time goes by, her songs become the unfailing classics. Today, Teresa Teng is still shining with boundless radiance.

  Teresa Teng is the idol of many people and the dream lover of men. Every twinkle and smile of her is so intoxicating that it remains fresh in one’s memory. Her fans cover women and men of all ages who are deeply attracted to her songs. Generation after generation, people grow older, listening to her songs. Along with our wonderful memories, her songs and her beauty last forever. Bathed in her songs, people’s hearts also become tender.

  “Such tunes should only belong to Heaven. On earth, how rarely can we hear them played?” (Du Fu, Tang Dynasty Poet) Her songs are unparalleled in history. She wins all people’s hearts with her sweet voice which heals countless brokenhearted people. Generation after generation, people grow up along with her beautiful songs. Despite the elapse of time, her songs still linger in people’s minds and remain vivid. Her voice, clear and sweet, nourishes and soothes the soul, which calms a person down. Her songs remind one of peace, innocence and true love in the human world, rendering solace and serenity.

  Although she hasn’t been to the mainland of China, she is like a warm, amiable and lovely family member. After she passed away, she is still remembered. She, charming, elegant and tender, develops the strong and brave character as a typical Chinese woman!

  Her songs will keep accompanying us in our life journeys. She is very popular among men and women, old and young alike. Short though her life is, she has lived a splendid, rich and colorful life. Her sincerity, modesty and kindness make her easy to approach. With a wide range of tones, she can delicately render and interpret the ancient poems like On the West Tower Alone and May They Live Long. Teresa Teng has a variety of singing styles, ranging from folk, classical, popular music to mixed music. Her songs, famous at home and abroad, cater to the general public with their rich content and refined language. She has traveled to many countries in the world. Where there are Chinese, there are songs sung by Teresa Teng. Therefore, Teresa Teng not only belongs to China but also belongs to the whole world.

   Teresa Teng has influenced many people in her lifetime. Her songs comfort many people growing up. Many imitators start their career of singing patterned after Teresa Teng.

  It’s very common that a singer be forgotten. Only in a few cases could a singer be remembered and respected by all the people–though she passed away a long time ago. Teresa Teng is such a singer. Behind her dazzling smile, how many hardships has she suffered? For tens of thousands of her fans, she worked hard and made every effort to improve herself; she left her hometown at a young age, led a wandering life and died on a foreign land; but now, she returns to her hometown and rests in peace.

  “Your face and the peach blossoms were rosy. But where has your face gone? The peach blossoms still smile in the spring wind” (Cui Hu, Teng Dynasty Poet). Recall Teresa Teng, and sing the eternal classics! Passing down Teresa Teng’s works is the best return and love for her. Just like a wind and a cloud, she falls from the sky quietly and leaves the mortal world gently without taking away a breath of air. The only thing she leaves us is her music. Nowadays, as clouds go with the wind, Teresa Teng also goes away gently like the passing youth of that generation. But, her songs will last forever along with our beautiful youth in our memories. It’s enough to recall such good old days in the fast flowing of time…

Favorite Musician Editor: James Zheng